Problems with Access mdb files.

[Bratz2]

So we're using an Access file (.mdb) to keep our DWH NW TOB, BOT, etc. located so that is a change is made we can simply access the mdb file make that changes and be done with it. The issue we're now having is, it seems to S L O W down the drawing file that's accessing the mdb file. It takes well over a minute.

Now, if we delete all the linked text, it takes about 5 seconds for the file to open. Is it normal for a mdb file to make a DWG file that S L O W? We have about 30 ponds, so 30 ponds Xs 4 is about 120 pieces of information. I've checked the file size in Access, and it was 1MB, I went in and cleaned it up, and it got down to about 256kb, but it was stil S L O W.

Does anyone here have any suggestions on a better way of handling this type of data through fields? We really don't want to add them to the sheet set manager, that's an extremely S L O W process to set up.

[rl_jackson]

I guess a better understanding of what your using the mdb file for would be helpful here. What is the data in the mdb? What is the data doing for you in the 30 ponds? 

[Bratz2]

We Store DHW (Design High Water, NW Normal Water, TOB  Top of Bank, etc. basically it’s elevations 

[Pointdump]

Will,
Do any of those elevations ever change? Who needs to see them if they do? Have you considered Shapefile Polygons? The DBF file is easily updated.
Dave

[Bratz2]

We're basically using mdb to hold simple information and then creating a field in field in Autocad to read that data. So, when engineers go into the mbd file and change the

Seasonal High Water from 28.5 to 28.9 for pond A, the field we've created is updated automatically. That's it, it's that simple.

I just need to either find out why a simple mdb file WITH SIMPLE TEXT is causing a file to take 2 minutes to load.

There's nothing special about it. It's a field linked to an mdb. I can't have a file in this office take 2 minutes to load simply because it's accessing an mbd file to pull a simple piece of text from it.

They are in our base file drawings and follow throughout the length of the project. then need to be on the plans.

I'm not sure what shapefile polygons would do in a situation where I'm just trying to extract simple date into a field.

[rl_jackson]

I'm thinking you might be better served using Excel and a datalink table which could have a label as a piece of reference text. Also you might be able to accomplish all of this with UDP's right in the drawing. 

Guess some examples of how it looks would spark some ideas. 

[Pointdump]

Will,
"...find out why a simple mdb file WITH SIMPLE TEXT is causing a file to take 2 minutes to load."
Can't help you with that. Might be a network thing, or might just be the nature of the beast. You could try logging in with another Windows User Name. Or check to see if it's a Support File Search Path Problem.
"I'm not sure what shapefile polygons would do in a situation where I'm just trying to extract simple data into a field."
Probably won't suit your needs, but you can add and edit fields in Polygon Shapefiles easily.

Dave

[ChicagoLooper]

If it’s as simple as you make it sound, pulling data from an external file and linking it to geometry within a dwg, then I’d go a different route, such as a JOIN. 

A JOIN is a common way to ‘link’ an external file,  such as an mdb or xlsx, with polygonal geometry representing your ponds. Programs like Map3D, Civil3D, ArcMap, Global Mapper and more, are all capable of creating and handling JOINs. 

Your ponds can easily be exported from AutoCad entities to shapefile. Since shapefiles already have dbf’s, or database files, and your external file can be easily edited by others, all you’d need to do is manage the JOIN, where your role is to oversee that the external data is joined, or combined, with the existing dbf, and once joined, you can label, highlight, hatch, theme, query or generate reports. 

When you use a join you’re not reinventing the proverbial wheel, you’re using a tried and true method. If AutoCad has the capability to perform JOINS it means you ought count this as an opportunity that shouldn’t be ignored. 

[lynn_zhang]

Hello @Bratz2 ,

Just checking to see if your problem has been solved. Have you tried the suggestions from our experts above and did they work for you? Let us know if you still need help.