ArcGIS for Desktop Basic and the geodatabase

ArcGIS for Desktop can be licensed at three different levels: Basic, Standard, or Advanced. The geodatabase functionality you have available to you in ArcGIS for Desktop varies depending on which license you are using.

The geodatabase functionality available to you in ArcGIS for Desktop Standard is essentially the same as when using ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced; the only difference is there are more geoprocessing tools available for you to run with the Advanced license. However, if you are using an ArcGIS for Desktop Basic license, your access to geodatabase functionality is limited.

Geodatabase functionality available with ArcGIS for Desktop Basic

With an ArcGIS for Desktop Basic license, you have access to the following geodatabase functionality:

• Read, display, and query all types of data in file and personal geodatabases.
• Read, display, and query all types of data in ArcSDE geodatabases to which you have been granted SELECT privileges.
• Create, edit, and alter the schema of simple tables, feature classes, feature datasets, raster catalogs, raster datasets, and mosaic datasets in file or personal geodatabases.
• Create, edit, and alter locators, toolboxes, and some specialized datasets available with specific ArcGIS extensions in file and personal geodatabases. The specialized datasets you can create, edit, or alter are as follows:
  • Tables (not part of relationship classes)
  • Simple* feature classes
  • Simple* feature datasets
  • Raster catalogs
  • Raster datasets
  • Standard annotation
  • Network datasets (requires ArcGIS Network Analyst extension)
  • Schematic datasets (requires ArcGIS Schematics extension)
  • Terrains (requires ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension)
  • Locators
  • Toolboxes
  • Subtypes
  • Domains

  *Simple feature classes or feature datasets are those that do not participate in cartographic representations, dimensions, feature-linked annotation, geometric networks, parcel fabrics, relationship classes, or topologies.

Geodatabase functionality that is not available with ArcGIS for Desktop Basic

If you are using an ArcGIS for Desktop Basic license, you cannot do the following:

• Create an ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Register data as versioned.
• Create, edit, or alter any data in an ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Register tables with a geodatabase.
• Administer locks, user connections, or versions in an ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Compress an ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Block new connections to an ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Create, attach, or restore geodatabases on database servers.
• Create, edit, or alter any of the following data types in any type of geodatabase:
  • Cartographic representations
  • Dimension feature classes
  • Feature-linked annotation
  • Geometric networks
  • Mosaic datasets
  • Parcel fabrics
  • Relationship classes
  • Topologies

To do any of the operations in the preceding list, you must have an ArcGIS for Desktop Standard or Advanced license.