1. Types of geodatabases Introduction to GIS - Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

2. Learning objectives Introduce geodatabase options
Introduction to GIS -
Learning objectives
Introduce geodatabase options
Describe storage structure of file geodatabases
List advantages of file geodatabase
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

3. Personal (ArcEditor, ArcInfo)
Introduction to GIS -
Geodatabase options at ArcGIS 9.2
Personal for Microsoft Access
File
ArcSDE technology at three levels:
Personal, workgroup, enterprise
ArcGIS Server
ArcGIS Desktop
Enterprise
Enterprise
File
Student notes
Personal
Personal (ArcEditor, ArcInfo)
Workgroup
Personal (Access)
Personal Access
File
Capacity
Number of users
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

4. ArcGIS Desktop geodatabases
Introduction to GIS -
ArcGIS Desktop geodatabases
Personal (Access)
File geodatabase
Personal ArcSDE technology
Functionality
Original desktop format
Improved desktop format
Desktop multi-user
editing option
Storage mechanism and limits
Microsoft Access database (.mdb) 2GB limit
File folder containing many binary files
No database limit
Microsoft SQL Server Express 4GB per database
Supported platform
Windows
Any platform
Windows
Student notes
Number of users
Single editor Multiple readers
Single editor* Multiple readers
Three users and one editor
Editing locks
Database lock
*Feature class, feature dataset, and table locks – no database locking
Database lock
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

5. File geodatabase Enhanced desktop geodatabase
Introduction to GIS -
File geodatabase
Enhanced desktop geodatabase
Stored in the file system as a folder
Supports all geodatabase elements
Has .gdb extension, not .mdb
File geodatabase
Personal geodatabase
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

6. Advantages of file geodatabase
Introduction to GIS -
Advantages of file geodatabase
No storage size limit on database
Limit is on feature class or table (1 terabyte)
Takes up less disk space
Improved performance
Customize storage
Compression of vector data
Faster query and display
Less restrictive editing locks
Cross platform
Windows and UNIX (Solaris and Linux)
File
geodatabase
ESRI will continue to support the personal geodatabase, but users are encouraged to migrate for these benefits
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

7. Viewing the file geodatabase
Introduction to GIS -
Viewing the file geodatabase
File geodatabase in ArcCatalog
File geodatabase in Windows Explorer
Student notes
Structure same as personal geodatabase for Access in ArcCatalog
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

8. File geodatabase storage
Introduction to GIS -
File geodatabase storage
No database size limit
Per table limit: one terabyte (default)
Per table limit: 256 terabyte
Available as a configuration keyword
Provided for large rasters
Stores same data using less space
Compared with personal geodatabase for Access
Amount of reduction varies by dataset
Storage on disk generally reduces by 50 to 75 percent
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

9. Storage requirements (uncompressed)
Introduction to GIS -
Storage requirements (uncompressed)
Shapefile
Personal geodatabase for Access
File geodatabase
US rivers and streams
2.19 GB
Exceeds 2 GB limit
878 MB
California roads
1.23 GB
684 MB
329 MB
Manhattan parcels
13,408 features
9.23 MB
10.96 MB
4.42 MB
Student notes
R2VEG
6,188 features
8.62 MB
11.36 MB
3.31 MB
Riverside buildings
4,246 features
1.08 MB
2.08 MB
644 KB
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

10. Compressed file geodatabase (read-only)
Introduction to GIS -
Compressed file geodatabase (read-only)
Why compress?
Reduce database size
Allow ArcPublisher to lock datasets for ArcReader
Display up to four times faster
Query up to several times faster
Only compresses vector data
Compress entire geodatabase
Compress individual feature classes or feature datasets
Uncompress when finished
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

11. Compression General rule - Fewer vertices/features = more compression
Introduction to GIS -
Compression
General rule - Fewer vertices/features = more compression
314.5 KB
2.32 MB
1.92 MB
83 MB
162 MB
Compressed
74.7
329 MB
California roads 30
3.31 MB
R2VEG
51.2
644 KB
Riverside buildings
56.6
4.42 MB
Manhattan parcels 77
705 MB
US Census block centroids %
Uncompressed
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

12. Compact vs. compression
Introduction to GIS -
Compact vs. compression
Compact
For cleaning up empty rows in database tables
Suggested if you are frequently adding and deleting data
Improves database performance
Does not affect read/write capability
Perform regularly
Compression
Reduces storage requirements
Makes database or feature class read-only
Perform as needed
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

13. Migrating to file geodatabases
Introduction to GIS -
Migrating to file geodatabases
ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox import/export tools
Personal geodatabase, shapefiles, coverages, etc.
Drag/drop or copy/paste
Personal geodatabase for Access to file or enterprise geodatabase
File geodatabase
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases

14. Exercise goals Create a new file geodatabase
Introduction to GIS -
Exercise goals
Create a new file geodatabase
Copy feature classes and other elements from a personal geodatabase for Access
Migrate shapefiles and coverages to a file geodatabase
Explore editing scenarios with a file geodatabase
Student notes
CGIS-NUR - Building Geodatabases