Preparing database connection files

Most of the information required on the Spatial Database Connection Properties dialog box is information you, as the administrator, know. You must send users this information for them to create connection files. As an alternative to this, you can create the connection file for them. These connection files can then be sent to the users for them to put in their user profiles on their client computers or placed on a centralized server that all users can access.

Some factors to consider before doing this are which login or logins you want used in the connection files, how you will redistribute the files if they change, and how many maps and services may be affected if the file or its location does change.

Steps:

1. If you are going to place the connection file on a Windows server for all users to access, you need to create the directory on the server, share it, and grant permissions on it.
   Note:

   You probably will only grant read access to the shared directory. If you grant write access, users would be able to change information in the connection file.

2. Start ArcCatalog by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcCatalog 10.
3. Double-click the Database Connections folder in the Catalog tree to expand it.
4. Double-click Add Spatial Database Connection.

   This opens the Spatial Database Connection dialog box.

5. Provide the appropriate connection information as described in one of these topics:
   • Making a direct connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in DB2
   • Making a direct connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in Informix
   • Making a direct connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in Oracle
   • Making a direct connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in PostgreSQL
   • Making a direct connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in SQL Server
   • Making an ArcSDE service connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in DB2
   • Making an ArcSDE service connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in Informix
   • Making an ArcSDE service connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in Oracle
   • Making an ArcSDE service connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in PostgreSQL
   • Making an ArcSDE service connection from ArcGIS Desktop to a geodatabase in SQL Server
6. If you are placing the connection file in a shared directory on a server, do the following:
   1. Open Windows Explorer.
   2. On Windows XP or Server 2003, navigate to Documents and Settings > <user_name> > Application Data > ESRI > Desktop10.0 > ArcCatalog. On Windows Vista, 7, or Server 2008, navigate to Users > <user_name> > AppData > Roaming > ESRI > Desktop10.0 > ArcCatalog.

      The file will have an extension of .sde.

      Tip:

      The AppData folder on Windows Vista, 7, or Server 2008 operating systems may be hidden. Choose Folder and search options from the Windows Explorer Oraganize drop-down list, click the View tab, and click Show hidden files and folders to unhide the AppData folder.

   3. Copy the connection file.
   4. Navigate to the shared directory on the server. Be sure to use a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path to the location.
   5. Paste the connection file in the shared directory.
   6. Notify the UNC path to the shared directory.
   7. Users must create a folder connection to this location in ArcCatalog or the Catalog window in ArcMap, using the UNC path.
7. If you are sending the file to users, you can do one of the following:
   • Send the file to them in an e-mail with instructions on where to place the file on their computers: Documents and Settings > <user_name> > Application Data > ESRI > Desktop10 > ArcCatalog.
   • Place the file in a location from which users can copy the file to their client computers and send them instructions with this location.