topic Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt in ArcGIS Online Questions

AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

HannesZiegler2 — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:48:20 GMT

Hi all, I'm running into an odd issue with downloading a hosted feature layer from AGOL to a file geodatabase. I export the hosted feature layer to FGDB, and then download the resulting FGDB. However, when I complete the download, and try to unzip the FGDB, the file is currupted. This has happened three times in a row and the entire process takes around 45 minutes each time. So.. has anyone encountered an issue where the hosted feature layer they are trying to download as an FGDB is currupted, and were you able to resolve this issue? Any pointers/suggestions for troubleshooting would also be welcome. Right now I am attempting to export the hosted feature layer in ArcPro to a File Geodatabase as a featureclass, but it is my second attempt after the first attempt resulted in error (could not acquire data lock when trying to display in ArcMap). If this second attempt fails, I will try to export as a shapefile.

Thank you!

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

MatthewSkewes2 — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:43:25 GMT

I have had the same issue, usually with large data sets with lots of attachments. The last time it happened I used the append tool in ArcGIS Pro to pull the data down into an empty template of the online database.

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

PeteCrosier — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 10:56:07 GMT

I've seen the exported file geodatabase get limited to 2GB, so you'll think it has been successful but you'll get a corrupt file geodatabase.

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

JoshuaCarver-Brown1 — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:42:30 GMT

I'm having the same issue. Unfortunately, I've got a process in place to download the fgdb with attachments on a weekly basis. It's not something I want to manually download on a weekly basis. I see that my service has 10-15 replicas outstanding. Could these be preventing a correct export of the fgdb?

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

DavidLitke — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 20:52:09 GMT

I tried to download online data using the append tool in ArcGIS Pro, but the attachments don't come down?

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

HannesZiegler2 — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 20:59:07 GMT

Hi David, I did end up finding a solution to this, haven't realized I never updated my post, sorry about that! Take a look at this link:

How To: Retrieve attachments from a hosted feature service

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

DavidLitke — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 21:46:23 GMT

Thanks. I don't have admin rights to my dataset, so I can't make replicas; guess I'll just have to corral the admin to do it.

Re: AGOL: Export to FGDB, downloaded zip is corrupt

PeterKnoop — Wed, 28 May 2025 13:56:30 GMT

It is possible for an ArcGIS Online feature service or hosted feature layer to become too big to export successfully as a File Geodatabase via synchronous methods, like the Export button on the item's overview page. It would be nice if there was a user-friendly error returned when this was the case, rather than getting no File Geodatabase, or a corrupt one, created after a long wait.

One workaround for exporting large hosted feature layers is to use the ArcGIS API for Python, and its export method with the wait parameter set to False. This enables the export to run asynchronously in the background, and avoids potential timeouts interrupting the process.

Once the export job completes -- monitor the export job via status -- you will have the File Geodatabase you were expecting.