Linking external data to polylines with Object data

[Anonymous]

I have a sewer dwg, in which the lines were populated with object data that
includes a ID. How do I generate a link bewteen the lines and an external
table containing the PipeID field and associated activity data?

In the Generate Links dialog shows only for methods of linking - blocks,
text, or Enclosed Blocks, or Enclosed text for polygons. Surely there must
be a method linking data to a line? I'm using Map 3D 2008. I know about
using shapefiles, etc., but for the moment, I want to keep the task withing
Autocad.

Many thanks,
--Bill

[arnolds]

Hi BIll,

Actually, you won't find it where you are looking in Generate Links. If you are using the Map pulldown menu you will find it in Map > Tools > Convert Object Data to Database Links....

Not sure where it is on the other menus but that is the command you are looking for.

[auroramatt]

Click Setup menu Convert Object Data to Database Links. It will make it so that you can actually query your data without having to import. As far as linking goes, the only way to do it is manually. You can right click next to the row you want and link to objects. I don't know if they are trying to get everyone switched over to the feature based portion of this software but using object data is only good for making labels for the most part. There is no automated way of linking lines or points and it seems like it would be a really simple task. The only thing I could suggest is maybe exporting the lines with the data to a shapefile. Add the shapefile to your map with the task pane and do a bulk copy. The other way to do it would be to open the dbf in excel, copy all the information into a new excel file, and then make a macro that matches two identification fields together. Then take that and paste it into the dbf. Sounds long and complicated but I don't think there are any other options.

[arnolds]

Let's back up a second here and read the original post just so we're clear.
"I have a sewer dwg, in which the lines were populated with object data that includes a ID... How do I generate a link bewteen the lines and an external table containing the PipeID field"

So, I'm guessing the lines already have a unique ID attached to the lines, using object data. If that is the case, there is an automated routine to link them using Convert OD to db links.
But, if they do not have any data attached, then no, there is no automated linking utility for AutoCAD primitives.

[Anonymous]

Matt,
Thanks for the info. I tried the Convert to Link option and could not figure
out why features were still not linked. I was hoping to set up a method to
allow the Autocad people to use a dwg, and ESRI platform to use a shapefile
or geodatabase to both join to a SQL table. My fantasy was to use either
platform to edit SQL attributes. I will look into using shapefiles.

Thanks for the prompt reply.

--BIll



wrote in message news:5867827@discussion.autodesk.com...
Click Setup menu Convert Object Data to Database Links. It will make it so
that you can actually query your data without having to import. As far as
linking goes, the only way to do it is manually. You can right click next
to the row you want and link to objects. I don't know if they are trying to
get everyone switched over to the feature based portion of this software but
using object data is only good for making labels for the most part. There
is no automated way of linking lines or points and it seems like it would be
a really simple task. The only thing I could suggest is maybe exporting the
lines with the data to a shapefile. Add the shapefile to your map with the
task pane and do a bulk copy. The other way to do it would be to open the
dbf in excel, copy all the information into a new excel file, and then make
a macro that matches two identification fields together. Then take that and
paste it into the dbf. Sounds long and complicated but I don't think there
are any other options.

[auroramatt]

Arnolds,
I think he wants to link another table to the polyline. Is there a way to create links just based on object data? If I had an id number in an od field and an attached table with those same numbers, could I link them together easily? I have never found a way to do it.

[arnolds]

"Is there a way to create links just based on object data?"
Absolutely, I think it's been in the software since the 2006 version.

"If I had an id number in an od field and an attached table with those same numbers, could I link them together easily?"

Yes again. That's where the "convert object data to database links" comes in. You can use it to convert OD table info to databases or you can use it to link the 2 together.

[arnolds]

Bill,

If you can post a screen capture of the dataset and the pline properties, I could probably step you through it. I know of a few municipalities in this area that are doing exactly what you are attempting.

[auroramatt]

well I can create a linked database. I know how to do that but can you link two different tables together? This just takes the object data, copies it, and links it to that object so that you have a linked table with the same data. That doesn't do much for you except let you query objects.

[arnolds]

I'm not sure I'm following what you're trying to do when you say "link two different tables together". If you're talking about linking tables in the database, that's something best done in the database.
If you're talking about linking an object table to a database table using a unique ID, then yes you can do that. You don't need to make a copy of the OD with that command, you can merely use it to link data to an external table in a DB.

[auroramatt]

I think I'm following you now. I have only used that to create a linked table so that I could select objects based on. I will try this tomorrow. I'm excited about this if it works. Thanks arnolds.

[Anonymous]

You are correct. THe lines are already populated with an ID field, which
matches the ID in the external table(s).
My intent is to maintain all attribute data in an external SQL Server
database table. This would be available for shapefiles (Arcview & Mapguide),
or dwgs (w/ linked via OD). I do not want to have to update attributes in
multiple locations, as it leads to out of sync data. Some of the data
include:
physical attributes (pipe diameter, material, to/from ManholeID, etc).
This is a 1:1 relationship
maintenance records (Date, activity, crew)
inspection results (Date, condition, inspector)
Most of these data would be maintained in Mapguide using a data editing
interface. Wen the shapefile or dwg is opened, I would want to join/link the
records to the lines.

My feelings are that it might even be simpler to use the data connect
features of Map 2008 to open the shapefile in Autocad, and edit features and
or attributes from there. However the Autocad users in my department insist
on having a pure Autocad dwg, which allows them to manipulate blocks, labels
etc.

I was able on a second attempt to link the external table to the pipe
features. I think I had left the Database Validation option left to None,
whereas the 2nd time, I set it to Record Must Exist.

Now that I have my link set up, I am able to zoom/select to features
selected via selected records in the Link Template. How do I have the
appropriate record(s) selected when I select a pipe feaure in the dwg?

Hopefully they will put the Convert OD to external Link in a more intuitive
location (like under Map/Object Data...). Enough carping.

Thanks alot for the info.
--Bill

wrote in message news:5867849@discussion.autodesk.com...
Let's back up a second here and read the original post just so we're clear.
"I have a sewer dwg, in which the lines were populated with object data that
includes a ID... How do I generate a link bewteen the lines and an external
table containing the PipeID field"

So, I'm guessing the lines already have a unique ID attached to the lines,
using object data. If that is the case, there is an automated routine to
link them using Convert OD to db links.
But, if they do not have any data attached, then no, there is no automated
linking utility for AutoCAD primitives.

[miguel.sepulveda]

a option is convert a SDF (properties + Object Data)
1) Map / Tools / Export -> File of type = *.sdf
2) Closed Current File
3) New file
4) Issue Manage Data Content
5) Add SDF Connection
6) Use option Join in mode Table
(join current table and table of Data base)