topic Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb, in ArcGIS Enterprise Questions

A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 18:20:14 GMT

A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

To enjoy multiusers editing environment, our data is stored in mdf files (enterprise). However, when it comes to publishing, we convert the mdf to gdb in order to gain some performance as the services that read from gdb are much faster than those read from mdf. We are wondering if there is a generic tool that can convert multiple mdf files to gdb.

Thank you

Best

Jamal

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AbdullahAnter — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 20:06:33 GMT

The easiest way that I know is , creating a model using Create Personal GDB and Feature class To Geodatabase (multiple) tools.like the following picture:

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:12:08 GMT

Thanks Abdullah.

Here I wanted to convert multiple enterprise databases (sql server databases) to gdb. I’m not sure in which sense the “Create Personal GDB” and “Feature class To Geodatabase” can help to perform this task.

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AbdullahAnter — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:19:33 GMT

You can define name for new personal geodatabase, then input all feature class of file geodatabase in the parameter in my model picture and it will be converted. it is easy.

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JoshuaBixby — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:46:52 GMT

Have you read Overview of copying geodatabases to see the pluses and minuses of some different approaches and tools? What have you tried already, and how isn't it working for you?

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:52:37 GMT

I’m not sure how this should work. Converting multiple sde geodatabase in one go to gdb (the tool needs to be generic without playing with the layers!)

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AbdullahAnter — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 22:11:44 GMT

Feature class To Geodatabase (multiple) tool not used as your picture, to convert you SDE data to GDB

input all feature classes of SDE in the tool , and it converts them into personal geodatabase.

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 19:29:10 GMT

I’ll see if the FME has very generic robust tools that can convert multiple mdf files to an equivalent gdb

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

rawansaleh1 — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 12:07:35 GMT

Dear Joshua,

Thanks for your reply.

We used “Copying feature classes using Export” but we need this to be generic without playing with the layers. Because we will lose some data in this way.

According to copy/ paste we need to convert all mdf to filegeodata base in one go, and this not applicable by this method

Best,

Rawan

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AhmadSALEH1 — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 20:05:20 GMT

Hi Jamal,

I am attaching a tool that I wrote which iterates in a folder were the sde connection files are saved then copies the data to a new Geodatabase.

its working fine with me, make sure that every database connection has its own unique name to avoid overwriting the geodatabase.

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

abdullahqasrawi — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:09:05 GMT

Hi Ahmed thanks for your input, its working fine with me but the tool did not transfer Global id field

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

PanagiotisPapadopoulos — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 09:25:12 GMT

The Create Replica tool may help you to export the data to FGDB

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JoshuaBixby — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:21:37 GMT

Have you explored the Preserve Global IDs (Environment setting)—Geoprocessing | ArcGIS Desktop

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 19:13:56 GMT

This is fantastic Ahmad. We have been struggling with this since ages. It worked with me like a charm.

By the way, is there any reason for which the GlobalID field is not transferred from mdf to gbd?

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 19:26:15 GMT

Hi Panagiotis Papadopoulos,

The out of the box “create replica” tool is not as generic as the tool developed by Ahmad due to the facts below:

1.The out of the box “create replica” tool has nothing to do when it comes to transferring MULTIPLE mdf (Microsoft SQL Server Database) to their corresponding esri gdb files

2.It will never transfer the new created features classes (layers) from mdf to gdb

3.It will never transfer the new created fields in features classes from mdf to gdb

4.It might fail in case heavy edits are applied in the mdf

I think that Ahmad deserves an award for this tool. What do you think?

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AhmadSALEH1 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 20:17:24 GMT

Hi Jamal,

Mainly the Tool is using "Copy features (data management)" . So I tried to Copy any F.C using Copy Features tool and it failed to move the GlobleID's too, it seems to be that there is a limitation from ESRI (FAQ: Which data loading scenarios will preserve Global ID values? )

But the good news is that the tool "Copy (data management)" can move the GlobleID's so give it a try and let me know the results then I can edit the Tool and send it back.

Thanks

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AhmadSALEH1 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 21:17:10 GMT

Your right, but the issue is that Preserve Global ID works only in ArcGIS Pro. What do you think?

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JoshuaBixby — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 14:13:56 GMT

Ah, yes, you are using ArcGIS Desktop/ArcMap. I believe Preserved Global IDs was introduced at Pro 1.2. Is using ArcGIS Pro an option? Not surprisingly, the What's New in ArcGIS 10.6 is pretty anemic and doesn't mention anything about preserving global IDs. I wish I had a better answer for you; unfortunately, I think we are going to see more and more of this over the next couple years as the development/resource gap grows between ArcMap and Pro.

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

JamalNUMAN — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 20:21:20 GMT

Hi Ahmad,

As we have currently two tools to convert mdf to gdb depending on whether the gdb is published or not, is there any chance to combine these two tools into one such that we can have one generic tool that convert mdf to gdb in all cases

Best

Jamal

Re: A generic tool to convert multiple mdf files to gdb,

AhmadSALEH1 — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 20:49:56 GMT

Yes I think I can do that, I will send it over when its ready.