Audience: Administrators, GIS specialists
Understand how to use the Spatial Analyst widget to discover features from one layer based on their spatial relationship to features in another layer.
Related articles
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See List of widgets
Prerequisites
Before you start:
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Ensure an administrator has added the
ui_spatialanalystwidget to the map toolbar via toolbar configuration. -
Ensure both the target layer to analyze and the reference comparison layer are loaded on the map.
Understand Spatial Analyst
The Spatial Analyst widget compares two feature layers loaded on the map and filters the analyzed layer to return only features matching a specified spatial rule. Results display directly in the attribute table of the analyzed layer.
Key behaviors:
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Supported layer types: Works with platform feature layers and external ArcGIS feature layers. Excludes basemaps, terrain layers, background layers, and service container nodes.
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Asynchronous processing: Analyses run on the server, allowing you to continue using the map while processing completes.
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Result presentation: When matches are found, the attribute table of the analyzed layer opens filtered to the matching records, showing all results on a single page (
Paging: All). The Spatial Analyst window automatically minimizes to maximize table visibility. -
Layout & theme support: Supports single-map and dual-map layouts, automatically handles authentication for protected layers, and adapts to the active application theme.
Spatial Analyst field reference
|
Field / Control |
Description |
|
Layer to analyze |
The layer whose matching features populate the result table. |
|
Compare with |
The reference layer used as the spatial boundary or anchor. |
|
Spatial relationship |
The topological rule applied between the layers: Intersects, Contains, or Is contained. |
|
Tolerance (optional) |
Search distance in meters. Enter |
|
Current extent |
When selected, restricts the spatial query to the visible map view. |
|
Analysis summary |
Displays an automatically updated plain-language summary of the configured query before execution. |
Run a spatial analysis
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On the map toolbar, click Spatial Analyst to open the panel.
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In the Layer to analyze drop-down list, select the target layer.
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In the Compare with drop-down list, select the reference layer.
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Select a Spatial relationship rule (Intersects, Contains, or Is contained).
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Optional: Enter a search distance in meters in the Tolerance field.
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Optional: Select the Current extent checkbox to limit the analysis to the visible map area.
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Verify the query text in the Analysis summary section.
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Click Start Analysis.
A notification reports progress while the analysis runs. Once complete:
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If matches are found, a notification shows the total count and the filtered attribute table opens automatically.
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If no matches are found, a notification confirms zero results and no table opens.
What's next
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To review other map tools, see List of widgets.