Skip to main content

Launch Indoors App Clip

Available with the ArcGIS Indoors Maps extension

ArcGIS Indoors Mobile uses App Clip from Apple to provide access to focused workflows without full mobile app installation. Users can scan a QR code to launch the app clip and access a targeted experience. Use this workflow to provide indoor maps to visitors and guests in facilities such as campuses, hospitals, government buildings, airports, convention centers, and corporate offices.

With Indoors App Clip, visitors can view an indoor map, explore nearby places, and get directions to a destination by scanning a QR code. The app clip remains available on the device for a limited period, and the device removes it after inactivity. Users can install the Indoors Mobile app at any time to access additional functionality.

Users can install the Indoors Mobile app from within the app clip or download it directly from the App Store. If the Indoors Mobile app is installed through the app clip, the associated mobile map downloads automatically, and the user can continue where they left off in the app clip.

Note:

Indoors App Clip is available on iPhones and iPads in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise 12.1 or later.

If users scan the QR code on an Android device, the indoor map URL opens in the device's default web browser. Users can install a shortcut on the home screen for a native app-like experience. Users can also download the Indoors Mobile app from Google Play.

Prerequisites

Before configuring an app clip, complete the following steps:

  1. Create an Indoors Viewer app with sharing set to Everyone (public).

    The web map associated with the Indoors Viewer app provides the instant app clip experience along with other shared configurations.

  2. Optionally, share a mobile map package (.mmpk) with sharing set to Everyone (public), and associate it with the Indoors Viewer app to make additional functionality available to users that install the Indoors Mobile app.

    Note:

    If a public mobile map is available and associated with the Indoors Viewer app, the app automatically opens that .mmpk when the user transitions from the app clip to the mobile app. If no .mmpk is available, the app still opens. The app prompts the user to select a map from a list of available maps.

Generate QR codes

To generate QR codes to launch Indoors App Clip, complete the following steps:

  1. Confirm the Indoors App Clip web component is deployed and accessible in your ArcGIS organization:

    • ArcGIS Online: <organization>.maps.arcgis.com/apps/indoors/appclip.html

    • ArcGIS Enterprise: <portal.example.com>/portal/apps/indoors/appclip.html

    Note:

    App Clip requires the Enterprise portal to use a valid CA-signed certificate to load the Indoors Viewer app.

  2. Create the launch URL based on the desired app clip experience.

    Choose the app clip launch URL that corresponds to the experience you want to provide. Examples include opening the indoor map to a specific feature and generating turn-by-turn directions from origin to destination, or starting directions from a specific location.

  3. Generate a QR code from the launch URL using your preferred QR code generator.

Deploy QR codes

You can make Indoors App Clip QR codes available to anyone interested in exploring your indoor map. You can display QR codes at building entrances, kiosks, websites, signs, or other locations that are prominently visible to visitors.

URL parameters

The following table lists the supported URL parameters and descriptions:

Parameter

Description

portalURL (Required)

The URL of an ArcGIS organization that contains the Indoors Viewer app.

appid (Required)

The app ID of the chosen Indoors Viewer app. This parameter name is case-sensitive.

Note:

If a user scans a URL containing an itemid parameter instead of appid, the app clip opens with a button to open the Indoors Mobile app in the App Store. The user must download and open the Indoors Mobile app to execute the smart launch action using the itemid parameter.

introImageURL

Specifies the URL of an image displayed before loading the app.

adminEmail

Specifies an email address for reporting issues with the app clip URL.

action

Specifies the action for the app to take upon launching (locate or route).

x

The longitude of the current location.

y

The latitude of the current location.

floor

The vertical order of the floor on which the feature is located.

layer

The name of the layer in the map that contains the feature.

featureID

A unique identifier for the feature that can be an object ID, global ID, or a unique attribute from the ArcGIS Indoors Information Model, such as Unit ID.

featureIDField

The name of the field that contains a unique identifier for the feature.

toX

The longitude of the destination location.

toY

The latitude of the destination location.

toFloor

The vertical order of the floor on which the destination feature is located.

toLayer

The name of the layer in the map that contains the destination feature.

toFeatureID

A unique identifier for the feature to route to that can be an object ID, global ID, or a unique attribute from the Indoors model, such as Unit ID.

toFeatureIDField

The name of the field that contains a unique identifier for the destination feature.

fromX

The longitude of the origin location.

fromY

The latitude of the origin location.

fromFloor

The vertical order of the floor on which the origin feature is located.

fromLayer

The name of the layer in the map that contains the origin feature.

fromFeatureID

A unique identifier for the feature to route to that can be an object ID, global ID, or a unique attribute from the Indoors model, such as Unit ID.

fromFeatureIDField

The name of the field that contains a unique identifier for the origin feature.

travelMode

The travel mode selected for navigation on the specified route, such as Walking, Wheelchair, Bicycle, and other travel modes configured in ArcGIS Pro.

category

Specifies the category to select when the app clip opens.

Example URLs

The examples below show how to configure URLs to open an app, launch to a feature, generate directions, and more.

Note:

Indoors App Clip launch URLs must begin with the base URL https://indoors.arcgis.app and must include the portalURL and appid parameters.

URL to open with a specified indoor map

Example: A government organization places a QR code at the information desk of a building so visitors can quickly open Indoors App Clip and access the building map.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da

URL to open with an intro image and admin email for reporting issues

Example: An organization wants to display a branded loading screen when the app clip opens and provide an email address so users can report link issues.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da&introImageURL=https://hostedimage.com/b1u2&adminEmail=admin@organizationcompany.com

URL to open with a category selected

Example: A courthouse places a QR code in the jury assembly hall that opens the map with the courtrooms category already selected, helping jurors quickly find courtrooms.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da&category=Courtrooms

URL to locate a specific feature on the map

Example: An organization places a QR code at an event that attendees can scan to open the app clip and locate the room where the event is being held.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da&action=locate&layer=Units&featureIDField=Name&featureID=M3ne350

URL to generate directions from an origin location to a destination location

Example: An organization provides a QR code that opens the app clip and generates directions from a parking area to a specific destination inside the building.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da&action=route&fromlayer=ParkingLot&fromfeatureidfield=Name&fromfeatureid=Parking%20Lot%20M&tolayer=Units&tofeatureidfield=Name&tofeatureid=Courtroom%20200

URL to begin guided directions to a destination selected by the user

Example: An organization provides a QR code that opens the app clip with a starting location defined, allowing visitors to select their own destination within the building.

https://indoors.arcgis.app?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&appid=3309861e27c44162847e952e26a391da&action=route&fromlayer=ParkingLot&fromfeatureidfield=Name&fromfeatureid=Parking%20Lot%20M

URL encoding

All app clip URLs must have parameter values encoded to account for spaces and special characters. Spaces and special characters are encoded using a percent sign (%) and a two-character hex value. An equal sign that specifies a break between a key and its value should not be encoded.

For example, the following is an app clip URL to locate a coffee machine in an office building with parameters that are not encoded:

https://indoors.arcgis.app/?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&action=locate&appid=3683b12f5c0c4998bfba9b9f24b10895&layer=CoffeeMachines&featureIDField=Name&featureID=Keurig K Duo - O2 #2 (O2e205)

The following is the same URL with encoded parameters:

https://indoors.arcgis.app/?portalURL=https://myorgName.maps.arcgis.com&action=locate&appid=3683b12f5c0c4998bfba9b9f24b10895&layer=CoffeeMachines&featureIDField=Name&featureID=Keurig%20K%20Duo%20%2D%20O2%20%232%20%28O2e205%29
Tip:

You can use your preferred encoding service to define a collection of key-value pairs that represent each parameter and produce a URL with appropriate encoding.