Check in BackgroundLayers.AXF file to Arcmap

[DanielHarris1]

I have 4 axf files with polygon data that I want to import in to arcmap through arcpads (8.0) Data Manager toolbar. I keep getting the following message

The following ArcPad AXF files were skipped:

Did not contain a transaction log:
X:\Shellfish\RESEARCH\ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT\2010 reef maps (shapefile)\Altamaha_net\BackgroundLayers.axf

I am getting the impression from other posts that I may have done something wrong when checking out. I can see the data in arc map but cant export it. Is there any work around?

Thanks

Daniel

[BryceSmith]

Hi Daniel,

Yes you are doing something wrong. The concept of the backgroundlayers.axf file is to store layers that you are not going to edit. You cannot checking the backgroundlayers.axf file, unless this has been changed in the last couple of months.

Cheers
Bryce

[JasonTipton]

Yeah, you probably did something wrong. I thought there was a way to check in background layers. Why else would the give the option of ReadOnly or Editable?

For the workaround (I haven't tried this on a background layer, but should work the same):

Open ArcPad Studio on your computer. Open the .axf file in question. Right click the layer that you are trying to retrieve and click "Export". There you go. Now you have a shiny new shapefile.

I hope it works

[DeniseKing]

Background layers can NOT be checked in, even if they are made editable.  Editable background layers should be considered only for special circumstances such as the example given in Help topics below.

Example: an arborist is collecting information about trees along a street. For  the best map drawing performance, the streets layer should be a read only  background layer, the trees, checked out for editing. However, if the arborist  is also asked (out of courtesy) to report any new subdivisions that are not  mapped, by giving the arborist an editable background AXF, they can use the  database rules for creating the new street (including filling in the attribute  form) and return the information to the team responsible for streets. That team  can then choose how to incorporate this well formed data, into their own  database, which is likely to be separate to the arborists database.

http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcpad/10.0/help/index.html#/Get_Data_for_ArcPad/00s100000068000000/
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcpad/10.0/help/index.html#/Get_Data_from_ArcPad/00s10000006r000000/

I also recommend reading Check Out or Copy Out in ArcPad topic from ArcPad Blog which describes the check in/out processes with editable and non-editable background layers, http://arcpadteam.blogspot.com/2009/08/check-out-or-copy-out-in-arcpad-8.html.

Hope this helps,
Denise

[JasonTipton]

But, after that arborist was so kind to add that new subdivision with streets, how would he reflect that change back to the database?