What follows are a questions asked during class that have required further research to answer.
Q: Are Parcel Fabrics going to be discussed at some point in the class?
A: Parcel Fabrics are not part of Building Geodatabases class. Here are some resources on the topic:
Help
Virtual Campus web courses
Other resources
Q: If you set up subtypes with default values, can you set up separate templates that use other values or will the defaults in the subtype override them?
A: Yes, you can create templates having defaults values different from the geodatabase defaults. The template’s values overwrite the subtypes default values. See Using feature templates in the Help (ArcGIS 10.1 Help > Desktop > Editing > Creating features > Using feature templates).
Q: What’s the size of the BLOB in a file geodatabase (used to store attachments)?
A: Field size information is documented in ArcGIS Help at several locations. If you’re using an RDBMS to store your geodatabase, see DBMS data types supported by ArcGIS. If you’re using a file geodatabase, see File geodatabase size and name limits. For information on supported field types, see ArcGIS field data types. As best as I can determine, the maximum BLOB size is 2 GB.
Q: What are the types of geodatabases?
A: There are five types of geodatabases: Access and File geodatabases are file-system based, Desktop, Workgroup, and Enterprise geodatabases depend on a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). For more details see Types of geodatabases in the ArcGIS Help.
Q: What ArcGIS for Desktop licensing do I need to work with geodatabase functionality?
A: Geodatabase functionality varies with the Desktop license. Use the ArcGIS for Desktop Functionality Matrix to determine the appropriate licensing level for your required geodatabase functionality.
Q: How do you go about converting MapInfo data files?
A: The recommended and documented method from the Esri websites is to use the Data Interoperability Extension for ArcGIS. The extension is documented in the Extensions folder under Data Interoperability. As an alternative, I googled ‘arcgis mapinfo to shapefile’ and got several useful articles back, the best being a March 15,, 2013 blog post from Karl Hennermann on Converting data between MapInfo and ArcGIS where he offers several methods for getting from MapInfo to a shapefile.
Q: Is there a way to 'turn off' the Orange Groves layer in the mosaic dataset shown in the Lesson 3 demo?
A: Yes there is. A mosaic datasets layer in ArcMap supports Definition Queries. Simply build a definition query with the search clause set to "Name" <> 'OrangeGroves' and the Orange Groves layer in the mosaic dataset is no longer displayed.
Q: Is there a way to use a File Geodatabase as the backend to a Feature Service with editing capability? I am been under the impression that editable feature services require an SDE backend (Workgroup or Enterprise).
A: This is both a geodatabase and an ArcGIS for Server question. Answer: No there isn’t. Because there may be multiple simultaneous editors making changes to the data presented by your Feature Service, ArcGIS for Server requires you to store the data in a multi-user geodatabase (ArcSDE), either Workgroup or Enterprise.
Q: Is there a method or workflow for setting up a geodatabase so that data is visible to users while it is being edited?
A: Yes there is. The versioning environment of a multiuser geodatabase supports such a workflow. See the Versioning section below.
Q: How many levels are created in mosaic dataset overviews? Can the number of levels be adjusted?
A: The number of levels created in mosaic dataset overviews is determined by the software and not configurable by the user. There are some parameters you can use when defining and building mosaic dataset overviews that can influence the number of levels. See Mosaic dataset overviews, Define overviews, and Build overviews in the ArcGIS Help.
Q: Can you make geodatabase domains case sensitive? For example, you want RoadCondition to be all uppercase, can you create a domain so Validate will find instances where RoadCondition is lower or mixed case?
A: Not that I can find. After several emails and searches through the Help I haven’t been able to determine if this is possible.
Q: How do you work with date fields in domains? Can you enter an incorrect date into a field with an assigned domain?
A: Domains based on date fields are created the same way as a domain on any other field type. For example, a range domain limiting date values between 1/1/2013 and 12/31/2013 would have a minimum value of 01/01/2013 12:01 AM and a maximum of 12/31/2013 11:59 PM, entered just as you see them here. In an edit session, date domains provide a calendar for picking dates, and the calendar is restricted to the allowable range of dates. You can, however, enter in a date and time manually that falls outside the allowable range. The Validate step will discover the error.
Q: How do you manage file geodatabase corruption?
A: On the rare occasion that a file geodatabase gets damaged and cannot be opened, use the Recover File Geodatabase (Data Management) tool to recover it. Also, you should regularly backup your file geodatabase and run the Compact (Data Management) tool to reduce its size and improve its performance.
Q: Why does ArcGIS allow you to save data with attribute values that violate a range domain?
A: I’d like to know the answer to that one myself. As best as I can determine, it was a design choice made during the initial phases of the ArcGIS software design process.
Q: How do you automatically validate data when editing?
A: You can set ArcMap to automatically validate features while you are editing. Select Customize > ArcMap Options, and in the ArcMap Options dialog select the Tables tab. In the middle of the page you’ll find “Automatically validate records when editing.” Check the box and ArcMap will validate the feature after each edit.
Q: What types of GPS data formats can ArcMap convert to a geodatabase feature class?
A: Global Positioning Exchange format (GPX) format is supported. Most of the new GPS use GPX as a default exchange format. See the Help for the From GPS toolset. For more information GPX see the GPX Exchange Format at Topografix.com.
Q: Is it possible to modify how HTML popups present information in ArcMap?
A: Yes it is. See Setting HTML pop-up properties for feature layers in the Help. HTML pop-ups use XSL (Extensible Style Language) to format how data is presented in the pop-up window. The HTML pop-up tab on the Layer Properties dialog allows you to create and use your own XSL template for presenting the data.
