Data management with ArcCatalog > Building the Catalog
Adding OLE DB connections |
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Release 9.3
Last modified May 9, 2012 |
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About OLE DB connections
Note:
This topic was updated for 9.3.1.
In ArcCatalog, you can use OLE DB providers to retrieve data from a database. ArcCatalog communicates with all OLE DB providers in the same way, with each provider, in turn, communicating with a different database. This standard lets you work with data from any database in the Catalog in the same way. Looking in an OLE DB connection in the Catalog, you'll see a list of tables in the database.
Microsoft's OLE DB providers come with ArcCatalog. They let you access Jet (Microsoft Access), SQL Server, and Oracle databases. Another provider communicates with Open Database Communication (ODBC) drivers. Additional OLE DB providers may be available from other sources. The Connection tab is different for each provider, although they all require similar information (your user name, password, and the database to which you want to connect). Each provider should have a Help topic with specific information on how to create a connection.
ArcGIS incorporates Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC), which include OLE DB providers and ODBC drivers. These components provide easy access to information maintained in a variety of external data sources, both relational and nonrelational.
OLE DB is a database access application programming interface (API) that builds on ODBC technology; it is based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) development strategy. OLE DB providers handle the exchange of information between the data provider (data source) and the data consumer (any system or application code—for example, ArcCatalog or ArcMap) that requires access to data.
You have access to all the OLE DB providers that are installed as part of the MDAC package on your computer. These include Microsoft's OLE DB providers for Jet, SQL Server, Oracle, and an OLE DB provider for ODBC drivers to access ODBC data sources. For OLE DB connections to PostgreSQL, you need to download and install the drivers for PostgreSQL. These can be accessed through the PostgreSQL site at http://www.postgresql.org/download/. Be sure to install the driver that matches the release of PostgreSQL to which you want to connect.
Data accessed through an OLE DB database connection is read-only in ArcGIS. However, it is possible to edit the data programmatically.
You can create and manage your OLE DB connections in ArcCatalog using the Data Link Properties dialog box (learn how to access the Data Link Properties dialog box).
The following section explains how to make OLE DB connections using some of the more common OLE DB providers.
How to add OLE DB connections
- Double-click Database Connections in the ArcCatalog tree.
- Double-click Add OLE DB Connection.
- Click the OLE DB provider you want to use to access data.
- Click Next or click the Connection tab.
- Provide the required connection information. The Connection tab is different for each provider. Most require that you identify the database to which you want to connect and type your user name and password. If you uncheck Allow saving password, you will be prompted for login information when you access the data; this helps maintain the security of your database. Click the Help button for assistance.
- Click Test Connection.
- Click OK if the connection test was successful.
- Type a new name for the connection.
- Press Enter.
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