Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 1 of 10 Table of Contents A Brief Summary of DEP s GIS Data Storage o The Y Drive o ArcSDE (Spatial Database) Keeping Your GIS Project Data Current o Checking Your Data Sources o Changing Your Data Sources Option 1 Reset Your Data Source Option 2 Remove and Re-Add Your Feature Class More About Adding Data to Your ArcMap Project o Option 1 Layer (.lyr) Files o Option 2 ArcSDE Feature Classes
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 2 of 10 A Brief Summary of DEP s GIS Data Storage DEP has been using GIS software since the early 1990 s. As we created and acquired more and more data, there was a greater need for storage. The R drive is the storage area that is most familiar to GIS users and it has been storing our shapefile data for many years. However, this server is no longer adequate for our needs. New storage methods and GIS file types that are more efficient and provide faster data access have recently been developed. Now, in addition to using shapefiles, we have personal geodatabases, file geodatabases, and ArcSDE feature classes. The tables below illustrate the old and new data storage locations for GIS data at DEP. OLD DATA LOCATION Location Purpose Status R Drive ArcSDE (10.18.8.94) Storage of and access to GIS data. Contains primarily shapefiles. Storage of and access to GIS data Old storage Data on this drive is no longer updated, but will be available until all ArcView 3 users have converted their projects and/or applications to ArcGIS 9.3. Old storage. To be discontinued by November, 2009. Data on this server is no longer updated. NEW DATA LOCATION Location Purpose Status Y Drive Storage of GIS data, tools, related documents, and.lyr (layer) files. Shapefiles not available. New storage (replaces R Drive). This drive is currently active. ArcSDE (10.18.8.60) Storage of and access to GIS data New storage (replaces ArcSDE server 10.18.8.94). This server is currently active.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 3 of 10 The Y Drive A new drive, known as the Y drive, will replace most functions of the R drive. If you are a GIS user and do not yet have access to this drive, please contact the Help Desk at 424-4169 and request that this drive be mapped for you. There are a number of folders on this drive that serve many purposes. You will have access to some or all of the folders, depending on your user status. The chart below shows the folders on the Y drive, along with a brief description and which user group has access. Folder Name User Access Purpose Archive OIM GIS Admin Includes original raster tiles used to (re)create the statewide raster mosaics available in ArcSDE, early data (hydrography, towns, roads, railroads, surficial materials, quaternary geology, bedrock geology, soils, landuse,) in the older ArcInfo coverage format. GIS_Data GIS Users Directory location for GIS data not in ArcSDE. Includes base map and imagery data from ESRI, National Hydrography Network data from USGS, LiDAR elevation data, TeleAtlas street data in Shapefile format, geologic quadrangle maps, etc. GIS_Tools GIS Users Includes ArcMap Layerfiles that connect to ArcSDE layers, ArcMap document templates, FGDC metadata templates, Version 9.2 Geodatabase templates, logos, and documents containing tips for ArcGIS functions. GIS_Warehouse OIM GIS Admin Backup copies of ArcSDE data in shapefile and FileGDB format for distribution to the general public via the DEP GIS data download page. Maps Everyone Various GIS maps in PDF format Photos Everyone Various photos and video clips associated with spatial data, Pictometry oblique photos Workspaces GIS Users Includes project-level work spaces. Access restricted to groups of GIS users who collaboratively maintain data and maps for their respective program, for example. Also includes a GIS Dropoff Box for copying data files to another user.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 4 of 10 ArcSDE (Spatial Database) The Y drive, while it serves as a storage area for archived data and other GIS related documents, generally does not contain the everyday working data for use in our ArcMap projects. That data is located in ArcSDE, a spatial database that provides a quicker, more efficient way to access GIS data. Many of you may already be using the first version of our SDE database, 10.18.8.94. However, that version is no longer updated and will soon be discontinued. The most current SDE database is located at 10.18.8.60 and is the recommended location for accessing all of DEP s GIS data. All GIS data is now being updated only on this server. Old data source. Current data source.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 5 of 10 Keeping Your GIS Project Data Current It is important that you keep your data current within your ArcMap projects. Follow the steps below to check and change your data sources. Checking Your Data Sources To check the source of data in your ArcMap project, choose the Source tab beneath the Table of Contents. Each data layer will be displayed with its full path name (source). You can also double click on the layer name and choose the Source tab in the dialog box that pops up. The path name is displayed.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 6 of 10 Changing Your Data Sources Once you have checked your data sources, you may need to change them so that they are from the newest ArcSDE database. If your data sources include either of the following, then you need to change the source: R: drive (any folder) or ArcSDE Version 9.1 database (10.18.8.94) Once you have determined that you need to change your data source, you can do one of two things: 1. Reset the Data Source Or 2. Remove and re-add the feature class from the correct source. Option 1 is recommended if you have substantially customized the feature class to suit your needs. For example, if you have symbolized your map with multiple symbol levels, added scale thresholds, and created custom labels, you might want to choose to reset the data source. Option 2 is the preferred method if you have not customized your feature class in any way. Before you change your data sources, make a copy of your.mxd project.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 7 of 10 Option 1 - Reset Your Data Source Right click on the layer, choose Properties, then the Source tab. Next choose Set Data Source from the lower right corner of the dialog box. You can then choose your source by navigating to it.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 8 of 10 Option 2 Remove and Re-add Your Feature Class Remove your feature class and then navigate to the correct location to find the corresponding data. ADD REMOVE Current SDE Database (10.18.8.60) Old SDE Database (10.18.8.94) To remove a feature class, right click on its name and choose Remove. To add a feature class, click the Add Data button in ArcMap and navigate to the correct location.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 9 of 10 More About Adding Data to Your ArcMap Project You add data to your ArcMap project in one of two ways: by adding a.lyr (layer) file that resides in Y:\GIS_Tools\ArcMap_Layer_Files\ (this is the recommended option); or by adding data directly from ArcSDE. Option 1 Layer (.lyr) Files (preferred option) It is strongly recommended that you add.lyr (layer) files to your ArcMap projects to take advantage of the customization of symbology, scale levels, labels and other properties. A layer file can be defined as a file with a.lyr extension that stores the path to a source dataset and other layer properties, including symbology. Remember that.lyr (layer) files contain specific customized properties of one or more feature classes (data layers). Layer files actually use the data from the feature classes that are located in ArcSDE; they do not store GIS data themselves. DEP s layer files are located on the Y drive in GIS_Tools\ArcMap_Layerfiles\. In Windows Explorer (My Computer), navigate to the Y drive. Drag the desired layer to your Table of Contents in ArcMap. Or, as an alternative, click the Add Data button in ArcMap and navigate to the Y drive folder above. Select the layer file to be added and click OK.
Migration of GIS Data to ArcSDE Page 10 of 10 Option 2 ArcSDE Feature Classes The data layers in ArcSDE are more commonly referred to as feature classes, so as not to confuse them with.lyr files. These feature classes are the sources for most of the the.lyr files located on the Y drive. If you would like to view the raw data without the benefit of a.lyr file, use a feature class directly from SDE. When you add feature classes in this way, they will display with random symbology and no other customized properties, such as specially formatted labels. When the Display tab is active in the Table of Contents, the name of the feature class will appear as it is listed in ArcSDE. For example, if you add the Basin_Poly feature class from ArcSDE, it would display in the Table of Contents as follows: Notice that you would need to know what type of basin file you require: polygons or lines. Be aware that there are many more feature classes in ArcSDE than there are layer files (.lyr files) on the Y drive. This is because multiple feature classes are often grouped together to form a single layer. The Basin.lyr file is a layer that contains both depgis.dep.basin.poly and depgis.dep.basin.line, since the polygon and line data should be displayed together. This is one of the reasons why it is preferable to use layer files from the Y drive rather than feature classes directly from ArcSDE. Adding a Feature Class from ArcSDE Click on Add Data from ArcMap and scroll navigate to Database Connections in the drop-down box. Double click this connection: 10.18.8.60.depgis@depview_92dc.sde. The ArcSDE feature classes will be shown and available for you to add to your project.