Memory leak with ArcGIS 10.8.1 and Oracle 19c

Problem:

When using ArcGIS 10.8.1 and Oracle 19c, a memory leak can occur. In this case, memory is continuously allocated when using the application and is not released again, ultimately causing the application to crash.

Some information is not fully verified. It is based on indications of the current state of our analysis. Nevertheless, we provide this information to describe the problem as comprehensively as possible. This information is presented in italics.

Prerequisite for the appearance:

• Use of ArcGIS 10.8.1
  The problem has only been reported for ArcGIS 10.8.1 so far. For older ArcGIS versions there are no reports so far and we could not observe it.
  
  
• Oracle 19c
  The behavior has been observed so far only when using Oracle 19c as the database system plus Oracle 19 Client on the application computers. When using an Oracle 12.2 client on the application machines in conjunction with an Oracle 19c database, the behavior does not occur. The Oracle 12.2 client is compatible with an Oracle 19c database according to the Client / Server Interoperability Support Matrix. This is a possible workaround that should be discussed with your IT department.
  There are no known problems with other Oracle versions or other database systems
  
  
• Annotation and dimension layers
  The behavior can only be reproduced if layers to annotation or dimension feature classes are included in the map views / MXDs used.
  The reports from customers suggest that, at least in the case of annotation layers, configured properties such as leading lines are causing the problem in the first place, or at least exacerbating it to the point where it becomes noticeable.

However, the behavior could not necessarily be reproduced with the mentioned prerequisites. There are presumably further boundary conditions here that could not yet be identified.

Concerned products:

• ArcMap / UT Editor
  The behavior was first reported to UT Editor and could meanwhile be reproduced with ArcMap without extensions of UT for ArcGIS.
  
  
• ArcGIS Engine / UT Asset Manager / WMPS
  On datasets where it could be reproduced with the UT Editor, it could also be reproduced with the UT Asset Manager. Thus, ArcGIS Engine applications are also affected. Meanwhile, there are also observations of the behavior in WMPS.
  

There are currently no reports about the ArcGIS Server / UT Server. Possibly the problem was solved by the ArcGIS Server Annotation Layer Performance Improvement Patch, which solves a similar problem in the server and is shipped with current versions of the UT Server. There is no corresponding patch for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Engine.

Test for concern:

For customers who are currently planning to migrate to ArcGIS 10.8.1 and Oracle 19, we recommend to check in advance on a test system if they are affected by the behavior. The use of the Process Explorer is required for the check.

• Start the Process Explorer
• Show the column "Virtual Size" (View > Select columns ... > Process Memory) if not already done

Start the UT Editor with a representative map view. Use the "Select Features" tool from the "Tools" toolbar and click repeatedly in the map. Observe the value of "Virtual Size" in the Process Explorer for the process ArcMap.exe. It is not relevant whether features are selected or not. During the first clicks an increase of the value is still normal. If the value continues to increase after several clicks (> 50), you are affected by the behavior.

Solution:

At one customer, in cooperation with Esri, a connection with BUG-000143655 - Memory leak due to the panning cartographic representations causes ArcMap to crash could be found. According to Esri, cartographic representations are also used internally for annotations. This could be when using the leading lines mentioned above with the annotation layers.

There is a hotfix for the BUG-000143655. The effectiveness of the hotfix could also be confirmed for the memory leak problem at the customer site. We have formally tested the hotfix DT-1081-HF-000005640C with our software (UT for ArcGIS Desktop and WMPS) with ArcGIS 10.8.1 and Oracle 19 and could not find any abnormalities.

Starting with build 6504, the HotFix is provided with the delivery of UT for ArcGIS DesktopSuite, but must be explicitly installed.When using earlier builds on ArcGIS 10.8.1, the HotFix can be downloaded and installed from this article.