Saving Layer Files in a File Geodatabase

[AndrewAslesen]

Hello, I am trying to do what ESRI wants me to and switch over from using shapefiles to using geodatabases in ArcEditor 10.0. I can't figure out how to move layer files or make new layer files in a geodatabase. The closest I can get is to go to "save as layer file" and save it in the "default geodatabase" file that was set up automatically, but once the layer file is in the default geodatabase, I can't move it into any other geodatabase.

Any Suggestions? Maybe I'll just stick to shapefiles, I still don't see the value of switching.

[Robert_LeClair]

Hello,

Okay so I'm a bit confused.  Are you attempting to convert your shapefiles into a geodatabase format?  If so, you have several options.  You can use the tools in ArcToolBox to convert between formats.  Go to Conversion Tools -> To Geodatabase -> Feature Class to Feature Class.  You could also use ArcCatalog as well - right click on the shapefile(s) in question and select Export -> To Geodatabase (single). 

Layer Files (*.lyr) store the properties of a layer (such as symbology, labels, scale thresholds, etc.) in ArcMap and cannot be stored inside of a geodatabase.

Hope this helps and feel free to contact me at rleclair@esri.com if you have additional questions.

Cheers,

Robert LeClair
Esri-Denver

[AndrewAslesen]

Thanks for the reply, I have the importing shapefiles into the geodatabase figured out, I just can't figure out how to import my layer files into the geodatabase, but it sounds like that is not possible (although it will let me do this if I save the layer file to the default geodatabase, so that must not be entirely accurate).

So if you can't save layer files in the geodatabase do you just save them elsewhere? That just seams kind of clunky if you ask me. I like having everything in one place.

[Robert_LeClair]

Understand.  The *.lyr files are typically stored in a windows file folder and are designed for a couple purposes.  The primary reason is to make the layer properties shareable amongst users locally or remote and secondly to give some organization to standalone feature classes in the geodatabase.  As you explore geodatabases, you see something called a Feature Dataset.  These are designed for geodatabase topology, networks, terrains, geometric networks but NOT for data organization.  So to address this, *.lyr files could serve as an organizational stand-in.

For example, I could have a layer file structure such as:

c:\gis_data\lyr_files
[INDENT]cadastral[/INDENT]
[INDENT]environmental[/INDENT]
[INDENT]transportation[/INDENT]

etc...

Hope this helps!

Robert

[AndrewAslesen]

Thanks for the reply, The main reason I use layer files is to save my layer properties (mainly symbology and labels). I think what you are saying is that can't be done in a geodatabase, so I should simply have a different file tree with layer files in it to store my symbology.

Thanks,

[SeanGrant]

Production Mapping (formally PLTS) uses a tool called the Product Library that is stored in a geodatabase that allows you to store any file type you want in the geodatabase. Think of it like a document management system for mapping, complete with version control and history. Our Aeronautical customers use it to store mxd's, PDF's, style files, layer files (if they don't use representations),xml's...etc. Our Maritime solution actually stores another geodatabase inside that geodatabases (in their case it is SQLExpress MDF files inside an Oracle database)

Check it out here: http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Product_library_file_management/010300...

Here is the link to the Idea on the Esri Ideas site that asks for this functionality as well: http://ideas.arcgis.com/ideaView?id=08730000000882eAAA

-Sean

[AndrewAslesen]

Thanks Sean

[AndrewAslesen]

So is there any other way that is easier to store symbology for a layer besides using layer files?

[RobertHu]

So is there any other way that is easier to store symbology for a layer besides using layer files?

How about representatioins?

[RandyKreuziger]

So is there any other way that is easier to store symbology for a layer besides using layer files?

Layer files were created for this very reason.  It doesn't get much easier than this.  What is it that you need to do that Layer Files can't do?