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#### Database Exporter Tool

#### User Guide

#### FEMA DFIRM Production Tools

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**Table of Contents:**

[What is the Database Exporter? 3](#what-is-the-database-exporter)

[Database Exporter Overview 3](#database-exporter-overview)

[Quick Reference Guide 3](#quick-reference-guide)

[Tool Controls 4](#tool-controls)

[![](media/image3.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"}
Submit Draft Data 4](#submit-draft-data-1)

[![](media/image4.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"}
Submit Preliminary Data 5](#submit-preliminary-data-1)

[![](media/image5.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"}
Submit Final Data 5](#section-1)

[Trouble-Shooting 6](#trouble-shooting)

[Contacts 7](#contacts)

#   {#section .unnumbered}

# What is the Database Exporter?

The Database Exporter allows users to export the populated data layers
and tables from the ESRI SDE Geodatabase format into the three formats
Mapping Partners are required to digitally submit to FEMA's Map Service
Center (ESRI shapefile, ESRI Arc/Info interchange file, and MapInfo
interchange format). These formats are dictated by FEMA's *Guidelines
and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, Appendix L:
Guidance for Preparing Draft Digital Data and DFIRM Database.* The
exported data layers, tables, and log files generated by the Database
Exporter are saved to the appropriate folder on the Submittal Directory
(K drive).

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  Database Exporter toolbar
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# Database Exporter Overview

The Database Exporter user guide contains useful information that will
help guide you through using the tool. The key sections of this guide
are:

-   Quick user reference guide (p. 3)

-   Descriptions of tools and how to use them (p. 4)

-   Support/contact information (p. 7)

# Quick Reference Guide

The following is a quick reference guide to all of the components of the
**Database Exporter Toolbar**.

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+-----+---------------------------+------------------------------------+
| ![] | ########                  | Export draft DFIRM data to         |
| (me | [[]{#_Submit_Draft_Data_1 | required formats                   |
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+-----+---------------------------+------------------------------------+
| ![] | ######## [Su              | Export preliminary DFIRM data to   |
| (me | bmit Preliminary Data](#s | required formats                   |
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+-----+---------------------------+------------------------------------+
| ![] | ######## [Submi           | Export final DFIRM data to         |
| (me | t Final Data](#section-1) | required formats                   |
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+-----+---------------------------+------------------------------------+

# Tool Controls

The DFIRM geodatabase must be submitted to FEMA in three digital data
formats: ESRI shapefile (.shp); ESRI Arc/Info interchange file (.e00);
and MapInfo interchange format (.mif). These formats are exported and
stored when the DFIRM database is being developed (Draft Data); when the
study is Preliminary (Preliminary Data); and when the study is
Post-Preliminary (Final Data).

## ![](media/image3.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"} **Submit Draft Data**

Use this tool to export the draft version of the project data to the
three required formats. The exported data files and the export log file
are stored in the Submittal Directory (K drive), in the project's
Draft_DFIRM_DB folder.

1.  Click on the **Submit Draft Data** button.

2.  Select the project name in the dialog box and click **OK**.

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| > Project Selection dialog                                            |
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**NOTE:** The data must be exported to all formats once the process is
initiated, and the process cannot be canceled. The export may require a
considerable amount of time, depending upon how much data exists for the
project. Make sure that you are ready to start exporting before
selecting your project number.

3.  A series of process dialogs appear, displaying the progress for each
    of the following steps in the database export routine:

    a.  Exporting feature classes to shapefiles

    b.  Exporting Info tables to dBase tables

    c.  Exporting shapefiles to coverages

    d.  Exporting coverage to interchange file

4.  Once the data has been exported to all of the file formats, a window
    with the exporting results log will appear. The log file lists which
    layers/tables were successfully exported and which failed to export
    because the layer or table was empty. This file is saved in the
    Draft_DFIRM_DB folder, with the exported data.

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  Database Exporter Results Log
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## ![](media/image4.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"} Submit Preliminary Data

Use this tool to export the preliminary version of the project data to
the three required formats. The exported data files and the export log
file are stored in the Submittal Directory (K drive), in the project's
Preliminary_DFIRM_DB folder.

The functionality of the **Submit Preliminary Data** button is exactly
the same as the **Submit Draft Data** button. Refer to the steps and
screen captures in the [**Submit Draft Data**](#submit-draft-data-1)
section of this user guide for the exporting procedure.

## 

## 

## ![](media/image5.png){width="0.32222222222222224in" height="0.3125in"} Submit Final Data

Use this tool to export the final version of the project data to the
three required formats. The exported data files and the export log file
are stored in the Submittal Directory (K drive), in the project's
Final_DFIRM_DB folder.

The functionality of the **Submit Final Data** button is exactly the
same as the **Submit Draft Data** button. Refer to the steps and screen
captures in the [**Submit Draft Data**](#submit-draft-data-1) section of
this user guide for the exporting procedure.

# Trouble-Shooting

***Problem:*** This error message appeared when the database was
exporting from the geodatabase to the dBase tables.

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  Error message -- Not populated with a valid domain value.

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***Solution:*** When the tables are exported to dBase format, all of the
domain codes are converted to domain values. In this case, the field was
not populated with a valid domain code; thus, the tool is not able to
translate it into a valid domain value. The exporting process will
continue when you click OK. After the exporting process is complete,
correct the error that the message refers to by selecting a valid value
from the domain. Save your edits and repeat the database export.

# Contacts

If you need assistance with this tool, please contact the representative
at your local RMC.

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