topic Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2 in Data Management Questions

MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

JacobDrvar — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:34:44 GMT

I have MXDs that open in 9.3, but not in 10.2. The rasters were initially stored in SDE, but have been moved to another location. The MXDs should still open with broken data links for the rasters. What is causing the MXDs to open in 9.3, but not in 10.2? When attempting to use 10.2, the MXD either crashes or attempts to open the MXD until Task Manager forces ArcMap to close. Even more perplexing is the rasters within the 9.3 MXDs point to the initial SDE connection and the rasters display. How can the 9.3 rasters display after the have been moved from the SDE connection?

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

RobertBorchert — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:23:48 GMT

did you upgrade your database to 10.2 in ArcCatalog.

I have MXDs that open in 9.3, but not in 10.2. The rasters were initially stored in SDE, but have been moved to another location. The MXDs should still open with broken data links for the rasters. What is causing the MXDs to open in 9.3, but not in 10.2? When attempting to use 10.2, the MXD either crashes or attempts to open the MXD until Task Manager forces ArcMap to close. Even more perplexing is the rasters within the 9.3 MXDs point to the initial SDE connection and the rasters display. How can the 9.3 rasters display after the have been moved from the SDE connection?

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

JohnSobetzer — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:49:34 GMT

You might try renaming your ArcCatalog.gx file and see if that helps.

I know it's odd but can you open your projects, at least sometimes, from Windows Explorer, by double clicking on the project file? If so do a save as and save them as 10.2 projects.

There's always the utility mxd doctor, although in my case it crashes.

You might also look at this thread: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/20256-ArcMap-10-crashes-on-start-up-need-IMMEDIATE-help

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

JacobDrvar — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:53:17 GMT

I do not have permission to upgrade or access the server to rename the gx file. I am able to view the raster contents in ArcCatalog to see they exist in SDE. But, I am not able to preview or add the rasters in ArcMap. I believe this maybe some sort of license issue causing the mxds to crash.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:58:24 GMT

I know this is an old thread, but I am having exactly the same problem. I have MXDs (with broken links) that previously opened in 9.3, but open very slowly in 10.2. MXD Doctor does not help (it takes a long time to examine the file as well). I have one mxd that will not open at all now and I need it.

Did you ever find a solution to this problem?

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

RobertBorchert — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:02:23 GMT

This is common and I cannot for sure cite the reason but I think it is because new versions of ArcGIS are not 100% compatible with old MXD's

There are three things you can do that typically solve the issue. Even if you save an MXD with a new version it still can be an issue.

Try running MXD doctor on the MXD's. when you run it have it create new MXD's

This typically works.

Create brand new MXD's from the ground up. Least desirable as it consumes a lot of time.

On the other hand you can also create a new mxd by grouping all your features and then saving the group as a Layer file. Then from a blank new session paste the layer files.

However, this is what I do and it works.

From your MXD go to the layout view. Select all the elements and then COPY.

Start a new session of ArcGIS. Go to the layout view. Grab the data frame and move it off to the side. Resize the paper as to what you want and paste the copied elements. Save the MXD.

To me this is best as it will not only transfer your features, but it will transfer your labels and you layout.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

mrasiukevicius — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:47:48 GMT

I had such issues with MXD created with 10.1 and it does not open in 10.3. What I have done:

1. disable access to data, referenced in MXD (make inaccessible SDE, GDB, etc)

2. then MXD opend with newer ArcGIS version

3. set data source to all layers and save with "Save As..." to new MXD version

Then everything works ok in new MXD.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:15:56 GMT

Unfortunately, MXD Doctor has not worked on the slow opening files and does not work on the file I cannot open. It just spins and spins. The issue is with the broken links. I can't get into the file to update them. I can't even get properties from the mxd using Catalog.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:36:06 GMT

I have a python addin that might help you find the broken links without having to actually open the mxd. in case the above doesn't work and you need another option Python addin for data inventory and “broken-link” repair.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:38:42 GMT

Thanks! I will definitely give that a try. Unfortunately, Esri support hasn't been very helpful with this.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

JohnSobetzer — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:56:20 GMT

Maybe something in the script offered here can help? python - Batch convert ArcGIS 9x files to 10 - Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 18:38:04 GMT

I got a pretty easy work-around from esri. I copy the MXDs to my desktop, disconnect from my network and the internet (Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7), open the file (it took less than 30 sec), then re-connect to the internet and my network, fix all the broken links and save it to its original location. It was MUCH faster than waiting for the mxd to open or trying to fix the broken links in Catalog.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

RobertBorchert — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 18:59:49 GMT

Alternatively to that you can right click on the MXD in ArcCatalog and select Set Data Source

But you may still have issues with it being a 9.3 MXD

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 19:07:38 GMT

Yes, that is the easiest and most obvious solution, which I had already tried.

It didn't matter if it was a 9.3 or a 10.2 document, it would take forever to open in ArcMap, or to bring up the data sources when right-clicking in Catalog. The issue was with the data sources; SDE had been moved and renamed when we upgraded to 10.2. The MXDs had previously opened easily in 9.3 but would open very slowly (or not at all) in 10.2. I experimented with saving the MXDs in 10.2 and NOT repairing the data sources - the issue remained. This was the work-around esri gave me for the problem.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

User35489 — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:33:40 GMT

Hi Noakes,

Try this addin, which un checks all layers or you can say OFF all layers while starting ArcMap.

Step1: Open ArcMap ... Enable Addin From Extenstions ... From file menu browse and open the mxd document you are trying to load.

Thanks

AbdullahSaleh

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:42:22 GMT

Thanks! See my comment below for the work-around esri gave me.

The issue wasn't with what version the the MXD was in; it was with the broken data sources.

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

Salmon_ArmBC — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:04:00 GMT

Thanks! Unfortunately that didn't work for my problem. On or Off, ArcMap is still looking for the missing data sources. The solutionMindaugas Rasiukevicius had (and the one I was given by esri) seems to work the best.

That's a handy tool, though. I definitely can use it with other documents!

Re: MXD opens in 9.3 but not 10.2

User35489 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 05:43:43 GMT

Try attached tool,

Store MXD with issue in a folder.

Run the tool,

Select above folder,

select any .sde connection file which is working

This will replace every SDE type data in mxd with new .sde location you provided. Thus replaces all your current layer connections 'including raster' to this. Try opening the map document, resource the layers then.

Thanks

Abdullah Saleh