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information contained in a room database with a polyline object representing
a room boundary in a drawing. You establish the association between the
graphical object and the database table by creating a link, which references
one or more records stored in the database table. You cannot create links to
nongraphical objects such as layers and linetypes.
Links are tightly connected with the graphical objects they are associated with.
If you move or copy a linked object, the link is moved or copied with it. If
you delete a linked object, the link is also deleted.
When you create a link, a dynamic relationship is established between the
database record and the object. If, for example, you convert a room from a
storage area to an office in the database table, the program provides a
mechanism to update the information stored in the drawing so that it matches
the database table.
To establish links between database table records and graphical objects, you
must first create a link template. Link templates identify what fields from a
database table are associated with the links that share that template. For
example, you can create a link template that uses the field Room Number
from a room database table. You can then use this link template to create links
that point to different records in the database table.
Link templates also function as shortcuts that point to the database tables
that they're based on. You can use the link templates that are associated with
a drawing to open the database tables that they reference for viewing or editing.
This is particularly useful if you have a large number of data sources configured
on your system. Rather than scrolling through a list of data sources each time
you want to locate an individual database table, you can open it directly from
the drawing node of the drawing that it is associated with. To open a link
template's database table, right-click a link template in the dbConnect Manager.
Click View Table or Edit Table.
You can attach multiple links using different link templates to a single
graphical object. This is useful when you want to associate data from multiple
database tables with an individual object.
Links in External References and Blocks
Links stored in externally referenced drawings cannot be viewed or modified
in the master drawing that they're attached to. This information is only
available when you open the source drawing directly.
Links contained in blocks are available, but can only be accessed through the
REFEDIT command.
2016 | Chapter 39 Access External Databases