Is it possible to create an inverse mask?

[jdruding]

I know how to create a mask where you mask out features that are INSIDE a polygon. (i.e. hide features inside a polygon) Feature Layer->Appearance->Masking  Is there an option to do an INVERSE mask where you hide features that are OUSIDE a polygon?  (i.e. hide features outside a polygon)

I found a way a cludgy way to kind of do what I wanted by using Select By Location,  and deleting or filtering features that are outside of the polygon but that gets messy where features cross the polygon border and involves messing with your data.  Seems like there must just be an "inverse mask" feature that I'm missing.  Maybe it has a different name? 

[CarlMorrison · Accepted solution]

Hello,

One method I use is to create a "doughnut" polygon such that the center of the polygon is what is to be shown and beyond is masked to the outer boundary.

Carl

[GiaimeTocco]

Which is a great solution to come out with after you spent A-HUGE-AMOUNT-OF-MONEY to buy a software to be supposed to do way more complex tasks than that. ARCGIS is pointless.

[LLyons]

Where/how do you create a donut polygon?

[CarlMorrison]

The method I use is to create a polygon, but do not click F2 or finish when first boundary is drawn, instead right click and select Finish Part or F4.  Then create and interior or exterior polygon to the first polygon, then click Finish.  You will have a "doughnut" which can then be used to mask another layer.

[LLyons]

Thanks!

[jdruding]

Great idea!  Thanks Carl, I'll give that a shot.  

[JayantaPoddar]

You could use Clip Layers (Map Properties)

Exclude the layers whose view you don't want to clip (including basemap).

[AndyDixon]

This would be amazing, except it doesn't exclude my basemaps. It still clips everything

[Cheyne]

It does include basemaps, but it's automatically selected as an exclusion that needs to be unchecked.