Registering a table with the geodatabase

Registering a spatial or nonspatial table with the geodatabase adds a record to the GDB_ITEMS and GDB_ITEMRELATIONSHIPS system tables.

In addition, registering a table with the geodatabase adds an ObjectID field to the table. This field is populated by the geodatabase with unique ID numbers.

If you register a nonspatial table with the geodatabase and the table already contains an ObjectID field, you are presented with a dialog box that allows you to use the existing field or add a new field, ObjectID_1.

CautionCaution:

If you choose to use the existing field, be aware that any existing values in the field will be overwritten.

If you register a spatial table with the geodatabase and it already contains a field named ObjectID, an ID field is automatically added to the business table. This ID field's data type is Object ID. The field is populated with unique values for each record in the table. These values are generated by the geodatabase.

Be aware that there can be only one field with a data type of Object ID in a spatial table registered with the geodatabase. If the existing Object ID field was registered with ArcSDE as a user-maintained Object ID, the data type on the existing Object ID field is changed to Long Integer. If the existing Object ID field was registered with ArcSDE as ArcSDE maintained, the existing field is used for the Object ID.

Adding an Object ID when a user-maintained ID already exists

NoteNote:

Because ArcGIS cannot add an object ID field to a view or update the values in an existing object ID field in a view, you cannot register a view with the geodatabase.

Once a spatial table is registered with the geodatabase, it is called a feature class. Nonspatial tables registered with the geodatabase are still called tables.

To register a spatial or nonspatial table with the geodatabase in ArcGIS Desktop, follow these steps:

Steps:
  1. Start ArcMap and open the Catalog window or start ArcCatalog.
  2. Connect to the ArcSDE geodatabase that contains the table you want to register.

    This connection is made under the Database Connections node of the Catalog tree. Be sure you connect as the owner of the table.

  3. Right-click the table you want to register.
  4. Click Register with Geodatabase.
  5. If you are registering a nonspatial table that already contains an ObjectID field, either choose to use the existing field to store ObjectIDs or create a new field.
  6. Click OK.

Once the table is registered with the geodatabase, you can use geodatabase functionality such as adding subtypes to it, defining domains for fields in the table, and placing the table in a relationship class. If it is a spatial table (a feature class), you can also move it into a feature dataset so it can be used in topologies, networks, terrains, and other feature dataset constructs. (To use functionality such as network datasets, terrains, and schematics, you must have the required ArcGIS extension installed and enabled.)

Related Topics


9/18/2012