|
| 1 | +# Migrate from ArcGIS |
| 2 | +[[toc]] |
| 3 | + |
| 4 | +This guide is intended for current ArcGIS and ArcGIS field data collection tools users who consider switching to <QGIS link="en/site/forusers/download.html" text="QGIS" /> and <MainPlatformNameLink />. It might be helpful also for <MainPlatformName /> users looking to transfer their data from the Esri ecosystem. |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +From our experience, users highlight cost savings, interoperability and flexibility when using QGIS and <MainPlatformName /> in comparison with <NoSpellcheck id="Esri's" /> ArcGIS tools for field surveys such as Collector, Survey123, QuickCapture or Field Maps. |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +:::tip Getting familiar with <MainPlatformName /> |
| 9 | +Switching to a new platform can be challenging. This documentation is here to help with the basics as well as some more advanced or specific settings. |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +To get familiar with <MainPlatformNameLink />, we recommend starting with the [**tutorials**](../../tutorials/capturing-first-data/). If there are specific topics that are crucial for your workflows, feel free to explore the documentation or contact our <MerginMapsEmail id="sales" desc="sales team" /> or our <MerginMapsEmail id="support" desc="support team" /> to get more details. |
| 12 | +::: |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +## ArcGIS vs QGIS ecosystems |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +In general, ArcGIS is a proprietary software platform while <QGIS link="en/site/forusers/download.html" text="QGIS" /> is based on open-source philosophy. As such, it is usually not easy or straightforward to have a workflow that combines both environments. Nevertheless, there are, e.g., some common [data formats](#data-formats) that can be used in both of them. |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +When it comes to field data collection, there are multiple applications in the ArcGIS ecosystem and also some that can be used with QGIS. One of the QGIS-based applications is <MobileAppName />: a project is created within QGIS and <MobileAppNameShort /> is used to collect, update or browse data in the field. The most similar app to <MobileAppName /> is the ArcGIS Field Maps. |
| 19 | + |
| 20 | +Here is a comparison of the main components of both ecosystems: |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +| ArcGIS | <MainPlatformName /> | Component | |
| 23 | +|---|---|---| |
| 24 | +| ArcGIS Pro* | <QGIS link="en/site/forusers/download.html" text="QGIS" /> | desktop GIS application | |
| 25 | +| ArcGIS QuickCapture | <MobileAppName /> | field survey application | |
| 26 | +| ArcGIS Survey123 | <MobileAppName /> | form-based field survey application | |
| 27 | +| ArcGIS Field Maps** | <MobileAppName /> | field survey application | |
| 28 | +| ArcGIS Maps SDK | [Python client](../../dev/integration/#python-client-module) and QGIS API| developer SDK | |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +*ArcGIS Pro replaced [ArcMap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArcMap) |
| 31 | +**ArcGIS Field Maps replaced ArcGIS Collector since the end of [2021](https://www.Esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/collector/field-mobility/arcgis-collector-on-windows-platform-is-retired/) |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | +## Migrate from ArcGIS to QGIS |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +To migrate the project, we recommend to: |
| 36 | +1. Use the [**SLYR**](#slyr) plugin to transfer the ArcGIS project to QGIS project (including styling, etc.). |
| 37 | +2. Convert your survey (vector) layers (e.g from Shapefile or File Geodatabase) to GeoPackage if not done already by SLYR. |
| 38 | +3. Optionally, convert the rest of the data sources to formats [supported](../../gis/supported_formats.md) by <MainPlatformName /> |
| 39 | +4. Fine-tune the styling and settings of the layers and QGIS project |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +If you consider one-time conversion to open source ecosystem, we recommend to convert all data files you use in the project to formats with open standards. Read more about [**data formats**](#data-formats). |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +To use your QGIS project with the <MainPlatformNameLink /> platform: |
| 44 | +1. [Sign up to <MainPlatformName />](../../setup/sign-up-to-mergin-maps/) |
| 45 | +2. [Install the <QGISPluginName />](../../setup/install-mergin-maps-plugin-for-qgis/) |
| 46 | +3. [Install the <MobileAppName />](../../setup/install-mobile-app/) |
| 47 | +4. Sync the QGIS project to <MobileAppName /> using the <QGISPluginNameShort />. See how the settings done in QGIS translate to the <MobileAppNameShort />. |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +### SLYR |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +The [SLYR tool](https://north-road.com/slyr/) by [North Road](https://north-road.com) facilitates the migration from ArcGIS to QGIS by automatically converting various proprietary Esri data formats, styles and project files to QGIS-compatible formats, such as the conversion of MXD (ArcMap) and APRX (ArcGIS Pro) files to QGIS project files. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +This tool helps users transition smoothly by preserving complex symbology, layouts, and project structure. It simplifies the shift from Esri tools to the open-source QGIS environment, reducing the time and effort needed to replicate existing workflows. |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +SLYR tool offers Community and Licensed version: |
| 56 | +- Community version is open-sourced on <GitHubRepo id="north-road/slyr" desc="GitHub" /> and can be freely installed via QGIS Plugin Manager to extract, parse, and convert Esri `.lyr` and `.style` files to QGIS-compatible formats. |
| 57 | +- Licensed version is closed-sourced and has features such as converting `MXD/MXT` project files to `QGS` or converting various data formats to GeoPackage, and support for exporting QGIS projects to APRX for use within ArcGIS Pro. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +Full comparison of the version can be found on North Road's [SLYR project page](https://north-road.com/slyr/). |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | + |
| 64 | +### Domains |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +ArcGIS Pro [domains](https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/geodatabases/overview/create-modify-and-delete-domains.htm) are used to restrict the valid values allowed in an attribute field. |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +Convert them manually to QGIS drop-down widgets - likely [Value Relation](../../layer/form-widgets) - could be time consuming. You can export the domains to CSV to be imported and set value relation widgets, along with it's custom expression visibility to mimic cascading forms. |
| 69 | + |
| 70 | +We again recommend using QGIS, GDAL algorithms or [SLYR](#slyr) to facilitate the conversion of domains without unnecessary manual work. |
| 71 | + |
| 72 | +### Data Formats |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +**Always use GeoPackage for survey layers** in <MainPlatformName />. If you use other formats it is not possible to detect changes from other users and they may be overwritten. This is one of the [best practice](../../layer/best-practice). The downside is the GeoPackage will have limited support in Esri software, e.g. some GeoPackages just cannot be opened within ArcGIS Pro. Specifically we do not recommended to keep using [Shapefile](http://switchfromshapefile.org) format. |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | +For rest of the layers, both ArcGIS and QGIS can also handle Shapefile, GeoTIFF, GeoJSON, WMS, WFS, and PostGIS layers. See all the |
| 77 | +[supported](../../gis/supported_formats.md) formats. |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | +There are multiple options for data conversion. We recommend using [SLYR](#slyr) processing algorithms to convert project data to GeoPackage (GPKG). You can also use QGIS *Convert format* or *Package layers* processing algorithms. Alternatively, export your data to [formats supported by <MainPlatformName />](../../gis/supported_formats.md) in ArcGIS Pro, if you feel more comfortable doing it there. Data conversion can be done also in the console using the `ogr2ogr` command line tool. |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +## Hybrid setup: using Mergin Maps with ArcGIS |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +It is possible to use ArcGIS and <MainPlatformName /> in a hybrid setup. If you store your data in PostgreSQL/PostGIS database, you can use our [DB Sync](../../dev/dbsync/) tool to synchronise project data from PostgreSQL to <MainPlatformName /> (i.e. storing data in GeoPackages on <MainPlatformName /> server). You still need to have a QGIS project to style your GeoPackage data and set up the project (see the [Migrate section](#migrate-from-arcgis-to-qgis)). |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +This way you can work with your data directly in ArcGIS Pro and also use <MainPlatformName /> tools, such as <MobileAppName /> for data collection in the field. Field data can be synchronised to the <MainPlatformName /> server and then to the PostgreSQL database via **DB Sync** tool for ArcGIS use. |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +Note that this requires using the PostGIS geometry standard (`ST_Geometry`) and not ArcSDE geometry. |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +## Troubleshoot |
| 90 | +Struggling to migrate your projects? We are happy to help you! |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +Book a short video call with our <MerginMapsEmail id="sales" desc="sales team" /> or ask our <MerginMapsEmail id="support" desc="support team" /> your technical questions. We also have an active open-source community: |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +<CommunityJoin /> |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +If you are looking for a professional partner to migrate your workflow, ask our <MainDomainNameLink id="partners" desc="partners network"/> or <LutraConsultingWeb />, the developers of <MainPlatformName />. |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +<PublicImage src="logo_lutra.svg" title="Lutra Consulting Ltd. logo" style="width:50%" /> |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | +## Credits |
| 101 | + |
| 102 | +ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Server, ArcSDE, ArcGIS Survey123, Collector for ArcGIS, ArcGIS QuickCapture, ArcGIS FieldMaps are developed and corresponding trademarks are owned by [Esri](https://www.esri.com/en-us/home). |
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