How to convert simple data to a geodatabase

SummaryThe article shows how to use the IFeatureDataConverter interface to load simple feature data into a geodatabase. The first example sets up the basic framework to convert a shapefile into a file geodatabase feature class. Converting into a personal geodatabase or enterprise geodatabase only requires changing the WorkspaceFactory. Code fragments explaining how to use a spatial index grid size other than the default and how to modify the output spatial reference (project) are included.

Development licensing Deployment licensing
ArcView ArcView
ArcEditor ArcEditor
ArcInfo ArcInfo
Engine Developer Kit Engine Runtime

Additional Requirements
  • The IFeatureDataConverter interface only loads simple feature data (points, lines, polygons).
  • If working in ArcSDE, an ArcEditor or greater license will be needed for ArcGIS Desktop and the Geodatabase Update extension will be required for ArcGIS Engine.

Converting simple data to a geodatabase

The IFeatureDataConverter interface is designed to work with the ArcCatalog IGxDialog minibrowser and accepts IWorkspaceNames as input. As this example is not using a ArcCatalog IGxDialog minibrowser, two IWorkspace objects are required—one for the source data and one for the target. 
 

Connecting to a geodatabase

The inWorkspace is a shapefile and the outWorkspace, a file geodatabase. Simple features can be loaded from and to shapefiles, personal geodatabases, file geodatabases, and ArcSDE. ArcInfo coverages can be converted to any of the other listed workspaces, but cannot be used as targets. For more information, see How to connect to a geodatabase.
 
  • You need to create the necessary IWorkspaceName objects as shown in the following code:
 

[C#] 
             //Create inWorkspace name.
IDataset inWorkspaceDataset = (IDataset)inWorkspaceFactory;
IWorkspaceName inWorkspaceName = (IWorkspaceName)inWorkspaceDataset.FullName;
//Create outWorkspace name.
IDataset outWorkspaceDataset = (IDataset)outWorkspaceFactory;
IWorkspaceName outWorkspaceName = (IWorkspaceName)outWorkspaceDataset.FullName;
  • Using inWorkspaceName, create inDatasetName and assign the name of the input feature class, which in this case, is a shapefile (ctgFeatureshp.shp). See the following code:

[C#] 
               // Set in dataset and feature class names.
IFeatureClassName inFeatureClassName = new FeatureClassNameClass();
IDatasetName inDatasetName = (IDatasetName)inFeatureClassName;
inDatasetName.WorkspaceName = inWorkspaceName;
inDatasetName.Name = "ctgFeatureshp.shp";
  • Using outWorkspaceName, outDatasetName using IDatasetName interface and assign the name of the output feature class, which in this case, is a file geodatabase (ctgFeature_fdcon). The name of the target feature class must not already exist in the outWorkspace. See the following code:

[C#] 
               // Set out dataset and feature class names.
IFeatureClassName outFeatureClassName = new FeatureClassNameClass();
IDatasetName outDatasetName = (IDatasetName)outFeatureClassName;
outDatasetName.WorkspaceName = outWorkspaceName;
outDatasetName.Name = "ctgFeature_fdcon";
  • Open the input feature class using the IName.Open method to get field definitions for validation. See the following code:
 

[C#] 
                //Open input Featureclass to get field definitions.
IName inName = (IName)inFeatureClassName;
IFeatureClass inFeatureClass = (IFeatureClass)inName.Open();
  • Set up for field name validation. See the following code:
Setting both the IFieldChecker, InputWorkspace, and IFieldChecker.ValidateWorkspace parameters is required for correct field validation.

[C#] 
                //Validate the field names.
IFieldChecker fieldChecker = new FieldCheckerClass();
IFields outFeatureClassFields;
IFields inFeatureClassFields = inFeatureClass.Fields;
IEnumFieldError enumFieldError;
fieldChecker.InputWorkspace = inWorkspaceFactory;
fieldChecker.ValidateWorkspace = outWorkspaceFactory;
  • Validate the fields. If an error is found, enumFieldError can be traversed and an error returned. Refer to IFieldChecker.Validate and enumFieldError for details. See the following code:
 

[C#] 
                // Validate the fields.
fieldChecker.Validate(inFeatureClassFields, out enumFieldError, out outFeatureClassFields);
  • Get the geometry definition from the shapefile of the outFeatureClass. See the following code:
 

[C#] 
             // Set up the geometry definition.
IField geometryField;
geometryField = outFeatureClassFields.get_Field(outFeatureClassFields.FindField(inFeatureClass.ShapeFieldName));
// Get the geometry field's geometry definition.
IGeometryDef geometryDef = geometryField.GeometryDef;
This section is optional
You can set the spatial index grid size if needed. This is done through the IGeometryDefEdit.GridCount and IGeometryDefEdit.GridSize_2 parameters. It is recommended that you do not set these values and use the defaults. The default values reflect the loaded data and are usually correct. See the following code:
 

[C#] 
               //Give the geometry definition a spatial index grid count and grid size.
IGeometryDefEdit outFCGeoDefEdit = (IGeometryDefEdit)geometryDef;
outFCGeoDefEdit.GridCount_2 = 1;
outFCGeoDefEdit.set_GridSize(0,30);
outFCGeoDefEdit.SpatialReference_2 = geometryField.GeometryDef.SpatialReference;
  • Set up the IQueryFilter to convert all of the features by leaving a blank WhereClause. A Where clause can be used to subset the input feature class. See the following code:
 

[C#] 
                IQueryFilter qf = new QueryFilterClass();
qf.WhereClause = "";
  • Load the feature class. Though rarely needed, rejected features can be reported using enumErrors. See the following code:

[C#] 
                IFeatureDataConverter fctofc = new FeatureDataConverterClass();
IEnumInvalidObject enumErrors = fctofc.ConvertFeatureClass(inFeatureClassName, qf, null, outFeatureClassName, geometryDef, outFeatureClassFields, "", 1000, 0);