| Help contents |
Notes |
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| Fundamentals of GIS data |
This section describes some fundamental principles that will help you as you begin to build and apply geodatabases. Start with the first topic on How maps represent geographic information.
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| An overview of the geodatabase |
The topics in this section of the help describe the fundamental contents for every geodatabase: tables, features, and rasters.
Start with the next topic named Table basics and read all the following topics in this help section.
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| The architecture of the geodatabase |
The topics in this section explain how features and rasters are stored in tables, why the geodatabase structure performs using simple features, and how it leverages relational database technology.
See Architecture of a geodatabase. This information is not required to use the geodatabase. It provides good background information for the geodatabase and how you can leverage it in your daily use. |
| Designing a geodatabase |
You can follow this practical overview on design and a simple procedure to help you build your geodatabase design.
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| Feature class design |
This feature class design topic helps explain why you would extend a feature class with additional capabilities (such as a topology, network, or terrain) and points you to more information on implementation.
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| Building a geodatabase |
Get started by creating a new geodatabase. These two topics are useful here:
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| Adding datasets to your geodatabase |
To begin populating the contents of your geodatabase, see An overview of adding datasets to the geodatabase.
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| Adding advanced data elements to your geodatabase |
When you want to progress farther than the equivalent of working with shapefiles—for example, to add a topology, network, geocoding locator, annotation, etc.—refer to the help book named "Working with geodatabase datasets" in the help book named "Building a geodatabase."
It contains a number of topics on extending your geodatabase to support various added capabilities—for example, all about adding a topology.
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| Geodatabase versioning and replication |
When you want to work with multiuser geodatabases and to distribute copies of your geodatabase across (and even outside of) your organization, you'll use versioning and replication.
See Understanding versioning for information on versioning.
See Working with geodatabase replication for information on replication. |
| Using SQL to access and work with the geodatabase |
These topics cover the SQL interface to spatial types managed in ArcSDE geodatabases. The SQL interface is supported for Informix, DB2, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server.
See Geodatabase access using SQL.
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