2012

Table Of Contents
Access External Databases
You can use the program to associate, or link, data stored in external database programs such
as dBASE, Oracle, and Microsoft Access with graphical objects. You can use all of the external
database features without prior knowledge of databases or query languages. This section,
however, does not cover in detail the theory of database design or the semantics of Structured
Query Language (SQL).
Overview of Using External Databases
When you link database records to graphical objects in a drawing, you can use
powerful database queries to filter and sort information. You can present the
results of a query graphically.
A database is a collection of logically related information, usually presented in
a table format similar to a typical spreadsheet. The table below is an example
of a simple database that might be used by a Facilities department to schedule
maintenance work. It consists of four columns, or fields, labeled Maintenance
task, Estimated hours, Frequency, and Assigned to. Individual fields, or cells,
store data for a particular variable. Individual rows within the database table
are called records.
Maintenance database table
Assigned toFrequencyEstimated
hours
Maintenance task
RON SMITHQUARTERLY3.5ELEVATOR SRV
VICKI ROBERTSWEEKLY5.25CARPET VAC
AMY REEDBIWEEKLY2.00A/C CHECK
DAT TANMONTHLY3.00AIR FILTER
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