To convert an external data source to a geodatabase feature class, you use the import tools from the Catalog tree or use geoprocessing tools.
There are two ways you can import a feature:
- Using the context-sensitive menu in the Catalog tree; Learn more about importing datasets
- Using the To Geodatabase toolset; Learn more about the To Geodatabase toolset
When you import data that is in a format not used by the geodatabase, ArcGIS automatically converts it into data types used by the geodatabase.