Install ST_Raster in PostgreSQL

Available with Standard or Advanced license.

ST_Raster is a data type that allows you to store raster data directly in a geodatabase table. Use the ST_Raster type if you need to access your geodatabase raster data using SQL.

Use the Create Raster Type geoprocessing tool, or a Python script that calls the tool, to install the ST_Raster type in a geodatabase.

Note:

The ST_Raster type requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package (x64) when deployed on a Windows server. If the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package (x64) is not present on the PostgreSQL server, download it from the Microsoft site and install it.

Once the type is installed, you must change the geodatabase configuration settings so new rasters created in the geodatabase will use the ST_Raster data type.

Place the ST_Raster library

You must place the ST_Raster library (libst_raster_pg) in the PostgreSQL lib/pgsql directory.

You can copy the libst_raster_pg library from the <ArcGIS client installation directory>\DatabaseSupport\PostgreSQL\<Operating System> directory where ArcGIS for Desktop or ArcGIS for Server is installed. Be sure to copy the correct library for your PostgreSQL server's operating system.

Once you have placed the ST_Raster library, you can install ST_Raster.

Install ST_Raster

You can either run the Create Raster Type tool from ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced), or run a Python script from an ArcGIS for Server or ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced) client to install the ST_Raster type.

Run geoprocessing tools

If you have access to ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced), you can run the Create Raster Type tool to install the ST_Raster type.

1. Start ArcCatalog or ArcMap.
2. Connect to the geodatabase as the geodatabase administrator.
3. Open the Create Raster Type tool.

   This tool is in the Geodatabase Administration toolset of the Data Management toolbox.

4. Specify the database connection you created in step 2 as the Input Database Connection.
5. Click OK to run the tool.
6. Export the geodatabase's current configuration settings to a text file using the Export Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool.
7. Edit the text file and set RASTER_STORAGE to ST_Raster.
   • If you want all raster datasets and raster catalogs to use the ST_Raster type without people having to specify a keyword, alter the RASTER_STORAGE parameter under the DEFAULTS keyword.
   • If only some of the raster datasets and raster catalogs should use the ST_Raster type, create a custom keyword and set the RASTER_STORAGE parameter for that keyword to ST_Raster.
8. Import the altered text file to the geodatabase using the Import Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool.

Use Python

You can run a Python script to create a database connection (.sde) file that connects to the geodatabase as the geodatabase administrator, install the ST_Raster type in the geodatabase, and set the RASTER_STORAGE parameter to ST_Raster.

1. Create a database connection (.sde) file that connects to the geodatabase as the geodatabase administrator. If you connect using database authentication, be sure to save the user name and password with the connection file.

   In this example, a connection file (adminconnect.sde) is created in C:\temp.

   import arcpy
   arcpy.CreateDatabaseConnection_management (r'c:/temp',"adminconnect.sde", "POSTGRESQL", "teamdata", "DATABASE_AUTH", "sde", "Cky00r", "SAVE_USERNAME", "projects")
   

2. Install the ST_Raster type.

   Here, the adminconnect.sde file is used by the CreateRasterType_management function to connect to the geodatabase and install the ST_Raster type:

   arcpy.CreateRasterType_management (r'c:/temp/adminconnect.sde')
   

Alter geodatabase configuration

After the ST_Raster is installed in the geodatabase, you must alter the geodatabase configuration to make ST_Raster available for people to use when they create raster datasets and raster catalogs. You can either connect from ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced) and run geoprocessing tools to accomplish this, or you can use a Python script run from an ArcGIS for Server or ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced) client.

Run geoprocessing tools

If you have access to ArcGIS for Desktop, you can use the Export Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool to export the geodatabase's current configuration settings to a text file, set the RASTER_STORAGE parameter to ST_Raster in the text file, and import the changed text file using the Import Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool.

1. Open the Export Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool in ArcGIS for Desktop.
2. Use the database connection you created for installing ST_Raster as the Input Database Connection.
3. Specify a location and file name for the text file to be created.
4. Open the text file in a text editor and set RASTER_STORAGE to ST_Raster.
   • If you want all raster datasets and raster catalogs to use the ST_Raster type without people having to specify a keyword, alter the RASTER_STORAGE parameter under the DEFAULTS keyword.
   • If only some of the raster datasets and raster catalogs should use the ST_Raster type, create a custom keyword and set the RASTER_STORAGE parameter for that keyword to ST_Raster.
5. Save and close the text file.
6. Import the altered text file to the geodatabase using the Import Geodatabase Configuration Keyword tool.

Use Python

You use the ArcPy function ExportGeodatabsaeConfigurationKeyword_management to export the current geodatabase configuration settings to a text file, edit and save the text file, then use the ImportGeodatabaseConfigurationKeyword_management function to import changes to the geodatabase.

Use the database connection file you created when you installed ST_Raster for the input_database when you run both the ExportGeodatabsaeConfigurationKeyword_management and ImportGeodatabaseConfigurationKeyword_management functions.

1. Export the current geodatabase configuration.

   In this example, the gdbconfig file is exported to the C:\temp folder.

   arcpy.ExportGeodatabaseConfigurationKeyword_management (r'c:/temp/adminconnect.sde', r'c:/temp/gdbconfig.txt')
   

2. Open the text file in a text editor and set RASTER_STORAGE to ST_Raster.
   • If you want all raster datasets and raster catalogs to use the ST_Raster type without people having to specify a keyword, alter the RASTER_STORAGE parameter under the DEFAULTS keyword.
   • If only some of the raster datasets and raster catalogs should use the ST_Raster type, create a custom keyword and set the RASTER_STORAGE parameter for that keyword to ST_Raster.
3. Save and close the text file.
4. Import the edited file.

   arcpy.ImportGeodatabaseConfigurationKeyword_management (r'c:/temp/adminconnect.sde', r'c:/temp/gdbconfig.txt')
   

Your new configuration settings are now available for use when data is created.