A comparison of ArcGIS, ArcSDE, and DB2 data types

When you create a table or add a column to a table in the database, columns are created as a specific data type. Data types are classifications that identify possible values for and operations that can be done on the data, as well as the way the data in that column is stored in the database.

When you import data of one type into a column of another data type, you need to understand what the equivalent data types are between ArcSDE and your database management system (DBMS) because it can impact data content. Also, when creating new datasets in ArcGIS, it is helpful to know the equivalent data types between ArcGIS and your DBMS.

When you create a feature class or table in ArcGIS, there are 11 possible data types you can assign to a field. That means there are some data types that can only be created outside ArcGIS.

ArcSDE data type

DB2 data type

ArcGIS data type

Notes

SE_STRING_TYPE

CHAR, VARCHAR

TEXT

When created through ArcGIS Desktop, the TEXT field is always VARCHAR in DB2.

SE_INT16_TYPE (SE_SMALLINT_TYPE)

SMALLINT

SHORT INTEGER

SE_INT32_TYPE (SE_INTEGER_TYPE)

INTEGER

LONG INTEGER

SE_INT64_TYPE

BIGINT

na

The server configuration parameter INT64TYPES must be TRUE to create columns with this data type.

SE_FLOAT32_TYPE (SE_FLOAT_TYPE)

FLOAT

na

SE_FLOAT64_TYPE (SE_DOUBLE_TYPE)

DOUBLE

na

SE_DATE_TYPE

TIMESTAMP

DATE

SE_UUID_TYPE

CHAR(UUID LEN)

GUID

SE_BLOB_TYPE

BLOB

BLOB

SE_SHAPE_TYPE

ST_GEOMETRY

GEOMETRY

ST_Geometry is a superclass. The actual data subtype created (such as ST_Multilinestring or ST_Point) depends on what type of feature class you create, whether as polygon, line, point, multipoint, or multipatch.

SE_XML_TYPE

SDE_XML or Pure XML

na

XML columns are not exposed in ArcGIS Desktop.

SE_RASTER_TYPE

BLOB

RASTER

SE_STRING_TYPE

CHARACTER(38)

OBJECTID

DECIMAL(31,8)

FLOAT

DECIMAL(31,8)

DOUBLE

DB2 data type comparison

8/19/2013