Map areas allow field workers to complete tasks while offline.

An offline-capable Mobile app must still connect to the internet initially to establish licensing and authentication. In some cases, the connection may also need to be re-established to renew tokens.

VertiGIS StudioMobile supports two distinct types of map areas:

•Pre-generated map areas: These map areas are created by the web map's administrator in either ArcGIS Online or in Portal for ArcGIS (10.8.1 or later). All users of a particular Mobile app are able to access the same set of pre-generated map areas.

•Custom map areas: When pre-generated map areas are not sufficient, a field worker can create a custom map area within a Mobile app. The user selects an area of the map and a level of detail and gives the map area a name. When they download that map area, it is packaged up and downloaded to the device. These map areas are device-specific and so cannot be shared among users.

Once a map area is downloaded to a device, both types of map areas work the same. Users can add and edit data and, when they return online, they can sync their changes back into the web map. Users also have the option of retrieving any changes that have been made to the web map since their map area was downloaded. When packaged, map areas contain all the related records, data and (optionally) attachments within the map area.

For detailed information on how to download, activate, update, send changes, and remove Pre-generated map areas, see Map Areas in the Mobile User Help.

For detailed information on how to create a Custom map area using a TPK, see Create a Custom Map Area with a TPK in the Mobile User Help.