Catalog Lookup table accessed by two versions of AUTOCAD Electrical

[cubeautomation]

We have two versions of Autocad Electrical.  A 2012 version which is a perpetual Licence, which we do not want to loose and a new 2020 version.  Problem is, since 2014-2015, changes were made to the Parts Catalog and we have added a lot of components over the years and do not want to loose these components.  We have placed these tables on our network so that it can be accessed from more than one computer.  We want to use the 2012 and 2019 at the same time but do not want to use the migration to have access to the catalog with Autocad Electrical 2019  and loose it with the 2012 version.  What can we do to be able to use one version without compromising the other one.

[jseefdrumr]

If what you're trying to do is have both versions of the software access one version of the catalog, I don't think this is possible. ACADE 2020 won't be able to use the 2012 version of the catalog due to it missing tables that it expects to find. Conversely, ACADE 2012 won't be able to use the 2020 version of the catalog because it will have more fields than expected.

If that's your case, then I think your only choice is maintaining two catalogs side-by-side.

If, however, you're just worried about losing the original catalog data because of the migration, you can save a backup of the catalog to some other location, do the migration for the 2020 version, and afterwards return the backup of your catalog to its original location for the 2012 version.

[cubeautomation]

Ok, so we can make a copy of the catalog, migrate it to 2019 and then use that one with 2019 and still use the old one with 2012.  What have done in the past with Autocad Electrical 2012 ( first purchased in 2009 then upgraded to 2012)   was to add a  link to our network location for the (AEDATA) and the (Autodesk) folders in the options and put these first on top, then rename the Acade 2012 folder to Acade 2012_local so that Autocad uses our network locations first (see attached screen shots).  We keep these files on our network which is backed up everyday so we do not loose them.  We never store anything on our local drives in case of computer crashes.  If I Migrate these folders, which are on our network to 2019 and do the same thing, I assume this method will work with the new migrated catalog?  

[testsubject]

That should work just fine.

What happened was 2 more columns were added to the database (I think it was in 2015) which changed the database format.

As always, make backups of everything before you begin.

Keep in mind that if you want to open the drawings in ACE2012 they will have to  be saved as 2010 or older. I just recently discovered that tables were not available pre-2005.

There might be problems opening the projects in 2012 as well; I am unsure of what might be different. I don't remember when sub-folders became available, to name one item.

[Anonymous]

Cannot get the Migration Utility work.  I am trying to migrate Autocad Electrical 2012 Catalog Database to be able to use with New Autocad Electrical 2020 installation.  I have made a backup of the 2012 database and started the utility (which is in Autocad 2020 and not Autocad Electrical 2020)  but I get an error.  I have made searches but cannot find how to get this to work.

[pmccutcheon]

As an aside ... does Autodesk document the database format for various versions anywhere?

[Anonymous]

I dont know.  All I know is that 2012 Verison is in Microsoft Access.  We installed a second seat but it is 2020 version and now we cannot access our old catalog which we have built up over the years.  I was told that, as a minimum, I may at least make a copy of the old catalog, convert it to be able to use it with my 2020 version of Autocad Electrical but when I use the migration utility, I get an error saying that I need a previous version installed on my computer.  I have fully functional ACADE 2012 installed but still get this error.  We would like to start working with our new version but cannot proceed before we get this settled.

Thanks

[Icemanau]

I have found in the past that it won't work over a network.

The solution is to have copies of both the 2012 and 2020 catalogs on the same machine.

This should then allow the migration utility to work.

Regards Brad

[Anonymous]

I remember I had same issue with the database in ACADE 2018  I think. I didn't use the Migration utility tool at that time, not sure why. What I did was I opened new version of the database in the Microsoft Access and copied manually all the data from old database file to new database. At least I knew what I was transferring from old to the new database. I didnt lose any data and worked well in ACADE 2018. I skipped ACADE 2019. I am using same database for ACADE 2020 from last year, no problem so far. 

I hope this helps.