Importing Vector Product Format data (Maritime Charting)

Most maintenance jobs require you to import Vector Product Format (VPF) data. To import VPF data correctly, you should have your geodatabase created with the Ecrtext annotation feature class created and the topology defined.

In working with an enterprise database, always create an import version. You can delete the version if an error occurs during data import and you want to roll back the operation.

You can use the Convert VPF Data To Geodatabase tool to import VPF feature classes into geodatabase feature classes. The tool is available in ArcCatalog.

Note:

When importing VPF data, you must import your notes at the same time. To do this, use the Convert VPF Data To Geodatabase tool with the Import Notes/RAT option. If you do not do this during import, you cannot import your notes at a later time. There is no option to import notes without the data. However, you can import your data a second time into a separate geodatabase and migrate the note tables into your production database using the Notes Migration tool.

You can only import one library at a time when importing notes.

Steps:

1. Start ArcCatalog.
2. On the main menu, click Customize > Extensions and verify that all applicable extensions are checked.

   You need Production Mapping and Maritime Charting.

3. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Nautical DNC.
4. Click the Convert VPF Data To Geodatabase button on the Nautical DNC toolbar.

   The VPF Data To Geodatabase dialog box appears.

5. Choose DNC in the Product Type area.
6. Click an option in the Type of Scale area.
   • Approach
   • Coastal
   • General
   • Harbor
7. Click Yes for Import Notes/RAT.
8. To create a new geodatabase on import, click Yes in the Create Geodatabase On Import area. To import the VPF data into a template DNC geodatabase, leave the Create Geodatabase On import option set to No.
   Note:

   When choosing the No option, copy the relevant DNC template geodatabase from the following location to your chart data storage location at <Installation location>\Program Files(x86)\ArcGIS\MaritimeCharting\Desktop10.2\Dnc\Schemas\Built. Rename the geodatabase to something meaningful such as the library or chart name.

9. Click Next.

   The Navigate to VPF Data dialog box appears.
10. Click the browse button next to the Select VPF Data Path text box.

    The Browser for VPF Data appears.

11. Browse to the location of the workspace that contains the VPF data.
12. Click Open.
13. Choose one library in the Select a library to import into the geodatabase list.
14. If necessary, to import only specific feature classes from the selected library, check the Select Specific Feature Classes check box and continue to step 15.

    Leaving the Select Specific Feature Classes check box unchecked will result in the entire contents of the library being imported. If you choose this option, click Next and continue to step 18 or 19.

15. Click Next.

    The Select Feature Class(es) dialog box appears.
16. Click a feature class in the list on the left and click the arrow button to move it to the list on the right to indicate that you want to import it.
17. When you are finished choosing the feature classes to import, click Next.

    The Navigate to Geodatabase dialog box appears.

18. If you are creating a new geodatabase on import, do the following:
    1. Click the Select Personal Geodatabase Path browse button.
    2. Navigate to the location where the geodatabase will be saved.
    3. Type a name for the geodatabase in the File name text box and click Open.
    4. Click Finish.

    The geodatabase is created.

19. If you are importing the VPF data into a template DNC geodatabase, choose one of the following workspace options:

    To import VPF data into a file or personal geodatabase	Click Personal Geodatabase, click browse, and browse to the geodatabase; then click Open.
    To import VPF data into an ArcSDE geodatabase	Click SDE Geodatabase and add the information for the fields under Enter SDE Connection.

    The Navigate to Geodatabase dialog box appears.

20. Click Next.

    The Populate Geodatabase dialog box appears. This dialog box shows how the features are mapped from VPF to geodatabase feature classes.

21. Click Finish.

The data is imported into the geodatabase.