JTB ACAD_db

Getting Started

ACAD_db makes it possible to synchronize block attribute data between AutoCAD and a Database.

• Everytime your drawing open, if it is registered, all associated attribute data from Database will be populate to your drawing's blocks. This is AcDbIn process.
• Everytime your drawing close, all edited attribute data will be save or update to Database. This is AcDbOut process.
• While running AutoCAD, you can run AcDbIn or AcDbOut command to sync attribute data from Database or to Database.
• Now, by connecting other tables to ACAD_db Database tables, you can build better BIM Database for your company.

Commands

Ribbon/Toolbar Icon	Command	Command Description
	AcDbSettings	Choose an ACAD_Db master database and set up other sync options. This needs to be done once per drawing. Your drawing should be saved after setting.
	AcDbMake	Register current drawing to Database to enable sync attributes data. This needs only to be done once per drawing.
	AcDbIn	Use this command to force attribute values to get updated from database based on sync dir.
	AcDbOut	Use this command to force a sync of all existing block attributes to database. Automatically creates new record in the database for newly inserted blocks and create links between block and database record.
	AcDbInsert	Use this command to insert blocks based on database information.
	AcDbInsertBySort	Same as AcDbInsert but with sorting of the inserted blocks.
	AcDbStatus	Use this command to know the number of block with attributes edited in the current session.
	JTBW_ACTIVATE_APPS	Open Activation Form to activate the app. This command is available in command line only.

Usage

1. ACAD_db Sync Utility.
2. ACAD_db Insert Block Utility.

• You will find sample Access database and sample drawing file in C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTB ACAD_db.bundle\Contents\.
• Optional: In AutoCAD, run dbConnect command to open Database Connect Manager palette. This is native AutoCAD feature, help you browsing your Data Sources
• Create a main database and its Data Link (UDL file) in your Data Sources Location folder. A sample DataLink file named ACAD_db_samples - Access.UDL will be found in this folder after ACAD_db installation.
• Open your Database and create 3 setting tables JTBW_Files, JTBW_SyncDir and JTBW_AttSync. Please see these table's configuration in sample database.
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• In your database, create a table you wish to store attribute data. Insert field column for each attribute.
• You can have many databases, as well as many tables to store attribute data. But all the sync configuration are defined in 1 place - The JTBW_AttSync table, in the main database.
• Run AcDbSettings command to choose that main Database's Data Link. Sample database is ACAD_db_Samples.mdb which will found in C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTB ACAD_db.bundle\Contents\ folder after ACAD_db installation.
• Click Validate to apply Data Link.
• Click "OK and Edit JTBW_AttSync". The "JTBW Acad Db AttSync Setup" window will bring up for you to edit the JTBW_AttSync table. You can define which attribute in which block is going to be synchronized. You also have to define which database, which table and which column to store data. Also, you can define how the sync. process works. Sync can run in TwoWay, one way from Drawing to Database, or one way from Database to Drawing.
• If ACAD_db runs the first time on your drawing, run AcDbMake to register your current drawing to Database.

Once settings are done, all change in attribute data in your Database and your drawings will be synchronized. Sync will automatically run at drawing open and save event. For manually running, using AcDbIn, AcDbOut commands.

Another feature of ACAD_db is Insert Block Utility. Use AcDbInsert command to insert all block records in the database into the current drawing.

While ACAD_db is working, the command line will show details of any problems and what data has been synchronized. Here is how tasks and/or errors are reported.

Screenshots

Installation and Uninstallation

Known Issues

JTB ACAD_db supports any database like Access (MDB) or SQL Server that can be connected with dbConnect within AutoCAD

Other examples are SQL Server Express, Oracle, ODBC, etc. AutoCAD 64-bit does not support 32-bit Access databases.

Contact and Support

Version History