Connecting to ArcGIS Desktop PostgreSQL database (running locally)

Question

I am new to PostgreSQL.

I have installed the OpenGeo suite on my computer, running Windows 7, 64-bit. I have downloaded the tutorial data and have been working through it. I would like to access the database that I have made with ArcGIS so I can start learning about how that works. However, when I try to connect to the database using the "Add Database Connection..." I can't seem to figure out what to put in for 'Instance' - everything I've tried (localhost, localhost,54321, my IP address with and without the port, my computer name) doesn't seem to work.

I installed and created the nyc test database according to all the instructions in the OpenGeo tutorial pages but am at a total loss here. I know this must be an easy thing to deal with, I just can't get my head around it.

Can you help?

Frustratingly enough, QGIS connects to the database with almost no effort and everything works fine - but my organization is heavily ESRI focused and switching to QGIS is a long shot.

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I have installed

• OpenGeo Suite 3.0.1 with no extensions
• ArcGIS Desktop 10.1, no license for server

I just went to the Opengeo website and downloaded the Windows installer and installed the default configuration. I have tried every permutation for the instance name that I can think of - using colons and commas, my machine name, localhost, postgresql, server, my IP address, random curse words, anything I can think of. I have been using port 54321 instead of 5432 because that is what the OpenGeo workshop told me to set up my 'nyc' practice database to use.

It seems that localhost should work, here is a shot of the server properties from pgAdmin:

Answer 1

The problem here was that I had not installed the client files, so I couldn't connect to the database.

I copied libeay32.dll, libiconv-2.dll, libintl-8.dll, libpq.dll, and ssleay32.dll from the PostgreSQL folder and put it into the ArcGIS10.1 \Bin\ folder. Then it would connect up just like it should.

Answer 2

If you're using ArcGis 10.1: Download the postgrsql-9.0.5 from here http://www.filehorse.com/download-postgresql-64/10965/ It has a windows installer, unlike most of the other sites I found. This is the 32-bit version which is required by ArcGIS 10.1.

Open ArcCatalog: Add Database Connection. Select PostgreSQL from the datbase platform drop down. Instance is: localhost, 5432 (notice the comma. Colons don't work!!) username: postgres password: postgres

You should now be able to use the database drop down to select your db.

Answer 3

you mention you tried localhost;54321

it should be colon

localhost:54321

I have this working on Windows using ArcGIS 10.1

What version are you using?