Create a survey from a feature layer

By default, when you publish a survey in Survey123, a feature layer is created using the schema from the survey. Alternatively, you can associate your survey with an existing feature layer.

Before creating a survey from an existing feature layer, the feature layer must be prepared for use with Survey123.

Generate a survey from a feature layer

To generate a survey based on the schema of an existing feature layer, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization, and click New survey.
2. Click Get started on the Feature layer tile.
3. Browse to and select a feature layer.

   The gallery shows layers that you own. You can also select layers from your shared update groups, and, if you're an administrator, layers in your organization. You can choose a hosted feature layer or a feature layer view. Each tile includes a Show details link to open the item page and learn more about the layer or make necessary modifications.

4. If the feature layer has multiple layers, select the one to use for the survey. Select its sublayers, when applicable, to be added as respective repeats in the form design. Optionally, select only specific fields to use for the survey questions.

   Note:

   To use sublayers as repeats in the survey, the layer names cannot contain spaces or non-ASCII characters.

5. Click Create survey from layer.

   A survey form is generated from the feature layer based on the layer or layers and fields that you selected. Question types are chosen based on the field type, and the field alias is used for the label in the survey. You can modify these in the question configuration panel. You can also add more questions to the survey from the Add panel by dragging unused fields from the Fields in layer tab into the form design.

   Caution:

   Clicking Remove all or the Remove button next to a field deletes the corresponding configured question from the survey.

   If you add questions that don't use a field from the layer, such as for a note or calculation, the Do not store the answer option is automatically set.

6. If the survey requires the following question types, manually add them after creating the survey:
   • audio
   • file
   • image
   • signature

   For more information, see Media and files. The feature layer must also have attachments enabled.

After the survey is created, you can publish the survey immediately or further customize it. For example, you can add more descriptive labels to the questions and arrange them in groups. When publishing a survey using an existing feature layer, a new hosted feature layer is not created for your form. Instead, the feature layer you selected will be referenced by your survey.

Note:

A feature layer view is still created for form submissions unless you create the survey from an existing feature layer view or you opt not to create feature layer views when you publish.