How to search for features in a shapefile layer?

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05-18-2010 09:26 PM
LorenAmelang
New Contributor
New ArcGIS Explorer 1200 on new Win7 computer. Old shapefiles with parcel outlines and ownership data.

In ArcExplorer 2.0.800 I could click the binoculars and get a "Find Features" window where I could search for any value in my dbf file. Type a word, pick the "theme" to search, and click find, and it would list all matches. Pick one and it would highlight, pan, or zoom to it.

I can open the same shapefiles in 1200, and there is still a "binoculars" icon, but it searches some online database of the whole world instead of the features in my shapefile dbf. I've been able to get my shapefile data to popup and tooltip properly, but there are 84 MB of data to search through, so there is no hope of manually stumbling across the bit I want. I'm pretty sure I've looked in every corner of the new version, and I can't find a way to search my features.

What am I missing?
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4 Replies
MichaelBranscomb
Esri Frequent Contributor
Loren,

There are no default tools for searching FeatureLayers (shapefiles, Geodatabase feature classes, etc) but there are some great Add-Ins available for searching / selecting feature layers - I've listed them here but you can also go to http://www.arcgisonline.com > Tools. Taking a look at the variety of ideas here about how people would like to interact with data in ArcGIS Explorer indicates may indicate why there's nothing out of the box. However - we'll consider this for inclusion in a future release.

Find Features: http://www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=77d649f30a7b4bf9b9781b8b9a44499b

Query Features: http://www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=187ece93958e4e7a86f918a00df0f36b

Query Plus: http://www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=86d1eb20b0564b9f8a528e0e723ae3e6

Select-o-Matic: http://www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=42ee1150bd2943a69ea274b70d5c0e03

Table Viewer: http://www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=ee882a6bef9c4ae4be6cebd2e631ab4f

Regards

Mike
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MichaelBranscomb
Esri Frequent Contributor
Loren,

You might also want to take a look at the new ArcGIS Explorer version 1500 which will be released shortly. There is some new functionality for querying layers (including Shapefiles). It's not a straightforward "search" as such but it is does provide a more powerful query capability.

Regards

Mike

P.S. If you try http://www.arcgis.com/home/search.html?q=Explorer%20Add-In&t=content you will see all the ArcGIS Explorer Add-Ins currently on ArcGIS.com.
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SerenaCain
New Contributor
ESRI-

I think it's best to use the find window to look for features in layers. I know we can use the query to select features, but you have togo to tool and build query which most of explorer audiences do not really appreciate.

I suggest ESRI should enable current Find function to be able to look for features in layers.

Thank you,
Serena
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DustinDunnill
Occasional Contributor
ESRI-

I think it's best to use the find window to look for features in layers. I know we can use the query to select features, but you have togo to tool and build query which most of explorer audiences do not really appreciate.

I suggest ESRI should enable current Find function to be able to look for features in layers.

Thank you,
Serena


I strongly second that suggestion.
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