Manage geodatabase locks

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

Locks are applied to geodatabase objects to help ensure data integrity. For example, if someone is editing the data in a table, a schema lock is placed on the table so the owner cannot change the table's schema while someone is editing the data.

Which locks you can see from ArcGIS for Desktop depends on whether you are a dataset or version owner, or the geodatabase administrator.

View locks on your datasets and versions

If you need to see who is holding a lock that is preventing you from altering the schema of a dataset you own or deleting a version you own, you can view a list of these locks from the Manage item on the context menu of the dataset.

1. Start ArcMap or ArcCatalog and connect to the geodatabase as the dataset or version owner.
2. Right-click your dataset, point to Manage, then click Locks.

   The Locks list opens, and you can see the locks for datasets and versions you own. The list is initially filtered to show locks only on the dataset or version to which you are presently connected.

3. If you need the lock released, either contact the user identified in the list as holding the lock or contact your geodatabase administrator.

Manage all geodatabase locks

Geodatabase administrators can see who is holding schema, version, and state locks for all items in the geodatabase using the Locks tab of the Geodatabase Administration dialog box. The geodatabase administrator can also remove the connections that are holding locks to free the resource for use.

The following properties are displayed in the Connections tab of the Geodatabase Administration dialog box:

• User Name: The log in name of the connected user
• Session ID: A unique identifier assigned to a connection and maintained by the geodatabase
• Connection Type: The type of connection made by the user; either a direct connection or an application server connection
• Client Machine: The name of the computer from which the user is connected
• Date: The date and time the connection was opened

The list of connections is initially sorted by Session ID, but it can be sorted by any of the properties by clicking the appropriate column heading at the top of the list. You can also filter the list by typing a user name in the User Name text box, or by typing a machine name in the Client Machine text box.

The total number of connections is shown in the bottom left corner.

Clicking the Refresh button updates the list with the most current connection details.

1. Start ArcMap or ArcCatalog and connect to the geodatabase as the sde user.
2. Right-click the database connection in the Catalog tree, point to Administration, click Administer Geodatabase, then click the Locks tab.

   The Locks list opens, and you can see all locks on all objects in the geodatabase.

3. Contact the user who holds the lock that needs to be released and ask him or her finish the transaction and disconnect from the geodatabase. If the person is gone for the day and the lock needs to be released immediately, you can disconnect the user.

   Caution:

   Use caution when disconnecting users. Esri recommends that you avoid disconnecting active sessions, especially if the connected user is in the process of editing. You should only disconnect users to drop locks if a session was left open even when not being used (for example, over the weekend), if a session is orphaned and locking an object, or if a deadlock situation occurs.

4. If necessary, right-click the lock and click Disconnect User.