I am trying to import a piping model from AutoPIPE into the STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition. STAAD.Pro is expecting the file to be in the .pipelink.db format whereas the pipelink file I have from AutoPIPE has extension .pipelink. How can I get this import to work ?

The database in STAAD.Pro Connect Edition has been changed from MS Acesss to SQLite platform to support 64 bit. So from the Connect Edition and up, STAAD.Pro will be expecting the pipelink database to be in the SQLite database format. The expected file extension will be *.pipelink.db.

 AutoPIPE CONNECT 11.02.xx.xx and higher versions will be able to export both .pipelink & .pipelink.db file formats, and also will be able to read the same files back.

However, if you have older files exported from Autopipe through pipelink ( having extension .pipelink ) the older database will not import into the STAAD.Pro Connect Edition unless you first convert it to the SQLite database format.

1. Please follow the steps below to convert the older database (*.pipelink) to the SQLite format
2. Change the extension of the pipelink file exported from Autopipe from *.Pipelink to *.Pipelink.mdb 
3. You will get a message box telling you that the file might become unusable if you change the file extension.
4. Click on the Yes button to allow the renaming process to complete.
5. From within the Specification ribbon menu inside STAAD.Pro, click on the Section Database option as shown next
6. From inside the Section Database Manager, choose the option Convert Database Access to SQLite option as shown next
7. Identify the Source file ( *.Pipelink.mdb file from step 1 )
8. Provide a file name for the file to be generated by clicking on the Browse option besides Destination.
9. Click on the Convert button to convert the database.
10. A command prompt window will open and indicate that the Data has been successfully converted to the SQLite database
11. Click on the X on the right top corner of that command prompt window to close it.
12. Click on the X to close the "Convert Access Database to SQLite Database" dialog box.
13. Close the Section Database Manager.
14. You will now have a *.db3 file created. This is the SQLite database file.
15. Change the file extension from *.db3 to *.Pipelink.db 
16. From inside STAAD.Pro, click on the Piping mode and click on the Import button. 

You should now be able to import the *.Pipelink.db file into STAAD.Pro following the usual import process.