Organize Spatial Database Connections into folders in ArcCatalog

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to organize Spatial Database Connections into folders in ArcCatalog.

Storing database connections under the 'Spatial Database Connections' section in ArcCatalog is not sufficient to publish the geodatabase to ArcGIS Server for replication purposes.

Procedure

1. In Windows Explorer, create a folder in the desired location and name it in a descriptive manner for what it will contain:
   
   For example: C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\ESRI\SQL2008 Production
2. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\ESRI\ArcCatalog to view the current .sde connection files. Copy and paste the desired connection files to the recently created folder.
3. In ArcCatalog, select the Connect to Folder icon
   
   and paste the path to the recently created folder in the space provided.
   
   The path may be renamed to the desired name. This is added into the ArcCatalog TOC as a connected folder.
   
   
4. Repeat these steps as necessary to organize the connection files.
   
   

   Note:
   The steps above outlined enabling a series of nested connected folders is one manner to organize the spatial connections. It is also possible to drag and drop Spatial Database Connection files into folders in ArcCatalog if desired.