idea Export Selected in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Export Selected

warrenroberts2 — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:24:29 GMT

When selecting using the Select by Location, why not simply have the results option: 'create layer from selected features' or 'export selected features' in the same dialog?

Re: Export Selected

nadja — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 11:14:06 GMT

I agree. Currently the workflow is to select features, make a (temporary) layer from it and then save this layer. This is not exactly user friendly.

In addition to above idea, I propose to implement the same functionality of "export features" as in ArcMap as this would simplify the workflow. to be precise, ArcGIS Pro lacks the option of "export selection" within the "export features" dialogue. Alternatively, "Selection" - "make layer from selected features" needs the option to save the thus made layer permanently at a chosen location.

Re: Export Selected

KoryKramer — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:24:00 GMT

In ArcGIS Pro, exporting a layer with a selection will export the selected features without having to create a temporary layer first. This is because the export is built on the geoprocessing framework which always honors the selection.

Do you have workflows where you have applied a selection to a layer and then sometimes need to export just the selection and sometimes export the whole dataset by right-clicking the layer?

Re: Export Selected

nadja — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:24:14 GMT

yes, that's the case. sorry, I mixed it up, I don't see how I can export the whole dataset when a selection is still active (and I don't want to undo the selection).

Re: Export Selected

KoryKramer — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:08:53 GMT

Instead of right-clicking the layer with the selection to export, you could right-click the data source (from the Catalog pane) and export...

Re: Export Selected

nadja — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:00:12 GMT

That's an option, but not a user-friendly option.

ArcGIS Pro is really missing this handy feature of choosing what to export within the export dialogue. I frequently switch between "Export Selected Features" and "All Features". I wish, this was implemented in ArcGIS Pro too. Personally, I use the third option "Export Features in View Extent" rarely, but it would be great if this option would also be implemented in ArcGIS Pro nonetheless.

Re: Export Selected

Bud — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:45:27 GMT

It sounds like this idea was about exporting a copy of the selected data.

However, if anyone is wanting to make a feature layer of the selected data, then check out this related idea:
“Select By Location” Feature Layer — Spatial query that is fast, modifiable, and refreshable

Re: Export Selected - Status changed to: In Product Plan

DrewFlater — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:17:47 GMT

An Export Selection button is added to the Select By Attributes and Select By Location dialogs in the Pro 3.6 Beta. This button enables after using the Apply button to perform the selection. Clicking Export Selection opens a content browser window to define the location where the selected records should be written to a new feature class/table.

Re: Export Selected

swiss_parks_network_nbernhard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:35:26 GMT

@DrewFlater cool! Will there be an option to choose if all data or just the selection will be exported in the export features dialogue box?

Re: Export Selected

DrewFlater — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:55:33 GMT

@swiss_parks_network_nbernhard Hi
The export dialog will only be used for exporting the selection set produced by the tool, not "all data".

Re: Export Selected - Status changed to: Implemented

MargaretCrawford — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:21:56 GMT

In ArcGIS Pro 3.6 you can use the Export Selection button on the Select By Attribute or Select By Location tools when you open them in a floating window (such as from the Map ribbon tab or the Attribute Table view).

To use: click APPLY to make a selection without dismissing the tool dialog > click the EXPORT SELECTION button to open a browse dialog box and specify an output location and name > click SAVE on the browse dialog to save the selection as an output dataset.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/navigation/select-features-by-location.htm