idea Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list in ArcGIS Dashboards Ideas

Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

DerekPhyn — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:07:49 GMT

In Operations Dashboard (Enterprise Portal 10.7.1) the Category Selector item is great for easily filtering all the content across all the items in the dashboard by whatever category value a user selects. However, when using categories from Grouped Values there does not appear to be a way to set a default value for the dropdown.

Use case is I have a dashboard set up as a template but now want to use that to make a copy for each of a number of districts such that the data shown for each district defaults to their district when they open the dashboard, but then they can still use the category selector to explore other district's data if they need.

We tried using the None Option and inserting the Label of a council for the default value but this does not work.

It would be great if this functionality could be enabled. Simply a way of selecting one of the values in your category selector dropdown as the default value. Please vote up.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

WillWoodroof — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 13:04:31 GMT

Yes this would be a great addition. I need this as well!

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

AlessioDiLorenzo — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 09:14:01 GMT

Absolutely necessary and urgent!

This is my use case: I have a category selector populated with grouped values and the only way to set one of the values as default is to choose the single selection option for the category selector widget.

One of the requirements of my dashboard is to have a default selection at start, while the users have to be able to select one or more of the grouped categories when they are interacting with the dashboard. The problem is that if the selector is set to be multiple, it is not possible to define a default.

It simply does not make sense and it is very hard let understand this limitation to the users, particularly if they are non-technical people.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

LACountyCIO — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:43:57 GMT

I'm having a need for this enhancement.

Currently only Single selection is allowed, however, this is also restricted to First and Last and should have the option to have user input of a defined value.

This would also be true for Multiple selection. If the user can define the value ( similar to an exact filter value), I wouldn't think have selection set to single or multiple would create a problem.

Thanks for the consideration.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

Theram7 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 21:00:49 GMT

Does anyone know if this functionality is now available? I would like to establish default category selectors when users open the dashboard.

Thanks,

Thera

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

AlessioDiLorenzo — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:52:18 GMT

@Theram7 no, not available yet!

You can just order your categories in some way and then choose first or last category as default. Moreover this option is available only if the selector is single select.

I hope to see this and other features (such as table sorting) implemented in the next version!

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

AndrewKesterton — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 05:03:58 GMT

+1 for this, I know we can use some other field to reorder the selector but it gives a bad user experience, with the default option then at the top or bottom of an otherwise ordered list.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

ChristopherCounsell — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 00:07:49 GMT

We also need this! Really surprised that something as powerful as dashboards can't support custom default filter values. Makes it difficult to have a preconfigured table with option to show others - I've had to split it into two tables now.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

DougBrowning — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:12:56 GMT

Also needed here. Thanks

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

Cierra_Scriven — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:22:14 GMT

This would save me clicks on a several dashboards that I use daily

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

RobertArens — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:39:29 GMT

Hi, are there any news or new ideas here?
With the single selection it is basically possible to specify a default value, but unfortunately not with the multiple selection.

This would be really helpful and save clicks, as the user would then not have to activate or deactivate any categories in order to have a predefined map which they use most frequently at start.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

dougholland75 — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:31:28 GMT

This is definitely needed and I was just searching for this exact feature. I have a category selector with the option to select multiple values and really needed a way to default the selection to one of those values.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

LindseyGreidanus — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:08:58 GMT

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

MHami — Fri, 02 May 2025 14:56:01 GMT

Needed here too.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

pearly — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:24:44 GMT

needed

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

MHami — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:51:27 GMT

Also needed. Would like to set category selector default to current year, and to allow the user to select multiple years if they so desire.

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

KymKelly1 — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:23:36 GMT

Needed - PLEASE!!!

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

CortWilson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:12:29 GMT

Needneedneedneedneeeeeeeeeeeed

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

NW-TiffanyMangerGISS — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:54:17 GMT

+1 please!

Re: Allow user to define default value for category selector dropdown list

DonegalGIS — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:22:18 GMT

Original idea was proposed in 2021. It's now 2026 and still not added. Come on ESRI Dashboards, help us users out here. This functionality would make user interaction much more efficient and targetted, with the added benefit of being able to explore data beyond the initial default.