Geodatabases
Introduction to Geodatabases
These are notes written by someone learning to use ESRI geodatabases. Specifically, the variation known as the "personal geodatabase" (or PGDB).
Brian Wilson 16:10, 15 January 2006 (PST)
Scope
I am not attempting to duplicate the ESRI documentation. When I learn something new, I write about it to help cement it more firmly in my head, and so that I can refer back to my notes later.
Quick links to ESRI documentation
Terminology
An informal Comparison of geodata formats
Feature Dataset Feature Class
Why use a geodatabase?
Enterprise class versus PGDB
Data management --
ArcSDE -- if you use ArcSDE-based geodatabases, you get version control and multiuser features. All you need is lots of money to buy it and Oracle.
PGDB - you can keep all the data for a project in one PGDB.
Vector data -- Network Survey data
Raster data (ArcGIS 9.0+) --
Annotation --
Metadata --
Tabular data --
Topology rules --
XML (ArcGIS 9.0+) -- XML can be used to import and export data. The geodatabase XML schema is documented on the ESRI site.
Topology
I am at home right now, where I use ArcView 8.3. ArcView which does not support topologies. I will write more on this topic when I have access to ArcInfo.
