Tutorial: Find features

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to find features in the Locate pane using the layers configured for search.

Get the data

The data for this tutorial is available for download from ArcGIS Online.

1. Go to the item description web page of the geocoding tutorial data.
2. Click Download and save the file locally.
3. Unzip the downloaded file.

Find a feature using a layer created from a local feature class

In this exercise, you'll use the geocoded feature class that was created when you geocoded the table of addresses in the Geocode a table of addresses tutorial, and you'll configure it for search. If you have not completed that tutorial, do so before continuing.

1. Start ArcGIS Pro.
2. Sign in to ArcGIS Online, if necessary.
3. Create a new project. On the start page, click the Catalog template.
4. On the Insert tab, click New Map .

   A basemap appears.

5. On the Map tab, in the Layer group, click the Add Data drop-down menu, and click Data . Browse to the AtlantaPlaces feature class in the Atlanta.gdb geodatabase in the geocoding tutorial folder, and double-click the feature class to add it to the map.

   The feature class is converted to a layer and is displayed as points on the map. You can also see that the layer is listed in the Contents pane.

6. On the Map tab, in the Inquiry group, click the Locate button to open the Locate pane.

   The Locate pane appears.

7. In the Locate pane, on the Locate tab, click the Options button and click Provider Settings to change the active view of the pane.

   The Provider Settings view in the Locate pane is now displayed, and you can see a list of available providers. This list includes any locators that were added automatically through your portal connection as well as any locators that you added to your project locally or through a server connection. You can drag the locators into any order you prefer, modify locator properties, remove locators from your project, and enable or disable locators in the Provider Settings view. Since this tutorial focuses on searching for features in layers, you can disregard the locators.

   

   Note:

   Layers added to the map do not appear automatically in the Locate pane. You must configure them for search first.

8. Add the layer from the map to the Locate pane by clicking the Configure for Locate button .

   

   The Select Layer or Table dialog box appears, which displays all layers or tables currently available in the Contents pane.

9. Select the layer from the list of layers on the Select Layer or Table dialog box, and click OK.

   The Locate pane now displays the Configure for Locate view for the layer you selected.

   

10. To configure the NAME field for search, use the drop-down menu associated with the NAME field and choose Contains, which allows you to perform an approximate search.

    You can instead choose Equals, which configures the NAME field for an exact search, but this option can be somewhat limiting, as input must exactly match the field value you're searching for and is case sensitive. It is best to use Equals when searching for a field value that is always precise, for example, a long ID number containing both numbers and letters.

    If the layer or table to be configured contains fields that have been indexed to improve search performance, those fields are automatically configured for search and the Search Mode is set to Equals.

11. To save your search configuration, click the Save and return to Provider Settings arrow in the upper left corner of the pane.

    The Locate pane now displays the Provider Settings view again, and your newly configured layer is displayed in the list of providers. You can rearrange the order of locate providers in the list, which determines the order in which the search is performed, as well as the order in which results are returned and displayed in the Locate pane.

    

12. Disable all locate providers listed in the Provider Settings view in the Locate pane except for the layer you just added.

    Disabling other locate providers is not necessary for search to function, but for the purposes of this tutorial, it will be helpful to see only the results you are interested in. Additionally, performance is improved when searching against fewer locate providers.

    Note:

    After completing the tutorial, reenable the providers that you routinely use in the Provider Settings view in the Locate pane.

13. Click the Back to Locate pane button in the upper left of the pane to go back to the Locate tab, type museum in the search box, and press Enter.

    Four results display in list format under the name of the layer you just configured, and they display as points on your map. Notice that each has matched because the value in the NAME field contains the word museum.

14. Double-click a result in the list.

    The map zooms to the item's location.

    Tip:

    You can also right-click the candidate and click Zoom To or Pan To on the right of the selected item to zoom or pan to the location of the result on the map.

    Click Zoom To All in the menu to zoom to all matched results on the map.

    Click Detailed View in the menu to display the details of each match result.

15. Right-click a candidate in the list and click Show Details to view detailed information about a feature result.

    The Pop-up pane appears. You can perform several actions, including selecting the feature.

Find a feature using a layer created from an online feature service

1. Start ArcGIS Pro.
2. Sign in to ArcGIS Online, if necessary.
3. Create a new blank project. On the start page, click Start without a template.
4. On the Insert tab, click New Map .

   A basemap appears.

5. On the Map tab, in the Layer group, click the Add Data button .
6. On the Add Data dialog box, click ArcGIS Online , type restaurants in the search box, and press Enter.
7. Double-click Naperville_Restaurants and double-click Restaurants to add it to the map.

   The feature service is converted to a layer and displayed as points on the map. The layer is also listed in the Contents pane.

8. On the Map tab, in the Inquiry group, click the Locate drop-down arrow and click Layer Search.

   The Locate pane appears.

9. In the Locate pane, on the Locate tab, click the Options button and click Provider Settings to change the active view of the pane.

   The Provider Settings view in the Locate pane is now displayed, and you can see a list of available providers. This list includes any locators that were added automatically through your portal connection, as well as any locators you added to your project locally or through a server connection. You can drag the locators into any order you prefer, modify locator properties, remove locators from your project, and enable or disable locators in the Provider Settings view. Since this tutorial focuses on searching for features in layers, you can disregard the locators.

   

   Note:

   Layers added to the map do not appear automatically in the Locate pane. You must configure them for search first.

10. Add the layer from the map to the Locate pane by clicking the Configure layer for Locate button .

    

    The Select Layer or Table dialog box appears, which displays all layers and tables currently available in the Contents pane.

11. Select the Restaurants layer and click OK.

    The Locate pane now displays the Configure for Locate view for the layer that you selected.

    

12. To configure the Cuisine field for search, click the drop-down menu associated with the Cuisine field and choose Contains, which allows you to perform an approximate search.

    You can instead choose Equals, which configures the Cuisine field for an exact search, but this option can be somewhat limiting, as input must exactly match the field value that you're searching for and is case sensitive. It is best to use Equals when searching for a field value that is always precise, for example, a long ID number containing both numbers and letters.

    If the layer to be configured contains fields that have been indexed to improve search performance, those fields are automatically configured for search and the Search Mode is set to Equals.

13. To save your search configuration, click the Save and return to Provider Settings arrow in the upper left corner of the pane.

    You will not be prompted with the message suggesting you index the fields you configured for search for online feature services.

    The Locate pane now displays the Provider Settings view again, and your newly configured layer is displayed in the list of providers. You can rearrange the order of locate providers in the list, which determines the order in which search is performed, as well as the order in which results are returned and displayed in the Locate pane.

    

14. Disable all locate providers listed in the Provider Settings view in the Locate pane except for the layer you just added.

    Disabling other locate providers is not necessary for search to function, but for the purposes of this tutorial, it will be helpful to see only the results you are interested in. Additionally, performance is improved when searching against fewer locate providers.

    Note:

    After completing the tutorial, reenable the providers that you routinely use in the Provider Settings view in the Locate pane.

15. Click the Back to Locate pane button in the upper left of the pane to go back to the Locate tab, type frog legs in the search box, and press Enter.

    One result displays in list format under the name of the layer you just configured, and it displays as a point on your map. Notice it has matched because the value in the Cuisine field contains the words frog legs.

16. Double-click the result in the list.

    The map zooms to the item's location.

    Tip:

    You can also right-click the candidate and click Zoom To or Pan To on the right of the selected item to zoom or pan to the location of the result on the map.

    Click Zoom To All in the menu to zoom to all matched results on the map.

    Click Detailed View in the menu to display the details of each match result.

17. Right-click a candidate in the list and click Show Details to view detailed information about a feature result.

    The Pop-up pane appears. You can perform several actions, including selecting the feature.