Set Preferences for Locate Tool

[KellyKoenig]

Currently, when you're using the "Layer Search" feature of the Locate tool, it defaults to "Match Exact."  I typically want to use the "Match any part" option because I am more likely to remember a fragment of a feature's name than the exact punctuation, capitalization, etc., but I often forget to change the default setting before searching and I get no results returned on my first try.

It would be great if you could change the default options in the preferences, or if Pro could remember your previous selection in the same local temp file that determines the layout of all of your windows/panes. 

Locate Tool - Layer Search options

[LaurenLee]

It would also be great to set specific layer preferences (i.e. if you are often searching for a Parcel Number attribute in a Tax Parcel layer) 

[GIS-Chops]

I would take advantage of creating a "locate provider" on the Locate tab instead of using the Layer Search tab. It sticks with the project and you can specify the fields that the provider will search and whether it should contain the search text or match exactly.

I did a video about the locate tool that describes setting up a locate provider here - https://youtu.be/DGBtMEtp-Z0

[ShanaBritt]

There is an option to configure specific fields in specific layers that is stored in the project called 'Locate configured features or records'. Configuring records in a table was added to Pro 2.8. Is this option not feasible for your work? The configured layers are maintained when the map is shared as a webmap to ArcGIS Online or Enterprise portal and can be used for searching as described here, https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-online/create-maps/configure-search-in-apps.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_5831A...

[KellyKoenig]

@GIS-Chops & @ShanaBritt  - Thank you for those suggestions! And apologies for the delay in replying.

Those are great options for ongoing projects and maps that are getting shared online. My workflows involve starting blank projects quite often, so I am hoping for an option that will allow the "match any part" choice to persist across all existing and new projects. 

[SheriNorton]

Our staff use the Locate dialog - Search Layers, but would a way to set a default layer and field (since they're always trying to find parcel numbers in a tax map layer). Can this be done?

[ShanaBritt]

@SheriNorton Is creating a locator to search for the parcel number not an option for your organization?You could use the Create Locator tool with the  Parcel or POI role or Create feature Locator to build a locator that is saved with the project or published as a service and added as a utility service to the active portal ArcGIS Pro is connected to. Adding it as a utility service means it will be available to everyone that has privileges to the service when signed into the portal.

Another option is to configure the parcel layer for search as a locate provider and create a project template from the project that references the parcel layer.