Connecting to a geodatabase in SQL Server Express

Most users need to access and work with datasets in geodatabases, but not to perform administration tasks. If you are connecting to an ArcSDE geodatabase in SQL Server Express to create or work with the data in the geodatabase, create a connection file using the Spatial Database Connection dialog box, which can be accessed from the Database Connections node in the Catalog window.

Tip:

For details on the Spatial Database Connection dialog box, see Geodatabase connections in ArcGIS Desktop.

You need the following information to connect using the Spatial Database Connection dialog box:

• The name of the computer where the SQL Server Express instance is installed
• The name of the SQL Server Express instance
• The name of the database
• The geodatabase transactional or historical version, if one exists

Follow these steps to create a user connection to a geodatabase in SQL Server Express:

Steps:

1. Expand the Database Connections node in the Catalog window.

   

2. Double-click Add Spatial Database Connection.

   This opens the Spatial Database Connection dialog box.

3. Type the name of the computer on which the SQL Server Express instance is installed in the Server text box.
4. Type sde:sqlserver:<sql_server_instance> in the Service text box.

   The <sql_server_instance> is the name of the SQL Server Express instance. This is in the form <computer_name>\<instance>. For example, yourcomputer\sqlex1.

5. Type the name of the geodatabase to connect to in the database name text box.
6. Click Operating system authentication.
7. In the Connection details section, click Change.
8. Choose the geodatabase version to which you want to connect.

   To connect to the default version of the geodatabase, choose DBO.default. If you want to connect to a different transactional or historical version, see Connecting to a specific geodatabase version.

9. Click OK to make the connection to the version you chose.
10. Click Test Connection to be sure the information you provided is correct and the database is available for connections.
    • If the connection works, click OK to close the Spatial Database Connection dialog box.
    • If the connection does not work, be sure the information on the Spatial Database Connection dialog box is correct. If it is, see Troubleshooting connections to a database server for possible reasons a connection to the geodatabase might fail.

A new connection file is created under the Database Connections node in the Catalog tree.

Tip:

You can reopen the Spatial Database Connection dialog box to change the connection information by right-clicking the connection file and clicking Connection Properties.