Export to coverages (Maritime Charting)
When your data is ready to be converted to Vector Product Format (VPF), you can use the Convert DNC GDB To VPF tool to export the geodatabases to VPF (recommended workflow) or export your geodatabase and note tables to coverages then convert to VPF using the Esri Nautical Solution Workstation.
There is one consideration you should keep in mind before converting your data coverages; the Geodatabase To Coverage tool works on the entire geodatabase; that is, if you run the export option on a geodatabase that contains more data than you want to export, you first have to clip the data into another geodatabase. The following sections describe the process for exporting your geodatabase and note tables to coverages.
Remove duplicate notes
Before exporting to coverages, run the Remove Duplicate Notes tool in ArcCatalog on the geodatabase to be exported. This is especially important for library geodatabases that have been created by joining many datasets together. It is good practice to run the tool before exporting.
Export to coverages
You can create ArcInfo coverages from the feature classes that participate in the theme GDB model. In most cases, several feature classes are necessary to build single-theme coverages. You have the option to only export specific layers, or you may export the entire geodatabase. Use the Geodatabase to Coverage tool to export your geodatabase to coverages.
There are two options for creating ArcInfo coverages from geodatabase feature classes with the Geodatabase to Coverage tool:
- Export selectable layers to a single ArcInfo coverage by clicking the Selectable Feature Layers in Map option. Choosing this option allows you to select the output coverage as well as the tolerance for the selectable layers.
- Click the Mapping Table option to use a mapping table, such as the geodatabase DBS_FC_VVT table, to define feature class input and coverage output. Choosing this option enables the Mapping Table text box, which allows you to browse to the mapping table you want to use.
Exporting note tables
You also need to export your note tables to a coverage workspace with the Export NOTES.RAT tool in ArcCatalog.