topic Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing in Data Management Questions

Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

CraigFreeman2 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:15:00 GMT

I have a point layer on a SQL Server Enterprise geodatabase that I can delete but reappears when I refresh catalog.

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

DS_GIS — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:28:05 GMT

I have experienced this behavior before and it is usually due to SQL permissions. May I please inquire: what database connection are you using to delete the layer? i.e. are you using the connection who is the data owner to that layer?

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

CraigFreeman2 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:43:54 GMT

Yep, I'm using the data owner credentials. This has happened sporadically and I can't find any clear reason for it.

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

HuubZwart — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 18:49:42 GMT

I've seen the same behavior when the currenty logged in user is not licenced to edit SDE feature classes (at least ArcGIS Pro Standard is required). There's no error and the feature class seems to dissappear but then on refresh it's still there.

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

VinceAngelo — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:25:52 GMT

If you use DROP TABLE in the database, you corrupt the Enterprise geodatabase metadata stored in the sde.sde_* and sde.gdb_* tables. It is these tables that "refresh" reads to generate lists.

The easiest way to repair the corrupted geodatabase is to create tables with the same name (any table, with CREATE TABLE, just so it's there), then to delete the table properly via the ArcGIS UI or via arcpy.Delete_management.

- V

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

CraigFreeman2 — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:10:33 GMT

Sorry, I didn't see this response Vince. I didn't DROP TABLE on the database side, but just the "Delete" option in Catalog when you right-click the point.

I'm not sure I understand. Assuming the geodatabase is corrupted, I need to create a table with the same name as the reappearing layer, and then delete via arcpy.Delete_management?

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

Bud — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:52:57 GMT

I think it's a way of tricking SDE.

If the system tables for that FC are broken, then if you create a new FC in it's place, SDE will replace the broken system table data with new system table data. So hopefully when you delete the new FC this time, the system table data will be deleted successfully too. And then the FC will disappear from Catalog, which is what you want.

My limited experience is:

Sometimes these things take multiple attempts. And sometimes, if you just wait a few days, it resolves itself. I'm not an expert though. So I could be wrong.

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

CraigFreeman2 — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 15:13:23 GMT

Thank you for the explanation. Just to be clear, when you say "create a new FC in it's place", you mean a FC with an identical name? If my faulty FC is "LandUse_2009", then I need to create another FC on the geodatabase called "LandUse_2009", then delete the new "LandUse_2009"?

Re: Deleted SDE layer keeps reappearing

Bud — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 15:31:28 GMT

Yeah, that’s what I meant. Hopefully it works.