To evaluate properties

To evaluate properties in an expression using an operator

  1. Open the Expression Editor. See To create an expression for more information.
  2. Do one of the following to add a property to the Expression Area:
    • Enter a property name manually.
    • Double-click to select a property from the expression elements menu.
  3. Add an Operator to the Expression Area:
    • Enter an operator manually.
    • Double-click to select an operator from the expression elements menu.
      Use the following types of operators:
      • Math Operators

        For example, to determine the total amount spent on parts and labor for a pipe repair project, use the expression: PIPE_PARTS_COST + PIPE_LABOR_COST

      • Comparison Operators

        For example, to find buildings whose assessed value is $100,000 or more, use the expression: VALUE >= 100000

      • Logical Operators

        For example, to find only buildings that have a value for the TERMINATION_DATE property, use the expression: NOT TERMINATION_DATE NULL

      • Date-time operators are also valid, depending on the field type. If you are an advanced user, add one of these operators to an expression using its FDO syntax. See the Date-Time Operator Reference for more information.
  4. Manually input the desired value to evaluate or Select the value from the Values Pane.
  5. To create a complex property evaluation, insert an AND or OR operator, and then insert another property, operator, and value combination.

    Precede every operator with a property. For example, to find buildings whose creation date is after 1990 and before 2005, use the expression: CREATION_DATE > 1990 AND CREATION_DATE < 2005

  6. Click OK to apply the expression.

To evaluate properties in an expression using a function

  1. Do one of the following to add a function to the Expression Area.
    • Enter a function manually .
    • Select a function or option from a menu.
      Note: You can use the following types of functions:
      • Math Operators

        Math operators perform arithmetic functions. For example, to round the bank width value for water features up to the next whole number and then find water features whose rounded bank width is more than 4 feet, use the expression: Ceil(BANK_WIDTH) > 4

      • Numeric Functions

        Numeric functions operate on properties whose values are numbers. For example, to round the height of buildings down to the nearest lower whole number and then find buildings whose rounded height is less than 8 feet, use the expression: Floor(ROOF_HEIGHT) < 8

      • Text Functions

        Text functions operate on textual values. For example, to convert pipe names to all uppercase letters, use the expression: Upper(NAME)

      • Date Functions

        Date functions operate on date values. For example, to add one month to the start date for a project, use the expression: AddMonths(START_DATE, 1)

      • Geometric Functions

        Geometric functions may include Area, Length2D, M, X, Y, and Z (depending on the data source). For example, to find buildings whose area is greater than 10,000 square feet, select the Buildings feature class and use the expression: Area2D(GEOMETRY) > 10000

      • Conversion Functions

        Conversion functions change values. For example, to display “None” if the property USE_TYPE is null, use the expression: NullValue(USE_TYPE, 'None')

  2. Manually input the desired property into the expression after the function to evaluate or select a value from the Values Pane.
  3. To create a complex property evaluation, insert an AND or OR operator, and then insert another operator, property, and value combination.
  4. Click OK to apply the expression.