ArcGIS Pro 2.5: How to choose fields while working in SQL mode?

[JamalNUMAN]

ArcGIS Pro 2.5: How to choose fields while working in SQL mode?

For example, in ArcMap, fields can be chosen while working in SQL mode. In contrast, in Pro, this appears not to be available when working in SQL mode. Fields can’t be chosen. Am I correct?

[MarcoBoeringa]

Jamal NUMAN‌, as you already discovered, once you start typing in SQL mode, the window will show suggestions of table and field names based on a partially entered text string.

This type of "auto-completion" aligns with most other applications (e.g. DBeaver database IDE, pgAdmin etc.) that support editing and executing SQL, and is pretty much standard nowadays for working with SQL.

Editing and entering SQL is an advanced function, and I think it reasonable that ESRI assumes you have knowledge of both SQL commands, and the schema of the data you are working with. Otherwise, use the Clause mode which is default.

[JamalNUMAN]

Thank you Marco for the input.

What I wanted here is to have the same environment as what’s used to be in ArcMap over the past 20 years. In ArcMap, one can choose fields of a particular layer or table without the need to aim at “auto-completion”.

Of course, the default mode “Clause”, doesn’t cover all the functions

[MarcoBoeringa · Accepted solution]

While I understand the sentiment and equivalence issue, I also think the new solution is in fact more flexible and, as I said, more in line with how other applications handle this. At some point you have to accept that minor things are implemented differently between the applications. Auto-completion, once you get used to it, is in fact quite nice to use, and I personally think a good substitute. But that is my 2 cents...

And of course, you can always open a new ArcGIS Idea

[JamalNUMAN]

The idea is reported here:

ArcGIS Pro 2.6: An environment to choose fields while working in SQL mode?