topic Re: Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap in Data Management Questions

Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap

RaphaelLavoie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 16:49:10 GMT

Hi!

I transferred files from one computer to another just by copy/paste without using ArcCatalogue (yes, I am a beginner : ) and now the source computer is dead, so I can't do it properly anymore.

The files in the new computer are there, but GIS can't open them and the following Open Failed window appears: "Error opening feature class" and there are red exclamation marks beside my layers.

The individual files for a specific Shapefile Feature Class (.dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shp, .shp.xml and .prj) all seem to contain the right information - for instance, I can open the .dbf files in Excel and it contains the right information. My understanding is that all files are not linked together the right way.

Is there a way to restore the integrity of the files?

Thank you very much for the help!!

Raph

Re: Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 17:22:10 GMT

You will have to resource the data in the MXDs to point to the new data locations.

Re: Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap

RaphaelLavoie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:08:58 GMT

Hi Asrujit SenGupta, Thank you very much for your reply! I did as you instructed. I did it in ArcCatalogue (righ-click on MXD file > Set data source(s) > replaced New data source). It is working well for rasters, but not for shapefiles. When I look in properties of each shapefile in ArcMap, the location of the data source is fine, but it cannot be read/displayed properly. When I try to replace file location in ArcMap for each individual layer (properties > source > Set Data Source) it gives me the following message "Error setting the data source". What am I doing wrong? Thank you! Raph

Re: Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap

AsrujitSengupta — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:54:33 GMT

Are you able to add Shapefiles into ArcMap from the new location w/o any error?

Re: Transferred files without ArcCatalogue - can't open layers in ArcMap

RaphaelLavoie — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:59:43 GMT

No, only the raster files. I can add shapefiles from other locations no problem, but can't reassign successfully a location to my shapefiles of interest.