Filter Tool

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Getting Started
• Basic Panel
• Advanced Panel
• Statistics Functions
• Exporting Results
• Tips & Troubleshooting
• Video Tutorials

Overview

The Filter Tool is a powerful data analysis and export system that enables comprehensive filtering, querying, and exporting of spatial data from visible map layers. This sophisticated tool provides dual-mode functionality with basic attribute-based filtering for simple queries and advanced SQL query capabilities for complex data analysis, combined with high-performance export functionality for seamless data sharing and external use.

Key Features:

• Dual Filtering Modes: Basic attribute-based filtering and advanced SQL query capabilities for all skill levels
• Statistical Analysis: Built-in statistics functions (Count, Sum, Average, Min, Max, Standard Deviation)
• Comprehensive Layer Support: Works with visible FeatureLayers, MapImageLayers, Group Layers, and CSV layers
• Advanced Export System: Export filtered results as Shape or KML files with complete attribute preservation
• Performance Optimization: Layer caching system for improved performance with large datasets
• Case-Sensitive Control: Toggle case sensitivity for text-based queries and precise data matching
• Real-Time Processing: Immediate filter application with visual feedback and error handling

Getting Started

Opening the Filter Tool

1. Look for the Filter icon in the right panel toolbar
2. Click the icon to open the filter panel
3. Choose between Basic Panel or Advanced Panel tabs

What You Can Do

• Filter data from any visible layer
• Create simple attribute-based filters
• Write complex SQL queries for advanced filtering
• Export filtered results for external use
• Analyze specific subsets of your data

Basic Panel

Setting Up a Basic Filter

Step 1: Select Layer

1. Choose a layer from the Layer dropdown
2. Only visible layers will appear in the list
3. Make sure the layer contains the data you want to filter

Step 2: Choose Field

1. Select the Field you want to filter by
2. Fields are the data attributes (columns) in your layer
3. Consider the data type when making your selection

Step 3: Enter Value

1. Type the Value you want to filter for
2. Enter the exact value you're looking for
3. Use appropriate formatting for the field type

Step 4: Apply Filter

1. Click the Filter button (layer-filter icon) to apply the filter
2. Wait for the results to load
3. The map will update to show only matching features

Basic Panel Options

Case Ignore Button: Toggle to make text searches case-insensitive (text-large icon)

Filter Button: Apply the filter with your specified criteria (layer-filter icon)

Reset Button: Clear the current filter to show all features again (reset icon)

Advanced Panel

Creating SQL Queries

The Advanced Panel allows you to write custom SQL queries for complex filtering:

Available Operations:

• = (equals)
• > (greater than)
• >= (greater than or equal)
• < (less than)
• <= (less than or equal)
• <> (not equal)
• % (wildcard)
• AND (logical and)
• OR (logical or)
• NOT (logical not)
• LIKE (pattern matching)
• IN (value in list)
• () (grouping/parentheses)
• IS (null checking)
• BETWEEN (range checking)

Query Examples

Simple Equality:

FIELD_NAME
= 'value'

Numeric Range:

AREA
> 1000 AND AREA < 5000

Text Pattern:

NAME
LIKE 'Forest%'

Multiple Conditions:

TYPE
= 'Harvest' AND YEAR >= 2020

Writing Queries

1. Select your target layer first
2. Write your SQL query in the text area
3. Use proper field names and data types
4. Click the Filter button (layer-filter icon) to execute the query

For detailed SQL syntax help, visit

the ArcGIS Query Builder Help

Statistics Functions

The Filter Tool includes powerful statistical analysis capabilities for numeric fields in your data.

Available Statistics

Step 1: Select Layer

1. Choose the layer you want to analyze
2. Ensure the layer contains numeric fields for analysis

Step 2: Select Field (for numeric statistics)

1. Choose a numeric field from the Statistics Field dropdown
2. This step is not required for Count statistics
3. Only numeric fields (integer, double, single) are available for Sum, Average, Min, Max, and StdDev

Step 3: Calculate Statistics

Click the appropriate statistics button:

• Count - Count total number of records (works with any field type)
• Sum - Calculate the sum of all values in the selected numeric field
• Average - Calculate the mean/average of values in the selected field
• Max - Find the maximum value in the selected field
• Min - Find the minimum value in the selected field
• Stddev - Calculate the standard deviation of values in the selected field

Statistics Features

Recent Results Display:

• Statistics results are displayed in a compact list
• Shows the 3 most recent calculations by default
• Results include the statistic type, field name, and calculated value
• Use the "Clear Results" button to remove all statistics

Combined with Filters:

• Statistics respect active filters
• Apply a filter first to calculate statistics on filtered data only
• This allows for targeted analysis of specific data subsets

Statistics Examples

ℹ️ TIP

Use statistics to quickly analyze your data without opening external tools. Combine with filters for powerful data insights!

Exporting Results

Export Process

Step 1: Set Filename (Optional)

1. Enter a custom filename in the text field
2. Use descriptive names for easy identification
3. Leave blank to use your username as the filename

Step 2: Choose Format

• Shape: Standard GIS format (.shp) for use in other GIS applications
• KML: Google Earth format (.kml) for viewing in Google Earth

Step 3: Export

1. Click the Export button
2. Wait for the file to be processed
3. The file will automatically download to your computer

Export Notes

• Only filtered features will be exported
• Apply your filter before exporting
• Large datasets may take longer to process
• Files include all attribute data from the original layer

Tips & Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Problem	Solution
No layers in dropdown	Make sure target layers are visible on the map
Filter not working	Check field names and value formatting
Export fails	Verify you have filtered results first
Query errors	Review SQL syntax and field names
Slow performance	Simplify queries for large datasets
Empty results	Check that your filter criteria match existing data
Statistics error	Ensure numeric field is selected for Sum/Avg/Min/Max/StdDev
No numeric fields	Layer may only contain text fields - check field types

Best Practices

For Basic Filtering:

• Start with simple field names and values
• Use exact matches for precise results
• Check case sensitivity if text searches fail

For Advanced Filtering:

• Test simple queries before building complex ones
• Use parentheses to group logical operations
• Quote text values and use proper numeric formats

For Exporting:

• Use descriptive filenames for organization
• Choose the right format for your intended use
• Export manageable dataset sizes

For Statistics:

• Apply filters first to analyze specific subsets
• Use Count for quick feature counts on any layer
• Numeric statistics require numeric field selection
• Keep results visible to compare multiple calculations

Field Types and Formatting

Text Fields:

• Use single quotes around values: 'Forest'
• Use LIKE with % for partial matches: 'Forest%'

Numeric Fields:

• No quotes needed: 1000 or 25.5
• Use comparison operators: > 100

Date Fields:

• Use proper date format for your system
• Quote date values: '2023-01-01'

Video Tutorials

Basic Filter Function

Advanced Filter Function

Export Geometry Function