topic Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator in ArcGIS Online Questions

Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JRAdams — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:30:11 GMT

In the ArcGIS Online field calculator I am trying to combine a few other fields into one (address field) and cannot figure out how to put a space between the fields. I am sure it is something simple, but I am unable to find the answer elsewhere. Please help! I've tried everything I can think of.

Thank you!!! AGOL Admin fieldcalculator #arcgisonline

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JimmyKroon — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:55:56 GMT

I haven't used the AGOL field calculator, but can you include a space in quotes in the calculation?

{field1} + " " + {field2}

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

KellyGerrow — Mon, 07 May 2018 16:09:03 GMT

Do you need to perform this with field calculator and store this within a field, or would creating an expression using Arcade get you up and running?

Text Functions | ArcGIS for Developers

Use Arcade Expressions to Map Your Ideas

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/js-api-arcgis/uncategorized/using-arcade-expressions-in-web-apps/

-Kelly

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 17:30:40 GMT

I've been trying to figure this one out with a concatenate but no luck:

CONCAT([Field1,Field2,Field3],' ')

Throws an error of 'Unsafe sql expression is not allowed'

This is from the online help as an example:

Concatenate(['red', 'blue', 'green'], '/')

Which is what I used to fashion my expression, but it fails with the same error.

Seems like adding a white space shouldn't need to be so difficult....

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

KellyGerrow — Mon, 07 May 2018 17:58:12 GMT

Hi Joe,

Ensure that your fields are referring to features in your to your feature data and that you use the full Concatenate when referring to the function.

Check out the quick example in this web map:

https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=1267db066ab144e086f84801f5022ef6

The All Dogs field was calculated using the following expression:

Concatenate([$feature.dog1,$feature.dog2,$feature.dog3], ' ')

-Kelly

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:16:56 GMT

Rats- doesn't work for me. Sill getting the Unsafe sql expression not allowed....

Concatenate([$feature.STREAM,$feature.SITEID],' ')

Just two fields with CONCAT seems okay:

CONCAT(STREAM,SITEID)

I must be missing something here.....

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

KellyGerrow — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:19:59 GMT

Are you creating an expression or calculating a field?

Can you send me a link to your web map? Feel free to invite me to a group if you don't want to share the map publicly, Karate_KElly.

-Kelly

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JimmyKroon — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:21:21 GMT

Pretty sure Kelly's suggestion is an Arcade expression not a field calculator expression. The ArcGIS help has a nesting example to concatenate three strings.

CONCAT('A', CONCAT(':', 'B'))

—result is 'A:B'

Pretty cumbersome for a lot of fields. An Arcade expression would be much better.

You can also concatenate multiple fields in field calculator using +, but for me it works fine with only fields, or only strings, but not trying to concatenate fields and strings together. Weird.

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:27:18 GMT

I'm just calculating a new field, following what the OP asked about. I work with addresses often so it sounded like something I'll be faced with sooner or later. Invitation sent....

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 18:29:57 GMT

Thanks Jimmy, I tried the nested approach and it got real ugly after two fields. I tried the + operator as well but that heads south too...

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 19:21:42 GMT

Another reference, another fail:

Use Arcade expressions with Calculate Field—Documentation | ArcGIS Enterprise

provides

Concatenate ([$features["fieldname"], "is", "great!"], ' ')

where fieldname contains a value of GeoAnalytics

and allegedly produces:

GeoAnalytics is great!

I run:

Concatenate([$features["STREAM"],"is","great"],' ')

and it balks with Unsafe sql expression not allowed.....

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JRAdams — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:28:03 GMT

Nope, that one doesn't work in AGOL. Thanks though!

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JRAdams — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:30:05 GMT

I was trying to run as a field calc. Doesn't the Arcade only work on labeling or pop-ups (maybe symbology too?)

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:42:45 GMT

I was able to use Arcade on my test hosted feature with ArcGIS Pro. (Seems kind of lame that you can't do it right there in the AGOL calculator....)

$feature.STREAM+' '+$feature.STREAM+' '+$feature.STREAM

returned the value of the STREAM field with a space between each one....

My guess is you can do the same thing with address components like this:

$feature.HouseNumber+' '+$feature.StreetName+' '+$feature.City+' '+$feature.Zip

(whatever your field names are....)

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

KellyGerrow — Mon, 07 May 2018 21:57:58 GMT

Two methods of concatenating 3 variables with a space in this post. I'm going to summarize both methods so the solution is clear. For this example feel free to use the layer mentioned below. I have left it editable, so that you can test out the differences of the two methods . Using Arcade is the most straight forward and flexible depending on how you plan to use the created field.

Example Web Map and layer

https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=1267db066ab144e086f84801f5022ef6

Create an Arcade expression for displaying in pop ups (or labels or symbology). Arcade can be used to display formatted data as a new field in pop ups or for symbology. If you are using Arcade, any updates to existing data will be displayed in the expression as the expression is created at the time of the pop up to display up to date values.

Steps:

1. Add layer to Web Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7810a6a9ccd0406fb3b7ce7f10aac818

2. Configure Pop Up > Add Attribute Expression

3. Add Expression: Concatenate([$feature.dog1,$feature.dog2,$feature.dog3], ' ')

4. Ensure the created expression is checked to display in pop up (all dogs in this example)

Note: If you want to use this expression as a label or for symbolization, Click New Expression and then select the existing expression to use in web map

Calculate a field value in a table. You can calculate a concatenated field using the calculate field to. This is great for one time changes to data sets. The data will be updated at the time of the calculation and then may need to be updated manually or by calculation if the contributing fields were to change.

Steps:

1. Display data table in Map Viewer or on Data tab of item details page.

2. Add a field to the table (Calculated Field)

3. Ensure the Field is displaying in the table and select calculate

4. Enter the following calculation:

CONCAT(dog1,CONCAT(' ', CONCAT(dog2,CONCAT(' ',dog3 ))))

5. Verify that the calculated field displays correctly.

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Mon, 07 May 2018 22:28:37 GMT

I got that to work in the data tab view. But, I can't seem to apply a calculation to a selected field in AGOL. Everytime I use the calculator it is applied to all fields, not just the selected one....

(first row selected, right?

results with all fields now valued with 'joe'

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

KellyGerrow — Thu, 10 May 2018 15:20:54 GMT

Hey Joe,

If using the calculate option in ArcGIS Online, you need to apply a specific filter in order to only calculate specific fields. Can you log an idea about calculating fields based on table selection on ArcGIS Ideas‌. I think this would be helpful to others also:

Work with fields—ArcGIS Online Help | ArcGIS

-Kelly

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:17:40 GMT

Vote early and vote often! https://community.esri.com/ideas/14979

Kelly Gerrow‌

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:40:58 GMT

Is field calculation in AGOL restricted to Arcade?

Then is the best suggestion is to do the 'work' of field concatenation in ArcGIS PRO or ArcMap? (where you have options, like superior Python )

Re: Add Space Between Combined Fields in Field Calculator

JoeBorgione — Thu, 10 May 2018 20:23:51 GMT

Dan- if a a feature service is hosted on AGOL, you are limited to playing by the AGOL rules. I've done python calculations (my preference; your influence) in ArcGIS Pro on feature services hosted on our own portal....

Dan Patterson‌