A feature dataset is a collection of related feature classes that share a common coordinate system. Feature datasets are used for organizing related feature classes into a common dataset for building a topology, network dataset, terrain, geometric network, or parcel fabric.
Privileges on feature datasets
In enterprise geodatabases, the owner of the data can grant privileges on a feature dataset to let other database users view or modify the feature classes that they contain.
For feature datasets, privileges work as follows:
- All feature classes within a feature dataset must have the same privileges.
- When granting privileges for users or roles at the feature dataset level, the privileges will apply to all feature classes contained within the feature dataset.
- It is not possible to grant different privileges to different feature classes within a feature dataset.
- New feature classes added to the feature dataset will inherit the privileges set on the feature dataset automatically.
See Grant and revoke dataset privileges for information on setting privileges on a feature dataset.
Specifying the coordinate system in advance
Another design factor in organizing feature classes into common feature datasets is the requirement to use a spatial reference. Thus, it's useful to define your coordinate system requirements for each feature class prior to organizing feature classes into common feature datasets.
When creating a new feature dataset, you must define its spatial reference. This includes its coordinate system—either geographic or a specific projection—as well as coordinate units and tolerances for x-, y-, z-, and m-values. All feature classes in the same feature dataset must share a common coordinate system, and x,y coordinates of their features should fall within a common spatial extent.