{"id":231492,"date":"2017-10-13T19:34:01","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T19:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=231492"},"modified":"2018-06-06T20:24:40","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T20:24:40","slug":"collect-similar-things","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/collector\/field-mobility\/collect-similar-things","title":{"rendered":"Save typing and reduce errors when collecting similar things"},"author":5701,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23261],"tags":[39831,39841,30631,33131],"industry":[],"product":[36591,36641],"class_list":["post-231492","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-field-mobility","tag-data-collection","tag-field-work","tag-tips","tag-tips-and-tricks","product-apps","product-collector"],"acf":{"short_description":"Use \"Continuous collect\" in Collector to populate a new feature with the attributes and\/or location from a previously collected feature.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

When using Collector to do data collection in the field, there are workflows that require you to collect similar things one after the other. There are two common workflows where I see this:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Collecting many things of the same type, but in different locations.
    \nFor example, you might be walking down the street collecting all the light posts, or through a field and collecting all the orange trees that were just planted. You might be collecting all the addresses or pipe segments in a new housing development.<\/li>\n
  2. Collecting multiple things that are all in the same place, but have different qualities.
    \nFor example, a pole\u00a0and a transformer that is on it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Whatever it is you might be collecting, you don’t want to have to tap\u00a0Collect new<\/strong>\u00a0and type the same attributes each time. That is time-consuming and leaves room for human error. And you don’t have to: set the\u00a0Collection Style<\/strong>\u00a0setting to\u00a0Continuous<\/strong>\u00a0and each collection you complete will initiate a new collection. You’ll get to choose if\u00a0attributes, location, both, or neither from your previous collection are brought into your new collection,\u00a0saving you from providing the same information over and over.<\/p>\n

    Let’s try it out. You can use any map, but for this post, I’m collecting palm trees for the City of Redlands.\u00a0In a newly developed area of town, palm trees are being planted lining the road.\u00a0They are the same type of tree, the same height, and planted on the same date. These fall under the first type of workflow: I have a lot of things with similar attributes, each at a different location.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":231502,"id":231502,"title":"Row of palm trees","filename":"IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","filesize":49550,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/collector\/field-mobility\/collect-similar-things\/img_0100-copy","alt":"Row of palm trees","author":"5701","description":"","caption":"","name":"img_0100-copy","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":231492,"date":"2018-06-06 19:41:22","modified":"2018-06-06 19:41:37","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":890,"height":362,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":87,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":189,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":312,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","large-width":890,"large-height":362,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","1536x1536-width":890,"1536x1536-height":362,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","2048x2048-width":890,"2048x2048-height":362,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":336,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0100-Copy.jpg","wide_image-width":890,"wide_image-height":362}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

      \n
    1. Open Collector, and in the Settings, set\u00a0Collection Style<\/strong>\u00a0(iOS or Android) or\u00a0Collection mode\u00a0<\/strong>(Windows)\u00a0to\u00a0Continuous<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    2. Open the map, choose a feature type, and provide the details about it.
      \nFor my\u00a0note, I pick\u00a0California Palm<\/strong>,\u00a0provide species information, set the planting date to today, and provide a height and diameter. I also took and attached a photo of the tree.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":231512,"id":231512,"title":"New palm tree","filename":"IMG_0102-small.jpg","filesize":15227,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/collector\/field-mobility\/collect-similar-things\/img_0102-small","alt":"New palm tree","author":"5701","description":"","caption":"","name":"img_0102-small","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":231492,"date":"2018-06-06 19:43:35","modified":"2018-06-06 19:43:52","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":250,"height":333,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","medium-width":196,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","medium_large-width":250,"medium_large-height":333,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","large-width":250,"large-height":333,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","1536x1536-width":250,"1536x1536-height":333,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","2048x2048-width":250,"2048x2048-height":333,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","card_image-width":250,"card_image-height":333,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_0102-small.jpg","wide_image-width":250,"wide_image-height":333}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
        \n
      1. Submit the collection, and choose what information you’d like to start your new collection with.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":231602,"id":231602,"title":"Choices for collecting another feature","filename":"IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","filesize":11597,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/collector\/field-mobility\/collect-similar-things\/img_0105-copy-small","alt":"Choices for collecting another feature","author":"5701","description":"","caption":"","name":"img_0105-copy-small","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":231492,"date":"2018-06-06 19:54:36","modified":"2018-06-06 19:55:05","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":300,"height":355,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","thumbnail-width":169,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","medium-width":221,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":355,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","large-width":300,"large-height":355,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":355,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":355,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","card_image-width":300,"card_image-height":355,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0105-Copy-small.png","wide_image-width":300,"wide_image-height":355}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        Since I’m going to continue at the next tree, which has the same size and planting date, I picked\u00a0Like the last one, at my location,\u00a0<\/strong>copying attributes but using my new location. My new collection starts, and I can see the attribute values I provided before, along with my new location on the map. I don’t see the photo I took, but that is expected and appreciated as I’ll take a new photo of this tree.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Update any attributes that you need to, and add any attachments.
          \nI take a new photo and make sure my other information is all in place.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":231612,"id":231612,"title":"Palm tree attributes","filename":"IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","filesize":17404,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/collector\/field-mobility\/collect-similar-things\/img_0111-copy-small","alt":"Palm tree attributes","author":"5701","description":"","caption":"","name":"img_0111-copy-small","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":231492,"date":"2018-06-06 19:54:41","modified":"2018-06-06 19:54:53","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":300,"height":333,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","thumbnail-width":180,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","medium-width":235,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":333,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","large-width":300,"large-height":333,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":333,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":333,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","card_image-width":300,"card_image-height":333,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0111-Copy-small.png","wide_image-width":300,"wide_image-height":333}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
            \n
          1. Submit the second feature.
            \nI now have two trees with detailed information on my map, and Collector is prompting me for the next.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            While this is a pretty simple example, think about all the data you have for your organization where the attributes are similar, or the geometry’s shape repeats. Try out\u00a0Continuous<\/strong>\u00a0collection to get your job done faster and with less human error.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Some things to keep in mind:<\/em><\/p>\n