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ACA_db

About

Make use of AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD MEP more fully in your BIM process. Property Set values can automatically be updated back and forth to one or many external databases. If you make changes to the Extended Data values within a Property Set they can be synchronized back to the external database. Any Property in a Property Set Definition can be exported and all editable Properties can be imported.

Synchronization between database and CAD

ACA_db will improve the BIM process and experience and will improve quality of your data and remove redundancy and conflicts of data.

Download

ACA_db_2010.zip (236KB) only for 2010-versions. Version 3.0

ACA_db_2009.zip (236KB) only for 2009-versions. Version 3.0

ACA_db_2008.zip (236KB) only for 2008-versions. Version 3.0

Older versions on request.

System requirements

AutoCAD Architecture 2010 (ACA 2010) or AutoCAD MEP 2010 (AMEP 2010).
AutoCAD Architecture 2009 (ACA 2009) or AutoCAD MEP 2009 (AMEP 2009).
AutoCAD Architecture 2008 (ACA 2008) or AutoCAD MEP 2008 (AMEP 2008).
Older version support like ADT 2007 might be possible upon request.

Any database like Access (MDB) or SQL Server that can be connected using dbConnect is supported. Other examples are Oracle, ODBC, etc.

Purchase

50 EUR for one license or less depending on the amount of licenses.
2 licenses 44 EUR each
3-5 licenses 40 EUR each
6- 9 licenses 36 EUR each
10-15 licenses 34 EUR each

(Version 2.1 is available for half the price)

Contact us for a quote and include how many licenses you want to purchase and your preferred payment method. If you have a really many users that you want to give access to this software we can discuss a discounted price based on your particular situation. Educational discounts available.

The license is perpetual and support is included.

PayPal, share-it, Mastercard/Eurocard, Visa, American Express, and Diner's Club online are accepted. Alternatively, there is support for bank transfer/wire transfer, or Checks and Money Orders through postal mail. Online transfers via giropay and Nordea Solo are also supported.

To pay by PayPal you can also send payment to the account of info@jtbworld.com at www.paypal.com.

Documentation

Full documentation: ACA_DB-UserManual.pdf (466KB)

Setup files

JTB.AcaDbXMgd_17.dll or JTB.AcaDbXMgd_18.dll
ACA_db_samples.mdb
ACA_db_samples_2007.dwg or ACA_db_samples_2010.dwg
ACA_db_samples.UDL
ACA_db_license.txt (sent by email from JTB World upon request)

Setup procedure

Place the DLL file in a single local folder.
For example C:\Program Files\JTB World\ACA_db .
Place also the license file ACA_db_license.txt in the same folder.
ACA_db_samples.UDL should be placed in the Data Links folder. The location is found easiest by using the command OPTIONS and Files>Data Sources Location within AutoCAD.

The DLL needs to be loaded by your AutoCAD application and that can be done in different ways. Use one of the following options.

Use the command NETLOAD and select the DLL. This loads the command in the current session only.
Create a menu command, toolbar button, ribbon button or palette tool using CUI and force load it before running the command.
Macro or Command string:
^c^c(command "netload" "C:/Program Files/JTB World/ACA_db/JTB.AcaDbXMgd_18.dll") ACADBOUT;
Use one of the AutoLoad...reg files that can be provided. Double click on the file and accept to merge to the registry. This will make sure that the commands are available whenever you run AutoCAD.
Add the row below to your acad.lsp file so it loads automatically when AutoCAD starts.
(command "netload" "C:/Program Files/JTB World/ACA_db/JTB.AcaDbXMgd_18.dll")

Usage

Prepare the database that holds information on what properties to synchronize and where. See ACA_DB-UserManual.pdf on how this is achieved.

Make sure there is an UDL file (data source) that points out the location of the main database.

In the CAD program use ACADBSETTINGS command to specify what data source to use as the main database.

Run the ACADBMAKE command to make new/existing drawing possible to sync.

Now use either of the commands ACADBOUT or ACADBIN to sync information into CAD or out from CAD.

The command line will show full details on if there are any problems and what data has been synchronized.

Some further details.

Property set data type and database data type must be compatible.
A PSD must be linked to a single table.
An object must not have 2 or more records linked from same db link.
An object must not have 2 or more records linked from different db links referencing same table.
All automatic properties are considered as read-only. Such properties can sync to database but cannot sync from database.
All automatic properties are considered as read-only. Such properties can sync to database but cannot sync from database.

Revision History

2009-10-15 - version 3.0
- Now with support for full 2-way synchronization of data both from and to ACA respectively database.
- No need to use dbConnect to link object by object.
- More features suppored for ACA 2010 like manual property set variants (Integer, List, Real, Text and True/False) and list data types.
2009-03-23 - version 2.1
- Full support for AutoCAD Architecture 2010
- Support for table names with spaces or other non standard characters
2008-05-05 - version 2
- Several improvements under the hood
- Support for multiple database sources
- UI improvements
- Licensing
- Full support for AutoCAD Architecture 2009
2008-02-22 - version 1.1
- Support for AutoCAD Architecture 2009 beta
- The bug in ACA 2008 is fixed in ACA 2009 that cause the following "harmless" crash message when closing AutoCAD. "AutoCAD Error Aborting - INTERNAL ERROR: Attempt to access AecScheduleDataServices after shutdown!"
2007-12-28 - version 1
- First release for AutoCAD Architecture 2008

Screenshot from version 2.1

Some ACA_db reference customers

More customers are found here.

Connect database information to your BIM model

ACA_db will help you expand and improve your BIM process.

If you want other features added feel free to contact us with your wishes.