Migrating from Traditional to Branch Versioning (documentation/tools needed)

BrianBrown777

Given the recent functionality and limited historical knowledge of branch versioning, there is seemingly very limited information available from ESRI on specifically migrating an existing SDE currently using traditional versioning to branch versioning. A dedicated technical document on this effort (or even better, an ArcGIS Pro tool to assist with this effort) is greatly needed. 

There are lots of documents dedicated to enabling branch versioning in an SDE from scratch, but none that I can find specifically outlining making the conversion from traditional versioning, while preserving data in existing current archive tables, and other needed info to prevent data loss. 

ElaineEvans

@BrianBrown777 - Thanks so much for asking!

The short answer is No, there's currently no single document that outlines and addresses everything that you are looking for.

With that said, here's a longer answer... 

It’s important to understand that the two versioning models, (Traditional & Branch) are completely separate models and that there may be tradeoffs as to the choice you make.  Further, there is not a one size fits all “migration” workflow process to move data from being registered with traditional versioning to being registered with branch versioning.   There are many variables at play, and any type of movement from one model to another will vary based on the specifics of your configuration, geodatabase behaviors applied, use cases implemented, and the business requirements of your organization, to name just a few.

In addition, here are a few additional important questions to consider:

• Why do you want to “migrate” your data currently registered as traditional versioned to branch versioned?
• What’s your end goal, and what are you hoping to accomplish by having your data registered as branch versioned that you are currently unable to do with your data registered as traditional versioned?
• How do you want your branch-versioned data to be used or consumed?  (Do you have Mobile, desktop, or web clients?)
• Who & how is this data going to be accessed, viewed, edited, and maintained, (i.e., through apps, services, dashboards, mobile apps, ArcGIS Pro)?
• What is your data update process/frequency and how do you expect your data to grow and be used over time?
• Is it necessary for you to “migrate” all your data to being registered as branch versioned or is it only certain datasets that you’re interested in registering as branch versioned? 

While the following is certainly NOT a complete outline, it might help you get started.

• First, take a full database backup and restore this geodatabase backup to a test environment and test your migration workflow solely in this test environment. This will also test whether your backup and recovery strategy & process are working properly. 😉
• Then, complete the following:
  • Ensure all users are disconnected and all services are stopped, including stopping ArcGIS Server services. Since you will be working on a test environment, existing connections shouldn't be an issue, but always best to double-check.
  • To prevent a loss of data or edits, reconcile, and post all child versions to default, delete all child versions, and complete a full compress to state 0 on data registered with traditional versioning.   
  • Then unregister your datasets as versioned.
  • Continue to use this test environment, and carefully review the Prerequisites to registering data as branch versioned. 
    • Note: For branch versioning, the ability to track historical edits using archiving is enabled automatically during the register data as branch versioned process.
  • Finally, register your datasets as branch versioned.

I would also suggest reviewing or considering the following resources:

Help topics:

• Versioning types (including benefits & limitations of each type)
• Branch version scenarios

Blogs to review:

• To Branch or Not to Branch
• Branch Versioning: Setting the Stage
• Editing and Administration with Branch Versioning - It's Showtime!

Esri Training Course to consider:

• Configuring Branch Versioning in ArcGIS (1-day Esri Training Course)

Finally, if additional assistance is needed, I’d recommend talking with your Esri Account Manager.

Hope that helps!