Introducing the ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension

Blog updated 5/8/24 to reflect changes with the ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3 release.

Data editing, data maintenance, and data capture are core to GIS. Editing capabilities have evolved from command line workstation, to a desktop user experience, to an established client server architecture, and now a web pattern of distributed systems. To support this continued evolution, we are innovating our web editing tools and streamlining licensing of those powerful web editing capabilities.

As part of this effort, we are introducing a new user type extension: ArcGIS Advanced Editing. This new user type extension streamlines licensing by replacing the existing Utility Network, Trace Network and Parcel Fabric user type extensions. It also provides access to additional advanced data editing and geodatabase capabilities.

Here is what you need to know about the upcoming changes:

What is the ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension?

The ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension is a license that enables advanced editing and geodatabase capabilities in ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, and the ArcGIS Maps SDKs. It combines and replaces three existing ArcGIS Enterprise user type extensions (ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcGIS Trace Network, and ArcGIS Parcel Fabric) into one package. It also will enable advanced editing and geodatabase capabilities as they come to web and native device apps.

The ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension will be included in the GIS Professional Standard and GIS Professional Advanced user types and can be assigned as an add-on license to members with the Editor, Mobile Worker, Creator, and GIS Professional Basic user types.

Who is impacted by the ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension?

The license was introduced with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 (Q4 2023), and will be available with ArcGIS Online and the ArcGIS Maps SDKs later in 2024. If you are using ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1 , or an earlier version, you will not be impacted by this change and no action is needed.

ArcGIS Enterprise organizations currently using ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcGIS Trace Network and ArcGIS Parcel Fabric will be immediately impacted by this when they upgrade to version 11.2 (or beyond) or install new ArcGIS Enterprise deployments at version 11.2 (or beyond). Other organizations that may be impacted include the following:

1. Anyone using the following specific REST end points with custom applications:
   • Validation Service (evaluate) – Evaluate can be used with both geodatabase topologies and attribute rules (validation and batch calculate)
   • Version Management Service (create, delete, alter, purgeLock, conflicts, deleteForwardEdits, inspectConflicts, differences, post, reconcile, restoreRows, startEditing, and stopEditing)
   • If your organization uses ArcGIS Pro to create, reconcile, and/or post versions, then you may be impacted.  Members performing these operations must be assigned the Advanced Editing user type extension
2. Organizations that have written custom applications with the Maps SDK for Native Apps, making use of branch versioning capabilities to create a version and edit within one.
3. Organizations using branch versioning capabilities through the Branch Versioning Management widget within ArcGIS Experience Builder or other methods to create versions and edit within them.
4. Organizations that evaluate batch calculation and validation attribute rules.

The licensing requirement for tracing has been simplified. Tracing with utility networks and trace networks no longer requires a user type extension. This change applies with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 and beyond, for tracing within all client applications including ArcGIS Pro, web apps, and mobile apps.

For all branch versioning workflows with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 or later, users can alternatively use licenses of ArcGIS Indoors, Roads & Highways, or Pipeline Referencing in lieu of the Advanced Editing user type extension.

How do I prepare for this new user type extension when I move to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 or later?

Licensing changes can be scary – we understand. The information in this section will guide you through this change.

Within your existing ArcGIS Enterprise deployment, you will continue to license the ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcGIS Trace Network and ArcGIS Parcel Fabric user type extensions. However, when you upgrade to version 11.2 or later of ArcGIS Enterprise, you will need to complete an additional license management step to get your members up and running.

Steps and tips when upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 (or beyond)

• When you move to a new version of ArcGIS Enterprise, you must get new license files from My Esri. For organizations currently licensing ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcGIS Trace Network and ArcGIS Parcel Fabric user type extensions, starting at ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2, you will need to provision the new ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension within your Portal for ArcGIS license file.
• After upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2, Administrators may receive a notice that “the number of licenses assigned exceeds the number of licenses available” in the ArcGIS Enterprise portal. Do not panic! This message displays because your organization members are still assigned the existing licenses. To fix this, you must unassign the existing licenses and then reassign the new Advanced Editing licenses on the Organization Licenses tab in the ArcGIS Enterprise Portal.

Image below shows the Organization Licenses tab of the ArcGIS Enterprise portal at 11.2 with the Utility Network user type extension license in overdraft.

Image below shows the license management experience when unassigning add-on Utility Network user type extension licenses.

Once the ArcGIS Utility Network user type extension licenses have been unassigned from members, it will be removed from the licensing page. Administrators can then assign members the ArcGIS Advanced Editing user type extension license to members through this same experience.

In Summary…

Once this above administrative step is complete, your ArcGIS Enterprise end-users should not experience any change nor disruption. Again – these steps only need to take place when upgrading to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 or later, and when user type extensions (ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, and ArcGIS Trace Network) are used in your organization.

With the ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2 release, documentation such as this topic “Introduction to licensing user type extensions through a  portal” was updated to reflect this adjustment.

This licensing adjustment sets a foundation for the many enhancements coming soon to the ArcGIS web editing capability. Additional functionality will be added over the coming months, so stay tuned for more information and communication about this ongoing project! For additional licensing details, please contact your Esri representative.