Automate Updates to an ArcGIS Online Hosted Feature Layer Using Python

Here is a long and ramble-y, unrefined video tutorial on how to automate updates for a hosted feature layer in ArcGIS Online using Python. I then show you how to schedule your Python script to run using Windows Task Scheduler. This uses the ArcGIS API for Python, which is free to download/use, and if you have ArcGIS Pro installed on your computer, you already have it set up, as it is included in the installation.

The example downloads a zipped shapefile from on a public FTP site, but if you are using a file from your own computer or on a network drive, the basic workflow here still applies.

Additional documentation on this process can be found on the ESRI developers site:

Please note toward the end, when setting up the Task Scheduler, to choose 'Windows 10' at the bottom of the first tab for "Configure for:". In my video it was set to Windows Vista by default, which will prevent the task and script from running properly.

[AaronKoelker]

Please note toward the end, when setting up the Task Scheduler, to choose 'Windows 10' at the bottom of the first tab for "Configure for:" right around the 55:40 mark. In my video it was set to Windows Vista and Server 2008 by default, which will prevent the task and script from running properly.

[Redlinewizard]

Thanks for this awesome tutorial that’s super easy to follow for people that don’t know how to code. So many tutorials skip over the basics and speak in advanced technical jargon. This was great!

[nikolashawley]

Great tutorial!!! I've been trying to find help on doing both of these things for a couple years now! hahah This was very helpful and clear! Thanks!

[richt]

Thank you so much for the tutorial! It enabled me to implement an auto-update of a feature layer collection in our web map.

[bryansmith]

This is great!!! Very easy to understand and use

[abbasdarehshiri]

Thank you so much Aaron for sharing this video

[GlovesupSwampy]

This is awesome - please make more videos like this, as you say - very little content in the way of tutorials for this kind of thing!

[joeyzalman]

very clear video with a very practical case study. Thank you for this!

[AlessioDiLorenzo]

Great job!
It would be even more helpful to have an example of the process to add new rows to an existing hosted feature layer.

[Jace]

Thank you, Thank you!!!! This is extremely useful.

[baldman__running]

Super helpful video, thanks for sharing!

[Farazeenkhizer.]

hey, can i use this method to sync my network drive to arcgis online? would that require to follow these steps or do i have to do additional work? is it possible to sync my network drive with arcgis online

[robertphillips]

Hi Aaron -- thanks for the video, but that's not actually why I'm leaving this note. It's regarding your paperback rebinding video. No doubt you got lots of negative feedback from "real" bookbinders. I thought your approach was creative and good-looking, even if there were 3 or 4 or 5 small to medium shortcomings in the execution. If you're still interested in the possibilities, you might want to check out a video series called "Men in Sheds" (one of the subjects is a gifted art bookbinder).

[poIaris.]

great tutorial! just wondering, does the workflow still apply if i use google sheets?

[Ryany]

Thank you very easy to understand. Now to figure out how to do it with data I am creating from an API call. Thinking API -> csv -> overwrite or something like that

[gonzo]

Great tutorial.
If we have WFS service over hosted feature layer, will be also wfs service updated?

[LILIYAZ]

Thank you so much for great video. Can you please make a video how do you automate for CAD-files. And for files that have different projections system. Thanks in advance.!!!

[azGodz]

Aaron great video! Can you show us how to download data from AGOL using scripts? Thanks man!

[zimengding]

Thanks, Aaron! Would you mind creating a GitHub repository to share the codes?

[aravinthkumarb]

Hello Aaron, Thank you, Great video. I am wondering whether it is possible to access all the hosted feature layers from the ArcGIS portal using Python API, I have accessed the feature layers but my goal is to access only the hosted feature layers in the portal.