Latest Contributions by JoshuaBixby

I know this thread is older, but I figured I would chime in because I have been running into problems with using in_memory workspaces. When it comes to using the in_memory workspace in the interactive python window when background processing is enabled; well, all bets are off.  There are numerous tools that don't actually create GPInMemoryWorkspaces when using 'in_memory' with 'Background Processing' in the interactive Python window.  I primarily work in ArcGIS 10.1, but I have also noticed the same is true with 10.2.1. If 'in_memory' doesn't mean in RAM, then performance could be much lower than expected.  If using 'Background Processing' with the interactive Python windows, it pays to double check whether your 'in_memory' objects are actually in memory and not in disk-based temporary file geodatabases. ... View more

@scottball, thanks for posting a workaround.  I haven't tried it yet but will.  That being said, human automation is a sign of poor software development.  ArcGIS Desktop should be much more intelligent with its handling of locks. ... View more

'sdemon' certainly did require SDE user access rights, it just passed those access rights to any connection on the port (which could be construed as a security hole). - V I am not sure playing the security card solicits the intended response for most people with this issue.  I know our IT security folks won't feel better knowing Esri viewed the functionality of SDEMON for listing users as weak security, possibly a security hole, and yet never addressed the issue over years and many versions of the software.  I felt better about it when I thought it was just incomplete functionality. ... View more

Incident has been created with Esri Support with the same subject/name as this forum posting. ... View more

I have since learned that ArcPy now supports AcceptConnections, DisconnectUser, and ListUsers as of ArcGIS 10.1. Sigh....  ListUsers requires an administrative SDE workspace/connection, SDEMON didn't, so there is still some progress to be had. ... View more

For example, how is replacing several of the sdemon commands (-o info -I users/locks, -o pause/resume, -o kill) with tabs in ArcCatalog a step forward? I have to eat one of my earlier statements.  I have since learned that ArcPy now supports AcceptConnections, DisconnectUser, and ListUsers as of ArcGIS 10.1.  The sdemon functionality for listing locks and stats still appears to be missing. As an FYI, there is another related enhancement request someone referenced on the ArcGIS Ideas site: NIM095119 - SDEMON:Create geoprocessing tools or arcpy functions for operations performed when using the 'sdemon' command. ... View more

I wasn't sure whether to post the following comments here or over in the Blogs, so I erred on doing both. I don't mean to be contrary, but I just can't get excited about replacing one suite of simple, script-able tools with an assortment of scattered and mostly GUI-driven tools.  For example, how is replacing several of the sdemon commands (-o info -I users/locks, -o pause/resume, -o kill) with tabs in ArcCatalog a step forward?  I realize the tabs in ArcCatalog are going to be convenient for the casual SDE administrator, and I think providing them brings some value, but providing them as the exclusive means to manage geodatabases is a step backwards. I am not necessarily advocating for keeping the command line binaries around, I just think nearly all of the functionality should exist through non-GUI means in one form or another.  If Esri wants to migrate away from command line binaries to ArcPy/Python; great, I will work with that.  I just can't work with managing thousands of users scattered across hundreds of geodatabases using tabs in ArcCatalog or some other GUI-only option. ... View more

Hi, I *really* need to know the content of that blog post, which is no longer available. Can you provide me with the fix for slow draw times with SQL 2008 geometry on large sets of features? thanks! There was a domain name change, but the blog post is still available: http://geodatabase.net/wp/sql-server-2008-spatial-indexes-and-arcsde-9-3/ The content of that blog post, and this forum discussion, is pretty good, but it all is nearly 2 1/2 years old.  ArcSDE has changed some and SQL Server has had lots of improvements to its spatial support.  If you are truly running SQL Server 2008 with no service packs and ArcSDE 9.3/9.3.1, I think there is likely a larger issue that needs to be discussed more than tuning spatial indexes. Good luck! ... View more

Quick follow up....  I did just read on a 2007-vintage Esri forum posting, Raster File Geodatabase w/ Relative Links, that this isn't an issue wth Personal Geodatabases because of some built-in "auto-find" function, I am guessing with the Jet database engine.  I found the final quote of the thread by an Esri product engineer rather illuminating on what are chances are for this issue to be addressed: Unfortunately this is only working for pGDB at the moment. This functionality should be fixed for fileGDB soon. Sorry for any confusion. 7March 12, 2008   ... View more

I second the second, and then second that second of the second, etc....  Yet more enterprise funcationality missing from an enterprise-y product. ... View more

It seems there are multiple places to comment on ArcGIS Diagrammer functionality, so I am going to cover my bases.... When diagramming in ArcGIS Diagrammer, it would be nice to "hide" certain types of objects, specifically Subtypes. I work with feature classes that utilize large numbers of subtypes.  Although when diving deep into the schema or designing a geodatabase it is important to have those on the diagram, when trying to export a diagram for business users or management types, the display of all the subtypes is clutter.  I can go ahead and delete them all for making a graphic to present, but even that is a bit of a hassle. ... View more

It seems there are multiple places to comment on ArcGIS Diagrammer functionality, so I am going to cover my bases.... When diagramming in ArcGIS Diagrammer, it would be nice to "hide" certain types of objects, specifically Subtypes. I  work with feature classes that utilize large numbers of subtypes.   Although when diving deep into the schema or designing a geodatabase it  is important to have those on the diagram, when trying to export a  diagram for business users or management types, the display of all the  subtypes is clutter.  I can go ahead and delete them all for making a  graphic to present, but even that is a bit of a hassle. ... View more

Thomas, I put a call out within my organization for SDE administrators to comment on the likely loss of the Version Lineage diagram at 10.1.  The replies have started coming in, and I want to give people a week or so to document specific examples of where that functionality has proven invaluable.  Looking over early feedback, there are a couple of prevalent themes, but there are also several unique circumstances where the visual diagram was instrumental in troubleshooting version problems. I think the response will get a bit involved for this forum.  After I compile and synthesize comments, I will contact you via e-mail about submitting them to you. Cheers, ... View more

Thomas, Thanks for the reply, and I will definitely work on documenting a couple of use cases for you in the coming weeks. I work for a large, de-centralized organization with a large, centralized data center.  SDE is an integral part of that data center environment with hundreds of geodatabases for hundreds of geographically distributed branches/offices housed in one location.  Although SDE is centrally deployed, it is managed and used in a de-centralized fashion.  For the local branch/office people, such as myself, that are in charge of managing their respective geodatabase, educating casual GIS users and local management is crucial.  Branch/office SDE administrators wear numerous other GIS-related hats, and GIS teacher and evangelist are two of them. From my perspective, the educational value of the of the Version Lineage functionality is sufficient to warrant its continued support in Esri's product line.  But if educational value isn't sufficient for some, I believe there is organizational value to the tool.  Visualizing how states are created and managed helps an organization understand how different program areas interact with and utilize geospatial data.  I hope to provide a couple of explicit examples of where visualizing Version Lineage brings business value to an organization. ... View more

I am all for improving the tools used to administer a geodatabase, but I think removing the Version Lineage Viewing capabilities is a poor call.  A handy, visual tool can be used for so many different needs/situations that removing it because 3 specific situations have better tools seems hasty. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I just got cursed with looking through thousands of lines of verbose logs to comprehend what can be visually communicated in a diagram or two.  Getting access to actual text messages, through verbose logging, is very important, but it doesn't obviate the need for good visualization tools. ... View more