HOW TO

Display only selected features on a map in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: October 17, 2024

Summary

In ArcGIS Pro, specific features can be selected or filtered to be displayed on the map. The map below shows the point features representing the villages, towns, suburbs, and islands in West Malaysia. This article provides three workarounds to display only the point features representing the islands in West Malaysia on a map.

The map displays the point features representing the villages, towns, suburbs, and islands in West Malaysia.

Procedure

Use one of the workflows below to display only the selected features on a map.

Select and export the features

This workaround creates a new feature layer by exporting the selected features. Refer to How To: Export selected features from a feature layer in ArcGIS Pro for the workflows to export the selected features. The image below shows the new feature layer containing the exported features, Malaysia_location_island, generated and displayed on the map.

The map of West Malaysia with the new feature layer and only the islands.

Symbolize the specific feature with its unique value

Symbolize the features in the feature layer by using its unique value. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Unique values for instructions. To modify or remove features from displaying on the map, refer to ArcGIS Pro: Modify unique value symbology for more information. The image below shows the point features representing the islands in West Malaysia symbolized and displayed on the map.

The map of West Malaysia with point features representing the islands symbolized and displayed.

However, if there is no unique value in the feature layer, create a new field and populate the field using Field Calculator. Refer to How To: Symbolize specific features of data in ArcGIS Pro for instructions.

Create a definition query

This method filters the existing feature layer based on the attribute information using a definition query and does not create a new feature layer. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Create a definition query for a layer for instructions. In this example, a definition query is applied to the malaysia_location feature layer to display point features that contain 'island' in the PLACE field.

The map of West Malaysia map with the point features that contain 'island'.

The image below shows the point features representing the islands in West Malaysia displayed on the map without creating a new feature layer.

The map of West Malaysia with the malaysia_location layer filter.

Article ID: 000027580

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 8 x
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 7 x
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 x

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