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Before you can access external databases from AutoCAD®, you must configure them using the Microsoft® external ODBC and OLE DB programs.
Once you have configured your databases, you can access their data from AutoCAD, even if you don't have the database system that created the data installed on your system. AutoCAD can access data from the following applications:
- Microsoft Access
- dBase
- Microsoft Excel
- Oracle
- Paradox
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro®
- SQL Server
Once you have successfully configured a database to use with AutoCAD, a configuration file with the extension UDL is created. This configuration file contains the information AutoCAD needs to access the configured database. By default, UDL files are stored in the Data Links folder of AutoCAD. You can specify a different location for UDL files from the Options dialog box.
The following topics demonstrate how to set up a data source using ODBC, and how to configure data sources so that you can use them with AutoCAD. For detailed information about ODBC and OLE DB, refer to the following online Microsoft resources:
- OLE DB Help
- ODBC Help
- ODBC Microsoft Desktop Database Drivers
Bypass ODBC Using an OLE DB Direct Driver
Several database management systems supported by AutoCAD have direct drivers available for OLE DB. If you use these direct drivers, you don't need to set up configuration files from within both ODBC and OLE DB; you only need a single OLE DB configuration file.
Direct database drivers are available for the following database systems:
- Microsoft Access
- Oracle
- Microsoft SQL Server
Use ODBC to Create a Configuration File
ODBC is an intermediary program that makes data from one application available to other applications.
Configure a Data Source with OLE DB
You can use OLE DB to establish a UDL configuration file that points to an external database table.
Substituting SQL Server for OLE DB
If you are using the 64-bit release of AutoCAD and DbConnect with a connection that accesses a Microsoft Access database or a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet using one of the two following methods, you need to change your connections to use Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft does not supporting a 64-bit version of these technologies.
- Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider (for MDB connectivity)
- Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers (for XLS connectivity)
Microsoft SQL Server comes in three different editions. If you are accessing data from an MDB or XLS file today, you might find that using Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition is adequate for your needs. Microsoft also offers Standard and Enterprise editions of SQL Server. For additional information about SQL Server, visit Microsoft’s website at http://www.microsoft.com/sql.