Indicate in the map that a "selection of zero records" is applied

[Bud]

ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1 (ArcMap doesn't seem to behave this way)

Geoprocessing tools, selections, and filters

"When applying a selection or filter, a selection of zero records can result. For example, selecting a value that is not present in the attribute field results in a selection of zero records. A geoprocessing tool that uses the layer as input will use no records from the input. This case is typically accompanied by a warning indicating that the input or output is empty."

That applies even if the "Show Selected Records [Only]" in the attribute table option isn't used.

Thoughts:

That behaviour is surprising to me. I would have thought if no records were selected, then the selection wouldn't be honoured (or the selection wouldn't exist). But that's not the case. 

Although, I think I understand why it was designed that way. It would be equally surprising to accidently utilize all records, if you were expecting your selection to only return a subset of records.

I'm aware that GP tools indicate the following: "Use the filtered records: 0". And as the docs suggest, "This case is typically accompanied by a warning indicating that the input or output is empty." Screenshot of the GP output message.

However, this is such a special case, that I'm wondering if more can be done in the map to make it clearer to users that a selection of zero records is currently applied.

Idea:

Make it more obvious in the map that a selection of zero records is currently applied. When looking at the usual indicators in the attribute table or in the map tab, it isn't obvious that a selection is applied.

While the GP tool does indicate it, I wonder if there are other use cases where we would have no way of knowing that a selection was applied, such as Python scripting.

Edit: To be clear, "0 of 4 selected" in the attribute table, and "0" at the bottom right corner of the map tab don't necessarily tell us that a selection of zero records has been applied. "0 of 4 selected" and "0" could be true if there isn't a selection applied, which is an entirely different scenario.

And I hinted at this earlier, but I'l clarify: The Clear buttons in the attribute table and in the bottom-right corner of the map tab are greyed out, which would suggest that a selection is not applied. But that's not the case, a selection has been applied. The fact that those Clear buttons are greyed out is inconsistent with the Clear buttons in the ribbon and in the Contents Pane —> Selection tab. The latter buttons are not greyed out, which paints a confusing picture for the user.

Related: Attributes Pane — Update common field in multiple FCs using single action

[JonathanNeal]

@Bud On the contents pane click the Selection toggle to see the count on each layer.
Also, the Table and Map views will give a count.

For clarity, are you thinking a contextual ribbon tab called Selection?

[Bud]

@JonathanNeal 

Thanks for pointing out the Selection tab in the Contents Pane.

I don't know exactly what the ideal solution would be in terms of clearly indicating that there is a "Selection of zero records" in the map.

Related: Esri Case #03514864 Selection of zero records: Clear selection button in Attribute Table is unavailable

[Bud]

Related: Display selection criteria (SQL) in the Layer Properties window

[MErikReedAugusta]

@JonathanNeal 

I see two issues here, personally:

Issue 1 - Inconsistent behavior between the various buttons

I just checked, and Bud's right, and this is something I've never noticed.

Steps:

1. Select by Attribute
2. Search for a value that doesn't exist in the data.  I looked for "foo" in a StructureType column.
3. Result is a NULL selection (which I didn't know was possible)

Confirmation (with NULL selection active):

1. Map View UI
   1. Clear button greyed-out
   2. Indicates 0 selected
   3. 
2. Attribute Table
   1. Clear button greyed-out
   2. Indicates 0 selected
   3. 
3. Contents Pane, Selection Tab
   1. No selections mentioned at all
   2. 
4. GP Tool, Table to Excel
   1. Indicates NULL selection is active
   2. 
5. Map Ribbon, Selection Group
   1. Clear button is not greyed-out
   2. 

Essentially, items 1-3 indicate that I have NO selection active.  Items 4 & 5 indicate that there IS a selection active, but it's EMPTY/NULL.

Which brings me to:

Issue 2 - There is a distinction between a NULL selection and NO selection.

1. NULL selection
   • There's a selection active, but it contains no records.
2. NO selection
   • There's no selection active at all

This behavior is so confusing that I honestly wonder if this is intentional or if it's (at least partly) a bug.

[MErikReedAugusta]

For clarity, I also had a definition query active when I was pulling those screenshots, but I just confirmed that the behavior is identical with that definition query turned off.

[Bud]

Regarding @MErikReedAugusta‘s point #3:

As mentioned in Esri Case #03514864; ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1; Mobile Geodatabase:

Under normal circumstances, a selection of zero records is shown in the Contents Pane —> Selection tab:

Screenshot:

However, that doesn't work properly when ArcGIS Pro is first opened in a new session. It only works after a proper selection that selects at least one record has been performed. Then a subsequent selection of zero records will be displayed in the Contents Pane —> Selection tab.

Is that an additional bug? "Selection of zero records is not displayed in Contents Pane Selection tab in new ArcGIS Pro session."

Video:

[Bud]

It would also be good if the attribute table made it crystal clear if a selection is applied. For example, at the bottom where it says “0 of 3 selected”, change that text to “0 of 3 selected (selection applied)”. Or something better.

[Bud]

BUG-000164132: The 'Clear' button under the Contents pane selection tab is missing when selecting zero records in ArcGIS Pro

BUG-000164133: The clear button is grayed out when selecting zero records and ensure consistent behavior for the clear button in ArcGIS Pro

[Bud]

@JonathanNeal 

If you are considering adding a "contextual tab to the ribbon called Selection", then you could also consider including this functionality: Save a Selection Set.