Use expressions to do the following tasks:
- Define conditions that retrieve the features you want from a feature source
- Select features for an operation
- Specify criteria for styling or labeling
- Define split/merge rules
Layers
This area is displayed only when you search. Click 
.
- Add Layer
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Adds another feature layer to the search operation.
- Delete
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Deletes the selected layer from the search operation.
- Layers list
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Lists the layers to search.
Menus and Toolbar
Inserts elements into your expression.
- Property
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Displays a list of properties. Select a property to display its values. For example, for a Parcel feature with a Street_Address property, you can examine the Street_Address values and choose only parcels on a particular street.
Properties are sometimes called attributes in other GIS systems. Properties can provide demographic, physical, historical, and other data about a geometric feature.
- Operator
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Displays a list of math, comparison, and logical operators.
- Math Function
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Displays a list of math and numeric functions, including standard trigonometric operations, as well as functions for absolute value, exponents, and others.
- Text Function
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Displays a list of functions that operate on text properties and are useful for formatting the results of text-related queries.
- Date Function
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Displays a list of functions that return the current date or operate on a date string.
- Locate on Map
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Specifies a location as a filter when you draw it on your map. For example, select all items within or touching a specified circle, rectangle, or polygon that you draw.
- Geometric
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Displays the geometric elements Area2D and Length2D. Each of these elements takes only the argument Geometry. Using that argument, the expression determines the area or length of the data on the layer. You can then create an expression that filters data by its size. For example, you can select only pipes longer than 50 feet.
- Conversion
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Displays a list of options for converting strings from one format to another. For example, you can convert text strings to dates, and then select only items before or after a particular date.
- Undo/Redo
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Reverses or reinstates your most recent edit.
- Math operators
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Inserts +, -, *, or / into your expression.
- Comparison operators
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Inserts Boolean comparison operators (equal to, less than, greater than, and so on) into your expression.
- Logical operators
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Inserts AND, OR, or grouping parentheses into your expression.
- Get values
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Displays a pane that lists property values. Select a property from the list and click the green arrow to see the values for that property. You can filter the list. If the list is long, use Previous and Next to page through it. Select a value and click Insert Value to add that value to your expression at the insertion point.
Expression area
Displays the current expression.
Lower command area
- Validate
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Checks whether the current expression is valid. If it is not, a message helps you determine where the problems are.
- Clear
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Deletes the current expression.
- Zoom Extents
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Zooms to the extents of the selected feature source.
- Show Location
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If you have defined a location condition, click that part of your expression. Then click this button to display the location extents in the drawing window.
- Options
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Displays options for saving or reusing expressions and hiding or showing startup tips and tooltips.