Creating a personal geodatabase involves creating an .mdb file on disk. This can be done from the Catalog tree in ArcGIS for Desktop or, or using the Create Personal GDB geoprocessing tool.
If you use the Create Personal GDB geoprocessing tool, you can create a geodatabase that corresponds to an older release of ArcGIS. This ability allows you to share data with people who have older releases of ArcGIS, since older releases of ArcGIS may not be able to open newer releases of the geodatabase. For more information on this, see Client and geodatabase compatibility.
To create a personal geodatabase that corresponds to the same release as the ArcGIS for Desktop client you are using, follow these steps:
- Right-click the file folder in the Catalog tree where you want to create the new personal geodatabase.
- Point to New.
- Click Personal Geodatabase.
A personal geodatabase is created in the location you selected.
- Type a new name for this personal geodatabase and press Enter.