Using Database Libraries with 32-bit and 64-bit Altium

Related Link:  Parts for Altium

Using Database Libraries with 32-bit and 64-bit Altium Design Software on the same Computer | Online Documentation for Altium Products: 

In the above link Altium offers 3 possible solutions to connect 32bit and 64bit versions of Altium to Microsoft Excel and Access.

Solutions:

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Note:

Altium Solution 1 (Install 64bit Office) applies to only AD18. You can not ping-pong between AD17 and AD18 if you install a 64bit version of MS Office.

Solution 1 does not apply to AD17, because AD17 is a 32bit application.

To support both AD17 and AD18 you need to use a 32bit version of MS Office and a 64bit Access Database Engine.

Altium Solution #2 for 32-bit Office 2007,2010,2013 or 2016 

Install 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010)

then, 

Open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe from a Windows search) and browse to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths. 

Delete or rename the mso.dll registry entry.

Source Altium: 

Procedure for Installing 64-bit MS Access Database Drivers alongside 32-bit MS Office


Altium Solution #3 for Office 2007

The procedure to install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) first, followed by the 32-bit version (2007) of Microsoft Office, is as follows:

1. Uninstall all 32-bit Office installations (including language packs and so on). If you have installed the 32-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010, or 2016, you must uninstall this too.
2. Install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010.
3. Reboot your computer.
4. Test if your 64-bit Altium Design Software works with Database Libraries.
5. Install the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office (2007).
6. Reboot your computer.
7. Test if your 32-bit Altium Design Software works with Database Libraries.

My Solution for Office 2007 and AD17 / AD18 DBLib Access databases.

I used a variation of the Altium Solution #3 for Office 2007.

I had trouble completing the uninstall for Office 2007.  I used a Microsoft easy fix tool to completely uninstall Office 2007 and clean up the machine's registry.

Look for the Option 2 Download at:  Uninstall Office from a PC 

I chose to: Download Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable ...

After installing the 2016 Access Database Engine 64bit, I installed Office 2007.

Office 2007 is available only as a 32bit application. 64bit versions of Office started in 2010.

Now both AD17 (32bit) and AD18 (64bit) are able to connect to the same Access database.

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Related Links: 

Receiving the error message "We can't install the 64-bit version of office because we found the following 32-bit programs on your PC:"

AD18 - Tips

To show the ratsnest (Connection Lines)

Press L > Scroll down to System Colors and expand the dialog.

Variants are are selected in the Project Panel

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Working Guides can be found on the Properties Panel for the Board

Click inside or outside the board to bring up the Board Properties Panel.

When placing Step Models, hit the Tab key to pause, then . . . 



Then select Generic or Extruded, etc . . .

Connectivity Limits

Fix Connectivity Limits

General > System > Advanced > change the setting ComponentDragConnectionLimit (restart required)

That's it !

CircuitStudio vs Altium Designer

Side by side comparison of features:

CircuitStudio vs Altium Designer 


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AD17 Project Outputs

In AD17 and higher Altium changed the Project Releaser.

Below are some tricks I use to get project outputs done my way !

As shown below I start with Include Custom Data which I name as Project Outputs.

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There are a lot of intertwined files in a project where a seemly small change can ripple through several related project outputs.

I prefer to generate all of the project outputs in un-zipped folders for Eng, Fab and Mfg.

My current employer uses an Agile PLM system and the un-zipped files need to be uploaded or attached to the product structure in the PLM system.

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Select the Folder Option and chop off Projects Outputs path as shown below.

click on images to view

That's it !

BOM generator Excel template with row forumla - Altium Discussion Forums

BOM generator Excel template with row forumla - Altium Discussion Forums:

"=INDIRECT("Sheet1!A"&ROW()) & (INDIRECT("Sheet1!b"&ROW()))"

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Altium to Cadence OrCAD Schematic Translator - YouTube

Altium to Cadence OrCAD Schematic Translator - YouTube:


OrCAD file extensions:

brd - board file

.mdd - place replicate module file

.dra and .psm - package symbol

.dra and .bsm - Mechanical symbol

.dra and .osm - format symbol

.dra and ssm - shape symbol.

.dra and fsm - flash symbol.

.pad - padstack.

pstxchip.dat, pstxnet.dat and pstxprt.dat (and if you use constraint manager in the front end pstdedb.cdsz) - netlist files.

.dsn - schematic file.

.opj - schematic project file but can be re-created so you may not need this.

.olb - schematic library file.

That's It !

Importing Circuit Studio PCB to Altium Designer - YouTube

Importing Circuit Studio PCB to Altium Designer - YouTube:

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