ArcGIS Help 10.1 - Create Database Connection (Data Management)

Summary

Creates a connection file that can be used to connect to an enterprise database or ArcSDE geodatabase.

Usage

When using the tool dialog box, if valid connection information is entered the tool will connect to the database in order to determine if the database contains the geodatabase schema. If the schema is found, the server will automatically populate the Schema parameter with the SDE schema (for Oracle user schema geodatabases only), the Version Type parameter with the TRANSACTIONAL keyword, and the version name parameter with the Default version name.
If you want to prevent your connection information from being saved in the Results window or stored in the geoprocessing history log files, you will need to disable history logging and save the connection file without saving the connection information you wish to hide.
All of the parameters in the Geodatabase Connection Properties section of the tool dialog box are ignored when connecting to an enterprise database that is not a geodatabase.

Syntax

CreateDatabaseConnection_management (out_folder_path, out_name, database_platform, instance, {account_authentication}, {username}, {password}, {save_user_pass}, {database}, {schema}, {version_type}, {version}, {date})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
out_folder_path	The folder path where the .sde file will be stored.	Folder
out_name	The name of the .sde file. The output file extension must end with .sde.	String
database_platform	The DBMS platform that will be connected to. Valid options are: SQL_SERVER —For connecting to Microsoft SQL Server ORACLE —For connecting to Oracle DB2 —For connecting to IBM DB2 on Linux, UNIX, or Windows DB2ZOS —For connecting to IBM DB2 on z/OS INFORMIX —For connecting to IBM Informix NETEZZA —For connecting to Netezza POSTGRESQL —For connecting to PostgreSQL	String
instance	The server or instance to connect to. The value you choose from the Connection type drop-down list indicates the type of database to which you want to connect. The information you provide for this parameter will vary, depending the connection type you choose. See below for further information specific to each DBMS platform. db2—The name of the cataloged DB2 database. db2zos—The name of the cataloged DB2 database. informix—The Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data source name for the Informix database. oracle—Either the TNS name or the Oracle Easy Connection string. netezza—The ODBC data source name for the Netezza database. postgresql—The name of the server where PostgreSQL is installed. sqlserver—The name of the SQL Server instance.	String
account_authentication (Optional)	DATABASE_AUTH —Database Authentication. Uses an internal database user name and password to connect to the DBMS. You aren't required to type your user name and password to create a connection; however, if you don't, you will be prompted to enter them when a connection is established. OPERATING_SYSTEM_AUTH —Use operating system authentication. You do not need to type in a user name and password. The connection will be made with the user name and password used to log in to the operating system. If the login used for the operating system is not a valid geodatabase login, the connection will fail. Also note, if you are creating a connection to a geodatabase stored in Oracle, DB2, or Informix, you must use a direct connection to the database.	Boolean
username (Optional)	The database user name to connect with using Database Authentication.	String
password (Optional)	The database user password when using Database Authentication.	Encrypted String
save_user_pass (Optional)	SAVE_USERNAME —Save the user name and password in the connection file. This is the default. DO_NOT_SAVE_USERNAME —Do not save the user name and password in the file. Every time you attempt to connect using the file, you will be prompted for the user name and password.	Boolean
database (Optional)	The name of the database that you will be connecting to. This parameter only applies to PostgreSQL and SQL Server platforms.	String
schema (Optional)	The user schema geodatabase to connect to. This option only applies to Oracle databases that contain at least one user-schema geodatabase. The default value for this parameter is to use the Default version.	String
version_type (Optional)	The type of version you wish to connect to. TRANSACTIONAL —Use to connect to a transactional version. HISTORICAL —Use to connect to an historical marker. POINT_IN_TIME —Use to connect to a specific point in time. If POINT_IN_TIME is used, the Version Name parameter will be ignored. If TRANSACTIONAL or HISTORICAL is used, the date parameter will be ignored. If HISTORICAL is used and a name is not provided in the version_name parameter, the Default transactional version will be used. If POINT_IN_TIME is used and a date is not provided in the date parameter, the Default transactional version will be used.	String
version (Optional)	The geodatabase transactional version or historical marker to connect to. The default option will use the Default version.	String
date (Optional)	The value representing the date and time used to connect to the database. For working with archiving enabled data. Dates can be entered in the following formats: 6/9/2011 4:20:15 PM 6/9/2011 16:20:15 6/9/2011 4:20:15 PM 16:20:15 Note: If a time is entered without a date, the default date of December 30, 1899, will be used. If a date is entered without a time, the default time of 12:00:00 AM will be used.	Date

Code Sample

CreateDatabaseConnection example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the CreateDatabaseConnection tool in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.CreateDatabaseConnection_management("Database Connections",
                                          "utah.sde",
                                          "SQL_SERVER",
                                          "utah",
                                          "DATABASE_AUTH",
                                          "gdb",
                                          "gdb",
                                          "SAVE_USERNAME",
                                          "garfield",
                                          "#",
                                          "TRANSACTIONAL",
                                          "sde.DEFAULT")

CreateDatabaseConnection example 2(stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the CreateDatabaseConnection tool.

# Name: CreateDatabaseConnection2.py
# Description: Connects to a database using Easy Connect string
#              and operating system authentication.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Run the tool
arcpy.CreateDatabaseConnection_management("Database Connections",
                                          "zion.sde",
                                          "ORACLE",
                                          "zionserver/ORCL",
                                          "OPERATING_SYSTEM_AUTH")

CreateDatabaseConnection example 3 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the CreateDatabaseConnection tool to connect to an historical marker.

# Name: CreateDatabaseConnection3.py
# Description: Connects to a geodatabase historical marker using a
#              cataloged DB2 database and database authentication.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Run the tool
arcpy.CreateDatabaseConnection_management("Database Connections",
                                          "history.sde",
                                          "DB2",
                                          "DB2_DS",
                                          "DATABASE_AUTH",
                                          "butch",
                                          "sundance",
                                          "SAVE_USERNAME",
                                          "#",
                                          "#",
                                          "HISTORICAL",
                                          "June 9, 2010",
                                          "#")

CreateDatabaseConnection example 4 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the CreateDatabaseConnection tool to connect to a point in time.

# Name: CreateDatabaseConnection4.py
# Description: Connects to a point in time in the geodatabase in
#              PostgreSQL using database authentication.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Run the tool
arcpy.CreateDatabaseConnection_management("Database Connections",
                                          "history.sde",
                                          "POSTGRESQL",
                                          "dbserver",
                                          "DATABASE_AUTH",
                                          "stevie",
                                          "smith",
                                          "SAVE_USERNAME",
                                          "archivedb",
                                          "#",
                                          "POINT_IN_TIME",
                                          "#",
                                          "5/19/2011 8:43:41 AM")

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes

11/18/2013