Different methods can be used to access different databases associated with a project. File geodatabases 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 will see them in the folder.
If you find an enterprise database connection in a folder, you must add the connection to your project before you can open it and access items in the database. Databases added to the project are available under the Databases category in the Project pane and the Project view.
The contents of a file geodatabase can be accessed from a folder connection. You can also connect a project directly to a file geodatabase—you can quickly access its contents without having to browse to the location where the database is stored each time you use the items it contains. These databases also appear under the Databases category.
It may be important to connect a project to the folder in which a file geodatabase 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 file geodatabase or enterprise database connection, 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 file geodatabase from a folder connection
You can see and work with a file geodatabase from a folder connection and any additional files stored in the same location. This may be important if you create files using data in the file geodatabase and use those files in the project.
- Connect to a folder that contains the file geodatabase you want to use.
- In the Project pane or the Project view, browse to the folder that contains the file geodatabase.
- Browse into the file geodatabase and start using the items it contains.
Add a database directly to the project
If you only want to see and work with a file geodatabase and its items, and not other items stored in the same location as the file geodatabase, you can add it directly to the project.
You may also have a database connection file (.sde) that can be used to access an enterprise database, for example, one that was created using ArcGIS for Desktop. You can add these connections to a project. If this is the first time you've connected to this database from this computer, client software for the database may have to be installed before you can connect to the database.
- On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Connections drop-down list and click Add Database.
- Browse to and click the file geodatabase or database connection file on the local or network computer.
- Click Select.
The database appears in the Project pane or the Project view in the Databases category.
- Browse into the database to start using the items it contains.
Create a new file geodatabase in the project
You can create a new file geodatabase that will be used in the project.
- On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Connections drop-down list and click New File Geodatabase.
- Browse to a folder on the local or network computer where the new file geodatabase will be stored.
- Type a name for the new file geodatabase.
- Click Save.
The file geodatabase appears in the Project pane or the Project view under the Databases heading.
Create a new enterprise database connection
Before you can use the contents of an enterprise database in ArcGIS Pro, you must first create a connection that provides access to the database. In most cases, your database or GIS administrator will provide you with the information you need to configure your local computer correctly and establish a connection to the database. Client software for the database may have to be installed on the local computer before you can connect to the database.
New database connection files are stored in the project's home folder. They appear in the Databases category in the Project pane and the Project view along with any file geodatabases that have already been added to the project.