Query Tool Help

Step One: Setting up the map for a Query

To demonstrate the use of the query tool, "Public & Conservation Lands" is selected as the Active and Visible layer from the Central Coast Interactive Mapping Service with layers "California Counties" and "CCWGIS Project Area" also Visible. Your map should look similar to the example.

Now press the query tool to display the query box.

Step Two: The Query dialogue box

A Query dialogue box should appear with drop down menus for Field and Operator. The Field menu lists all the available variables for the active layer "Public and Conservation Lands". The Operator menu includes query operators:= (equals to), < (less than), > (greater than), <= (less than or equal to), >= (greater than or equal to) and LIKE (contains). The Value box displays all the values for the variables chosen in the Field. Pressing Get Samples will display all the values (this process may take a while).

For this example, choose the Field "UCASEOWNER" and the Operator "=" from the drop down menus. Press the Get Samples , select "NPS-National Recreation Area" from the drop down menu as the value you wish to query and extract from the map Public and Conservation Lands. Press Add to Query String. Your Query dialogue box should look like this after making these selections:

After making your box similar to the example, press the "Execute" button. This will run your query and extract the desired data from your map. Your map should look like the example, highlighting the polygons that equal "NPS-National Recreation Area" in bright yellow and displaying a box that lists all the information for the polygons. You will need to zoom in to the San Mateo Watershed to view the results.

Perhaps you want more information than just one variable. Use Boolean Logic as a way to combine terms using "operators" such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT." "AND" requires that all terms appear in a record. "OR" retrieves records with either term. "NOT" excludes terms. Parentheses may be used to sequence operations and group words.

For the next example, choose the Field "UCASEOWNER" and the Operator "=". After pressing the Get Samples button, select "NPS National Park" as the value you wish to query and extract from the map Public and Conservation Lands and press the "Add to Query String" button. Then press the operator "OR," choose the value "CA Dept of Parks and Recreation," and press the "Add to Query String" button. Your Query dialogue box should look like the following. Any mistakes can be undone with the Clear button.

After making your box similar to the example, press the "Execute" button. This will run your query and extract the desired data from your map. Your map should look like the example, highlighting the polygons that equal "NPS-National Recreation Area" OR "CA Dept of Parks and Recreation" in bright yellow and displaying a box that lists all the information about these polygons.

Content on this page was provided by the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project Information Station.