Selection Tools for ArcMapTM

Feature Selection and Advanced Data View Tools

The CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar, which is included with all of the CEDRA AVseriesTM software (ArcGIS® implementations), as well as with the Avenue Wraps 2nd Edition book, provides a number of feature and table selection tools. These tools are intended to enhance the user interaction with ArcMap. In designing the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar, CEDRA developers took into consideration that there would be two types of users who would be working with these tools:

The first type were those who had previously worked extensively with ArcView GIS. After spending years working with ArcView GIS, these users are now faced with the task of getting comfortable with the ArcGIS environment. Many of these users will notice that the commands which appear in the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar, shown below, were some of the most widely used tools in ArcView GIS. Even though these tools did not provide GIS functionality, they were an essential part of how an ArcView GIS user operated in the ArcView 3.x environment. From this point of view, the CEDRA-ArcView3 Tools toolbar can be used as a means of assisting this type of user in becoming comfortable with ArcGIS. That is to say, ArcGIS users can interact with ArcMap in a manner similar to how ArcView GIS users operated in the ArcView 3.x environment.

The second type of user is one who has never previously worked with ArcView GIS. This type of user will still find the tools in the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar useful because they reduce the number of "clicks" a user has to make in order to perform a simple task. For example, take the task of clearing the selection set for a layer or a table. Using native ArcMap functionality, the user has to: (1) right-click on the name of the layer or table in the Table of Contents, (2) click the Selection menu item and then (3) select the Clear Selected Features command. If more than one layer or table is to be processed then these 3 steps have to be repeated for each layer or table. Using the Clear Selected Features tool, which is the third tool from the left in the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar, the user can: (1) activate the layer or layers to be processed and then (2) pick the Clear Selected Features tool. A much easier and faster way of clearing the selection set for a layer(s) or table(s).

CEDRA-ArcView3 Tools toolbar

CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools Toolbar

The premise for the operation of the tools in the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar is that the user activates or selects the layer(s) and/or table(s) in ArcMap's Table of Contents. The tools then process the selected layer(s) and/or table(s). This approach varies from conventional ArcMap, in that, ArcMap requires that the user defines which layer(s) are selectable by using the {Selection} [Set Selectable Layers] command. The ArcMap approach requires 4 "clicks" while the CEDRA approach requires only 1. Furthermore, during a typical ArcMap session, the user will more than likely wish to change the selectability of a layer. Using the ArcMap approach the 4 "clicks" will add up, while the CEDRA approach of activating or selecting the layer or layers is a more efficient and flexible method of making a layer selectable.

The CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar is fully compatible with Versions 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 of ArcGIS®.

Presented below is a comparison of how the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools operate versus their ArcMap counterpart. The tools are described in a left to right fashion beginning with the left-most tool, Identify Features. Note that the CEDRA Approach tries to "streamline" the operation of the tool for which it was designed for.

1. Identify Features

This tool is used to list or identify the attributes that are associated with a selected feature.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Pick the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools Identify Features tool.
    • Select the feature in the map to be identified.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Pick the Selection menu item.
    • Pick the Set Selectable Layers sub menu item.
    • Click in the square to the left of the layer(s) that are to be made selectable.
    • Click the Close button.
    • Pick the ArcMap Identify tool.
    • Select the feature in the map to be identified.

2. Select Features

This tool is used to select a feature or group of features in the map.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Pick the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools Select Features tool.
    • Select the feature(s) by making a pick or dragging a rectangle in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Pick the Selection menu item.
    • Pick the Set Selectable Layers sub menu item.
    • Click in the square to the left of the layer(s) that are to be made selectable.
    • Click the Close button.
    • Pick the ArcMap Select Features tool.
    • Select the feature(s) by making a pick or dragging a rectangle in the map.

3. Clear Selected Features

This tool is used to clear the selection set for the active or selected layers in the map. This tool will also handle tables in addition to layers.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Click this tool to clear the selection set for the active or selected layers in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Right-click on the name of the layer in the Table of Contents.
    • Pick the Selection command.
    • Pick the Clear Selected Features command.
    • Repeat the above three steps for each layer to be processed.

4. Zoom to Full Extent

This tool is used to zoom to the full extent of the map. There is no difference between the CEDRA and ArcMap tools which provide this functionality. This tool is only provided because the icon is familiar to ArcView GIS users.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Click this tool to zoom to the full extent of the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Click the ArcMap Full Extent button to zoom to the full extent of the map.

5. Zoom to Active

This tool is used to zoom to the extent of the active or selected layers in the map.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Click this tool to zoom to the extent of the active or selected layers in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Right-click on one of the active or selected layers and select the Zoom to Layer command.

6. Zoom to Selected

This tool is used to zoom to the extent of the selected features in the active or selected layers in the map.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the feature(s) to be processed.
    • Click this tool to zoom to the extent of the selected features in the active or selected layers in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Select the feature(s) to be processed.
    • Pick the Selection menu item.
    • Pick the Zoom to Selected Features sub menu item.

7. Turn All Themes On

This tool is used to make all layers in the map visible.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Click this tool to make all layers in the map visible.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • As of this writing there is no equivalent for this tool in ArcMap.

8. Turn All Themes Off

This tool is used to make all layers in the map invisible.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Click this tool to make all layers invisible.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • As of this writing there is no equivalent for this tool in ArcMap.

9. Delete Selected Features

This tool is used to delete the selected feature(s) in the map.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the feature(s) to be processed.
    • Click this tool to delete the selected feature(s) from the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Select the feature(s) to be processed.
    • Pick the Editor button.
    • Click Start Editing command. If more than one dataset is present, select the dataset to be edited.
    • Click the Delete key on the keyboard.

10. Delete Polyline/Polygon Vertices

This tool is used to delete a group of vertices in a polyline or polygon feature. To use this tool, the user selects a polyline or polygon feature, confirms the selection and then defines a rectangle that encloses the vertices to be deleted. Upon completion of the rectangle definition the vertices are deleted and the selected feature is redrawn. The user is then able to define another rectangle to delete another group of vertices, if so desired. The tool is terminated when another tool is selected. There is no ArcMap equivalent of this command.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Click this tool.
    • Select the feature to be processed.
    • Confirm the selection.
    • Define a rectangle that encloses the vertices to be deleted.
    • Repeat the above step to delete another group of vertices or select another tool.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • As of this writing there is no equivalent for this tool in ArcMap.

11. Open Theme Table

This tool is used to open the attribute table for the active or selected layers in the map. This tool will also handle tables in addition to layers.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Click this tool to open the attribute table for the active or selected layers in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Right-click on the name of the layer in the Table of Contents.
    • Pick the Open Attribute Table command.
    • Repeat the above two steps for each layer to be processed.

12. Switch the Selection Set

This tool is used to switch or reverse the selection set for the active or selected layers in the map. That is to say, whatever is selected will become deselected and what was not selected will become selected. If the layer contains no selected features, then all features in the layer will be made selected, providing a quick way of selecting all features in a layer. This tool will also handle tables in addition to layers.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Select the layer(s) in the Table of Contents.
    • Click this tool to switch or reverse the selection set for the active or selected layers in the map.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Right-click on the name of the layer in the Table of Contents.
    • Pick the Selection command.
    • Pick the Switch Selection command.
    • Repeat the above three steps for each layer to be processed.

13. Set the Active Layer

This tool is used to place the Editor in an edit state. Upon selection of the tool, a list box is displayed containing the names of the layers in the Table of Contents. The user then selects the layer that is to be edited. The tool will then place the Editor in an edit state and make the selected layer the target layer. Additionally, the current task will be set to Create New Feature. If the Editor is already in session and a layer is selected that is not currently editable, the current edits will be saved without requiring confirmation from the user, and the new layer is made editable.

  • CEDRA Approach
    • Click this tool.
    • Select the layer to be edited.
    • Click the OK button.
  • ArcMap Approach
    • Click the Editor buttons.
    • Click the Start Editing menu item.
    • Select the dataset to be edited.
    • From the drop-down list to the right of the Target label select the layer to be edited.

As stated at the top of this page the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar is included with all of the CEDRA AVseriesTM software (ArcGIS® implementations), as well as with the Avenue Wraps 2nd Edition book. In addition, it is also included with all of the CEDRA Demo Packs (ArcGIS® implementations). Users who simply wish to license the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar can simply order the CEDRA Avenue Wraps 2nd Edition CD. The CD includes the CEDRA-ArcView3-Tools toolbar in addition to the Avenue Wraps software and is the most cost-efficient means of licensing the software.

To download an order form, provided you have the Adobe Acrobat® ReaderTM program or the ability to process a .pdf file, click on the following link AVseries Publication Order Form. Simply fill out the form, specifying the appropriate tutorial manual and demo pack that is desired, and return the form to The CEDRA Corporation by: (a) emailing the form to cedra@cedra.com, attention Purchasing, (b) faxing the form to 585-262-2042, or (c) mailing the form to the address shown at the bottom of the form.

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