The unofficial, actually-fun guide to ArcGIS Experience Builder. From blank canvas to production apps — written for humans, not robots.
Pages, rows, columns, sidebar, fixed/scrolling, Flow Row, responsive design, screen groups, sections, and building layouts that don't break.
✓ LiveMap tools, search, layer list, legend, bookmarks, selection, 2D/3D, web maps vs web scenes, data connections, and ground-level tips from years of use.
✓ 18 lessons liveList, Table, Chart, Filter, Group Filter, Edit, Near Me, Query — connecting everything to data and making widgets talk to each other.
✓ 18 lessons liveWidget-to-widget communication, message actions, data actions, URL parameters, record selection triggers, and building truly interactive apps.
✓ 18 lessons liveThe new theme system, custom colors, typography, accessibility compliance, branding, dark mode, and making your apps look professional.
✓ 18 lessons liveDynamic text, styled returns, conditional styling, HTML output, Button icons, performance patterns, and real-world Red Cross operational scripts.
✓ 21 lessons liveDeploying apps, embedding, permissions, page visibility, login widget, performance optimization, and sharing with the right audience.
✓ 18 lessons liveCustom widgets? WAB migration? Developer edition? 3D scenes? Suggest a topic and it'll get built in the same style.
Esri's official docs are comprehensive but dense. Blog posts are scattered across years. Community answers are buried in threads. This guide exists to be the single resource that's actually fun to read — with real examples, honest tips, and the patterns that actually matter when you're building apps under deadline.
Every guide follows the same structure: Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced, with copy-paste code blocks, "think of it this way" analogies, gotcha warnings, and quizzes. Written for people who know GIS but are learning the builder tools.
Built by Dragon (Jeff Franzen) · American Red Cross GIS · Powered by Claude
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