You can convert ASE
links in drawings from Releases 12, 13, and 14 to AutoCAD 2000 or
later format. You can save AutoCAD 2000 links in Release 13 and
Release 14 format.
Because AutoCAD 2000 and later releases
store links in a different format than previous releases, you need
to convert your links if you plan on using them with AutoCAD 2000
and later. Note the changes in terminology: key value replaces key
column in Release 14; link template replaces link
path name; and label replaces displayable
attribute. You also need to create a configuration file
that points to the data source referenced by the legacy links.
When you open a drawing that contains legacy
links, the program attempts to perform an automatic conversion of
the legacy information. If, for example, you open a Release 14 drawing
that contains links that point to a data source with the structure db3.ase.db3sample.computer(com),
the program attempts to establish an exact, one-to-one mapping of
the data source components.
In
some cases, the legacy data source might not match exactly how the
data source is configured. For example, the legacy data source might
specify a catalog that isn't specified in the data source. If the
automatic link conversion is unsuccessful, you can use the Link
Conversion dialog box to establish a mapping between the legacy
and new data sources. You can also use the Link Template Properties
dialog box to specify new data source parameters for a selected
link template.
During the conversion process, the data source
mapping information is written to a file called asi.ini. You
can manually edit the conversion mapping information specified in
this file, if necessary.
NoteThe program attempts
to automatically convert legacy links only for data sources that
don't have mapping values specified in the asi.ini file.
Once you have specified conversion mappings for a particular data
source, the program uses the settings specified in the asi.ini file
for any additional legacy drawings you open that contain links that
reference this data source.
Save Links to Earlier Formats
Links
that you have created in AutoCAD 2000 and later can be converted
to Release 13 or Release 14 links. AutoCAD 2000 and later links
cannot be converted to Release 12 format. When you use SAVEAS to save a drawing
in the current format that contains links to Release 13 or Release
14 format, the links are automatically converted to the appropriate
drawing format. You must specify a conversion mapping as described
above.
To convert Release 13
and Release 14 links
- Click DbConnect menu
Link
Conversion.
- In Old Link Format, do all of
the following:
- Select R13/R14 Link Format.
- In Environment, enter the name of the
Release 13 or Release 14 environment for the link that you want
to convert.
- In Catalog, enter the name of the Release
13 or Release 14 catalog for the link that you want to convert.
- In Schema, enter the name of the Release
13 or Release 14 schema for the link that you want to convert.
- In Table, enter the name of the Release
13 or Release 14 database table for the link that you want to convert
.
- In Link Path Name, enter the link path
name for the link that you want to convert.
- In New Link Format, do all of
the following:
- Select the appropriate data source from
the Data Source list.
- Select the appropriate catalog from the
Catalog list.
- Select the appropriate schema from the
Schema list.
- Select the appropriate table from the
Table list.
- Select the appropriate link template
from the Link Template list.
- Click OK.
- Open the drawing whose links you want
to convert, and save it.
NoteYou must specify
an environment, database table, and link path name for all links
that you convert. Catalog and schema are optional parameters that
are not required by all database management systems.
To convert Release 12 links
- Click DbConnect menu Link
Conversion.
- In Old Link Format, do all of
the following:
- Select R12 Link Format.
- In DBMS, enter the name of the Release
12 database management system for the link that you want to convert.
- In Database, enter the name of the Release
12 database for the link that you want to convert.
- In Table, enter the name of the Release
12 database table for the link that you want to convert.
- In New Link Format, do all of
the following:
- Select the appropriate data source name
from the Data Source list.
- Select the appropriate catalog from the
Catalog list.
- Select the appropriate schema from the
Schema list.
- Select the appropriate table from the
Table list.
- Select the appropriate link template
from the Link Template list.
- Click OK.
- Open the drawing whose links you want
to convert, and then save it.
Once you have specified a link conversion mapping,
when you subsequently open and save in AutoCAD 2000 or later format
a drawing that contains links that are specified in the mapping,
the links are converted to the new format.
CommandsDBCONNECT
Provides an interface
to external database tables.
