An overview of importing datasets
You can add datasets to a geodatabase by importing them from other locations or by converting (and importing) them from other data formats.
You can import datasets into a geodatabase in the following ways:
- Using the context sensitive menu in ArcCatalog or the Catalog window
- Using Geoprocessing tools in ArcToolbox
When you import data in formats which are not used by the geodatabase, ArcGIS automatically converts them into types used by the geodatabase. Learn more about how data converts when imported
Importing datasets using ArcCatalog or the Catalog window
To import datasets using the context sensitive menu in the Catalog tree, right-click on the geodatabase and click Import. Choose the type of data you would like to import:
- Feature Class (single)—Converts a shapefile, coverage feature class, or geodatabase feature class to a shapefile or geodatabase feature class using the Feature Class to Feature Class tool
- Feature Class (multiple)—Converts one or more feature classes or feature layers to geodatabase feature classes using the Feature Class to Geodatabase tool
- Table (single)—Converts an input table to a dBASE or a personal, file, or ArcSDE geodatabase table using the Table to Table tool
- Table (multiple)—Imports one or more tables into a file, personal, or ArcSDE geodatabase using the Table to Geodatabase tool
- Raster Datasets (single)—Loads multiple raster datasets into a geodatabase or raster catalog
- XML Workspace Document—Imports data or schema from an XML document into a geodatabase
Importing datasets using geoprocessing tools
To import datasets using ArcToolbox open the Conversion Toolbox and navigate to the To Geodatabase toolset. This contains the same tools as those accessed from the context sensitive menu.