Converting between MapInfo tables and ESRI "file" geodatabases

[GregariousGoose]

While MapInfo can open an ESRI "personal" Geodatabase, is it possible
to open a "file" geodatabase

Would anyone know of what software can convert between MapInfo tables
and ESRI "file" geodatabases apart from ESRI's interoperability
extension.

Thanks,

Greg

[Uffe Kousgaard]

> Would anyone know of what software can convert between MapInfo tables
> and ESRI "file" geodatabases apart from ESRI's interoperability
> extension.

FME's ESRI edition.
http://www.safe.com/

But even that one still requires ArcGIS to be installed.

[msydor]

Aside from calling in favors from ESRI users to convert the files to
SHP and then joining the tables into one TAB this is becoming an
issue. I have noticed that public agencies are increasingly releasing
their GIS data in the ESRI Geodatatbase.gdb file format. Needless to
say US public dollars are supporting a proprietary format. What is the
benefit of ESRI users exporting data in this format?

On Nov 20, 11:34 pm, "Uffe Kousgaard" <u...@routeware.dk> wrote:
> > Would anyone know of what software can convert between MapInfo tables
> > and ESRI "file" geodatabases apart from ESRI's interoperability
> > extension.
>

> FME's ESRI edition.http://www.safe.com/

[Will Mitchell]

The latest releases of MI pro can open that geodatabase directly.
There are data nuances and versioning issues you may run into, but it
works. On the other side there are advantages to using that
geodatabase over shapefiles and you'll keep seeing it.

But if the question was how to put your tab files into a geodatabase
that does require arc I assume

Will Mitchell
Mitchell Geographics, Inc.

[arunas.urbsys]

That's not really true with latest MI versions (9.0, 9.5 and up)
opening ESRI file Geodatabases (*.mdb) - actually MapInfo now
incorporates some portions of FME software within the command File-
>Open Universal Data.
It allow accessing several GIS and CAD formats directly, but since for
ESRI Geodatabase FME engine still needs the licensed ESRI ArcGIS
software on the same machine (it shares ESRI libraries for direct
access of ESRI data),
you would need ArcGIS on the same machine with MapInfo Pro 9.x.

So, FME ESRI suite, which cost something like 3000€, still needs ESRI
ArcGIS Desktop which is again some 3000€.
With newest MapInfo it is much cheaper (if you already have it) - you
don't need FME, but still you need ESRI ArcGIS (3000€).

In Lithuania we have very stron ESRI positions, but still have MapInfo
users as well. Since ESRI begun stronlgy marketing their new
Geodatabase approach,
our MapInfo users became somewhat isolated from current geodata flow -
ESRI based organizations just send them data in *.mdb format and don't
bother if anyone is able to open this file.

In this situation we decided to develop some translation application
which would eliminate the need of FME and ESRI ArcGIS when you need to
access ERSI Geodatabase (*.mdb) data.
At the moment this is standalone application, converting between file
formats (from/to ArcInfo binary coverage files; ESRI personal
Geodatabase (*.mdb); ESRI Shape (*.shp);
Geographic Markup Language GML file; Google KML file; GPS exchange
file (*.GPX); MapInfo TAB file; MapInfo intechange format file (MID/
MIF)).
But for MapInfo users we are going to develop MapBasic application
which would add a new tool or menu option for "opening" any of those
formats in MapInfo.
It will still mean actually conversion from file to file with all the
negative issues of file conversion (data duplication, no track on
changes, etc.), however it will be hidden from the user,
while opening ESRI Geodatabase it will show the conversion progress
bar (like today you open "directly" Shape file in MapInfo), converted
data is storred somewhere in temp folder, and then accessed as MapInfo
TAB.

Unfortunatelly this is commercial product, which we are preparing for
market, but its price is just a little fraction of the above costs if
you need to access ESRI Geodatabase in MapInfo.
We think that it should shake a bit ESRI positions since they will not
be able to blackmail users to acquire ArcGIS, because otherwise no one
can read the *.mdb Geodatabase flie,
or, at least it should make life easier for MapInfo users, which are
getting from other organizations *.mdb file and then wandering what to
do the get use this data.

So, if anyone is interested in it, please contact me directly and I
can tell you more about this product.

Best regards,
Arunas Urbsys
GIS Project Manager
UAB "Informacines technologijos", Lithuania
arunas...@gmail.com

> >> But even that one still requires ArcGIS to be installed.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -