Database Reference
In-Depth Information
y columns to a
Restaurant
table in a database, which represents the coordinate's loca-
tion of each restaurant in the table. Then, you can write a custom application to read the
coordinates and display the restaurants in a map. Esri realized the importance of injecting
location information into a database, and created its own standard location-based data-
base; you guessed it, the ArcGIS geodatabase. An ArcGIS geodatabase offers you a gen-
erous number of geographically enabled objects called datasets.
Note
An ArcGIS geodatabase is the proprietary database for Esri. All Esri geospatial software
is built around this geodatabase.
In this chapter, you will work on a real-life business case study where you will learn how
to create your first ArcGIS geodatabase and add different datasets using ArcGIS for
Desktop, hereafter known simply as Desktop (uppercase). To start with this chapter, make
sure you have a machine with Desktop 10 or higher. You can work with a 9.2.x or 9.3.x
Version of Desktop since the underlying geodatabase is the same; however, you might be
missing some features that are required to perform the exercises of the topic. I will be us-
ing Version 10.2; you can download the latest version of ArcGIS for Desktop for free with
a 60 day trial from the Esri website at
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgis-for-
desktop/free-trial
.
You will need at least a standard or an advanced license, which will al-
low you to edit.
Note
The ArcGIS geodatabases authored in 9.2 and 9.3.x can be viewed and edited in ArcGIS
10.x. However, it is recommended that you use 10.x geodatabases during the course of
this topic to maintain a consistent flow and error free exercises.
