idea Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

Bud — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:11:09 GMT

Edited.

When creating a non-spatial definition query clause, it's easy to document the criteria by copying the SQL from clause mode.

However, spatial definition query clauses don't seem to be based on SQL, the clause mode is blank, so we can't copy the SQL for documentation purposes. Alternatively, I'm wondering if a copy button could be added to the definition query window that would copy the spatial definition query parameter info as text to the clipboard.

I'm aware that I can take a screenshot of the dialog. That works for some documentation purposes, but text is required for others.

Do spatial definition queries use SQL or ArcObjects?

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

AlfredBaldenweck — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:01:57 GMT

What does the definition query look like if you switch to clause mode? I'm not in 3.5 yet so I can't tell.

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

Bud — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:03:36 GMT

@AlfredBaldenweck The clause mode is blank:

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

JoshuaBixby — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:25:18 GMT

The spatial component of a definition query cannot be easily copied, or maybe copied at all, to the clipboard because it is stored as binary data. Also, depending on what kinds of geometries are used, the size of that binary data could be quite large.

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

AlfredBaldenweck — Mon, 19 May 2025 13:58:01 GMT

That's pretty sad. I'd settle for basically exactly what we see in the screenshot:

[select * from table] where TYPE <> "Farm" AND Intersects County(Layer)

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

Bud — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:46:33 GMT

Yes, I’d settle for that too.

Re: Spatial Definition Query — Copy parameters as text to clipboard

Matt-Huser — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:01:05 GMT

Another idea would be to allow the detailed information to be viewed only if you export the definition query to its .exp file

I was disappointed to find there isn't a way to get the entire definition query when using the spatial component.