Creating Expressions - Dialog Box

Layers

This area is displayed only when you click Edit menu Search.

Add Layer

Adds another feature layer to the search operation.

Delete

Deletes the selected layer from the search operation.

Layers list

Lists the layers that will be searched.

Menus and Toolbar

Inserts elements into your expression.

Property

Displays a list of properties. Select a property to display its values. For example, for a Parcel feature with a Street_Address property, you can examine the Street_Address values and choose only parcels on a particular street.

Properties are sometimes called attributes in other GIS systems. Properties can provide demographic, physical, historical, and other data about a geometric feature.

Operator

Displays a list of math, comparison, and logical operators.

Math Function

Displays a list of math and numeric functions, including standard trigonometric operations, as well as functions for absolute value, exponents, and others.

Text Function

Displays a list of functions that operate on text properties and are useful for formatting the results of text-related queries.

Date Function

Displays a list of functions that return the current date or operate on a date string.

Locate on Map

Specifies a location as a filter when you draw it on your map. For example, select all items within or touching a specified circle, rectangle, or polygon that you draw.

Geometric

Displays the geometric elements Area2D and Length2D. Each of these takes only the argument Geometry. Using that argument, the expression determines the area or length of the data on the layer, which allows you to create an expression that filters data by its size. For example, you can select only pipes longer than 50 feet.

Conversion

Displays a list of options for converting strings from one format to another. For example, you can convert text strings to dates, and then select only items before or after a particular date.

Undo/Redo

Reverses or reinstates your most recent edit.

Math operators

Inserts +, -, *, or / into your expression.

Comparison operators

Inserts Boolean comparison operators (equal to, less than, greater than, etc.) into your expression.

Logical operators

Inserts AND, OR, or grouping parentheses into your expression.

Get values

Displays a pane that lists property values. Select a property from the list and click the green arrow to see the values for that property. You can filter the list. If the list is long, use Previous and Next to page through it. Select a value and click Insert Value to add that value to your expression at the insertion point.

Expression area

Displays the current expression.

Lower command area

Validate

Checks whether the current expression is valid. If it is not, a message helps you determine where the problems are.

Clear

Deletes the current expression.

Zoom Extents

Zooms to the extents of the selected feature source.

Show Location

If you have defined a location condition, click that part of your expression and then click this button to display the location extents in the drawing window.

Options

Displays options for saving or reusing expressions and hiding or showing startup tips and tooltips.