topic Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL? in ArcGIS Online Questions

Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

GeorginaCutler — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:00:05 GMT

All i want to do is create some basic interactive filters in arcgis online that feed through into a web mapping application. I have a dataset with various attributes of text, numerical, and date fields and all i want to do is provide a drop down box for the user to be able to filter on them. Is there a max number of data types that shouldnt be exceeded? I have search the forums and all i get is a long winded way of creating domains and subtypes in catalog or loading in various scripts. It should be a lot more simple than that surely? I have a good dataset of attributes (that I'm not going to type in manually in a domain). The hope is that the user in the web map can chose to filter on Stage, date completed and client using the drop down boxes based on the data that is in there. EsriCommunity-esristaff

Many thanks, Georgina

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:43:19 GMT

I suppose you are defining the filters in the web map and you will consume the web map in some web app. Would it be possible to use the Web AppBuilder to configure the web application? If so, WAB has a filter widget that is very easy to configure: Filter widget—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS | ArcGIS

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 19:34:21 GMT

Is there anyway to use the Filter widget and select multiple filters as an OR versus AND. Like a list of filters for tree types and I want to see one type or i want to select two by checking the box.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

DerekLaw — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 23:17:17 GMT

Hi Melissa,

You can define multiple filter expressions in the Filter widget, when the first one is applied, the following filters will then work on the subset returned from the first filter.

Hope this helps,

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 20:44:43 GMT

Hi Derek, in your example if I understand it correctly filters a subset of the previous filter so like if I had a layer for trees and I filtered on "Maples" I could then filter the Reds, Sugar etc.

But what I want to do is filter by Maples and\or Pines. I imaged I could create 2 filters and when I selected one filter it would show me Maples if I select Pines filter it would show me pines but if I selected both the maples and the pines filters I would get both. I am guessing maybe the filter widget is not the correct widget to use for this type of functionality. -Melissa

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:04:10 GMT

It would be great additional feature to have a filter support expressions like TREE IN ('Maples', 'Pines'). Being able to select multiple values and filter on them.

For now you could create a nested filter that contains with the ANY option so in case any of the two filters is true, it should return the features (see example below, both point to the same layer and the result is that the two states are returned).

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:26:19 GMT

To explain a little more of what is needed to do this, here some additional explanation. In WAB select the filter widget:

Then Add a New Filter, select the layer (in mi case "Accidentes_QA") and give the filter a title (in my case "Filter accidents"). Very important is to add a set (of filter expressions):

The filter expression will look like this:

Not that at the top "Any" is selected (so any of the expressions that test true will yield its results, comparable with using OR)
Select the field (i my case "GRAVEDAD (String)")
Select that a list of Unique values is presented}
Switch the option "Ask for values" on
Define the prompt (what the user will see): "Severity is" would be for instance select tree species or something similar
Select the option "All unique values of this field"

The second field will be the same field (in my case again GRAVEDAD (String)).
Unique values
Ask for values
define the second prompt (add "or" in front of it)
select again "All unique values of this field"

When you use the filter you will see this as initial state:

You can use a single value:

Or specify both values:

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:08:59 GMT

Gottcha! The only thing I am not seeing is the Prompt. In the example below I have "Business Sector is" yet no prompt is seen in the widget?

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:15:38 GMT

That is interesting. Can you share a screenshot of the configuration of the widget?

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:26:27 GMT

Hi Melissa Prindiville , I am not seeing the screenshot.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:31:04 GMT

I tried again as an attachment.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:41:44 GMT

Hi mprindiville_gis , that is strange, it should show the prompt.

I notice that from your previous screenshot the title of the filter was "Filter by sector" while in the image attached the name is "Select a sector". Are they the same?

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:53:09 GMT

Yes I changed the title.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:01:46 GMT

You are using the Web AppBuilder of ArcGIS Online, not a locally installed WAB, right? It should display the prompt and the hint that you specified.

Can you save the WAB and refresh your browser (Ctrl+F5) to see if that changes anything?

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:11:23 GMT

I don't see anything in the documentation that could explain this behavior: Filter widget—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS | ArcGIS . In case the problem persists, you may want to contact support to help you determine what is causing this.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MelissaPrindiville — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:20:36 GMT

Thanks I will do a bit more research and post what I find. Thanks for your help!

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MariusKokko — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:22:01 GMT

I'm not sure if this is the right topic, but I'm struggling to create a web app with several filters (for one point layer) that would allow the selection of ZERO, 1, more than one or ALL of the unique values. For example I'd like to create a filter that would select from the Permitting status any of the unique values or any combination of these unique values (for example LUP 0, LUP 1 and LUP 4 as in the attached screenshot). Can it be done?

Thanks,

Marius

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

XanderBakker — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:34:46 GMT

It would be best to branch this to a new question. You can define a set of expressions combined with the OR statement to filter based on multiple values in the same field as explained in this post further up: https://community.esri.com/thread/202483-why-is-it-so-hard-to-apply-interactive-filters-in-agol#comment-721104 . I don't think selecting none or all would be very functional (providing there are no empty values) since it would show none or all features.

It would be a great addition to have something as a multi select to show only the features that match the selected values in a single control without the need to create multiple controls.

CC dlaw-esristaff‌, KGerrow-esristaff‌

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

MariusKokko — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:49:00 GMT

In case of, let's say 10 filters, with 10 unique values in each filter the solution above would be if not impossible to do, at least very tedious to configure and use.

Multiselection with a tickbox or something would be nice.

EDIT: Admin feel free to branch this in to a new question.

Re: Why is it so hard to apply interactive filters in AGOL?

DerekLaw — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:33:07 GMT

Hi Marius,

> I'm struggling to create a web app with several filters (for one point layer) that would allow the selection of ZERO, 1, more than one or ALL of the unique values.

You may want to look into Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS, specifically its actions framework and selector functionality. This might address your needs.

Hope this helps,