ASE, SQL, OLE, ADE

[#1]

Thanks to Ken Stupka for directing me to this newsgroup. I hope someone can
sort me out this time!

I have a problem using dbconnect in AutoCAD 2000.

I have a drawing consisting of 382 solid objects, and have configured and
connected to a Microsoft Access database containing four tables. I have
created link templates to link to three of these tables, containing one,
one, and two fields respectively. Every one of the 382 objects in the
drawing has been linked to a record in these tables. I have made exhaustive
checks to confirm this.

My problem starts when I try to export the links for spreadsheet use. I go
through the procedure of selecting the objects and the particular link
template I want to use, and then export the links to a comma-delimited text
file. Invariably the resultant file has some records missing; for example
382 items selected, 356 links exported. I do not get the same total every
time, and thus far have not identified a pattern. The drawing in question is
20MB in size, but the same thing has happened with smaller drawings,
containing fewer objects.

I have taken the step of removing all other surplus programs from my
computer and re-installing only AutoCAD, but still get the problem.

I have recently downloaded and installed the following beta updates, with no
apparent effect on my problem:
AutoCAD 3D Graphics System Update; AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack (English) Beta.

I am not especially well versed on the technical side of things, but my
network administrator has provided me with the following information
regarding specifications:

Workstation Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3, recently upgraded from NT
Workstation 4.0 SP6 (the problem occurs in both instances).
256 MB Ram
256 MB Swap File
4.5 Gig SCSI Hard Drive
Network Protocol TCP-IP
Server SQL Server 6.5 Sp5

Please forward any replies to richard.rogers@dhi.co.uk

Thanks in advance

Richard Rogers

[#2]

Richard,

I've used dbconnect alot, but I have'nt ever needed to export the links for
spreadsheet use.
Is there any way that you could just OLE link data from your Access tables
to your Excel
Spreadsheets?

Hope that helps

- Don Becker
BWF America, Inc.
dbecker@bwf-america.com

Richard Rogers wrote in message
news:85d96n$2du10@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> Thanks to Ken Stupka for directing me to this newsgroup. I hope someone
can
> sort me out this time!
>
> I have a problem using dbconnect in AutoCAD 2000.
>
> I have a drawing consisting of 382 solid objects, and have configured and
> connected to a Microsoft Access database containing four tables. I have
> created link templates to link to three of these tables, containing one,
> one, and two fields respectively. Every one of the 382 objects in the
> drawing has been linked to a record in these tables. I have made
exhaustive
> checks to confirm this.
>
> My problem starts when I try to export the links for spreadsheet use. I go
> through the procedure of selecting the objects and the particular link
> template I want to use, and then export the links to a comma-delimited
text
> file. Invariably the resultant file has some records missing; for example
> 382 items selected, 356 links exported. I do not get the same total every
> time, and thus far have not identified a pattern. The drawing in question
is
> 20MB in size, but the same thing has happened with smaller drawings,
> containing fewer objects.
>
> I have taken the step of removing all other surplus programs from my
> computer and re-installing only AutoCAD, but still get the problem.
>
> I have recently downloaded and installed the following beta updates, with
no
> apparent effect on my problem:
> AutoCAD 3D Graphics System Update; AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack (English)
Beta.
>
> I am not especially well versed on the technical side of things, but my
> network administrator has provided me with the following information
> regarding specifications:
>
> Workstation Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3, recently upgraded from NT
> Workstation 4.0 SP6 (the problem occurs in both instances).
> 256 MB Ram
> 256 MB Swap File
> 4.5 Gig SCSI Hard Drive
> Network Protocol TCP-IP
> Server SQL Server 6.5 Sp5
>
> Please forward any replies to richard.rogers@dhi.co.uk
>
>
> Thanks in advance
>
>
> Richard Rogers
>
>

[#3]

I want to export the links in order to extract information such as the
frequency a particular object occurs in an assembly. The drawing in question
is of a framework of different-sectioned aluminium extrusions of varying
lengths. The whole assembly itself is built up in sub-sections for
transportation purposes. At the start of a project a cutting list is needed
for the various frame members, sorted by length, section, quantity. At the
build stage, a parts list is required to accompany each sub-assembly
drawing. In due course this will be expanded for all our mechanical
assemblies.

Both myself and the company are fairly new to the concept of database
connectivity. At the moment I am more comfortable working in Excel, although
I'm hoping to acquire some SQL knowledge as I go along. Maybe then I could
better-utilise the AutoCAD Query Editor for my purposes. However at this
stage I cannot rely on all the links being exported accurately and fear
reprisals from the shop floor if I was to provide incomplete cutting/parts
lists!

Incidentally I have found the "view linked objects in drawing" option a good
way of creating selection sets without compromising my layering system. Each
sub-set can be isolated for view manipulation in orbit mode, for performing
solprof and soldraw operations, for dragging into separate drawings, or for
any other operation that you might need to perform.

Hope this clarifies. All input appreciated.

Richard Rogers

"Don Becker" wrote in message
news:85f6ku$60810@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> Richard,
>
> I've used dbconnect alot, but I have'nt ever needed to export the links
for
> spreadsheet use.
> Is there any way that you could just OLE link data from your Access tables
> to your Excel
> Spreadsheets?
>
> Hope that helps
>
> - Don Becker
> BWF America, Inc.
> dbecker@bwf-america.com
>
> Richard Rogers wrote in message
> news:85d96n$2du10@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > Thanks to Ken Stupka for directing me to this newsgroup. I hope someone
> can
> > sort me out this time!
> >
> > I have a problem using dbconnect in AutoCAD 2000.
> >
> > I have a drawing consisting of 382 solid objects, and have configured
and
> > connected to a Microsoft Access database containing four tables. I have
> > created link templates to link to three of these tables, containing one,
> > one, and two fields respectively. Every one of the 382 objects in the
> > drawing has been linked to a record in these tables. I have made
> exhaustive
> > checks to confirm this.
> >
> > My problem starts when I try to export the links for spreadsheet use. I
go
> > through the procedure of selecting the objects and the particular link
> > template I want to use, and then export the links to a comma-delimited
> text
> > file. Invariably the resultant file has some records missing; for
example
> > 382 items selected, 356 links exported. I do not get the same total
every
> > time, and thus far have not identified a pattern. The drawing in
question
> is
> > 20MB in size, but the same thing has happened with smaller drawings,
> > containing fewer objects.
> >
> > I have taken the step of removing all other surplus programs from my
> > computer and re-installing only AutoCAD, but still get the problem.
> >
> > I have recently downloaded and installed the following beta updates,
with
> no
> > apparent effect on my problem:
> > AutoCAD 3D Graphics System Update; AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack (English)
> Beta.
> >
> > I am not especially well versed on the technical side of things, but my
> > network administrator has provided me with the following information
> > regarding specifications:
> >
> > Workstation Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3, recently upgraded from NT
> > Workstation 4.0 SP6 (the problem occurs in both instances).
> > 256 MB Ram
> > 256 MB Swap File
> > 4.5 Gig SCSI Hard Drive
> > Network Protocol TCP-IP
> > Server SQL Server 6.5 Sp5
> >
> > Please forward any replies to richard.rogers@dhi.co.uk
> >
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> >
> > Richard Rogers
> >
> >
>
>

[#4]

Access should be able to do what you want if you've got a connection to access &
are now trying to also connect to excel. You don't need to use SQL to use
access. Am I understanding your situation correctly?

Richard Rogers wrote:

> I want to export the links in order to extract information such as the
> frequency a particular object occurs in an assembly. The drawing in question
> is of a framework of different-sectioned aluminium extrusions of varying
> lengths. The whole assembly itself is built up in sub-sections for
> transportation purposes. At the start of a project a cutting list is needed
> for the various frame members, sorted by length, section, quantity. At the
> build stage, a parts list is required to accompany each sub-assembly
> drawing. In due course this will be expanded for all our mechanical
> assemblies.
>
> Both myself and the company are fairly new to the concept of database
> connectivity. At the moment I am more comfortable working in Excel, although
> I'm hoping to acquire some SQL knowledge as I go along. Maybe then I could
> better-utilise the AutoCAD Query Editor for my purposes. However at this
> stage I cannot rely on all the links being exported accurately and fear
> reprisals from the shop floor if I was to provide incomplete cutting/parts
> lists!
>
> Incidentally I have found the "view linked objects in drawing" option a good
> way of creating selection sets without compromising my layering system. Each
> sub-set can be isolated for view manipulation in orbit mode, for performing
> solprof and soldraw operations, for dragging into separate drawings, or for
> any other operation that you might need to perform.
>
> Hope this clarifies. All input appreciated.
>
> Richard Rogers
>
> "Don Becker" wrote in message
> news:85f6ku$60810@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > Richard,
> >
> > I've used dbconnect alot, but I have'nt ever needed to export the links
> for
> > spreadsheet use.
> > Is there any way that you could just OLE link data from your Access tables
> > to your Excel
> > Spreadsheets?
> >
> > Hope that helps
> >
> > - Don Becker
> > BWF America, Inc.
> > dbecker@bwf-america.com
> >
> > Richard Rogers wrote in message
> > news:85d96n$2du10@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > > Thanks to Ken Stupka for directing me to this newsgroup. I hope someone
> > can
> > > sort me out this time!
> > >
> > > I have a problem using dbconnect in AutoCAD 2000.
> > >
> > > I have a drawing consisting of 382 solid objects, and have configured
> and
> > > connected to a Microsoft Access database containing four tables. I have
> > > created link templates to link to three of these tables, containing one,
> > > one, and two fields respectively. Every one of the 382 objects in the
> > > drawing has been linked to a record in these tables. I have made
> > exhaustive
> > > checks to confirm this.
> > >
> > > My problem starts when I try to export the links for spreadsheet use. I
> go
> > > through the procedure of selecting the objects and the particular link
> > > template I want to use, and then export the links to a comma-delimited
> > text
> > > file. Invariably the resultant file has some records missing; for
> example
> > > 382 items selected, 356 links exported. I do not get the same total
> every
> > > time, and thus far have not identified a pattern. The drawing in
> question
> > is
> > > 20MB in size, but the same thing has happened with smaller drawings,
> > > containing fewer objects.
> > >
> > > I have taken the step of removing all other surplus programs from my
> > > computer and re-installing only AutoCAD, but still get the problem.
> > >
> > > I have recently downloaded and installed the following beta updates,
> with
> > no
> > > apparent effect on my problem:
> > > AutoCAD 3D Graphics System Update; AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack (English)
> > Beta.
> > >
> > > I am not especially well versed on the technical side of things, but my
> > > network administrator has provided me with the following information
> > > regarding specifications:
> > >
> > > Workstation Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3, recently upgraded from NT
> > > Workstation 4.0 SP6 (the problem occurs in both instances).
> > > 256 MB Ram
> > > 256 MB Swap File
> > > 4.5 Gig SCSI Hard Drive
> > > Network Protocol TCP-IP
> > > Server SQL Server 6.5 Sp5
> > >
> > > Please forward any replies to richard.rogers@dhi.co.uk
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance
> > >
> > >
> > > Richard Rogers
> > >
> > >

[#5]

I am creating designs of mechanical assemblies in model space, with each
part solid-modelled. I can then produce paper drawings of details and
assemblies using the soldraw, solprof, and solview commands. I can also
produce rendered-image files to underlay some of these outline views using
the various image tools in AutoCAD. This makes for much improved, easier to
understand, and more realistic drawings. Also, some of this imagery can be
used for presentation purposes. This, together with the ease of
manipulation, is why I am keen to keep my objects as solids and not block
insertions.

For every unique mechanical part in an assembly, a record has been/will be
created in an Access database table. When that part is drawn (as a solid
object) in AutoCAD, a link will be created using dbconnect, to it's
corresponding record. A drawing may have just one, or several instances of
each object, and the object may also crop up in other drawings. By exporting
the links from a particular drawing or selection set, I can use the
resultant data to generate parts lists and cutting lists (with quantities),
and maybe perform other analysis too. Theoretically this should lead to
substantial improvement and automation in performing the task, especially
with regard to speed and accuracy.

My problem isn't really with which program I use to read the data, it's that
the data exported tends to be inaccurate. Having said all that, I've managed
to find time to conduct more experiments over the past few days. Previously,
not all the links were being exported. Now, more links are being exported
than objects selected (i.e. 382 objects selected, 399 links exported)! I
haven't made any changes to the state of the drawing in the interim, so am
still puzzled. The good news is that when I get rid of the duplicate records
(as identified in the "handle" field), I am left with the correct number (in
this case, 382) and can use the data.

I have tried it out on some newer, less complicated drawings, and the links
are presently being exported correctly. I've tried so many different things
that I'm not sure what has effected this improvement, so I guess I'll have
to keep monitoring the situation.

Sorry if I have been a bit long-winded here. Rest assured if I can't iron
out the problem I'll be back!

Thanks for all input.

Richard Rogers

"Paul Furman" wrote in message
news:38852585.5D9F5BDD@edgehill.net...
> Access should be able to do what you want if you've got a connection to
access &
> are now trying to also connect to excel. You don't need to use SQL to use
> access. Am I understanding your situation correctly?
>
> Richard Rogers wrote:
>
> > I want to export the links in order to extract information such as the
> > frequency a particular object occurs in an assembly. The drawing in
question
> > is of a framework of different-sectioned aluminium extrusions of varying
> > lengths. The whole assembly itself is built up in sub-sections for
> > transportation purposes. At the start of a project a cutting list is
needed
> > for the various frame members, sorted by length, section, quantity. At
the
> > build stage, a parts list is required to accompany each sub-assembly
> > drawing. In due course this will be expanded for all our mechanical
> > assemblies.
> >
> > Both myself and the company are fairly new to the concept of database
> > connectivity. At the moment I am more comfortable working in Excel,
although
> > I'm hoping to acquire some SQL knowledge as I go along. Maybe then I
could
> > better-utilise the AutoCAD Query Editor for my purposes. However at this
> > stage I cannot rely on all the links being exported accurately and fear
> > reprisals from the shop floor if I was to provide incomplete
cutting/parts
> > lists!
> >
> > Incidentally I have found the "view linked objects in drawing" option a
good
> > way of creating selection sets without compromising my layering system.
Each
> > sub-set can be isolated for view manipulation in orbit mode, for
performing
> > solprof and soldraw operations, for dragging into separate drawings, or
for
> > any other operation that you might need to perform.
> >
> > Hope this clarifies. All input appreciated.
> >
> > Richard Rogers
> >
> > "Don Becker" wrote in message
> > news:85f6ku$60810@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > > Richard,
> > >
> > > I've used dbconnect alot, but I have'nt ever needed to export the
links
> > for
> > > spreadsheet use.
> > > Is there any way that you could just OLE link data from your Access
tables
> > > to your Excel
> > > Spreadsheets?
> > >
> > > Hope that helps
> > >
> > > - Don Becker
> > > BWF America, Inc.
> > > dbecker@bwf-america.com
> > >
> > > Richard Rogers wrote in message
> > > news:85d96n$2du10@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > > > Thanks to Ken Stupka for directing me to this newsgroup. I hope
someone
> > > can
> > > > sort me out this time!
> > > >
> > > > I have a problem using dbconnect in AutoCAD 2000.
> > > >
> > > > I have a drawing consisting of 382 solid objects, and have
configured
> > and
> > > > connected to a Microsoft Access database containing four tables. I
have
> > > > created link templates to link to three of these tables, containing
one,
> > > > one, and two fields respectively. Every one of the 382 objects in
the
> > > > drawing has been linked to a record in these tables. I have made
> > > exhaustive
> > > > checks to confirm this.
> > > >
> > > > My problem starts when I try to export the links for spreadsheet
use. I
> > go
> > > > through the procedure of selecting the objects and the particular
link
> > > > template I want to use, and then export the links to a
comma-delimited
> > > text
> > > > file. Invariably the resultant file has some records missing; for
> > example
> > > > 382 items selected, 356 links exported. I do not get the same total
> > every
> > > > time, and thus far have not identified a pattern. The drawing in
> > question
> > > is
> > > > 20MB in size, but the same thing has happened with smaller drawings,
> > > > containing fewer objects.
> > > >
> > > > I have taken the step of removing all other surplus programs from my
> > > > computer and re-installing only AutoCAD, but still get the problem.
> > > >
> > > > I have recently downloaded and installed the following beta updates,
> > with
> > > no
> > > > apparent effect on my problem:
> > > > AutoCAD 3D Graphics System Update; AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack
(English)
> > > Beta.
> > > >
> > > > I am not especially well versed on the technical side of things, but
my
> > > > network administrator has provided me with the following information
> > > > regarding specifications:
> > > >
> > > > Workstation Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3, recently upgraded from
NT
> > > > Workstation 4.0 SP6 (the problem occurs in both instances).
> > > > 256 MB Ram
> > > > 256 MB Swap File
> > > > 4.5 Gig SCSI Hard Drive
> > > > Network Protocol TCP-IP
> > > > Server SQL Server 6.5 Sp5
> > > >
> > > > Please forward any replies to richard.rogers@dhi.co.uk
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Richard Rogers
> > > >
> > > >
>

[#6]

Richard,

Maybe you accidentally put duplicate links on the parts.

-Don Becker
BWF America, Inc.

[#7]

That's what I thought, but when I AutoView linked objects in drawing the
correct number is returned. The same for when too few links were being
exported.

Shifting priorities at work have led me away from this project and I don't
foresee returning to it for a while. I have recently worked on a separate
project and have had much more success with dbconnect. Either the many
changes I have tried since the problem arose have improved things, or the
drawing I was working in is corrupt in some way. Possibly. Your guess is as
good as mine!

Richard Rogers

"Don Becker" wrote in message
news:87bu3q$8mu7@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> Richard,
>
> Maybe you accidentally put duplicate links on the parts.
>
> -Don Becker
> BWF America, Inc.
>
>

[#8]

I have started a similar project, using the same table to link to. Lo and
behold, the problem started again. Having had some degree of success with
recent drawings, linking to different tables, I thought I might just be able
to narrow down the possible causes to two things:

i) The original table is corrupt in some way.

ii) Adding records to the table from the AutoCAD dbconnect data view window
is having some sort of detrimental effect.

Being suspicious of this, I opened the database in Access, deleted the
original table, and recreated it completely in Access. I recreated the links
in my drawing, made a test selection of objects and exported the links; this
time successfully.

Further successes are required before I'll be convinced the problem is
resolved completely, but fingers crossed....

Richard Rogers

"Richard Rogers" wrote in message
news:87eo9o$m7v10@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> That's what I thought, but when I AutoView linked objects in drawing the
> correct number is returned. The same for when too few links were being
> exported.
>
> Shifting priorities at work have led me away from this project and I don't
> foresee returning to it for a while. I have recently worked on a separate
> project and have had much more success with dbconnect. Either the many
> changes I have tried since the problem arose have improved things, or the
> drawing I was working in is corrupt in some way. Possibly. Your guess is
as
> good as mine!
>
> Richard Rogers
>
>
> "Don Becker" wrote in message
> news:87bu3q$8mu7@adesknews2.autodesk.com...
> > Richard,
> >
> > Maybe you accidentally put duplicate links on the parts.
> >
> > -Don Becker
> > BWF America, Inc.
> >
> >
>
>