Single-User Geodatabases
The single-user geodatabase is for individual GIS work in a desktop environment. It is available as either the file geodatabase or the Microsoft Access personal geodatabase. Both are available with all license levels of ArcGIS for Desktop.
| File | Personal | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Technology | Uses local file structure | Microsoft Access (Jet Engine) |
| Licensing | ArcInfo ArcEditor ArcView |
ArcInfo ArcEditor ArcView |
| Differentiating Characteristics |
|
|
File Geodatabase
- Stored in a file system
- Has no theoretical size limit (A table can store up to 256 TB of data using a configuration keyword.)
- Can have more than one concurrent editor (provided they are editing in different tables, feature classes, or feature datasets)
- Can function as a child geodatabase in both one-way and checkout/check-in geodatabase replication
Read The Top Nine Reasons to Use a File Geodatabase [PDF].
Microsoft Access Personal Geodatabase
- Stored in a single Microsoft Access .mdb file
- Has a 2 GB size limit
- Supports only one editor at a time; no concurrent editing
- Can function as a child geodatabase in both one-way and checkout/check-in geodatabase replication
Multiuser geodatabases provide additional functionality that is not available in single-user geodatabases.
