CADconform for AutoCAD
64 bit Windows database driver

Installation Overview

64 bit Windows operating systems typically only come installed with the 32 bit drivers required for connectivity to Office file formats. When running a 64 bit version of AutoCAD you will need to install the 64 bit version of CADconform. CADconform uses databases to store client CAD standards information and typically these are distributed in a Microsoft Access file format. The following information will help you either setup your 64 bit Windows with the necessary drivers to connect to these databases, or set up SQL Server Express and import the Microsoft Access database into the SQL Server format. Depending on the currently installed Office package some of these steps will change and/or may not be available.

Please select your current system setup for database options and additional steps:


Office 2010/2013/2016 (64 bit)

A 64 bit install of Office 2010, Office 2013, or Office 2016 should already have all the appropriate drivers for connecting to a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database. If you are experiencing problems connnecting you may need to create a new File DSN for your database. Please follow the steps outlined in the Creating a new File DSN section below.


Office 2016 (32 bit)

Typically, the 64 bit Access drivers will not be available on your machine when you are running Office 2016 (32 bit). Microsoft has issued a 2010 Access Database Engine 64 bit installer that will add these drivers. The following steps will show you how to install the 64 bit Access drivers so you can use a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database.

  1. Download the AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 installer. This can be found on the Microsoft site.We recommend saving/copying this installer to C:\ drive so that it is easier to find in step 2

  2. You will need to run this installer in quiet mode to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling Office 2016. To do this open the DOS command prompt by selecting START > RUN, typing CMD and hitting OK

  3. Browse to the folder where you saved the installer (if saved to C:\ drive simply type "CD\" and hit enter)

  4. Type "AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 /Q" to run the installer (the /Q tells the installer to run in quiet mode)

The 64 bit Access drivers will now be available on your machine. You will need to create a File DSN to connect to your Access file format CADconform standards database. Please see the steps in Creating a new File DSN.


Office 2013 (32 bit)

Typically, the 64 bit Access drivers will not be available on your machine when you are running Office 2013 (32 bit). Microsoft has issued a 2016 Access Database Engine 64 bit installer that will add these drivers. The following steps will show you how to install the 64 bit Access drivers so you can use a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database.

  1. Download the AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 installer. This can be found on the Microsoft site. We recommend saving/copying this installer to C:\ drive so that it is easier to find in step 2

  2. You will need to run this installer in quiet mode to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling Office 2013. To do this open the DOS command prompt by selecting START > RUN, typing CMD and hitting OK

  3. Browse to the folder where you saved the installer (if saved to C:\ drive simply type "CD\" and hit enter)

  4. Type "AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 /Q" to run the installer (the /Q tells the installer to run in quiet mode)

The 64 bit Access drivers will now be available on your machine. You will need to create a File DSN to connect to your Access file format CADconform standards database. Please see the steps in Creating a new File DSN.


Office 2010 (32 bit)

Typically, the 64 bit Access drivers will not be available on your machine when you are running Office 2010 (32 bit). Microsoft has issued a 2016 Access Database Engine 64 bit installer that will add these drivers. The following steps will show you how to install the 64 bit Access drivers so you can use a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database.

  1. Download the AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 installer. This can be found on the Microsoft site. We recommend saving/copying this installer to C:\ drive so that it is easier to find in step 2

  2. You will need to run this installer in quiet mode to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling Office 2010. To do this open the DOS command prompt by selecting START > RUN, typing CMD and hitting OK

  3. Browse to the folder where you saved the installer (if saved to C:\ drive simply type "CD\" and hit enter)

  4. Type "AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 /Q" to run the installer (the /Q tells the installer to run in quiet mode)

The 64 bit Access drivers will now be available on your machine. You will need to create a File DSN to connect to your Access file format CADconform standards database. Please see the steps in Creating a new File DSN.


Office 2007

Office 2007 is a 32 bit application. This means that the 64 bit Access drivers will not be available on your machine. Microsoft has issued a 2010 Access Database Engine 64 bit installer that will add these drivers. The following steps will show you how to install the 64 bit Access drivers so you can use a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database.

  1. Download the AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 installer. This can be found on the Microsoft site.We recommend saving/copying this installer to C:\ drive so that it is easier to find in step 2

  2. You will need to run this installer in quiet mode to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling Office 2007. To do this open the DOS command prompt by selecting START > RUN, typing CMD and hitting OK

  3. Browse to the folder where you saved the installer (if saved to C:\ drive simply type "CD\" and hit enter)

  4. Type "AccessDatabaseEngine_X64 /Q" to run the installer (the /Q tells the installer to run in quiet mode)

The 64 bit Access drivers will now be available on your machine. You will need to create a File DSN to connect to your Access file format CADconform standards database. Please see the steps in Creating a new File DSN.


Using SQL Server Express

SQL Server Express is an option for users who are unable to, or do not wish to install the appropriate drivers for connecting to a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database. If you are working with standards delivered by a third party (i.e. following a client's standard that is issued to you) and the the delivered standard uses a Microsoft Access file format CADconform standards database keep in mind that when the standard is updated you will need to reimport these changes into SQL Server Express to stay current (Access is typically the prefered option in these situations as the MDB/ACCDB file can simply be replaced when new standards are issued).

The following steps will help you install and set up SQL Server Express on your local machine to use with a standalone installation of CADconform:

Install SQL Server Express

  1. Download the 64 bit SQL Server Express installer. The current version at creation of this guide is SQL Server 2008 R2 Express and can be found on the Microsoft site.

  2. Run this installer leaving all of the default settings. (During the "Instance Configuration" step, make note of what the "Named instance" is set to, this will be required later during the database setup. By default this should be "SQLExpress")


Import Access format CAD standards file into SQL Server Express

SQL Server 2008 R2 Express has an "Import and Export Data" tool to import data from a Microsoft Access file format database. I have found it more reliable however to open the database in Microsoft Access and use the "SQL Server" option in the "Move Data" panel of the "Database Tools" ribbon.

  1. Open Access file format database in Microsoft Access

  2. Select the "Database Tools" ribbon and choose the "SQL Server" option from the "Move Data" panel

  3. The "Upsizing Wizard" will open and you will choose the "Create new database" option.

  4. On the next page you will choose your "Server" from the drop-down list and select the option to "Use Trusted Connection".

    Note: In most cases the wizard will only show the current computer name as an option, or nothing at all. You will need to enter your computer name and then add the "Named instance" you noted during the installation here (by default your server would read "<COMPUTERNAME>\SQLEXPRESS"). In some configurations you can simply use either "(local)" or the computer name as the name of the Server.

  5. The wizard will now prompt you to choose which tables you want to copy to the SQL Server database and simply choose them all and hit the "Next" button..

  6. The table attributes page should be left with the default properties (all of the table attributes checked on and "Use DRI" toggled. For the data options "Yes, let wizard decide" selected and "Only create table structure" unchecked)

  7. The next page shows applications changes options and can also be left at the default settings ("Link SQL Server tables to existing application" selected)

  8. The wizard now has all the information it needs and will import the data when you click on "Finish"

  9. Once the upsizing is complete you will need to create a File DSN to allow CADconform to access the database. Please follow the steps in the next section "Create File DSN for a SQL Server Express standards database"


Create File DSN for a SQL Server Express standards database

  1. Go to the Windows Control Panel and open "Administrative Tools"

  2. Under the "Adminstrative Tools" choose the "Data Sources (ODBC)" to open the Microsoft ODBC Administrator

  3. Select the "File DSN" tab and click the "Add" button

  4. Choose the "SQL Server Native Client..." option from the list and click "Next"

  5. Select "Browse" and create a new File DSN in the CADconform server directory (typically this will be named the same as the CADconform standards database). "Save" the new file and hit "Next"

    The default CADconform install path to the File DSN folder is "C:\Program Files\Altiva Software\CADconform\File DSN\"
  6. When you click on "Finish" another dialog will open to step through the SQL Server side of the process

  7. Choose your "Server" from the drop-down list.

    Note: As before, in most cases the wizard will only show the current computer name as an option, or nothing at all. You will need to enter your computer name and then add the "Named instance" you noted during the installation here (by default your server would read "<COMPUTERNAME>\SQLEXPRESS"). In some configurations you can simply use either "(local)" or the computer name as the name of the Server.

  8. Hit "Next" and leave the default option of using "Integrated Windows Authentication"

  9. Toggle on "Change the default database to:" and select your newly imported database. Leave other options as defaults

  10. On the final page of the wizard leave the options as defaults and click "Finish" to complete the File DSN creation

  11. Hit "OK" to close the summary dialog and "OK" on the Microsoft ODBC Administrator if you are finished creating new File DSNs

  12. Load AutoCAD and select your new File DSN from the "Data Source" drop down list on the CADconform login dialog to start using your newly configured CADconform standards database



Creating a new Microsoft Access File DSN

This section will step through creating a File DSN for an Access file format CADconform standards database (for SQL Server Express File DSN creation please see the Using SQL Server Express section).

  1. Go to the Windows Control Panel and open "Administrative Tools"

  2. Under the "Adminstrative Tools" choose the "Data Sources (ODBC)" to open the Microsoft ODBC Administrator

  3. Select the "File DSN" tab and click the "Add" button

  4. Choose the "Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb)" option from the list and click "Next"

  5. Select "Browse" and create a new File DSN in the CADconform server directory (typically this will be named the same as the CADconform standards database). "Save" the new file and hit "Next"

    The default CADconform install path to the File DSN folder is "C:\Program Files\Altiva Software\CADconform\File DSN\"
  6. When you click on "Finish" another dialog will open that is used to select the database this File DSN will connect to

  7. Choose the "Select" button and browse to choose the database this File DSN will connect to

    The default CADconform install path to the database folder is "C:\Program Files\Altiva Software\CADconform\Database\"
  8. Hit "OK" to finish the File DSN creation and "OK" on the Microsoft ODBC Administrator if you are finished creating new File DSNs

  9. Load AutoCAD and select your new File DSN from the "Data Source" drop down list on the CADconform login dialog to start using your newly configured CADconform standards database



Copyright 2010-2011 Altiva Software, Inc. Last modified by Matthew Tolmie.