Any consequence to migrate SDE to different file paths?

[MatthewTsui5]

Hi,

Has anbody encountered issues in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 when migrating .sde file to a different folder within the same network drive?

Specifically, I propose migrating .sde files from this file path: G:\GIS\Data\Portal for ArcGIS\Database Connections to this file path: G:\GIS\Data\Portal\DatabaseConnections

I'm removing spaces in the file path, because this Esri article (What are the recommendations for avoiding the use of spaces in file and folder names when working wi... explains that I should avoid using spaces.

[CodyPatterson · Accepted solution]

Hey @MatthewTsui5 

Moving the SDE file may break connections for users that have already registered their feature layers and database connections with that specific SDE file. If you move the file, you will have to re-register the connection file to the database or your connections will be broken. I've done it previously and this exact situation had happened, once it's connected though, it's setup and connected until it's moved and changed.

Cody

[MatthewTsui5]

@CodyPatterson  Thank you for your response. Can you clarify "registered their feature layers and database connections with that specific SDE file"?

Are you referring to option "Register with Geodatabase" in Catalog?

[CodyPatterson]

Hey @MatthewTsui5 

My description wasn't as apt as I'd like it to have been, the database files you've right clicked will be inaccessible, you'd have to re-add the connection file, as it may not come over. There are some cases that moving the connection file will reconnect the database, but there's always the chance. You'll have to redirect your sources to the new file if using ArcPro more than likely, which Ryan also detailed below, but in the end it should be a relatively easy move!

Cody

[RyanUthoff]

From personal experience, unless you have SDE files hardcoded anywhere in any sort of custom tools you've published to server, then changing the file path shouldn't be an issue. ArcGIS Enterprise doesn't reference the file path of your SDE files, at least not for your traditional feature services.

The main issue you might run into are any maps you've created in ArcGIS Pro. If you're using that SDE directory in ArcGIS Pro, you might need to change your SDE source in your Pro projects.