Migrating raster columns using ArcSDE commands
To change the storage type of raster data, use the sdetable command with the migrate operation. This converts the data in the block_data column of the raster block table (sde_blk_<id>) and the object column of the raster auxiliary table (sde_aux_<id>) from LONG RAW data storage to BLOB or BLOB to ST_RASTER in Oracle, or to ST_RASTER in PostgreSQL and SQL Server. The syntax is as follows:
sdetable –o migrate –l <table,raster_column> –k <config_keyword> 
[–i {<service> | <direct_connection>] [–s <server>] [–D <database>] 
–u <user> [–p <password>] [–N]
Use the options as follows:
| Option | Description | 
|---|---|
| –o | This option indicates the operation being performed; in this case, migrate. | 
| –l | Use this option to specify the name of the table containing the raster column to be migrated. | 
| –k | Use this option to specify the DBTUNE configuration keyword for the raster storage type to which you are migrating the raster catalog. The specified keyword must contain a RASTER_STORAGE parameter set to BLOB (Oracle only) or ST_RASTER. | 
| –i | Provide either your direct connection syntax or the port number or name of the ArcSDE service you use to connect to the geodatabase. See Direct connections from ArcSDE commands to a geodatabase in SQL Server | 
| –s | Specify the name of the server on which the database resides. | 
| –D | Specify the name of the database or data source. This option is not used with Oracle databases. | 
| –u | Specify the user name of the feature class owner to log into the database. | 
| –p | Specify the password of the user. | 
| –N | Specify this option if you want to suppress the prompt to confirm the operation. | 
You will receive an error message when you execute the sdetable command with the migrate operation if any of the following are true:
You will receive an error message when you execute the sdelayer command with the migrate operation if any of the following are true:
- The user specified with –u is not the table owner.
- The existing storage type of the raster and the specified DBTUNE keyword are identical. (In other words, the table is already using the storage type you specified with the keyword; therefore, no migration is necessary.)
- The business table does not contain an object ID field.
- You try to use the migrate operation in an ArcSDE geodatabase previous to 9.2.
- You try to use the sdetable command with the migrate operation in a DBMS other than Oracle, SQL Server, or PosgreSQL.
- You're converting to the ST_Raster type, but it isn't installed in the database.
- 
 Create a backup of the data to be migrated. 
Creating a backup copy of the data you migrate ensures that, if migration fails for any reason, you still have your original data. 
- Open a DOS command prompt (Windows) or shell (UNIX or Linux).
- 
 Execute the sdetable command with the migrate operation. For example: 
sdetable –o migrate –l watershed,raster –k ST_RASTER –i sde:sqlserver:mainserver\ssdb –s mainserver –D mydb –u bjar –p mine.all.mine Be sure to specify a configuration keyword that contains the RASTER_STORAGE value to which you want to convert your data.