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Support "Contains" when searching for features in maps and apps without need for wildcard characters %

1149
8
04-26-2023 02:05 PM
Status: Open
BrittanyBurson
Frequent Contributor

This idea is really to bring back a functionality that previously existed, but was removed in one of the latest releases of ArcGIS Online.

We need the ability to easily search using Contains when searching for features in maps and apps, especially for our City's enormous number of public facing apps that are built for a user who varies wildly in tech familiarity.

The new search update requires the wildcard character % added to the start of the search.

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In the past you could search using Contains without the need to designate a leading wildcard character.

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8 Comments
RyanBohan

If the field is not indexed, please automatically add a % to the search.

The general public would rather the search take an extra second or two, to get their desired results.  They want to find information on 02663L.  Currently they need to either type exactly STR-02663L or add the wildcard %.  Even if I add a hint 99% of users will just start typing.

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Looking at the number one search engine, no need to add a wild card %.  

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RussRoberts

With the index you do not have to enter in the STR- to search for that location

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We also added the ability to add these indexes without having to touch the map or the previous authored search to generate the index. To add your own index you can go to the hosted feature layer, go to Settings tab, and add the index under Manage indexes.

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Thanks again for the feedback

 

BrittanyBurson

Hi @RussRoberts thanks for the reply.

It is super exciting to see Spatial and Field index management come to hosted feature layers! Do you know at what version this will be available for Enterprise?

RyanBohan

Thank you @RussRoberts,

Is there a way to add indexes to hosted feature layers I do not own?  Can indexes be added to a rest service endpoint, that I also do not own?

If it is within my organization, I can contact the owner and have them add it, however with publicly shared data, that is not always an easy ask.

The layer I am working on is hosted on Enterprise Portal 10.8.1.  Adding Indexes is not an option, so I have included Placeholder text to help users with their search.  It would be ideal to be able to configure the search options to automatically include the "%" wildcard.

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RussRoberts

@RyanBohan 

Indexes can only be added through the owner or admin. Indexes can be added to the service at the REST endpoint. I would recommend looking at the addToDef request in the console to see how full text indexes are added. Update def is not supported on FT indexes only Add and Delete. 

Thanks for the feedback on the none-hosted case and will review it with the team and see if we can improve it.  

For the leading wildcard case are users using the suggestions based off that or is it unique enough if you enter in the characters to find the result?

 

@BrittanyBurson I don't have an exact release yet. It may make it into 11.2 for hosted layers in enterprise but cannot guarantee.

RyanBohan

That for you information regarding enterprise.  The layer I am working with is hosted in enterprise while a Rest Service is approved and consumed in AGO.  

The Short Term Residential Occupancy have a permit starting with STR- this means the public would have to exactly STR-02663L.  If they typed STR 02663 or STR - 02663, they would get zero results

I understand it's a slower search, but I would very much rather the public gets the results they are looking for, so please add an option to automatically append "%" for search terms.

Thank you,

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AdamNellessen

We recently upgraded to ArcGIS Enterprise 11.1. Most of our published services use non-hosted data sources (e.g. SQL Server database registered with ArcGIS Server). As such, the recommended method of creating an index to a hosted layer is not available. While we can provide the hint message to lead with a % in the search bar for users, it is not intuitive to require users to perform that action. Even a check box in the search configuration allowing for double wildcard / contains searches would help.

I opened a case with Esri Support who informed me there is no current OOTB functionality for a full double wildcard search aside from manually typing in % at the beginning. The recommendation was to post in ArcGIS Ideas for this to be included.

Are there any plans aside from requiring users to perform the unintuitive step of adding a % for wildcard searches?

AndrewOldham

@AdamNellessen We just upgraded to 11.1 are in the same situation with non-hosted data sources (e.g. SQL Server database registered with ArcGIS Server). Did Esri ever give you a solution better than the %?

I'm already getting users inquiring about their searches not working. Mostly on ID's that they don't want to type out the whole string. Ugh.

I had inquired about this a while back, but all responses then were around AGOL and/or related to hosted datasets. I'm having a hard time tracking down anything about the non-hosted services.

Thanks!