2012

Table Of Contents
External Database Links
Databases are commonly used to store large amount of data, such as equipment
specifications, catalogue data, and maintenance manuals.
You can connect to external databases directly from your Autodesk Navisworks
files, and create links between objects in the scene and fields in the database
tables to bring through extra properties.
Any database with a suitable ODBC driver is supported, but the properties for
the objects in the model must include unique identifiers to the data in the
database. For example, for AutoCAD-based files, entity handles can be used.
You can have as many database links as you want, but they all should have
unique names. To use a database link, you need to activate it first.
Database links can be saved inside Autodesk Navisworks files (NWF and NWD).
You can also save database links globally, making them persistent across all
Autodesk Navisworks sessions. The global connection information is saved
on the local machine. If the associated database is available on loading the
NWF/NWD file, the link automatically establishes itself when an object is
selected. On selecting an object, if the database is available, and there is data
associated with the object, Autodesk Navisworks adds an appropriate database
tab to the Properties window, and displays the appropriate data.
NOTE To be able to display the data, you need to configure the connection
details. You may need a database administrator to do this, as a knowledge of the
database being connected to is required. You can use Autodesk Navisworks tags
in connection strings and SQL statements.
Data linked from a database connection can be extracted and embedded as
static data within the published NWD file. It also can also be included in
object searches, and can be used with the Clash Detective tool as part of
the clash criteria.
You can export database links, and share them with other users.
To add a database link
1 If you want to add a database link to the Autodesk Navisworks file:
1 Click Home tab Project panel File Options
.
2 In the File Options dialog box, DataTools tab, click the New
button.
Object Properties | 371