List by selection: no selected features are displayed

Question

When you select features in Desktop, you get a handy list of them in the "List By Selection" tab. Pro on the other hand puts a number next to their containing layers in the complete layer list, which basically makes this function useless when you work with dozens of layers nested in multiple groups. Is there a way to bring back or simulate Desktop's approach?

MarlboroughDistrict_Council · Answer

I know this is an old thread, but I've just struck this for the first time in Pro.

Use case is selecting multiple features to input into the Export to CAD tool.

The user selects the features on the map (which are stored in multiple groups).

In ArcMap, the user can change to List By Selection and all the selected layers are automatically moved to the top of the list. The user can easily shift select all of them and drag them into the Export to CAD tool in one go.

In Pro, there does not appear to be a way to view selected features like this. Instead the user has to open multiple groups, do Ctrl-Click within each group and drag those layers into the Export to CAD tool. Its much more time intensive and easy to miss a layer.

Is there any plan to provide an option to sort the Selection panel in Pro so selected layers go to the top?

Thanks.

KoryKramer · Answer

Thanks L R‌

LR · Answer

Sure. Aside from providing a quick look at what's currently selected (and only that) it's mostly useful when I need to do something with the layers containing the selected features, such as creating a new layer from the selection (through the right-click options) or dragging multiple layers into a geoprocessing tool, e. g. for merging or building polygons from their combined features (which works for the whole layer as well if I deselect before running the process).

In short, it saves a lot of time that would be wasted scrolling around in search of the feature's corresponding layers buried somewhere in the TOC.