Object Data from a linked External Database (help)

[grafp]

Can someone walk me thru how to assign Object Data from a linked External Database.

1. I have a drawing of a Sewer Network which contains Object Data. One of the OD field is defined as PIPE_ID and each line in the Pipe network has a unique PIPE_ID value (which is text, not a number).

2. I also have a Access File (.mdb) that contains just 2 columns. Column #1 is the Primary key and has a heading of PIPE_ID and is populated with some of the same PIPE_ID's as the Object Data Table. Column #2 has a heading of INSPECTION and is populatd with various text values.

3. How can I add the column #2 (Inspection field) from the Access table to Object data in my drawing?

I just don't understand the steps it takes to do this.


Paul

[Anonymous]

Is the mdb linked to the same objects as the OD is? If so the
easiest/quickest way is to export to SDF format with both the OD and mdb
data as data, then import the SDF creating the new OD tables on import.
If the mdb is not linked then exporting the pipe objects to SDF with the OD
to SDF, connect to that SDF with data connect, connect to the mdb with an
odbc connection then perform a join between the two, save the joined to a
new SDF file then use that SDF file to import.
One of the benefits of using FDO (data connect) over dwg objects and OD is
the ease of doing things like the join.

--

Murph
http://map3d.wordpress.com/


"grafp" wrote in message news:6287682@discussion.autodesk.com...
Can someone walk me thru how to assign Object Data from a linked External
Database.

1. I have a drawing of a Sewer Network which contains Object Data. One of
the OD field is defined as PIPE_ID and each line in the Pipe network has a
unique PIPE_ID value (which is text, not a number).

2. I also have a Access File (.mdb) that contains just 2 columns. Column #1
is the Primary key and has a heading of PIPE_ID and is populated with some
of the same PIPE_ID's as the Object Data Table. Column #2 has a heading of
INSPECTION and is populatd with various text values.

3. How can I add the column #2 (Inspection field) from the Access table to
Object data in my drawing?

I just don't understand the steps it takes to do this.


Paul

[grafp]

I am now trying use the FDO Data Connect. I went to the Administration tools>Data Sources (ODBC) and added the .MDB file
I open up Autocad Map 3D Display Manager>Data>Connect to Data>Add ODBC Connection
I pick the Data Source Name and hit the Connect button. A user name & password dialog box comes up (not sure why) I just hit the login button. When I try to Add Data to Map I get a error meaasage saying "unable to add data to map"

I must be missing something here.

Paul

[Anonymous]

If you didn't get any error message when you connected then everything
should be ok, the login dialog is when the mdb has a password. If you switch
over to the map explorer tab in the task pane you should see the schema for
the ODBC connection. Clicking the add to map button is not needed, there's
no geometry to add (unless you have an X-Y column in the tables). Also if
you open the Table view you should be able to select the ODBC connection
from the drop down to view the table data.


--

Murph
http://map3d.wordpress.com/


"grafp" wrote in message news:6287809@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am now trying use the FDO Data Connect. I went to the Administration
tools>Data Sources (ODBC) and added the .MDB file
I open up Autocad Map 3D Display Manager>Data>Connect to Data>Add ODBC
Connection
I pick the Data Source Name and hit the Connect button. A user name &
password dialog box comes up (not sure why) I just hit the login button.
When I try to Add Data to Map I get a error meaasage saying "unable to add
data to map"

I must be missing something here.

Paul

[grafp]

I can open and view my ODBC connected table, but when I do the FDO join the 2 columns from my joined table are all NULL values.

Edited by: grafp on Nov 12, 2009 5:37 PM Edited by: grafp on Nov 12, 2009 5:38 PM

[grafp]

Ok, I got the join to work, I was using the wrong join type. NOw, using the Display Manager I want to make a Themed map using the newly joined data. When I edit style and try to create a thematic rule I not given the choice to use the newly joined data as a property. Can't I access all properties now shown in my table view?

Paul

[Anonymous]

They should all be there, if you open the table/data view the joined fields
should be to the very right side and gray in color.

--

Murph
http://map3d.wordpress.com/


"grafp" wrote in message news:6288037@discussion.autodesk.com...
Ok, I got the join to work, I was using the wrong join type. NOw, using the
Display Manager I want to make a Themed map using the newly joined data.
When I edit style and try to create a thematic rule I not given the choice
to use the newly joined data as a property. Can't I access all properties
now shown in my table view?

Paul

[grafp]

Thanks, I finally got what I needed. Once I joined the table I could NOT make a themed map using the joined data. What I did was exported the Map Layer to a SDF file, then converted it to a shapefile and then attached it thru the Display manager FDO to make a thematic map. What a long road and I probably get lost doing it again.
Thanks for the tips.

Paul