Frequently asked question

Why is no data returned for a spatial selection or identify operation on very large geodetic features stored in an Oracle Spatial database?

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Answer

Identify or spatial selection operations may fail to return any data when the selection point is nearer the midpoint of a long line segment and further from the vertices of the feature.

This is expected behavior for data stored in a geodetic coordinate system in an Oracle Spatial database.

Data stored in a geodetic coordinate system follows the curvature of the earth. Over large distances, this curvature is great enough that the search window is not proximate to the line; you are clicking or selecting what looks to ArcGIS to be a straight line (in Cartesian space), but using Great Circle paths, the data is actually a curved line in the Oracle Spatial database. Therefore, the spatial query window does not cross the actual path of the line and does not return any rows.

Article ID: 000008399

Software:
  • Legacy Products

Receive notifications and find solutions for new or common issues

Get summarized answers and video solutions from our new AI chatbot.

Download the Esri Support App

Discover more on this topic

Get help from ArcGIS experts

Contact technical support

Download the Esri Support App

Go to download options