How To Attach A Database To A MicroStation Drawing...

  1. A database must first be modified to meet MicroStation's requirement for attachment. It must contain a column named MSLINK of unique, sequential numbers such as 1,2,3, etc. If you have MicroSoft's Access on your computer, open the sample database you downloaded and notice the MSLINK column has already been inserted.

  2. In addition to adding an MSLINK field to your database, it must also be set up properly. This sample database is set up properly, but if you want to see the setup, double-click on the 'bic' table to see the records to be attached to elements in the drawing. Select 'Design View' to see how the table headings are formatted. Click on the 'mslink' field and you will see the following setup parameters for 'Field Size', 'Decimal Places', 'Required', 'Indexed', and 'Text Align' - as shown below. Close the database when finished.

  3. In this example we will be using ODBC. Create a System DSN instance by selecting [Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Data Sources (ODBC)] and select the 'System DSN' tab. Click the 'Add' button as shown below.

  4. Select Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) as shown below and click 'Finish'

  5. In the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box, enter the Data Source Name (DSN) of your choice [use TCGdata for this example]. Enter a description. Click the 'Select' button and browse to where you have copied the TCGdatabase.mdb file. When complete, select 'OK'.

  6. When returning to the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box, confirm that the TCGdata DSN has been created. Select 'OK' to finish.

  7. Now that the database is prepared and the ODBC DSN has been created, it is time to connect the database to your MicroStaton drawing. In MicroStation, select [Settings/Database/Connect] to open the 'Connect to Database' settings box. the Database Server should be set to ODBC. Enter 'TCGdata' for the Connect String. and click 'OK'. The database is now connected to MicroStation. Records from the database can be linked to any element within the drawing.

  8. To use the Sample Web Menu to connect records from the database to elements in the drawing, select [Utilities/Connect Web Browser] to open your default Internet Browser.

  9. Enter the URL - www.gotomymenu.com to open the AccuPilot Home Page. Select 'Test Drive' from the menu bar at the top of the page to go to the sample web menu.

  10. Select MicroStaton Classic from the front page of the sample web page.

  11. Select 'Link Drainage' from the 'Choose Symbols' drop-down menu.

  12. Zoom into your drawing to see the 24" RCP Storm Sewer Piping.

  13. Scroll down the Bid Item Codes shown in the Web Menu until you locate 'Reinforced Concrete Pipe-C76-Class III-Rubber Gasket (24")'. Click on this description and click on the green line in the drawing. Congratulations! You have made your first link. One more exercise and we are finished.

  14. We will now measure the length of pipe and enter it in the database by editing the record within MicroStation. Select the 'Measure Length' command and click on the 24" pipe. The length can be found on the Tools Setting Box.

  15. Highlight and copy the length of pipe to the clipboard by using 'CTRL-C' or the [EDIT / COPY] command.

  16. Select the 'EDIT' record command from the Web Menu and select the pipe line you just linked to the database. The Edit Page will appear.

  17. Locate and click in the 'Length' field to make it active. Paste the length of pipe by using the [SHIFT / INSERT] keys on your keyboard. Notice - CTRL-V will not work in MicroStation. With the value of the length of pipe in the 'length' field, select the 'Update' button to write the changes to the database. It is that simple!

  18. Click on the various Hilite colors on the Web Menu to see the elements in your drawing which have linkage to the database. If you need additional assistance, or have any questions or comments, please contact us.