A comparison of ArcGIS, ArcSDE, and Informix 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 |
Informix data type |
ArcGIS data type |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SE_STRING_TYPE |
CHAR, VARCHAR |
TEXT |
When created through ArcGIS Desktop, the TEXT field is always a VARCHAR in Informix |
|
SE_INT16_TYPE (SE_SMALLINT_TYPE) |
SMALLINT |
SHORT INTEGER |
|
|
SE_INT32_TYPE (SE_INTEGER_TYPE) |
INTEGER |
LONG INTEGER |
|
|
SE_INT64_TYPE |
INT8 |
na |
The server configuration parameter INT64TYPES must be TRUE to create columns with this data type. |
|
SE_FLOAT32_TYPE (SE_FLOAT_TYPE) |
DECIMAL |
na |
|
|
SE_FLOAT64_TYPE (SE_DOUBLE_TYPE) |
DECIMAL |
na |
|
|
SE_DATE_TYPE |
DATETIME |
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 it is a polygon, line, point, multipoint, or multipatch. |
|
SE_XML_TYPE |
SDE_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 |