Registering data as versioned

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

Data must be registered as versioned to use versioned editing. When you register your data as versioned, two delta tables are created to track insert, update, and delete operations performed on the data. Therefore, a versioned dataset consists of the original table (called the business or base table) plus any changes stored in the delta tables.

You can only register your data as versioned when it is not in use by other people or applications, because an exclusive lock is required to ensure the dataset is not changing while the adds table is being created.

To see a description of versioned editing, see the "Data maintenance with versions" section of Data maintenance strategies.

Caution:

Registering a feature dataset as versioned registers all feature classes within the feature dataset as versioned.

However, if you add a new feature class to the feature dataset after you have already registered the feature dataset as versioned, the new feature class is not registered as versioned. This allows you to load data into the new feature class before you version it, which improves data loading performance. Since you cannot register individual feature classes within the feature dataset as versioned, you will need to register the feature dataset as versioned again. Be aware, though, that until you register the new feature class as versioned, you will not be able to edit any of the feature classes in the feature dataset.

Steps:

1. Start ArcCatalog or ArcMap and connect to the geodatabase that contains the feature dataset, feature class, or table you want to version.

   Connect as the owner of the dataset, as only the owner can register it as versioned.

2. In the Catalog tree, right-click the dataset, point to Manage, then click Register As Versioned.

   The Register As Versioned dialog box opens.

3. (Optional) If you want edits saved to the DEFAULT version—whether edited directly or merged in from other versions—to be saved in the base tables, check Register the selected objects with the option to move edits to base.

   See Deciding how to register data for more information on the move edits to base option.

4. Click OK.

The feature class or table or all the feature classes in the feature dataset are now registered as versioned and have delta tables associated with them. When you or anyone else edits the data in ArcMap, be sure the edit session option Edit a version of the database with the ability to undo and redo is set.