Searching and Performing Operations by Attribute (Attribute Table Tool)

Attribute Table

The Attribute Table enables you to search the layer attribute database files and set visibility in the 3D Window based on attribute value. You can also search the layer attribute database files to easily edit the attribute values of multiple features and to create a new shapefile based on the filtered data. 

Search expressions are comprised of one or more conditions. A condition consists of an attribute, an operator and an attribute value.

There are three types of attributes:

§  String

§  Integer

§  Double

Each Attribute type has its corresponding operators.

A search expression can consist of more the one condition. In this case, you need to insert a connector between the conditions to specify their relations. In addition to AND, you can use the OR, NOT and [] connectors to define the relations between conditions.

To search and perform operations by attribute:

1.     In the Project Tree, select a mesh layer's associated feature layer. Then on the 3D Mesh Layer tab, in the Attributes group, click Attribute Table.

2.     If you want to search for a previously-searched-for search expression, select one from the Search String dropdown list, and skip to step 6.

3.     In the Query builder section, enter an attribute, condition, and value and click Insert String. The search expression is displayed in the Search String field.

Note:        All attribute values are listed in the value dropdown list.

Note:        If you want to clear the Search String field, click Clear.

4.     If you want to include additional strings in your search expression, click one of the connector buttons: and repeat step 4 for the next condition.

5.     Click Search. Your search results are displayed in the search results list at the bottom of the page.

6.     To fly to a feature, right-click the feature’s row in the attribute table, and select Fly to selected item.

7.     For each attribute value that you want to modify, double-click and type the required value.

8.     Do any of the following:

§  To select a feature: in the Feature ID column, select the required Feature ID. Use CTRL-click or SHIFT-click to multi-select. This feature will remain selected even when the Attribute Table is closed.

§  To fly to a feature, right-click the feature’s row in the attribute table, and select Fly to selected item.

§  To modify attribute properties: double-click the attribute value and modify as required. In the 3D Window, the plane flies from the current location directly to the selected feature.

§  To set the visibility of features based on their attribute values using the search expression entered in steps 3-5: click the Operation button and select Set Visibility by Attribute. The features matching the search criteria and their annotations are displayed on the terrain, and the Visibility property is saved in the project. If you want to redisplay all features, click the Operation button and select Clear Visibility by Attribute.

Note:    All visibility by attribute settings are saved to Visibility property in the layer’s property sheet under both the Annotation and Feature tabs. You can also set visibility by attribute directly from the layer’s property sheet. See the Visibility property in “Polyline Property Sheet Parameters” and “Polygon Property Sheet Parameters” in the “Objects and Labels” chapter.

9.     If you want to save the filtered layer to a file, do the following:

a.     Click the Operation button and select Save As.

b.     In the Save As dialog that is displayed, select the file type (.fly or .shp).

c.     Browse to the required file directory, and type a file name.

d.     Click Save.