Question

How do I connect to my ArcSDE Geodatabase using Direct Connect?

Answer

To use SDE Direct Connect with FME you need to first ensure that the SDE direct connect drivers are installed on the client machine for the version of SDE that is on the server. These can be installed from the SDE SDK which come as part of the SDE installation box set.

If connecting to SDE on Oracle use the following settings in the ArcSDE Reader or Writer dialog box (* Oracle Client Values "Oracle" for 8i, "Oracle9i", "Oracle10g", "Oracle11g" - this must match the version of the client on your PC).

   Connection: Parameters
   * Server: <not used but must have a value>
   * Database: <name of the geodatabase> e.g. sde <this is not used but the interface requires it>
   * Instance Name: sde:oracle10g*
   * User ID: <database userid> e.g. scott
   * Password: <userpassword>@<oracle local net service name of the connection> tiger@MyOracleService    
   * Version: SDE.DEFAULT 

Or as an alternative for SDE on Oracle use the following settings in the ArcSDE Reader or Writer dialog box

   Connection: Parameters    
   * Server: <not used but must have a value>
   * Database: <name of the geodatabase> e.g. sde <this is not used but the interface requires it>
   * Instance Name: sde:<client version>:/;LOCAL=<oracle local net service name> e.g. sde:oracle10g:/;LOCAL=MyOracleService    
   * User ID: <database userid> e.g. scott    
   * Password: <userpassword> e.g. tiger    
   * Version: SDE.DEFAULT

If connecting to SDE on SQL Server use the following settings in the ArcSDE Reader or Writer dialog box

   Connection: Parameters    
   * Server: <not used but must have a value>
   * Database: <name of the geodatabase> e.g. sde <this is not used but the interface requires it>
   * Instance Name: sde:sqlserver:<SQL Server Host Name> e.g. sde:sqlserver:myhost    
   * User ID: <database userid> e.g. scott    
   * Password: <userpassword>
   * Version: DBO.DEFAULT

If connecting to SDE on a named SQL Server instance use the following settings in the ArcSDE Reader or Writer dialog box

   Connection: Parameters    
   * Server: <not used but must have a value>
   * Database: <name of the geodatabase> e.g. sde <this is not used but the interface requires it>
   * Instance Name: sde:sqlserver:<SQL Server Host Name>\<instance name> e.g. sde:sqlserver:myhost\INST2    
   * User ID: <database userid> e.g. scott    
   * Password: <userpassword>
   * Version: DBO.DEFAULT