Export to Excel or Access Database Does Not Work

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to export a Revit model to an Excel or Access file as database. I use File-Export-ODBC path. The program gives errors or crashes. I have posted similar questions earlier, but no response; maybe the question was not clear.

My Revit is version 2019 with the latest updates installed. Windows 10 1809 October Update installed. Both are 64 bit.

My question is:

1. Does  export to Excel or Access database work in Revit 2019, or does it have a bug?

2. What other ways -that for sure works- can I use to export to a database, preferably as an Excel or Access file?

[cbcarch]

Check here first:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...

Then, if you are still having problems:

-How large is the revit file? Could be lack of RAM if very large dataset?

-How much RAM is indtalled on the PC?

-Any issues/conflicts with MS Access 64 bit/ Windows 10 64 bit OS?

-Have you tried to export via ODBC on a small/new test project?

[Anonymous]

You have to have the Database created before linking Revit to the database....it isn't created from Revit.

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-2C36281A-43F2-41FE-8F2B-1DCA72824A6B#GUID-2C36...

[Anonymous]

1. I have read the KB you mentioned. Not much useful info there.

2. I have tried both (a) sample Revit Structural and Architectural models provided by Autodesk --these are relatively small files (b) very small model such as one column, one beam, one piece of slab. The error is always same.

3. I have tried the export process on a 8GB RAM laptop and 32GB RAM desktop. The errors are same on both machines.

4a. I can use Access and Excel perfectly on my PC.

4b. I should mention that I have MS Office 2016. The AutoDesk help requires to use Access 2010 Database driver, which I installed already please see link below:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-13119B8A-2BEA-436E-BF63-37D9BEB87247

Please note that the same problem occurs for Excel. Please also note that The process requires to save an empty Excel file, which I save as Excel 5.0/95 version or any other version available on the Revit Export options. The error stays same. I have also tried to give full access to "everyone" to Access and Excel files. The errors occurs.

5. I have not tried to export ODBC yet. There is not enough help on how to setup and ODBC database and export to it on Revit help files. I have searched Youtube about it, yet I want to stay with Excel/Access for now. I will look into ODBC later.

[Anonymous]

1. For Access: I have created the Access file and save it to hard drive. I have saved Access file as older versions of Access

(e.g. Access 2007). Then, I have started the Export process and select the existing Access file.

2. For Excel: I have created Excel file and save it to hard drive. I have saved Excel files as older versions of Excel (e.g. Excel 5.0/95). Then I have started the Export process and select the existing Excel file.

[cbcarch]

Is your database file on your local PC, or on a local network/server, or in the Cloud/WAN?

[Anonymous]

@cbcarch On my local PC.

I think the problem is about the versions. To export Access (probably Excel too) I have to have MS Office and Access driver versions as explained below image. This means, If I have 64 bit Revit, I have to have 64 Bit MS Office version 2010, and 64 bit Access Driver version 2007. 

However, the note says that for 64-bit operating systems, "alternatively we can download the access driver", which is the path I have taken.

@cbcarch So, the question is: If I have Revit 2019 64Bit, MS Office 2016 64 Bit, Access Driver 2010 64 bit, can I export to Access or Excel?

http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-13119B8A-2BEA-436E-BF63-37D9BEB87247

[Anonymous]

I just created an Access mdb file (2000) from my Access 2016...created a ODBC 32bit connection from the control panel to access said mdb file...then in Revit I connected to said mdb file and all works.

Play around with the 32 bit connector vs the 64bit one...might figure it out.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous You have said that

"created a ODBC 32bit connection from the control panel to access said mdb file.."

Could you please explain how you do this? Is "Control Panel" Windows control panel?

In Revit, are you exporting to ODBC connection or Access file? These two different things. Did you try to export Access or Excel file directly?

It is at least good to know it work.

[Anonymous]

Did  you bother to look at that link I posted above?  It says to go to Control Panel-->Administrative Tools-->ODBC Data Sources.  

You have to create an ODBC connection in Windows before Revit can see it.  Then you create a new connection to where you set it up in the ODBC Sources.

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous "Did  you bother to look at that link I posted above?"  The format of this forum is a bit awkward; I simply missed you earlier message.

The link you have provided is about exporting to ODBC database.

In you second post, you create a connection to Access file and ask Revit to use that connection.

The steps explained in the link and the steps you took are different, am I right? I will use the procedure you explained, and let you know.

Many Thanks

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous 

Ok. I have looked into what you have suggested. The process you have suggested is already being done from within Revit, which I have been doing already. This is not the missing piece.

The problem is about the versions. 

I have tried to export an 32 Bit Excel file with driver version 10 and my Revit is 64 bit. Revit gives the error that the there is architecture mismatch. This is probably due to my Revit being 64 bit and the ODBC connection is 32 bit. It does not crash, which is good news. See the image below:

For 64 bir Excel or Access files, there is no driver version 10, they are all version 16. I have installed Access drivers version 10, 64 bit, but it does not appear in the list for 64bit items. Please see the image below (these drivers are same when accessed from Windows 10 Admin tools and Revit Export option.):

When I try version 16 drivers(Both access and Excel), Revit crashes. 

So, I guess, I have to find a way to get Access Drivers version 10 (64 bit), or I have to install 32 bit Revit.

Obviously there is bug in Revit, where they should have done a "try...catch" to check these versions, and it should give a warning for incorrect Access driver rather than crash.

I will post here the results, if I can make it work.

Thanks for you help.

[ToanDN]

Why don't you do yourself a favor and just install Access 2010 64-bit or newer?

[Anonymous]

This probably all comes back to having to download and install DB Link v1 for Revit 2019 from manage.autodesk.com, which I installed today. 

 https://up.autodesk.com/2019/RVT/Revit_2019_DB_Link_v1_Readme_ENU.htmlhttps://up.autodesk.com/2019/R...

[Anonymous]

@ToanDN 

"Why don't you do yourself a favor and just install Access 2010 64-bit or newer?"

I have MS Office 2016 64 bit. Seems like the driver so-called "Access Driver" matters, not the Access version. My understanding Access Driver has to version 10 and has to be 64 bit. I cannot see the Access Driver version 10 on my list of ODBC links. I can see version 16 of Access Drivers tough.

[ToanDN]

Can you DB Link directly to an Access connection, instead of ODBC? 

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous So, your Revit is 64 bit and 32 bit Access Connection worked? Hımmmm. In my case, it gives the architecture mismatch error if I follow File-Export path. If I use the DB link it does not give any error but it does not produce anything in the Excel or Access file.

When I try to use 64 bit Access connection (version 16) from File-Export menu, it crashes. If I use DB Link, it gives the memory error...

Maybe these are all about me being using student version.... I should ask a friend, who has a commercial license, to try these...

BTW, I still cannot see the DB link from the manage.autodesk web page or Autodesk Desktop App. The link you provided is corrupted. May be you can send a corrected link.

Many thanks again.

[Anonymous]

@ToanDN

This is the error I get for:

• Access file saved as version 2000
• Access file saved as version 2002-2003
• Tell Revit to save a new Access file by giving a name....

  

Access 2016 Save As menu:

[ToanDN]

I don't get your workflow.  Why do you need to Save As?  There is no need to Save As when you working with a database.  After edit it in Access 2016, simply choose Close Database.  Below is my workflow with Revit 2019 and Access 2010 x64 (2016 x64 works too I have tried it at home).

- DB Link to MS Access 2007, New Connection and save to a .mdb file

- open the .mdb file in Access 2016, edit the content however you want, granted you know whats and hows

- close Database, do not Save As

- DB Link in Revit and choose Edit and Import to update the changes back in Revit.

Here is an example I edit the Grid Name and let it update back in Revit.

[Anonymous]

@ToanDN

I followed several procedures and the one you suggested is one of them. When I follow your procedures, it does not crash, but gives an error as I explained in my previous posts.

In the mean time, I installed Revit 2016 and DB link from the app store, and it seems like it works. I guess I even do not need DB link, as the File-Export-ODBC seems to do the same job.

So, Under Revit 2016 both 

• File->Export->ODBC->Access Database
• DB Link Access 2007 Database 

methods work

So the problem seems to be Revit 2019.  I am not sure if it is stmg to do with DB link, since File-Export-ODBC option seems to do the same job og DB Link...

I think there is a bug here for sure...