Connect to a database

You can use different methods to access different databases associated with a project. File geodatabases, mobile geodatabases, SQLite databases, OGC GeoPackage files, and connections to enterprise databases are stored on the file system. If you connect your project to a folder in which these databases are stored, you see them in the folder.

If you find a database in a folder, you can browse to the database and use its contents in that location or add the connection directly to your project. Databases added to the project are available under the Databases category in the Catalog pane and the catalog view. You can quickly access the contents of databases in the project without having to browse to the location where they are stored each time you use the items they contain.

It may be important to connect a project to the folder in which a database is stored as well. Some geoprocessing operations produce output that can't be stored in a database. By default, these output items, such as text or XML files, are stored in the folder that contains the database, unless the geoprocessing environment is configured to store these items in a specific location. If the output location isn't available from the project, you can't access or document the output items.

Access a database in a folder

You can see and work with a file geodatabase, an enterprise geodatabase, a mobile geodatabase, a supported database, nonspatial data accessed through an OLE DB connection, or a GeoPackage file from a folder connection as well as any additional files stored in the same location. This may be important if you create files using data in the database and use those files in the project.

1. Connect to a folder that contains the database you want to use.
2. In the Catalog pane or the catalog view, browse to the folder that contains the database.
3. Browse into the database and start using the items it contains.

Tip:

When you are browsing a folder in the catalog view, you can add a database directly to the project by clicking it and clicking Add To Project on the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Organize group. In the Catalog pane, right-click a database and click Add To Project .

Add a database directly to the project

If you want to work directly with the contents of a file geodatabase, mobile geodatabase, SQLite database, GeoPackage file, the enterprise geodatabase or database accessed through a database connection file, or nonspatial data accessed through an OLE DB connection file and not other items stored in the same location, you can add the database to the project.

If you have a database connection file (.sde) or OLE DB connection file (.odc) that can be used to access an enterprise database and this is the first time you've connected to the database from this computer, client software for the database may need to be installed before you can connect.

1. Add an existing database to the project.
   • Open the catalog view and click Project or Databases in the Contents pane. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the Add drop-down arrow and click Add Database .
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Connections drop-down arrow and click Add Database .
2. Browse to and click the geodatabase, SQLite database, GeoPackage, or connection file on the local or network computer.
3. Click OK.

   The database appears in the Catalog pane and the catalog view in the Databases category .

4. Browse to the database to start using the items it contains.

Tip:

You can drag a database or database connection from Microsoft Windows Explorer to the Catalog pane or the catalog view to add it to a project. You can also drag these items from folder connections in the project to the Databases category to add them directly to the project. Drag the items in the Catalog pane, between the Catalog pane and catalog view, or between two catalog views.

Create a file geodatabase in the project

There are multiple ways to create a file geodatabase that you will use in the project. Several methods are described in the next two sections.

Create a file geodatabase in your current location

When you browse to a folder in the catalog view, you can create a file geodatabase in your current location.

1. Open the catalog view and browse into a folder.
2. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New menu and click New File Geodatabase .

   A new file geodatabase is created in the current location with the name New File Geodatabase and is added to the project under the Databases category . The geodatabase name is immediately editable.

3. Type a name for the file geodatabase.
4. Press Enter.

   The file geodatabase is updated with the new name.

Note:

You can create a file geodatabase when you browse the contents of a folder with a browse dialog box in the same manner. For example, if you are using a geoprocessing tool and opened a browse dialog box to define the output feature class, you can browse into a folder and create a file geodatabase in which to store the output feature class. In the browse dialog box, click the New Item menu and click New File Geodatabase . Type a new name for the file geodatabase, and press Enter.

Create a file geodatabase in another location

To create a file geodatabase in another location, complete the following steps:

1. Use one of the following options to open the New File Geodatabase dialog box.
   • In the catalog view's Contents pane, click Project or Databases. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New menu and click New File Geodatabase .
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Connections drop-down arrow and click New File Geodatabase .
   • Right-click the Databases category in the Catalog pane or catalog view and click New File Geodatabase .
2. Browse to a folder on the local or network computer where the new file geodatabase will be stored.
3. Type a name for the new file geodatabase in the Name text box.
4. Click Save.

A file geodatabase is created in the specified location with the provided name and is added to the project. It appears in the Databases category .

Create a mobile geodatabase in the project

There are multiple ways to create a mobile geodatabase to use in an ArcGIS Pro project. Several methods are described in the next two sections.

Create a mobile geodatabase in your current location

When you browse into a folder in the catalog view, you can create a mobile geodatabase in your current location.

1. Open the catalog view and browse into a folder.
2. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New menu and click New Mobile Geodatabase .

   A new mobile geodatabase is created in the current location with the name New Mobile Geodatabase and is added to the project under the Databases category . The geodatabase name is immediately editable.

3. Type a name for the mobile geodatabase.
4. Press Enter.

   The mobile geodatabase is updated with the new name.

Note:

Similarly, you can create a mobile geodatabase when you browse into a folder with a browse dialog box. For example, in the Select Existing Database dialog box, you can browse into a folder and create a mobile geodatabase that can be added to the project. In the browse dialog box, click the New Item menu and click New Mobile Geodatabase .

Create a mobile geodatabase in another location

Additional methods that you can use to create a mobile geodatabase are described in the following steps.

1. Use one of the following options to open the New Mobile Geodatabase dialog box.
   • In the catalog view's Contents pane, click Project or Databases. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New menu and click New Mobile Geodatabase .
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Connections drop-down arrow and click New Mobile Geodatabase .
   • Right-click the Databases category in the Catalog pane or catalog view and click New Mobile Geodatabase .
2. Browse to a folder on the local or network computer where the new mobile geodatabase will be stored.
3. Type a name for the new mobile geodatabase in the Name text box.
4. Click Save.

A mobile geodatabase is created in the specified location with the provided name and is added to the project. It appears in the Databases category .

Enterprise database connections

Before you can use the contents of an enterprise database in ArcGIS Pro, you must first create a connection to it. Create a database connection to access spatial and nonspatial data in a supported database. Create an OLE DB connection to access nonspatial data in databases, even those not certified for use with ArcGIS.

In most cases, your database or GIS administrator will provide you with the information to configure your local computer and establish a connection to the database. Client software for the database may need to be installed on the local computer before you can connect to the database.

Favorite a database

If you add the same database to many projects, favorite that database to simplify the process. The project favorites collection is always available. Add a favorite database to projects without having to remember its location or any connection details. You can add a favorite enterprise geodatabase, for example, to every new project. You can create new file geodatabases and database connections directly in the project favorites folder; if your user profile supports roaming, they are available and current on every computer you use.

Tip:

You can drag any database or database connection from Microsoft Windows Explorer to the favorites collection in the Catalog pane or the catalog view. You can also drag these items from the Project tab in the Catalog pane to the favorites collection in the catalog view, or drag them between two catalog views. For database connections, a copy of the connection file is saved to the project favorites roaming folder.