Frequently asked question

How do I copy a trace network from one geodatabase to another?

Last Published: November 6, 2025

At the time of this writing, ArcGIS Pro trace networks cannot be copied directly to another geodatabase. There are two alternatives for transferring a trace network:

  • Export a trace network to an XML Workspace document, then import the document to the target geodatabase.
  • Export the feature classes and tables of a trace network to the target geodatabase, then build a new trace network in that geodatabase from scratch, using the exported feature classes, tables,  and options settings from the original trace network.

There can be an additional hurdle. If the trace network's member feature classes/tables have names that match reserved words in the target geodatabase, the import may fail. In one test, an XML exported from a trace network containing a feature class named "Lateral" failed to convert from a file geodatabase to a SQL Server geodatabase. This error can be avoided by renaming applicable data structures in the original trace network, rebuilding it, then exporting again to XML Workspace format.

Article ID: 000038684

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro

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