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Exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables to an export file (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables to an export file (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

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About exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables

Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

ArcGIS allows you to export all or any part of a geodatabase to an export file, providing you with a flexible way to transfer data.

You export entire feature datasets, feature classes, or tables with the Export XML Workspace Document wizard. You can also export schema without any data.

Exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables

When you export feature datasets, classes, and tables to an export file, you export any dependent data as well. Therefore, if you export a geometric network or topology class, then all the feature classes in the network or topology export. If you export a feature class or table in a relationship, the relationship class, along with the feature class or table it relates to, also exports. The same is true for a feature class that has feature-linked annotation: the feature-linked annotation exports too. For a feature class that has a domain, subtype, or index, the domain, subtype, or index also exports.

When you import feature datasets, classes, and tables from an export file, you create new feature datasets, feature classes, and tables and import any dependent data as well.

Exporting these items and importing them into another geodatabase is the equivalent of using the Copy and Paste commands in ArcCatalog to copy data from one geodatabase to another. Both processes create new feature datasets, classes, and tables and transfer any dependent data.

Export files created by exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables may also be referred to as XML workspace documents.

Exporting features or records

When you export features or records to an export file, you export attributes and records without any dependent data. For example, if you export features from a feature class that uses a domain or has linked annotation, the domain or annotation doesn’t export with the features. However, field properties, such as the alias, whether to allow null values, and the default value, do export.

When you load features or records from an export file, you load them into an existing feature class or table.

You can load with ArcCatalog or ArcMap. Loading with ArcCatalog produces the same result as loading data with the ArcCatalog Load Data command, and loading with ArcMap produces the same result as loading data with the ArcMap Load Objects command.

Learn more about loading data into existing feature classes and tables in ArcMap versus ArcCatalog

Export files created by exporting features or records may also be referred to as XML recordset documents.

Choosing an export file type

You can export geodatabase data to one of three file types: XML, ZIP, or Z file.

If you export to an XML file, you export to an uncompressed text file. Exporting to this file type is sufficient if you're exporting schema only. However, if you're exporting data, it is best to export to one of the other types to reduce the size of the file you create. Export data to this file type only if you're certain you don't want to compress the data.

If you export to a ZIP file, you export to a text file compressed inside a ZIP file. This is the most popular file type because it reduces the size of the file you create, allowing you to save space and transfer the data more easily. You can export to this file type, providing the resulting file doesn't exceed 4 GB.

If you're exporting a large amount of data and know you'll run into the 4 GB limit, export to a Z file, a compressed format that can hold more than 4 GB.

You can import data directly from any of these three file types. For example, there is no need to extract a file from the ZIP archive before importing.

Export format details

The geodatabase export format is an open, published XML format. This gives developers the ability to write applications that read the export file, even if they don't have any software from ESRI. Detailed information on the geodatabase XML schema is available at http://support.esri.com.

How to export feature datasets, classes, and tables

  1. In the ArcCatalog tree, right-click the geodatabase, feature dataset, feature class, or table you want to export and point to Export.
  2. Click XML Workspace Document.
  3. If you want to export the schema and data, click Data.
  4. If you want to export the schema without any records from the feature classes and tables, click Schema Only.

  5. Specify the path and name of the new file you will create.
  6. If you specify the path and name by typing it into the text box, give the file an .xml, .zip, or .z extension to specify the file type.

    If you specify the path and name by browsing to a folder with the Save As dialog box, specify the file type in the Save As dialog box.

    If you don't know to which file type you should save, see About exporting feature datasets, classes, and tables.

  7. If the data you're exporting has metadata and you want to export it, check the Export Metadata check box.
  8. Click Next.
  9. The list of data to export expands to include any dependent data. For example, if you had right-clicked just one of the feature classes participating in a network in step 1, all feature classes in the network are listed.
  10. Uncheck the Include check box for each feature class, table, or relationship class you do not want to export. If you leave a box checked for a feature class in a network or topology, all the feature classes in the network and topology will export.

  11. Click Finish to export the data.