idea Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

PiotrIwaniuk — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 18:53:53 GMT

When one has many features to show in this tiny window, i.e. from big professional database, sometimes it's problematic and takes time to find the one feature class you need. Especially if you see many schemas you need to search through to all of them. If there was a dynamic kind of filter (as a header I guess?) it would be easy to i.e. type the user name to show all tables he particularly owns.

I'am aware that there's a search window, but, in my opinion there wouldn't be a problem if those two functionalities were functioning side by side.

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

PiotrIwaniuk — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 05:44:40 GMT

Also, if you select something in the tree pane, you can copy the path of the item from the Location field above. If it's selected in the content panel this path is still only for the container selected in tree pane. If I want to copy whole path e.g. for the python script, I need to select it in the tree pane, not in a container. If the tree branch for this connection is big (it's usually not short)... Try to find it on the tree when you have hundred tables.

Filter Layers by Search

KevinLacefield — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 19:22:38 GMT

When adding a layer in ArcGIS or finding a layer in ArcCatalog, it would be beneficial to auto filter available layers based upon text being entered. The filtering happens as you type, no need to actually hit enter or search.

For example if you want a building layer added into ArcMap start off by typing B-u-i-l then you’ll get only the layers within that directory or database that have Buil within their name. In our database it would take a list of hundreds of layers and only show two: BASE.FAC_BUILDINGS and GIS.CTY_FAC_BUILDINGS. The way it works now you have to scroll through all the layers, which takes time.

Safe Software's FME product does this and it helps so much when adding layers from SDE, which has hundreds of layers.

Quick Find Filter in ArcGIS Pro

LisaGibbons — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 21:40:03 GMT

The ArcCatalog Quick Find Tool would be a great addition to ArcGIS Pro, making filtering data (especially SDE connections to large databases) easy.

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

DerckVonck — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:37:31 GMT

We have similar problems with HANA databases that list thousands of table from the SAP BW schema. Being able to filter on the geodatabase connection would be great.

Re: Quick Find Filter in ArcGIS Pro

KoryKramer — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 12:30:52 GMT

https://community.esri.com/thread/28170

Re: Quick Find Filter in ArcGIS Pro

Frank_Veldhuis_MCGOV — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 20:19:42 GMT

Sure wish the Quick Find tool was available in Pro. It would be a great way to find feature classes, maps, layouts, etc. I use Quick Find in ArcCatalog every day to quickly filter down a large enterprise geodatabase to the feature classes that I need work or adding to a map. It really limits the amount of scrolling in my day.

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

Frank_Veldhuis_MCGOV — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 21:21:40 GMT

I use the Quick Find tool in ArcCatalog. I sure wish it was a feature in Pro. The current indexing doesn't ever work for me, hardly ever. The Quick Find tool filters what is on screen. Oh and it is fast. I'm trying to get the same quick find in Pro or maybe an option to replace the index with a find. Anything that works is better than the current indexing.

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

KoryKramer — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 22:11:43 GMT

Thank you for the comment @Frank_Veldhuis_MCGOV be sure to give the idea kudos to up the vote count!

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window - Status changed to: Under Consideration

NaicongLi — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:16:25 GMT

Catalog pane — Easily filter objects in a specific geodatabase/connection

Bud — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 02:25:25 GMT

In the Catalog pane:

It would be helpful if we could easily filter objects in a specific geodatabase/connection.

For example, search a specific enterprise geodatabase for the word "sewer".

I'm aware that there is a search bar in the Catalog pane. But I've never had any luck using it.

In ArcGIS Pro 2.6.8, it always just says, "Indexing is in progress. Please wait or search again later."

I posted a related question in July 2022: Searching for an object in Catalog hangs

The same thing happens when I search a geodatabase using the Catalog View.
And in ArcGIS 3.0.3 (a different computer), the search doesn't produce any results, even though there are feature classes in a mobile geodatabase with "sewer" in the name:

The same problem happens with file geodatabases.

So my assumption is that search functionality isn't designed to work the way I want it to.

Notes:

I don't really utilize projects much, other than creating a project in order to use ArcGIS Pro. I simply explore data in Catalog and occasionally add objects to the map to see what they look like.
One of the reasons is: It's often best to start from scratch when doing testing. I'd rather start with a new project than use an old one, to make sure there aren't any lingering issues in the project that would compromise the test.
So I don't want to index a geodatabase in a project file. I want to open a new project and easily search my enterprise geodatabase connection without any other overhead. That kind of thing is possible in a SQL client like SQL Developer (Oracle). No indexes required. So I don't see why an index is needed when searching geodatabase objects in ArcGIS Pro.

Re: Catalog pane — Easily filter objects in a specific geodatabase/connection

BranislavBlagojevic — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:30:24 GMT

Typical for ESRI! Pseudo/false-features, half-implementations, half-hearted or no testing, pompous announcement of new versions and...BUG, BUGS, XXXBUGS! Yes, Bugs are an inexhaustible source of ESRI's new versions of ArcGIS Pro, and always in progressive progress!
Your problem is the problem of many of us, (never solved!), but not ESRI's! Check it in the next version and see for yourself.

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

NaicongLi — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:39:16 GMT

Hello @Bud ,

We have merged your idea, together with its kudos, into this idea thread, since it is about the same desired functionality.

When you have time, could you please add your kudo to this idea, so that you vote won't be lost?

We appreciate your feedback, and look forward to more of your ideas!

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

simoxu — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 08:34:54 GMT

It should be working fine in ArcGIS pro, if I understand the question correctly.

All you need to do is to set your geodatabase indexing, this is turned off by default!

Please check it out:

"To index the contents of an enterprise database—which can be resource intensive—you must do two things: add the database to the project with the Add Database command .

and set your indexing options appropriately. At the next incremental index update, the contents are indexed."

From <https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/projects/index-project-items.htm#GUID-07D6A013-47CB-435C-B595-DD7DB616A098>

Re: Quick filter in Contents Panel in Catalog Window

TimMinter — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:12:51 GMT

Indeed, this would be useful. Much like we can do with ADS (Azure Data Studio) or SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio).

cheers,

tim

ArcPro: Search by name in Catalog

ZachBodenner — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:07:42 GMT

The Catalog View/Pane in ArcPro should have a native feature to search and/or filter datasets. Many databases and folders full of shapefiles contains hundreds and hundreds of datasets. ArcPro's catalog locations have a search bar the feels like it should already do this. Indeed if you plan to search Portal content, it works very well. What it does not do is actually search through data in a database.

The filter function in this bar is similar; it will filter through items in the project (folders, maps, etc), which is useful, but not as useful as it could be. The expanded database in the photo above has multiple hundreds of tables and views. Many of the ones I use regularly start with "rpt". This means that they are neither near the top nor bottom and require a deal of scrolling to find. Why can't I just search that text string and be taken/filter only those that match the string?

Similar ideas have been posted but they are pushing a decade old and refer to ArcCatalog specifically.

Re: ArcPro: Search by name in Catalog

AlfredBaldenweck — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:01:15 GMT

Yes, please! Catalog's search function is always very disappointing.

Re: ArcPro: Search by name in Catalog

Luke_Pinner — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:11:54 GMT

I wrote a toolbox script tool years ago I still use that just reports data matching the search string, which I then copy and use in the Add Data from Path dialog. A simple filter would be preferable.

Re: ArcPro: Search by name in Catalog

ZachBodenner — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:07:34 GMT

@Luke_Pinner , we definitely shouldn't need to write custom python scripts to add data to a map!

Re: ArcPro: Search by name in Catalog

TimOrmsby — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:00:12 GMT

@ZachBodenner the database in your screenshot is an enterprise geodatabase. Those aren't indexed by default (therefore not searched). Same for network drives. You can turn indexing on for these locations in the ArcGIS Pro Options dialog box. Not sure if that's a complete solution for you, but if you haven't tried it, give it a try.

Related doc:

How projects are indexed

Manage the index