Log file tables configuration for the Reviewer workspace in SQL Server
In ArcGIS, by default, log file tables are used if the selection set contains 100 or more records. ArcMap or any application, such as ArcGIS 10.1 Data Reviewer for Desktop extension, that runs on top of ArcMap, which performs selection sets, uses these log file tables. ArcSDE keeps track of large selections using the log file tables instead of the records being held in memory. The same applies when sorting, selecting, or updating records in the Reviewer table.
When working with results in the Reviewer workspace, it is best to understand the log file table configuration options so you can choose the right option for your database needs. There are four different ArcSDE log file options: shared, session-based, stand-alone, and pools of session-based or stand-alone log files.
Common configuration options
For SQL Server, the default log file configuration is session-based log files created in the temporary database (tempdb).
In most cases, the default ArcSDE log file table configuration for your database management system (DBMS) should be sufficient and is the recommended setting.
Another common option is the shared log files. You would only use shared log files if you do not want to create tables in the tempdb, you have a large number of concurrent sessions, and each session connects using an individual DBMS account.
Either configuration option is acceptable for the Reviewer workspace, but if you choose to store the log tables in the user schema (shared log files), instead of the tempdb (session-based), be sure to give CREATE TABLE privileges to each user accessing the Reviewer table.
Settings to control storage
Log file options are set using specific parameters in the SDE_server_config and SDE_dbtune tables.
For session-based log files, the DBTUNE SESSION_TEMP_TABLE parameter must be set to 1 (true) to allow the session-based log file table to be created in tempdb. For shared log files, changing the SESSION_TEMP_TABLE parameter to be 0 (false) will create the SDE_LOGFILES, SDE_LOGFILE_DATA, and SDE_SESSION<SDE_ID> tables in the connecting user's schema; hence, the user requires CREATE TABLE permission.
Parameters in these tables are altered using the sdeconfig and sdedbtune commands, respectively. In SQL Server, the table created in tempdb is in the format ##SDE_SESSION<SDE_ID>. This table is truncated when the connecting application deletes its log files, and the table is dropped when the session disconnects. When using the default setting, users do not require CREATE TABLE permission in the database for the session table to be created in tempdb.