sde:sqlserver database connections and maps

Question

Hello..

We have an SDE database and we're using spatial database connections from within ArcCatalog for the connections; GISViewer, GISEditor, GISOwner.

When we created our MXD maps, we used the GISViewer connection within ArcMap to add the different items to the map.

Here is our problem, we've forgotten the password for our GISViewer account.  The existing connections work, because they're configured for the forgotten password.  But we need to document the passwords for auditing purposes.

If I change the GISViewer password then re-created a database connection with the new password, would a simple replace of the datasource on the map file work properly?

Or is there another step we'll be missing?

Thanks..

AntGiles · Answer

They should use the .sde connection files if you added the data using a database connection. You can check by right clicking the mxd in ArcCatalog and select set data source

JeffMaze · Answer

Thanks for the info.

What about the MXD file on our GISServer feeding the outside world?  Are the connection configurations stored in the MXD and used for the SDE connection?

Thanks again..

AntGiles · Answer

Jeff,

you can just change the password in SQL server then right click your connection in ArcCatalog and select connection properties then enter your new password.

if you have multiple users you can copy the .sde file to each user's profile, they can be found under c:\users\username\appdata\roaming\desktop10.1\arccatalog

Sometimes once you have done this and open a document it uses the credentatials stored in the document this can cause the user to get locked out. If this happens open the document, then unlock the account in sql, then reestablsh the connection to the data, save the mxd.

Regards

Anthony