Spatial Match

Description

The Spatial Match step pairs each row of a target table with the rows of a universe table whose geometry satisfies a chosen spatial relationship. For every target/universe pair that matches, it emits one output row with the columns you choose from each side.

It is the SQL-native equivalent of the match path of the Alteryx Spatial Match tool: the work runs entirely in the database as a spatial predicate join, so it scales without pulling rows into the workflow engine.

Both geometry columns hold geometries in WKT (well-known text) form, the same representation the other PlaidCloud spatial helpers produce and consume.

Spatial Match emits a row for each target/universe pair whose geometries satisfy the chosen relationship — a spatial predicate join that runs in the database.

Sources and Options

Target Table — the rows you want matches for.
Universe Table — the candidate rows that are matched against.
Output Table — the table the matched pairs are written to.
Target geometry / Universe geometry — the WKT geometry column on each side the relationship is tested between.
Relationship — how the target geometry must relate to the universe geometry:
- intersects — the two geometries share any point.
- within — the target geometry lies inside the universe geometry.
- contains — the target geometry contains the universe geometry.

A target row with no matching universe row is excluded from the output (this is a match, not a left join).

Target and Universe Mapping

Each input has its own mapping tab that lists the columns available from that table, used both to drive the geometry pickers above and to make columns available to the output.

Output Columns

Choose which columns to carry into the output and from which side (target or universe) each comes, renaming them as needed.

Stale Columns

An Output Columns row can name a column that its side’s mapping tab, Target Mapping or Universe Mapping, no longer lists. The step never removes such a row for you. Instead, the column name is shown in red behind a ⚠ warning sign, and hovering over it tells you which mapping is missing the column. Nothing is checked against a mapping that lists no columns.

When you save a step that still has flagged rows, a Stale Columns Found dialog lists them and offers three choices:

Remove All and Save — remove the flagged rows, then save.
Save Anyway — save the step as it is.
Cancel — go back to the step without saving.

To keep a row and clear its warning, add the column back on its mapping tab, or pick a column the mapping lists.

Notes

The relationship is evaluated on the geometries’ coordinates, consistent with the other PlaidCloud spatial steps.

The Alteryx Spatial Match tool’s intersection object output (the geometry of the overlap itself) and its Unmatched output (target rows with no match) come from Spatial Match (Intersect / Unmatched) instead — neither is expressible as a database predicate join, so they run in the workflow engine.