AutoCAD Electrical 2014 catalog/database issues

[Anonymous]

I'm using ACADE 2015.  Lately I've been having database issues.  I found this out when I go do my source/destination arrows, and I find out I have no stored signal codes.  

I've read that it will use the drawings and generate its own project database.  However my ACAD doesn't do that.  I thought my DB might be corrupted so I want to create a new one.  I renamed the old one (don't want to lose it) and opened up my ACAD 2015.  Normally there would be a progress bar showing its doing something (updating DB maybe?) but it doesn't.  It just pops up and waits.  The project DB isn't created and again I have no signal codes.  

Is there something (a button? or a command?) that I have to do to get it to generate a project database?  Even if the old project DB was there , I doubt it was reading it.

Please advise.  Thanks.

[rhesusminus]

Hi!

I'm not sure exactly what database you're missing, but press the details button, and have a look at this path:

Does this file exist?

You can delete this file anytime you want, because all data within this file comes from the DWG's. the AERBUILDDB command will rebuild this database on your command whenever you like.

If your Source/Destinations doesn't show up when you press the Drawing/Project buttons within the signal dialgos, the problem might be somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

 I found the project database, but its not where I thought it will be (I thought it would be here:  C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical 2015\R20.0\enu\Support\User )

The file does exist where ACADE said it would.  I tried renaming it and rebuilding it, and it does get rebuilt.

However when I go to a destination arrow, I try to find another signal code, and it doesn't appear (I've even clicked the freshen button).  (see above)  It's like it's not reading the database.  

I don't care where the database is located as long as ACADE reads and uses it.

Please advise.  Thanks.

[rhesusminus]

Something is strange on your computer. The project database SHOULD be named "ProjectName.mdb", yours is not.

Also it's located in the wrong.

Is the wd.env file edited in any way? What env-file are you using?

This this at the command line, to see what env-file AcadE is using,

!GBL_WD_USING_WD_ENV_FULL_FNAM

open that env-file in notepad an have a look at this setting:

What does it say?

[Anonymous]

Below is a snapshot of my WD.ENV file.  It looks the same as yours.

Not sure if its related, but I've had database issues in the past.  there were times were I wanted to export some component tags to a spreadsheet, and all I would get is a blank spreadsheet.  I had to close the project, and reopen it before it would work.  I'd get this error from time to time, not always.

[rhesusminus]

If you type these two command on the command line, what do you get in return?

!GBL_WD_DBNAM
!GBL_WD_USR

Something is fishy... Have you tried to reset AutoCAD Electrical? (Do a backup of you customizations fist, if you've done any)

[Anonymous]

I get this:

Not sure what those commands are for...

How do you reset ACADE?  I'm using ACADE 2015.

[rhesusminus]

I'd try a reset.

Just open Windows start menu, and type "reset". Then you should find a program called Reset settings to default - AutoCAD Electrical . Run this.

[Anonymous]

I did the reset.  Looks like my customizations are gone (doesn't matter).  But the problem still exists  

I even loaded a new copy of the project.  

Other ideas?

[rhesusminus]

I'm really all out of ideas on this one. Maybe @PatMurnen_Adsk can help us?

[PatMurnen_Adsk]

There was an issue reported in AutoCAD Electrical 2015 that sounds very similar to what you are experiencing. In this case it was due to using an alternate .env file. Can you do the following and report what you see:

1. Right-click on the project in Project Manager and select Settings. Then in the lower left see what Environment file is listed.

2. Click on the Environment file button and get a screen capture of that dialog?

3. Upload to this forum the .env file listed in the dialog.

Do you have access to either AutoCAD Electrical 2016 or 2017?

Regards,

Pat Murnen

[Anonymous]

See attached for the screenshot and wd.env file.

Please advise.  

[PatMurnen_Adsk]

Hmmm, I don't see anything unusual in the setup or the wd.env file and it doesn't appear you are using an alternate .env file. Can you do the following steps. Uppercase means type at the command line.

1. LOGFILEON

2. AEONLISPDEBUG

3. AEREBUILDDB

4. Try and do something with signals that fails.

5. AEOFFLISPDEBUG

6. LOGFILEOFF

7. LOGFILENAME

Upload the log file indicated in step #7.

Hopefully this will provide a clue on the problem.

Regards,

Pat

[Anonymous]

See attached for the log file.  

I ran through the commands as you laid out.  The way this fails is when I try to add a destination arrow, I click on project to look for signal codes, and I don't see any.  

Please advise.  I hope something useful is in that log file.

[PatMurnen_Adsk]

traderjoe,

I had hoped to get some useful information from the log but it looks like everything is happening as it should, i.e. the database gets built and the wire networks are processed. 

Can you send me your project so I can try this at my end? You can email it directly to me at [email protected]. If I can't reproduce the issue then I will ask someone else here at Autodesk who can dive deeper into it than I can to take a look.

Also, have you tried reinstalling? That may clear things up if it is some sort of setup\setting.

Also, do you have access to 2016 or 2017 to try and see if it all works well on those versions?

Regards,

Pat Murnen

[Anonymous]

I've emailed the project.

I’ve opened this up in ACADE 2014 without any problems.  Actually this is not the only project that I have problems with in ACADE 2015.  ALL projects that I’ve opened in ACADE 2015 since June 2016 have been having the issues I outlined in the forum.  I’ve switched back to 2014 (we have 2 versions installed on our machines) and haven’t touched ACADE 2015 until now.  So the issue is my ACADE 2015 and not the project.

[PatMurnen_Adsk]

You should hear from Robin from the AutoCAD Electrical team. Since I wasn't able to find the cause I passed all the information to him so he can take a look. 

Regards,

Pat