Connect to PostgreSQL from ArcGIS

To connect to a database or a geodatabase in PostgreSQL from ArcGIS for Desktop, place the PostgreSQL client files in the Desktop bin folder and create a database connection from the Catalog tree. To connect from ArcGIS for Server, register the database with ArcGIS Server.

Connect from ArcGIS for Desktop

PostgreSQL client files are included with ArcGIS for Desktop. You need to configure the database to accept connections, and create a database connection from the Catalog tree to connect to PostgreSQL from ArcGIS for Desktop.

Configure the database to allow connections

Alter the PostgreSQL pg_hba.conf file and make sure the necessary login or group roles have CONNECT privileges in the database.

1. Alter the PostgreSQL pg_hba.conf file on the database server to accept connections from the ArcGIS client machines.
2. Restart PostgreSQL or force the postmaster to reload the pg_hba.conf file by running pg_ctl reload.
3. Be sure users have privileges to connect to the database cluster.

   By default, Public has CONNECT privileges to the PostgreSQL database cluster; therefore, you only need to grant CONNECT to individual login or group roles if you revoked the CONNECT privilege from Public.

Connect to the database

You can connect to a database or geodatabase in PostgreSQL by adding a database connection under the Database Connections node in the Catalog tree in ArcGIS for Desktop.

Tip:

If you have connection files that were created prior to ArcGIS 10.1, they will still work. However, if you need to create a connection to an older release geodatabase using an ArcSDE service, use the Create ArcSDE Connection File geoprocessing tool.

1. Expand Database Connections in the Catalog tree in ArcMap or ArcCatalog and double-click Add Database Connection.
2. Choose PostgreSQL from the Database Platform drop-down list.
3. In the Instance text box, type the database cluster name or IP address of the server where PostgreSQL is installed.

   For example, if your PostgreSQL database cluster is named ficus, type ficus in the Instance text box. If specifying an IPV6 address, enclose the address in brackets. For example, if the IPV6 address of the server is 1111:aa1:0:1:f111:a222:33f3:b4bb, type [1111:aa1:0:1:f111:a222:33f3:b4bb] in the Instance text box.

   Note:

   If your PostgreSQL database cluster is listening on a port other than the default (5432), include the port number in the instance. For example, if PostgreSQL is installed on server mamabear and is listening on port 49200, type mamabear,49200 in the Instance text box.

4. Use Database authentication to connect.
5. Provide the name and password of the login role with which you want to connect.
6. Uncheck Save user name and password if you prefer not to save your login information as part of the connection; doing this can help maintain the security of the database. However, if you do this, you will be prompted to provide a user name and password every time you connect. Also note that Save user name and password must be checked for connection files that provide ArcGIS services with access to the database or geodatabase, or if you want to use the Catalog search to locate data accessed through this connection file.
7. Type or choose the name of the database on the PostgreSQL database cluster to which you want to connect.

   In the following example, user1 is connecting to database floe on the tundra PostgreSQL database cluster:

   

8. Click OK to connect.

A file is created in \\<computer_name>\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Roaming\ESRI\Desktop<release#>\ArcCatalog. If you encounter any problems with the connection, check the sdedc_PostgreSQL.log file in the %TEMP% directory for extended error messages.

You can move the connection to another location; just be sure users and applications that need to make a connection have read access to the directory where you place the connection file.

If you use the data from this connection as the source for a service, such as a geoprocessing or geocoding service, you may need to place the connection file in a shared location on your network. See Preparing resources for publishing as services for more information about sharing a connection file.

Connect to a specific version

You are connected to the DEFAULT version when you initially connect to the geodatabase using the Database Connection dialog box. If you use geodatabase versioning and want to connect to a different transactional or historical version, use the Geodatabase Connection Properties dialog box. For more information, see Connect to a specific geodatabase version.

Connect from ArcGIS for Server

ArcGIS for Server includes PostgreSQL client files; therefore, you do not need to download and copy PostgreSQL client files to connect.

If you want the services you publish to ArcGIS Server to use the data in your database or a geodatabase in PostgreSQL, register the database with ArcGIS Server. See About registering your data with the server for information on registration options and links to topics with instructions for registering your database.