Help

Generate Licensed File Geodatabase

Summary

Generates a license definition file (.licdef) that defines and restricts the display of contents in a file geodatabase. The contents of the licensed file geodatabase can be viewed by creating a license file (*.sdlic) and installing it with ArcGIS Administrator. The license file is created using the Generate File Geodatabase License tool.

Usage

  • Licensing is ideally suited to mature datasets that will be shared or licensed under a use agreement and do not require further editing. The output licensed file geodatabase cannot be unlicensed to return it to its original unlicensed format.

  • Once licensed, the output file geodatabase’s contents cannot be displayed in ArcCatalog or ArcMap until you create a license file (.sdlic) using the Generate File Geodatabase License tool and install the license file with ArcGIS Administrator.

    See Adding and removing ArcGIS data licenses for more information on installing the license file in ArcGIS Administrator.

  • You cannot license individual feature classes or tables to produce a mixed state where some feature classes or tables are licensed and others are not. However, a licensed file geodatabase allows you to add an unlicensed feature class or table through operations such as creating a new, empty feature class, copying and pasting, or importing a feature class.

Syntax

GenerateLicensedFgdb_management (in_fgdb, out_fgdb, out_lic_def)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_fgdb

The unlicensed file geodatabase to make licensed.

Workspace
out_fgdb

The name of and location to create the licensed file geodatabase.

Workspace
out_lic_def

The license definition file.

File

Code sample

GenerateLicensedFgdb example 1 (Python window)

The following example demonstrates how to use the GenerateLicensedFgdb function in the Python window.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/"
arcpy.GenerateLicensedFgdb_management("london.gdb","london_lic.gdb", "london.licdef")
GenerateLicensedFgdb example 2 (stand-alone Python script)

The following example demonstrates how to use the GenerateLicensedFgdb function in a stand-alone Python script.

# Name: GenerateLicensedFileGeodatabase.py
# Description: Use the GenerateLicensedFgdb tool to license a file geodatabase

# import system modules
import arcpy
import os

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set local variables
geodatabase = "london.gdb"
out_geodatabase = "london_lic.gdb"
licdef = "london.licdef"

# Process: Restrict the data
arcpy.GenerateLicensedFgdb_management(geodatabase, out_geodatabase, licdef)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes

Related topics