Using CASE tools and UML to create a geodatabase schema

One strategy for creating a geodatabase is to employ UML to design the schema and the CASE tools subsystem of ArcGIS to generate feature datasets, feature classes, tables, and other items. UML is a standard developed by the Object Management Group (OMG) for expressing object-oriented analysis and design decisions. Many refer to this as a tool for modeling "software artifacts" (see http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/formal/uml.htm).

Generally, UML is much more handy at object-oriented software design and in documenting the design of a database management system (DBMS) table schema. UML is not as useful at helping to design geographic elements in your geodatabase. See A note about UML design for more information.

Steps:

1. Starting at ArcGIS 10 for Desktop, Case tools functionality is available as a separate setup titled ArcGIS Case Tools for Desktop. The ArcGIS Case Tools for Desktop setup is available from the Esri Customer Care Portal site under ArcGIS Desktop and is also available on the ArcGIS for Desktop media under the CaseTools folder.
2. With Microsoft Visio or Rational Software Corporation's Rational Rose, design a geodatabase in UML and export it to an XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) file or Microsoft Repository.
3. In ArcCatalog, go to Customize Toolbars to add the Case Tools toolbar and the Schema wizard.
4. Generate a geodatabase schema from the XMI file or Microsoft Repository with the Schema wizard.
5. Once you have generated the schema, you can modify it with tools in ArcCatalog if needed.
6. Once the schema is ready, you can load data into it.