Geodatabase Tables and Editing through External Sources:

[MarkEnglish]

Hello All!
I wanted to provide program/resource specialists with the flexibility to edit their own tables, although instead of importing the tables in to a GDB, I'd prefer to knock out that step and have them edit directly.  I would like to use Access, and in some cases SQL.  I would like to open the geodatabase tables in SQL and/or Access, better yet, build some forms to help them out further.  Thanks for any help you may provide.
Best,
Mark

[VinceAngelo]

Certainly all these things are possible, though most are unsupported and some of them could
be unwise (in the context of versioned geodatabases and relationship-driven behaviors).

Maybe you could explain which of the half dozen formats which qualify as "geodatabase" you
want to edit, and the ArcGIS version(s) with which you need to share editing duties.  Then we
could help you find the safest way to accomplish your goal.

- V

[MarkEnglish]

Vangelo-
Thank you for your response.  In theory, I would create the 'geodatabase' in ArcCatalog, which is the only format I'm aware.  I would continue to build the main table required to edit as well within ArcCatalog, which would contain a relationship (one-to-many) to the geographic datasets (Counties, HUC 8, and Panels).  The table is associated with the Many relationsihp.
Thanks...

[VinceAngelo]

Personal geodatabase
File geodatabase
Personal/Workstation ArcSDE
Enterprise ArcSDE

All geodatabase.  All very different.  And all different at different versions of ArcGIS.
AND all different with respect to Access and SQL support.

So again, I ask, *which* geodatabase, and at what version? (9.2sp6? 9.3.1sp2? 10.0sp4?)
Is there any replication involved?  Any domains?

The 50,000 foot view won't suffice when you want to avoid using the tools designed to
do what you're asking to do.

- V

[MarkEnglish]

I am using ArcGIS 10, and would would prefer to use the file geodatabase, but I do have access to generate SDE geodatabases.  Does the File GDB have the capability of editing in Access, SQL?

[VinceAngelo]

Personal geodatabases were constructed using the Microsoft Jet engine (Access).
The various ArcSDE flavors are SQL-based.  But file geodatabase implements
geodatabase using an ArcObjects API.  There is a 10.x-only open C++ API to access
most of the FGDB functionality; it does not support SQL or Access clients, but
it does have a C# wrapper (at 1.2) that would be form-friendly.

- V

[MarkEnglish]

Thanks for the overview.  So, I may be able to use the personal geodatabase if wanting to edit through Access, although I'll run up against all of the personal gdb limitations.  I've used these in the past, but the table was outside of the database, and a model imported to the gdb, following edits.  This is apparently something I'd like to avoid.  So, I most likely will need to utilize the SDE gdb, and sql studio to edit, and ultimately generate forms.  Is it as easy as opening up sql studio, and linking to the table within the sde gdb, or am I missing a step somewhere?

All of these interactive gdbs' are linking to jurisdictional or environmental boundaries using a one to many relationship.  The many being the table, and the boundary being the one.  Do you feel building relationship classes is the best approach?  The results will be put on a service, with built in queries and reports, although I've run across many issues with displaying/labeling the results of a query where a 'many' table was used, and a 'one' was the geographic component...  Thanks again!  All the best!