ArcMap – Geodatabase Files Not Recognized Under Add Data

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I have a folder filled with geodatabase files of the following formats: ATX, FREELIST, GDBINDEXES, GDBTABLE, GDBTABLX and SPX. I would like to convert these to shapefiles using ArcMap. I've been looking around StackExchange for similar problems, but none are quite the same. For instance, see the solutions listed at Converting File Geodatabase feature classes to shapefiles in ArcGIS for Desktop?.

I tried to export the gdb to a shapefile after adding it as a layer. But, under "+ Add Data", the gdb files are not listed. I can't add anything as a layer to TOC unless it shows up in the "Add Data" window.

I tried the "Feature Class to Shapefile" tool, but for input files, the files are not listed here either. I also tried playing around with Catalog, but no success with the conversion.

Any idea how I can work something out of this?

Best Answer

PLEASE NOTE: The following is not a recommended way to copy File Geodatabases, but rather a possible fix for a broken FGDB as in the original Question. This process has the potential to corrupt the database if there are any open files, and may leave orphaned lock files. Don't use on an FGDB that isn't already broken. Please use with caution!

If the contents of a File Geodatabase (FGDB) have been copied to a new folder, these won't appear as a FGDB from within ArcGIS unless the new folder has a .gdb suffix.

It is possible to just re-add the .gdb suffix if the rest of the contents of the folder are still intact. In fact the folder name doesn't even need to match the original FGDB name.

Example from a quick test I have just run:

  1. Created a new FGDB and added some feature classes to it:
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  2. Copied that FGDB folder (in Windows Explorer) to a new location with a new name (without the .gdb suffix)
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  3. Renamed the folder to include .gdb and refreshed ArcGIS which now shows it as a FGDB rather than a standard Folder
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As the file contents of the folder weren't touched, other than being copied to a new folder, the feature classes are still intact within the new renamed FGDB.

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