topic Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer? in ArcGIS JavaScript Maps SDK Questions

Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:19:18 GMT

I have a FeatureLayer map service from which I would like to get a count of the number of features. I would have thought such a thing would be a basic kind of functionality, but looking through the Javascript API for FeatureLayer, I can find nothing that looks like it does that. Unless I'm missing something?

What I would like to do is something like this:

var myLayer = new FeatureLayer("service url here with maybe a filter");

var count = myLayer.count;

Seems to be a basic thing to have - right? I guess not?

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:47:43 GMT

John,

You just do a queryCount.

FeatureLayer | API Reference | ArcGIS API for JavaScript 3.18 | queryCount

and use a where clause like 1=1

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:59:38 GMT

Yeah I just discovered that. Not really what I want, since the feature layers I'm using have already been created using a filter/query, so it's pretty redundant to have to ask the exact same query again on a layer that's already been created using that same query. Would be much simpler to just have something like myLayer.count.

I noticed the 4.1 API has the query as an optional input, but unfortunately I have to use 3.18. I guess it'll have to do.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:05:48 GMT

John,

If you already have a definition query applied and the number of features returned is less then the max feature count then you can just use this simple line of code:

var len = FeatureLayer.graphics.length;‍

You need to be sure that the featurelayer is fully loaded before calling this line though

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:13:47 GMT

Thanks. But when I try that is always returns 0, even though I know there should be either 2 or 5, depending on one of my inputs. Got the other one to work using those same inputs.

I'll play around with it and see if I can get it to work.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 03:14:47 GMT

John,

You have to ensure that the layer is done loading and has the definition query applied:

on.once(FeatureLayer, "update-end", function(){
   var len = FeatureLayer.graphics.length;
});‍‍‍

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:26:56 GMT

I presume that means that merely having already done map.AddLayer(myLayer) isn't sufficient.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:32:53 GMT

Now that I've actually tried it that way, if I understand what I'm seeing correctly, it only "grabs" that number after the entire map has refreshed. Unfortunately I'll need that number to load into a chart that will be shown on the same web map, so I'll need to get that number before the web map reloads, in which case it looks like I'll have to use the query method after all.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 15:40:03 GMT

John,

It does not need the entire map to load but it does not that specific layer to be completely loaded.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:32:29 GMT

OK, follow-up to everything here. I'm using the query method - is there any way to get it to return a value? I want to do something like:

var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '" + SelectedZip + "'";
featLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {
}, newfunction(count));

Then later in my code ...

function newfunction(number)

{

return number;

}

... so that I have access to whatever "count" was. Or maybe:

var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '" + SelectedZip + "'";
featLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {

var num = count;
}, newfunction(num));

... and then again, same "newfunction" as above. I've also tried something like:

var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '" + SelectedZip + "'";
var num = featLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {

return count;
});

So that, once again, I can access "count" elsewhere. Whenever I try to assign a variable within the queryCount function, it disappears into thin air after the function is over and done with, even if I declared that variable globally.

Hope that made sense.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:38:57 GMT

Almost forgot ... I realize I have double-inner function calls and thus need to do a double-return, so I've also tried something like this:

var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '" + SelectedZip + "'";

var num;
num = featLayer.queryCount(query, num = function(count) {
return count;
} return count;);

And variations thereof. But I can't do the "num = function(count)" without getting a syntax error.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 03:14:50 GMT

John,

Here is a sample of how I recommended to get the count using the FeatureLayer graphics length:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1,user-scalable=no">
<title>FeatureLayer</title>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/esri/css/esri.css">
<script src="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/"></script>

<style>
html, body, #map {
  padding: 0;
  margin: 0;
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
}
</style>

<script>
require([
    "esri/map",
    "esri/layers/FeatureLayer",
    "dojo/on",
    "dojo/domReady!"
  ],
  function(
    Map,
    FeatureLayer,
    on
  ) {

    var map = new Map("map", {
      basemap: "hybrid",
      center: [-82.44109, 35.6122],
      zoom: 17
    });

    // Carbon storage of trees in Warren Wilson College.
    var featureLayer = new FeatureLayer("https://services.arcgis.com/V6ZHFr6zdgNZuVG0/arcgis/rest/services/Landscape_Trees/FeatureServer/0", {
      "outFields": ["*"]
    });
    featureLayer.setDefinitionExpression("Tree_Age > 5");
    map.addLayer(featureLayer);
    on.once(featureLayer, "update-end", function() {
      console.info(featureLayer.graphics.length);
    })
  });
</script>
</head>

<body>
  <div id="map"></div>
</body>

</html>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

And here is a sample for doing it using the query from a function:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1,user-scalable=no">
<title>FeatureLayer</title>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/dijit/themes/claro/claro.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/esri/css/esri.css">
<script src="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/"></script>

<style>
html, body, #map {
  padding: 0;
  margin: 0;
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
}
</style>

<script>
var featCnt;
require([
    "esri/map",
    "esri/layers/FeatureLayer",
    "dojo/on",
    "esri/tasks/query",
    "dojo/parser",
    "dojo/dom",
    "dojo/Deferred",
    "dijit/form/Button",
    "dojo/domReady!"
  ],
  function(
    Map,
    FeatureLayer,
    on,
    Query,
    parser,
    dom,
    Deferred
  ) {
    parser.parse();
    var map = new Map("map", {
      basemap: "hybrid",
      center: [-82.44109, 35.6122],
      zoom: 17
    });

    // Carbon storage of trees in Warren Wilson College.
    var featureLayer = new FeatureLayer("https://services.arcgis.com/V6ZHFr6zdgNZuVG0/arcgis/rest/services/Landscape_Trees/FeatureServer/0", {
      "outFields": ["*"]
    });
    featureLayer.setDefinitionExpression("Tree_Age > 5");
    map.addLayer(featureLayer);
    // on.once(featureLayer, "update-end", function() {
    //   console.info(featureLayer.graphics.length);
    // })

    on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
      getFeatureCnt().then(function(evt){
        alert(evt);
      })
    },this);

    function getFeatureCnt(){
      var query = new Query();
      query.where = featureLayer.getDefinitionExpression();
      var def = new Deferred();
      featureLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {
        def.resolve(count);
      });
      return def;
    }
  });
</script>
</head>

<body class="claro">
  <div id="map">
    <button data-dojo-type="dijit/form/Button" type="button" id="cntBtn">Get Count</button>
  </div>
</body>

</html>
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 03:14:53 GMT

Or using a global var:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1,maximum-scale=1,user-scalable=no">
<title>FeatureLayer</title>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/dijit/themes/claro/claro.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/esri/css/esri.css">
<script src="https://js.arcgis.com/3.18/"></script>

<style>
html, body, #map {
  padding: 0;
  margin: 0;
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
}
</style>

<script>
var featCnt;
require([
    "esri/map",
    "esri/layers/FeatureLayer",
    "dojo/on",
    "esri/tasks/query",
    "dojo/parser",
    "dijit/form/Button",
    "dojo/domReady!"
  ],
  function(
    Map,
    FeatureLayer,
    on,
    Query,
    parser
  ) {
    parser.parse();
    var map = new Map("map", {
      basemap: "hybrid",
      center: [-82.44109, 35.6122],
      zoom: 17
    });

    // Carbon storage of trees in Warren Wilson College.
    var featureLayer = new FeatureLayer("https://services.arcgis.com/V6ZHFr6zdgNZuVG0/arcgis/rest/services/Landscape_Trees/FeatureServer/0", {
      "outFields": ["*"]
    });
    featureLayer.setDefinitionExpression("Tree_Age > 5");
    map.addLayer(featureLayer);
    getFeatureCnt();

    on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
      alert(featCnt);
    },this);

    function getFeatureCnt(){
      var query = new Query();
      query.where = featureLayer.getDefinitionExpression();
      featureLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {
        featCnt = count;
      });
    }
  });
</script>
</head>

<body class="claro">
  <div id="map">
    <button data-dojo-type="dijit/form/Button" type="button" id="cntBtn">Get Count</button>
  </div>
</body>

</html>
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:20:32 GMT

Your examples aren't working. I think you have a problem with the feature layers (they don't seem to be loading at all).

My attempts to use a global variable are essentially the same you have above. I declare the variable in the same spot you do, and assign it in basically the same queryCount function you have, but whenever I try to access it *outside* the queryCount function, it returns as undefined.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:24:20 GMT

John,

I am not sure what going wrong on your end as all three of those samples work fine for me. Can you access the url that is in the samples just from you browser address bar?

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:38:34 GMT

The first two are working now, but that's not what I want to do. Just the last one with the global variable still doesn't work - which unfortunately is what I want to do. The button loads but then it just hangs there. I need to have several variables which I need to access outside of the queryCount function, and even outside of the button handler. The variables would be created via the queryCount function, so basically I need that function to return a value. Every time I assign my global variables inside the queryCount function, the value disappears once you get outside the function (again, even though they're declared globally).

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:51:54 GMT

John,

As I said strange. I just tested my last posted sample again and beside missing a comma after "dojo/parser". It work fine for me still. When I click the button I get an alert with 2 as the result.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 21:01:26 GMT

Didn't notice the missing comma. Works now. I'll let you know if I can figure out how to get this into my code.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

JohnAdams — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 22:44:00 GMT

I've narrowed down the issue. According to your code I should be doing this:

----------------------------------------

getFeatureCnt();

on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
alert(featCnt); // this gets saved globally
},this);

function getFeatureCnt()
{
var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '64108'";
featureLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {
featCnt = count;
});
}

--------------------------------------

However, I *need* to call the getFeatureCnt function from within the button handler, like this:

--------------------------------------

on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
getFeatureCnt();
alert(featCnt); // this does not get saved globally
},this);

function getFeatureCnt()
{
var query = new Query();
query.where = "Zip = '64108'";
featureLayer.queryCount(query, function(count) {
featCnt = count;
});
}

----------------------------

Once you arrange it like that, you notice it does not save featCnt globally and you get an "undefined" error message, which is what 's been happening to me. The reason I need to arrange it that way is because I need to do an if-else decision depending on what another variable is, and depending on the answer, pass in a certain value into those functions. Sort of like this:

on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
if (x=="one") getFeatureCnt(1);

else if (x=="two") getFeatureCnt(2);

else getFeatureCnt(3);
alert(featCnt); // this does not get saved globally
},this);

So I'm gonna have to figure out something else.

Re: Is there any way to get a count of the number of features in a FeatureLayer?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 23:50:06 GMT

John,

It is not the fact that the code is not working but you are not understanding the asynchronous nature of the query that is being called. JS code is not syncoronus like other languages, it does not wait for a function to complete before running the next line so when you do:

on(dijit.byId("cntBtn"), "click", function(){
getFeatureCnt();
alert(featCnt); // this does not get saved globally
},this);

The alert is called before the getFeatureCnt has returned from the server and thus your alert of featCnt is undefined. If you are going to force the code to wait for the query return then you have to use a deferred like I did in the second sample I posted.