idea Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge in ArcGIS Web Editor Ideas

Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

BlakeMorrison — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 04:18:38 GMT

Hi All,

I'm loving the new web editor and the possiblities it offers.

I've immediately noticed that if I have a single feature that comprises multiple separate polygons, I'm unable to 'explode' them apart. This becomes an issue very quickly if performing multiple split operations at once on a single polygon. Some polygons will be actually split, some will have their verticies split, but still technically be merged together with no way to separate them.

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

SveinungBertnesRåheim — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:52:41 GMT

Seems like a bug?

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge - Status changed to: In Product Plan

CraigGillgrass — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:37:59 GMT

Hello @BlakeMorrison glad you're enjoying Web Editor, appreciate the comments.

The ability to explode multipart features is on the roadmap but I don't have a release that I can provide at this time.

In the meantime, you can use the Split by Polygon to split multipart polygons - not as simple as Explode though.

thanks for the feedback, Craig

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

BlakeMorrison — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:32:26 GMT

Thanks @CraigGillgrass

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

HeatherM_JDI — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:32:40 GMT

@CraigGillgrass can you provide an update on this one? We are also very interested in this functionality.

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

CraigGillgrass — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:34:13 GMT

No updates at this time @HeatherM_JDI it is on our roadmap but has not been assigned to a release.

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

BrianMcAuslan1 — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:38:16 GMT

its using a creator license. Explode is required for us

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

Bill_VS — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:50:38 GMT

I agree entirely!

In my current workflow (Environmental Resource Permit mapping), I find that the SPLIT tool will NOT split 2 or more non-adjacent polygons from one another. This means that if I have a polygon consisting of 2 or more merged but non-adjacent polygons (this is generally called a "region"), I cannot "split" one from another, and I cannot select and delete one without deleting them all.

Imagine if each of the 8 major islands of Hawai'i were considered a single polygon consisting of 8 non-adjacent polygons. If you wanted to take Honolulu from that grouping and turn it into a single polygon, the only workflow currently would be to digitize Honolulu over again as a separate feature, and then split or reshape the Honolulu piece of the region until it wasn't visible. Very work intensive, without much return for effort.

Please expedite this request!

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

CraigGillgrass — Tue, 05 May 2026 17:49:30 GMT

@Bill_VS appreciate the feedback. The Explode tool is on our roadmap but has not been assigned to a release.

I believe you can accomplish what you're trying to do with Web Editor today. The Split tool can split 2 or more non-adjacent polygons from one another (i.e. multiple parts in a multiple geometry) - try using the Split by Polygon option and encircling the polygon parts you want to split.

Once you split the parts into their own feature, you should be able to work with them as you need to.

If I'm missing something in your use case, let me know. The Explode tool is on the roadmap but as I mentioned above, not yet assigned to a release.

Re: Explode Tool - to round out Split and Merge

Bill_VS — Tue, 05 May 2026 19:29:14 GMT

@CraigGillgrass that works! Thank you!!!