I'm new to ArcGIS and I'm making the first steps at this time. At the moment I've two different shapefiles. The first shapefile represents streets on a map with some detailed information in the attribute table. The 2nd shapefile represents crossroads of the same map including some detailed information in the attribute table too. Both attribute tables has IDs and logically it’s a tree where to node is a crossroad and the edge is a street.
Now the next step is to create a Relationship Class to "link" both shape files for future algorithms. But when I want to create a Relationship Class I receive different errors. I've read this document before and tried to create such a class using an Add-in but I received a NotImplementedException.
To be sure that creating such a class is possible I tried to create a relationship class which ArcMap using ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Relationship Classes -> Create Relationship Class manually. I can choose both shapefiles but when I have to choose the Output Relationship Class I receive the error: “000177 : Relationship classes can only be created in the same database that contains the feature classes or tables.“
Can someone give me some notes what I've done wrong and tips to solve this problem?
Edit:
I've created a Relationship Class with ArcCatalog, a new personal database and the imported shapefiles. But I can't open this table and control if the table was successfully created and has content. Does anyone have had a similar problem?
Edit2:
What I've done:
1) Create a new Personal Geodatabase using ArcCatalog10
2) Import 2 Feature Classes (existing shapefiles filled with data)
3) Start creating a Relationship Class using ArcToolBox -> Create Relationship Class
4) For testing I created a one-to-one relation with this two imported shapefiles
5) The table was created successfully but:
5.1) If I want to import this in ArcMap I receive the message "Warning: A selected Item could not added to the map" and nothing happened
5.2) The preview function in ArcCatalog doesn't work for this Relationship Class
In summary I can't see if the Relationship Class is logically right and I can't see which data are selected and can be used for future algorithms.
Best Answer
Although this question was asked a year ago, I would like to provide an answer for those who may find this blog through some other search with regards to the relationship class creation only.
When working with relationship classes, only a relationship of many-to-many will appear in ArcCatalog with the ability to preview (ArcGIS 10.0 & 10.1). A many-to-many relationship class automatically creates an intermediate table, which in turn, acts as a regular table within the database. All other cardinalities will not be viewable UNLESS you choose the option to add attributes within the creation wizard, (whether bogus or real) in order to create this intermediary table. Then and only then will you be able to preview the relationship class and add it to ArcMap.
If adding additional/bogus attributes is not an option, one way to test the validity of the relationship is to edit the data that participates in the relationship class and review the additions/deletions and their attributes in each of the feature classes/tables. Bascially test its workflow by definition.
Here is a link that describes this information (it talks about many-to-many, however it does not specifically discuss the caveats for other cardinalities).
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//004t00000004000000
~ Michelle