The February 2025 Sweet for ArcGIS 8.5 Release is here! It includes changes and new capabilities to make your editing experience smoother and more intuitive. Key highlights of this update are provided below.
If you’ve not heard about Sweet for ArcGIS….
Sweet for ArcGIS is a data collection app with built-in configurable data quality checks. These checks enforce shape, connections, and attribute information – ensuring data is captured and edited accurately the first time, every time.
Read more about it here.
What’s new
Support for Subtype Group Layers
Say you are a habitat surveyor, and you need to ensure that different land types are correctly categorised and follow specific rules. A habitats layer might include subtypes such as; land, beach, island, and polluted areas, each requiring distinct constraints. For instance, polluted areas shouldn’t overlap with other habitats to maintain clear records of contamination. Islands must be fully surrounded by water, and beaches shouldn’t encroach into polluted zones. At the same time, all habitat features must be contained within designated survey areas, ensuring that data is collected only where it’s valid.
Previously, applying different rules for different categories within a layer required splitting it into multiple layers in the web map. While effective, this added complexity and increased long-term data management overhead. Now, with added support for Subtype Group Layers in Sweet for ArcGIS 8.5, that’s a thing of the past. You can now define unique topology, connectivity, and attribute rules for subtypes within a single layer group, streamlining configuration and reducing maintenance.
To get started, first head over to the data rules editor and ensure that Topology Rules per Subtype is toggled for your layer.
Then, under the Topology tab, a drop down arrow will appear next to your group layer to display the subtypes, which can then be selected to add individual topology rules. If you wanted to add a general rule for this group, just apply that rule to the parent layer (in this case, Habitats). Rules for individual subtypes will override group layer rules.
NOTE: at the time of writing, Map Viewer does not support symbology editing of subtype group layers. This would need to be carried out in ArcGIS Pro instead.
A new scripting experience
Continuing with our example of a habitat surveyors workflow, a surveyor may need to calculate the percentage of a survey area that’s polluted. To achieve this with minimal scripting experience, you can now make use of the new code suggestions panel in the Arcade Editor. This feature simplifies script writing by offering prebuilt, context-aware templates that you can load directly into the editor, saving time and reducing errors. In this instance, the editor provides a curated list of calculation-based script suggestions. Selecting one automatically loads it into the editor, allowing you to adapt it to your specific use case.
As well as code suggestions, this release also brings a smoother scripting experience with support for IntelliSense, a larger script writing area, and support for Arcade 1.26.
A New Look and feel
You might notice the client application looking and feeling a little different. In this release, it has migrated to the Esri Calcite Design System, bringing subtle yet impactful enhancements to both appearance and usability. These changes create a more intuitive experience, aligning the interface with other Esri products you may use.
Calcite provides a flexible, responsive, and accessible UI framework. With built-in support for multiple display sizes, languages, and customisable themes, it ensures a seamless experience across devices. Adhering to rigorous accessibility standards, it makes applications easier to use for everyone.
This update reflects Esri’s commitment to delivering a modern, consistent, and adaptable interface that evolves with user needs and technology.
New Help Documentation
Sweet for ArcGIS 8.5 brings with it a new rebuilt, rewritten documentation system, featuring a new layout to make it easier for you to navigate and find what you need. Alongside a new design, this update introduces new sample workflows and Arcade snippets, helping you get up to speed faster with practical, ready-to-use examples.
Find out more
The release also brings enhancements beyond what’s covered here, including new supported field types and additional language support for our international customers. For a full breakdown of what’s new, check out the release notes. If you have any questions, please reach out – we’d love to hear how you’re using the latest updates!