Adding items to catalogue in AE doesn't add them to the access database

[luke_cope]

AS the title says. Why is this?

I run the create project database and some of them dont go into the project database.

I think this is the reason that some parts are missing desciptions and user data in the BOM it seems to be these missing ones that dont find properly.

[arshdeepsingh404]

Hi @luke_cope 

Can you explain a little more on the issue you are experiencing? Are you getting BOM Reports with no descriptions?

The project database and catalog database are two different databases.

Project Database stores data related to a specific project. It manages project-wide information like drawing properties, wire numbers, component tags, and terminal information.
Usually located under: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical 2025\R25.0\enu\Support\User\ProjectName.mdb

Catalog Database contains a library of components from different manufacturers, with descriptions, ratings, pinlists, etc.
Usually located under: C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Acade 2025\AeData\en-US\Catalogs\default_cat.mdb

I could be wrong but I don't think the Catalog Descriptions are stored in the project database. I think the BOM reports queries the Catalog Database for a set of MFG and CAT to get the Descriptions.

If the catalog and manufacturer combo is not found in the database (or Catalog Lookup), you will get blank descriptions.
Having a space after the Catalog for a part can cause this too.

[luke_cope]

I should of worded that better sorry. Some of the items I add to the catalogue in AE do bot show in the default_cat database. Is there any reason why some do and some dont?

This has caused another issues when using the create a project specific catalogue command where these dont come into this new catalogue. It is the same items as are missing the description and user 1,2,3 data. Im guessing its because there not showing in the access catalogue? 

[arshdeepsingh404]

If you assign Catalog and Manufacturer to symbol and they do not exist in your Catalog Database (default_cat.mdb)
The reports will not be able to pull descriptions, same thing for the User 1, User 2, User 3 values.

Now why they don't exist/get added to the catalog is a different issue.
Do you have this in default_cat.mdb in a shared location that other users can access too?
Not all the network providers are able to effectively manage the shared mdb files, Especially OneDrive.

If two users are adding entries to the database at the same time, OneDrive will most likely overwrite the database file from the user that logs out last, i.e. only one user's changes (addition/modifications to database) will be saved.

SQL database instead works out much better for shared environments.

How to migrate the AutoCAD Electrical MDB catalog to a SQL Server?

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-move-or-mig...

If you are not working with shared environment, then it could be a different problem and we can review on how add data to the catalog, and if there is anything special with the ones that don't register to the database.

[luke_cope]

I'm guessing onedrive is the issue here then. Its weird that they still display in the catalogue browser within AE just not the database file itself. Where does AE pull this data from? I'm guessing there's a temp file or something that displays names within the software itself?

I have manually added data to the default_cat and it doesn't pull through to AE.

Interestingly im the only one that is using electrical so no chance of anybody else editing database at the same time. I'm wondering if its to do with how it syncs to onedrive. I'm wondering if the default_Cat was on the C:/ drive instead if this would solve the issue?

[rhesusminus]

And you are absolutely 100% sure that AcadE is using with the file you think it's using? 

Go to "documents" and rename the AcadE 202X folder if you haven't already.

[luke_cope]

Its the directory that is showing in the database config of the project. under the documents / ae2023 folder

[rhesusminus]

What AcadE shows that it is using and what it actually uses are two different things. This has been an issue for 10 years, since we got the catalog browser in release 2015.

[luke_cope]

ohhh. How can I see what its actually using then?

[rhesusminus]

That's the problem.

If you have a "AcadE 202x" folder in "my documents", rename it to something else. And restart AcadE.

[luke_cope]

Just get a message asking to relocate wdenv file. Im assuming doing this will lead to the same data being used?

[rhesusminus]

Ok. So you don't have the rest of the files in a different location?
Then, just rename Documetns\AcadE 202X\aedata\en_us\catalogs\default_cat.mdb to something else.

[luke_cope]

Done. now saying cannot find database. as expected

[rhesusminus]

So, it seems like it's using that database. Do you have any mdb-files elsewhere in that "AcadE 202X" folder/subfolders?
Some other file called default_cat.mdb? {projectname}_cat.mdb?

[luke_cope]

Only the following are in that location.

- ace_electrical_standards

-default_cat

-footprint_lookup

-schematic_lookup

-wd_lang1

-wd_picklist

and the wddinrail.xls excel file for the dinrail options.

[rhesusminus]

I'm thinking of some in other locations. Project folder... Or elsewhere in the aedata folder.

[luke_cope]

there was one project catalogue file in another project. not sure how it got there. deleted it and still having the same issue.

[dougmcalexander]

Right-click on the project in the Project Manager and click Settings.  What shows as the location of the database that is being used?  Hint: The easiest way to share data is to move the AeData folder to a network drive.  Right-click on the command prompt and select Options.  Click the leftmost tab.  Click Support File Search Path.  Add the path where the AeData folder is located.  For example, S:\AeData could be a network drive.  Put this path at the top of the Support File Search Path.  Restart AutoCAD Electrical.  Projects, PLC data, Catalogs, and the environment file will be shared.

[luke_cope]

No solution to this yet. Seems to be getting the right files etc just doesnt always add what I add to the catalogue browser to the default_Cat.mdb

[rhesusminus]

So, apparently it saves it to somewhere.

Can you add something, and then search your hard drive/SSD  for *.mdb, and sort by change date?