Feature Classes becoming File Geodatabase Tables

[EricDaechsel1]

I have been digitizing features and organizing them into feature classes for the past month. The last time I worked with them was on Monday, but now a couple days later on Wednesday, a large portion of them have turned into file geodatabase tables. Has anyone had this issue before? This happened once when I exported a single layer from an MXD into a new geodatabase, and my co-worker mentioned that it showed up as a file geodatabase table on their computer. This time, I'm using their computer (the past month I had been working with the feature classes on my own computer) and I'm running into the issue on a much larger scale. I don't want to re-create these features, as it took me tens of hours the first time. It looks like something on their computer (we're using the same version of Arc) is the cause of this, but I can't figure out what it is, why only some of the feature classes have become file geodatabase tables, or how to turn them back into feature classes.

[ColinWerle1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Eric,
Does the Shape column still exist table? You can verify by right clicking on the table/feature > Properties > Fields.
Additionally, have you ran the Check Geometry tool for the features in your file geodatabase? If geometry issues do exist, this tool will generate a report of the geometry problems. You could then run the Repair Geometry tool, but its typically best practice to have a backup copy of the geodatabase to be safe. 

[EricDaechsel1]

Hi Colin,

Yes, the Shape column still exists. 

I ran the Check Geometry tool, but got a blank table from it the couple times I tried it out. I then ran Repair Geometry, and that worked for individual feature classes. I've used the Recover File Geodatabase tool, since the feature classes were in a few separate geodatabases, and that's worked for me (I just have to re-create the feature datasets, since they don't get recovered). 

Thanks for your help and for pointing me in the right direction. This is a good cautionary tale to make sure I backup my data from now on.

[MIGUELANGELLIRAMIJARES]

Hi @EricDaechsel1, @ColinWerle1 

Excuse me, did you find a solution for this? I know I am writting this ccomment 4 years after your issue, but I am experiencing the same issue over here, and I cannot find any solution online.

I even created a bug report for ESRI, but I have not recieve any answer yet.

Thank you in advance!

[ColinWerle1]

Hi @MIGUELANGELLIRAMIJARES, if the tools/workflow suggested earlier in the thread are not succesful for you, I would suggest logging a technical support case. Was this report the type of "bug report" that you submitted? 

[MIGUELANGELLIRAMIJARES]

Hi @ColinWerle1 , the "bug report" I submited was through the ESRI Support website. Currently I am looking at it with some people from IT, but it seems that they are not sure the reason why this is happening. Geodatabase files are very unceretain, but unfortunately, they are the only way to work on Field Maps - Offline Maps, since using Shapefiles in the Web Maps do not allow you to create offline maps for Field Maps.

As as suggestion to ESRI, they should take a deep look into this connection between apps and software, I am finding many issues that I believe they could be implemented/fixed if they put an effort to fix them.