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Preparing data for replication (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Preparing data for replication (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)
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Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

The following steps should be considered when preparing data for replication:

Determine the datasets to replicate.

Geodatabase replication allows you to replicate all datasets or a subset of datasets in your geodatabase. In order to be replicated, these datasets must meet the following requirements:

Two-way and one-way replicas have these additional requirements:

Any dataset not meeting these requirements will not be included in the replica.

The list of data to replicate will automatically be expanded to include dependent datasets. For example, all feature classes in a geometric network, topology, or feature dataset will be included if just one feature class in the network, topology, or feature dataset is selected for replication.

Define the data to be replicated.

For each dataset, you can choose to replicate all data, a subset of rows, or even just the schema. Plan on replicating an appropriate amount of data for your needs. Consider the lifetime of the replica and make sure your requirements are covered.

Replica creation determines the data to replicate using two mechanisms: filters and relationship classes.

There are three types of filters:

When replicating in ArcMap, the spatial filter is determined by the current view extent of the ArcMap document or the boundary of a currently selected graphic. Features intersecting this filter are included. Definition queries and selections on individual layers and tables are also applied. If more than one filter is used, the intersection of all filters is applied.

Once data has been added to the replica from processing the filters, the relationship class logic is applied. Here, for each dataset involved in a relationship class, additional rows are added if they are related to the data already in the replica. See Replicating related data for more information.

The following lists types of data for which additional rules and behaviors are applied when creating replicas. Review the topics that are appropriate for your data:

Geometric Networks

Topologies

Raster Data

Terrains

Network Datasets

Representations

An example of replicating data

The following electric utilities maintenance work orders will help illustrate some of the default behavior for replicating data.

A maintenance crew is preparing to inspect some of the electric utilities in a residential area. To do some field editing, the crew needs to replicate that part of the electric network that covers this residential area. To start the replication process, the spatial extent of the inspection area is identified using a spatial filter (in this case, the extent is determined by a selected graphic).

Spatial extent filter applied to some electric utility data

The crew is to concentrate on cables that have been insulated with a particular material. To identify these cables, a query is applied to the relevant dataset.

The results of a definition query of cables (in red) insulated with a particular material

Finally, as each maintenance crew can expect to visit only a certain number of properties in a day, the homes in one residential block are identified by a selection based on property numbers.

Attribute selection to identify certain properties

The selected features, features identified by a definition query, and features that intersect the chosen spatial extent will be replicated. Some additional network features have also been included. How geometric networks are replicated is explained in greater detail in Replicating geometric networks.

The data that gets replicated

See Also

  • Working with geodatabase replication
  • Replication types
  • Registering and unregistering data as versioned
  • Creating versions and setting permissions