Comments, Questions, and Answers about exporting database files from AutoPIPE:
1. Can AutoPIPE export a database file to Microsoft Access or Excel?
Answer:
AutoPIPE 09.05.01.02 and higher can export both input database and results database to Access MDB files with File> Export>
Input Database (*.mdb)
Results Database (*.mdb)
See video for detailed procedure:
Note:
1. AutoPIPE 10.00.xx.xx and higher exports to Office 2003 format which can be opened using MS Office 2013 and higher.
2. AutoPIPE 09.06.xx.xx and lower writes an older MS Access 97 MDB format. This format can be opened by MS Office 2010 and lower.
Office 2013 does not support MS Access 97 file format and there is no means to open and view AutoPIPE result MDB files directly in Office 2013 or higher versions. This can be a potential problem for users who wish to export their analysis results to MDB (using File > Export > Results MDB) and view these in Ms Office. As a quick fix, we have upgraded AutoPIPE 09.06 templates to Office 2003 format which is supported by Office 2013.
Suggest to update the most recent version of the application to stream line this process, or download updated results template files here. Then manually place the attached Access MDB files in program installation directory.
2. Have database column been changed from text fields to memo fields?
I have been using access database to postprocess data from autopipe. This was working fine until recently when the field types in the exported tables from Autopipe have changed from text fields to memo fields. This means I can not use these fields to join tables.
Is there a reason the fields have changed types? Is there a work around?
Answer:
The CAE development team has investigated this change and it seems to be caused by an upgrade from Microsoft DAO to MDAC to make the data access consistent in the program. This new data access converts all TEXT type fields with no size to Memo type fields automatically.
This issue has been logged under CAE-CR-11106: Export input database: "Text" field type changed to "Memo. The is scheduled to be fixed in AutoPIPE v09.06.01.xx and higher, to be issued shortly.
3. Is there any reference for the column descriptions for in the exported *.MDB files from AutoPIPE?
Answer:
Yes.
Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Bentley AutoPIPE> Results Grids Reference> select the respective document for details of the Results Grid Column name, respective *.MDB column name, corresponding Description, and Comments.