Can Manifold Read and Write ESRI Geodatabase format?
Yes and no. Geodatabase format has been designed by ESRI as a closed system. It is basically the very old “shapefile” format stored within a database. Manifold can in general read geodatabase format so that data may be rescued from this closed format, but Manifold writing of geodatabase cannot be relied upon to be readable by all ESRI products under all circumstances. In general, it is a terribly bad idea to use geodatabase format as it is commonly done, using Access .mdb files as the database store, because that combines all of the famous limitations of shapefile format with the high risk of error from using .mdb. Users who think that .mdb is a safe format should search Microsoft’s Knowledge Base for terms such as “repair Access database” or “maintain repair Access database” or “Access database top working condition.” The many articles displayed on how to repair damaged .mdb files, how to keep an Access database going and so on will scare the heck out of any person who doesn’t want th
