Erase Tool

[ChrisRumig]

Move the erase tool to an ArcView or ArcGIS Standard license.

Why does the Erase Tool require an ArcInfo or ArcGIS Advanced license other than it's a left over from the days of  Arc/Info Workstation??
Even a less powerful GIS like MapInfo allows users to run functions like erase without an upgraded license.

C'mon ESRI

[JessicaBonsell]

Agreed! I've had this issue at my workplace. A fellow GIS worker wanted to do exactly what the Erase tool does, so I went to ArcToolbox and discovered that I couldn't use the tool at all, simply because the computer didn't have an ArcInfo license (like mine has). We had to fix her problem in a round-a-bout sort of way when it could have been completed in five seconds!

[KeithDarby1]

I would like to see the erase tool that is in ArcMap to be used for users that have the standard license. I don't understand as to why you need the advanced license in order to use this tool. 

[WillAnderson]

Agreed. Esri, throw caution to the wind and make it available for those of us slumming it in Basic License land.

[JenniferBorlick]

One of the things I don't understand is why the Erase tool is only available at the Professional Plus/Advanced Level. Can we drop that to the Creator/Basic level, especially considering that it is now available at the the Creator Level in ArcGIS Online?

[KoryKramer]

In ArcGIS Pro, when you open the Erase tool, there is a banner that references the Pairwise Erase tool. Pairwise Erase is available at all license levels: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/analysis/pairwise-erase.htm#L_ 

[JenniferBorlick]

That's nice to know. So, how hard is it to move the Erase tool to Basic? Is the code for that "trapped" behind other code that's only available at Advanced?

I would honestly prefer to see Erase go away entirely to reduce confusion. I've been annoyed at this being in Advanced for years. We're looking at restructuring our licenses and just about got more than we needed for this tool.

[KoryKramer]

I'm in touch with the team, Jennifer, regarding your question on level of effort. We will keep the community updated through this idea's status. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the new Pairwise Erase tool in Pro. There are a number of considerations we take into account when deprecating tools and given the vast number of scripts, models, and other workflows that will have the Erase tool in them, we won't do anything hasty. 

[JenniferBorlick]

I can only imagine... Thanks for considering it. Another thought is to figure out a way to re-direct people who want to use the Erase tool and get blocked by the license to the Pairwise tool other than a message that says that it works better...

Just throwing things against a wall trying to see what sticks. There's a pretty big price jump between Creator and Professional +. I'm glad I found this out before we did the license switch. This one tool plays a factor in the licenses we're looking at.

[SimonSchütte_ct]

@JenniferBorlick I´d recommend you checking out this list: ArcGIS Pro Functionality Levels (Geoprocessing Too... - Esri Community

[JenniferBorlick]

Perfect! Thanks @SimonSchütte_ct !