multiple searches in arcgis online
In this message I have been redundant in stating the problem and what is needed. Hopefully the redundancy makes the problem and solution more understandable. It is somewhat complex.
This is what we are trying to achieve: be able to run an OR-type search against any column or columns in a web service layer using the ArcGIS.com map viewer, ArcGIS Collector (iOS), or ArcGIS Explorer (iOS). We are currently using ArcGIS for iOS on mobile devices and it would be better if the searches work there as well but I don't want to make that a distraction. The next two sentences outline the problem. Currently, by creating a map using the ArcGIS.com map viewer, we can (see Footnote A) setup one search for one column per web service layer. If we have a second column in that same web service layer that we would like to search against, it cannot be setup. We would like the ability to search any or all columns within the same web service layer.
I agree that there may be a need for advanced queries that return selected sets of features and not filter features out, like our current filter does, but there are no plans to expand the simple search box to handle this case.
Mike M., you call these advanced queries but they are simple. Our end users would use these searches frequently. In the ArcGIS Explorer Online days, it was a little more complicated for those of us who created the queries but simple for the end users.
Here is one example of how we used to be able to setup and use multiple searches. We have an older web map that was built with ArcGIS Explorer Online. Image 1 and 2 below reference this web map. A map service layer in that web map has two columns that we would like to search against. Since the map was built with ArcGIS Explorer Online, we can search against either of these columns, just as we prefer (see Footnote B). We can search either column in both ArcGIS for iOS or in ArcGIS Explorer Online. What is key here is we have two searches setup against the same web service layer. This cannot be achieved in the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
Thus, it doesn't support an interface where you identify multiple fields and an attribute value for each field. There is a filter layer option that allows you to do this, that filters the display to match the query.
The filter layer option is much more difficult to use than the old search functionality we had with ArcGIS Explorer Online. Our users will not use it...it is too complicated. Another problem is that the filter layer option does not carry through to ArcGIS for iOS, ArcGIS Collector, or ArcGIS Explorer. Even if it did, our users would not use it due to its complexity. We used to setup in ArcGIS Explorer Online did carry through to ArcGIS for iOS. That was a pretty good scenario.
Paul Lohr, If ArcGIS Explorer Online will work for you, you could use it. However, be aware that ArcGIS Explorer Online was retired December 2013, and thus is no longer under active development--no bug fixes or new capabilities are being added. Note, ArcGIS Explorer Online is not to be confused with our newer product, Explorer for ArcGIS.
ArcGIS Explorer Online no longer works as it should. ArcGIS Explorer Online does not support secured web services which we must use.
Footnote A - I have one map service layer that the ArcGIS.com map viewer will not setup any searches against.
Footnote B - Searches in ArcGIS Explorer Online have quit working at some point. There is an issue with the pop-ups. The user can no longer type in their search criteria.
Image 1
Both of these searches (queries) run against the same web service layer. This is not possible with the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
Image 2
This is the search dialog in ArcGIS for iOS for the same map that is shown above. Again, both of these searches run against the same web service layer. No longer possible to setup with the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
