Issue:
You want to switch your AutoCAD Electrical Installation from Access Databases to SQL Databases, but the instructions from the Autodesk Help system do not provide all the necessary information.
Causes:
The instructions from Autodesk, available via the following link, assume that you already know certain information about the overall process, such as how to set up a new SQL instance, so the instructions leave out some of the specifics that would be helpful to most users in transitioning their environment to use SQL databases.
Solution:
Before beginning, be aware that this article assumes that you have either completed the steps laid out in the previous article or that you have an existing SQL instance pre-configured for use with AutoCAD Electrical. If you do not have an existing SQL instance, please stop here, and see the link below for access to the previous article before proceeding with this document.
Note: For steps required to create a SQL instance for use by AutoCAD Electrical, please see part one of this KB article series using the following link: https://blogs.rand.com/support/2019/12/autodesk-autocad-electrical-sql-migration-part-1-of-2.html
Note: Currently (as of the publishing of this article) AutoCAD Electrical only supports migration of the “default_cat.mdb” and the “footprint_lookup.mdb” databases to SQL. All other databases (PLC, Electrical Standards, etc.) are not supported for migration to SQL. This means that Microsoft Access is still required in order to utilize AutoCAD Electrical, regardless of your choice to use Microsoft SQL.
Note: If you use Secondary databases as part of your current configuration, keep in mind that option is not available when utilizing SQL databases with AutoCAD Electrical.
Now that you have an existing SQL instance for use with AutoCAD Electrical, proceed to the following steps.
In the Autodesk instructions you are told to start the Autodesk Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical:
This utility is not installed by default. In order to have this utility you will need to install it from your AutoCAD Electrical installation media. If you have downloaded the software via the Autodesk Download Manager or Browser Download methods the default location will be:
C:\Autodesk\AutoCAD_Electrical_2020_English_Win_64bit_dlm
Once you have started the installer you will see the following page:
Choose the option shown in “Step 1” in the image above.
Select the Check Box beside the “Autodesk Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical” as shown in “Steps 2 & 3” in the image below:
Once the Autodesk Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical is installed, double click the following icon to get started.
After activating the Autodesk Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical the following dialog will come up for you. Before proceeding, ensure that the system you are using can communicate with the SQL instance that was created previously. You will also need credentials to access the SQL instance.
If you have not already created a SQL Catalog database, you will choose “Step 4” as shown above, then proceed to “Steps 6 - 10”.
If you have an existing Catalog database on your SQL instance, you can choose “Step 5” and proceed to “Steps 6 - 7” then skip to “Steps 11 - 13”.
As mentioned earlier, you will need to have the administrative credentials for your SQL instance. If the account you are signed into the system with was added to the administrative list for the SQL instance during its creation you may choose “Windows Authentication”. Otherwise, choose “SQL Server Authentication” and supply the Administrative credentials used when creating the SQL instance. Proceed to “Step 7”.
The next step will depend on whether you chose “Step 4” or “Step 5” on the first screen of the Autodesk Content Migration Utility.
If you chose “Step 4” proceed to “Step 8”.
If you chose “Step 5” proceed to “Step 11”.
In “Step 8” you can choose to create one or both databases in your SQL instance. You can choose the name of your databases, but for simplicity sake it is recommended that you keep the default names. In “Step 9” you choose to migrate a catalog database and/or footprint lookup database.
Note: The Content Migration Utility only supports catalog database formats from AutoCAD Electrical 2015 and later. It is also important to note that if the database has manually been modified outside of AutoCAD Electrical the database may not migrate. If this is the case a manual repair of the databases would be required in order to perform a successful migration.
“Step 10” both creates the SQL databases and migrates the existing Access databases.
“Steps 11-13” assume that you already have a SQL database set up which you can migrate your Access databases into. If you do not, please use the back button to return to “Step 4”, then “Steps 6 – 10”.
In “Step 11 & 12” choose the Access databases you wish to migrate into your SQL databases.
Note: The Content Migration Utility only supports catalog database formats from AutoCAD Electrical 2015 and later. It is also important to note that if the database has manually been modified outside of AutoCAD Electrical the database may not migrate. If this is the case a manual repair of the databases would be required in order to perform a successful migration.
Note: As shown above, the “Destination Catalog Database Name” drop down will only show the available database names and does not give you the option to input an alternative name in this location.
Once the database Creation/Migration is complete you will need to set your AutoCAD Electrical to look at the new databases in order to make use of them. See “Step 14” in the images below for two methods to access configuration settings for your AutoCAD Electrical databases.
Access through the Catalog Browser:
Access through the Project Panel on the Ribbon:
As show in the image above, you may also access the tool via the command line entry: “AECATALOGCONFIG” if you prefer.
In “Step 15” you will choose Microsoft SQL Server as your Data Source. The remaining settings should match the information utilized during the Creation/Migration of your databases in “Steps 4 – 13”.
Note: Before proceeding to the final step, verify the connection status of the database as shown above.
“Step 16” finalizes the switch to SQL Databases.
If you should wish to switch back to the original Access databases, go back to “Step 14” to bring up the Configure Database tool once more. Choose the Microsoft Access option as shown below. The path specified in the active Environment File/Application Options will be used as shown below.
Note: As a reminder, currently the only databases that can be migrated to a SQL data base are the “default_cat.mdb” and the “footprint_lookup.mdb”. All other Microsoft Access databases such as the PLC and Electrical Standards databases are not supported for migration to Microsoft SQL.
Note: If you use Secondary databases as part of your current configuration, keep in mind that option is not available when utilizing SQL databases with AutoCAD Electrical.
I hope this Knowledgebase series has been useful and informative to you. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
