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Change Electrical Database Locations

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Message 1 of 12
TomTom111
2903 Views, 11 Replies

Change Electrical Database Locations

Hello all,

 

We are in the middle of a Vault Migration for all of our AutoCAD Electrical projects.

 

My main concern is the AutoCAD Electrical databases.

We are going to try to put everything in one working folder that will be the same on dozens of workstations.

 

This brings me to my question...

There are three main folders AutoCAD Electrical uses for it's databases, AEDATA, Libs and the Support folder.

I want to change these three folders to a location that would be the same on every system, C:\VaultWork\Electrical\etc...

 

Is it possible to make Electrical look for these things in a different location, or are the locations static?

 

--Thanks in advanced.

 

Thomas Walls

CADMASTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
www.cadmastertech.com

11 REPLIES 11
Message 2 of 12
dougmcalexander
in reply to: TomTom111

Yes, you can change the location. There is an explanation about this on my web page under the subject of networking. You just move the AeData folder to the new location and add this path to the top of the support file search path in AutoCAD options.

The project scratch databases should remain on the local drive, for speed. They can be deleted anytime anyway. Drawing data is stored in the drawings. The project scratch database is used internally by the software. Attempts to relocate these have produced undesirable results.


Doug McAlexander


Design Engineer/Consultant/Instructor/Mentor specializing in AutoCAD Electrical training and implementation support

Phone and Web-based Support Plans Available

Phone: (770) 841-8009

www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mcalexander-1a77623




Please Accept as Solution if I helped you. Likes are also much appreciated.
Message 3 of 12
TomTom111
in reply to: dougmcalexander

Thank you sir.

 

As i stated, this change will be implimented on many workstations.

I can change the Library locations in the project, so whoever opens it, the paths will go with the project.

 

But, is there a way to change the support file search path on many computers at one time?

Or will I have to go from workstation to workstation, changing the path?

 

--Thanks

 

Thomas Walls

CADMASTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
www.cadmastertech.com

 

Message 4 of 12
dougmcalexander
in reply to: TomTom111

You only need to move the AeData folder from one PC to the network.  You will have to set the support file search path for each workstation, but you only do this once, and it only takes a minute or so.  The wd.env file resides in the AeData folder so all workstations will share the same environment file.  Hint: Rename or delete the local AeData folder to ensure that AutoCAD Electrical does not find the local AeData.  I have seen it use the local AeData folder if it exists.

 

As you stated the projects all point to a specific library path, so no change is needed there, unless you wish to serve the libraries from the network.  You would definitely want to share a custom symbols folder, so anytime someone creates a new symbol, it is available for all.  In the wd.env file you can set the path for the icon menu browse button to always default to the networked custom symbols folder first.  You set the entire schematic library path as shown in my attached sample.  Now you can select on the Schematic Library category in Project Properties and click the Default button to instantly set the project to the new schematic library path.  The same can be done for panel layout footprints.

 

Hint: Place the custom symbols folder first in the path. If you wish to modify a symbol from the supplied Autodesk libraries, copy them first into you custom symbols folder.  Make you edits and save.  When you click to insert this component from the icon menu, AutoCAD Electrical searches the menu list in order and finds your modified version first.

 

You can go one step further and share the icon menus as well. Simply move them to a desired location on the network and set the projects to this path.  Now when some adds a new symbol to the menu, all users see it.  Again, you can edit the wd.env file default icon menu path for both schematic and footprint to menus to reflect the new path for each.  In Project Properties, you simply select the schematic icon menu category and click the Default button to immediately change the menu path.  Note: You must do this for both the schematic and panel footprint categories.



Doug McAlexander


Design Engineer/Consultant/Instructor/Mentor specializing in AutoCAD Electrical training and implementation support

Phone and Web-based Support Plans Available

Phone: (770) 841-8009

www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mcalexander-1a77623




Please Accept as Solution if I helped you. Likes are also much appreciated.
Message 5 of 12
TomTom111
in reply to: dougmcalexander

That pretty much sums up what I am trying to do.

I have an extensive custom icon menu we use for both schematics and panel footprints.

 

I have tried this with your steps provided, and successfully shared these databases with two workstations so for.

 

And I did not know about the wd.env file in the AeData, thanks.

 

Hopefully this makes everyone's lives a bit easier Smiley Wink

 

--Thanks Doug

 

Thomas Walls

CADMASTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
www.cadmastertech.com

Message 6 of 12
Pete_Mort
in reply to: TomTom111

I'm also struggling trying to setup ACADE for a multi-user environment, I've been following this thread which has helped (thank you) but I must be doing something wrong! So far I've copied the Acade 2016, Aedata and Support Files to another drive on my workstation:

 

Folders.JPG

 

I've created a test project in the AeData folder, the intention is that this will be the 'template project', I've opened the project settings and set all of the library paths as below:

 

Project settings.JPG

 

So far all is okay, its when I try to create and edit a .env file that the problems start, I've followed this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgw51Zimb8

 

But I've been unable to get the changes to the environment file to work, I've changed the location of the part catalog database file as shown below:

Catalog database.JPG

 

But when I check the project settings they show that original default_cat.mdb is being used.

 

Current settings.JPG

 

Renaming AeData in the default location causes the system to lose the .env files and also the ribbon. Also Im not sure of the function of the files in:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical 2016\R20.1\enu\Support

 

Any help here would be greately appreciated, I've already spent 2 days on this and can't see a way forward ...!

 

Message 7 of 12
dougmcalexander
in reply to: TomTom111

Hi! Follow the directions on my web site for networking exactly. You only copy the AeData folder to the network not the folder above it. Be sure the local AeData is renamed something like AeData_local. You have to add the network location of AeData to the top of the Support File Search Path. Your projects should be stored in the Proj subfolder under AeData.


Doug McAlexander


Design Engineer/Consultant/Instructor/Mentor specializing in AutoCAD Electrical training and implementation support

Phone and Web-based Support Plans Available

Phone: (770) 841-8009

www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mcalexander-1a77623




Please Accept as Solution if I helped you. Likes are also much appreciated.
Message 8 of 12
Pete_Mort
in reply to: dougmcalexander

Hi Doug, 

 

I've followed the instructions on your site and everything is now working as expected, thank you for helping me!

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Message 9 of 12
dougmcalexander
in reply to: TomTom111

Glad to hear it Pete. Cheers to you.


Doug McAlexander


Design Engineer/Consultant/Instructor/Mentor specializing in AutoCAD Electrical training and implementation support

Phone and Web-based Support Plans Available

Phone: (770) 841-8009

www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mcalexander-1a77623




Please Accept as Solution if I helped you. Likes are also much appreciated.
Message 10 of 12

which web site? can you put the link?

Message 11 of 12

It appears that the website is no longer active. It was www.ecadconsultant.com



Bob Hanrahan
Ace User since 1998
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Message 12 of 12
rhesusminus
in reply to: testsubject

@dougmcalexander  ?


Trond Hasse Lie
AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN expert
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