What, if any, workflows are available to round trip data between ArcGIS Desktop and an ArcGIS Online for Organizations (AGOL) web map with editable feature layers?
For example, we have a web map with an editable feature service layer. Some staff might add features to the map using ArcGIS.com Map Viewer, others with ArcGIS Online Explorer, and still others with ArcGIS Desktop. Nothing needs to be done for the first two, as soon as the map is saved the other application will see it. However for ArcGIS Desktop, the so-called powerhouse in this equation, there doesn't seem to be a way to synchronize or upload changes back to ArcGIS Online. Is this really the case?
There aren't any SDE or databases in the mix, just ArcGIS Desktop with file geodatabase and AGOL.
Update: ArcGIS Server is not involved at all (disregarding that's what Esri uses power AGOL behind the scenes, as there is no meaningful interaction with it from a user perspective).
Best Answer
I'm guessing this will be addressed at 10.2 with offline editing workflow, maybe someone at the devsummit can ask around. You can view Feature Services in 10.1 (actually quick well) but there's no direct editing. There's also the old Disconnected Editing process that works from ArcEditor seats, that may be helpful as well.
links:
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/73521-Enable-Sync-(disconnected-editing-with-synchronization)?highlight=disconnected+editing
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/75789-Updated-shapefile-gt-updated-feature-service
fwiw, the next version Arc2Earth Sync will connect up to your AGOL account. You'll be able to display/edit your feature services using just an ArcGIS Basic license. it's a couple weeks out but we've really simplified the process for connecting to Google Map Engine, CartoDB, Fulcrum and AGOL. it's OnDemand caching too, so it works well for very large layers (millions of features).
this quick video shows Google Maps Engine but the process is nearly identical for AGOL http://www.screenr.com/0ou7
UPDATE - here's a quick video showing live display/editing of AGOL Feature Services directly from ArcMap http://www.screenr.com/nQ67
UPDATE 2 - a new version of A2E has been released, you can try the live AGOL editing out now. http://www.arc2earth.com
cheers brian