Library Path Relative To: ( Bug

For DBLib and SVNDBLib if you don't see the Symbols and Footprints in the Components Panel, then try leaving the Library Path Relative To: empty (blank) and Installing the DBlib with a full path as shown below.

click on image to view


Or you can set Library Path Relative To: 

In the above example C:\Parts_x64\Parts_Backend\Parts.DbLib is the full path.

and C:\Parts_x64\Parts_Backend is the relative path to Parts.DbLib

Both of these are valid.

Users can install multiple DBLibs that are on different paths.



However there is only one Global Library Path Relative To:



Which is why it is better to leave the Library Path Relative To:  empty (blank)

If you still do not see your Symbols and Footprints in Altium, then open the DBlib file and check your Single key lookup, for Parts this should be set to ID.

That's it !

Provider cannot be found . . .

Provider cannot be found, It may not be properly installed

Providers are ODBC Drivers used by Altium to connect to data sources.  Once connected to a data source through an ODBC driver Altium can read and write to the data source.

Data sources can be Excel, Access, MySQL, SQL and numerous other data sources with ODBC compliant drivers.

You can find the ODBC drivers installed on your machine by entering ODBC in the search box in the lower left corner of your desktop on Windows 10 machines.

"There are several reasons this message pops in your application or website. This article tries to clarify each particular situation."  Source - Connection Strings.

The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine

Related Links: 

Using Database Libraries with 32-bit and 64-bit Altium
Jet for Access, Excel and Txt on 64 bit systems

To request technical support use the contact form on the Contact Parts page.

That's it !

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

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

Note the Access Database Engine is NOT the same thing as Access or Access Runtime.

The 64-bit Access Database Engine installs 64-bit ODBC drivers which allow 64-bit applications like AD18 to connect to data sources.

You can find ODBC drivers installed on your PC in Win 10 by entering ODBC in the search window.

In the link below Altium suggested thee possible solutions to connect both (AD17) 32bit and (AD18) 64bit versions of Altium to Microsoft Excel and Access data sources.

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

Solution Matrix:

click on image to view

Solution 1 (Install 64bit Office) applies to only AD18. You can NOT bounce back and forth between AD17 and AD18 if you install a 64bit version of MS Office.  

Solution 1 does not apply to AD17 and earlier 32bit versions of Altium.

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, 2016 (Office 365)

Important Steps !

Install 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) from the Command Prompt using the / passive switch.

You must select Run as administrator when you open the Command Prompt.

Example

then, Run the Registry Editor regedit.exe and browse to the following path: 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\xx\Common\FilesPaths

Where xx is your version of Microsoft Office.

then delete or rename the mso.dll registry entry.

See Altium's Instructions:
Procedure for Installing 64-bit MS Access Database Drivers alongside 32-bit MS Office

Altium Solution #3 is Only 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.

Solutions for Office 2007 and AD17 / AD18 DBLib Access databases.

Solution 1

You may need to uninstall all existing Access Database Engines, then reinstall the 32-Bit Microsoft Access Database Engine.

And then install 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) from the Command Prompt using the / passive switch.

Solution 2

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 Option 2 Download at:  Uninstall Office from a PC

The key to success is to get AD17 working first then install the 64-bit Access Database Engine as recommended for AD18.

That's it !

Failed to Find parts in the database

The "Failed to Find" parts message will appear when you select "Update parameters from database" if one or more parts are not found in the database library.

Select the Create Log Option to find the parts that were not found.

Tips:

Run the Update then open the "Database Messages.txt" file in your project folder.

The Reference Designators are shown for the "Failed to Match " parts.

In the schematic open the symbol for the Ref/Des and take note of the Design Item ID.

Then look for the matching ID in the Parts database. 

Tip: Do not delete records from a database, then expect Altium to find the Part :)

That's It !

Warning - File Locking

Problem: Altium Warning - You will not be able to save your changes









Fix: Disable the File Locking Option in DXP Preferences

Tools > DXP > Preferences File Locking

click on image to view



That's It !

EOleException error executing

Provider cannot be found . . .

EOleException error raised in Altium DBLIB or SVNDBLIB when connecting to an Access Database.

Provider cannot be found. It may not be properly installed.





For AD17 and older 32bit versions of Altium DXP.

To fix this connection error install a 32 bit AccessDatabaseEngine.exe

Download 2010 AccessDatabaseEngine.exe
or
Download 2016 Access DatabaseEngine.exe

Read:

The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine - ConnectionStrings.com

That's It !

BOM - With Supplier Links Enabled

I'm currently working on a fairly large project with 20 schematic pages, 225 line items, 1034 parts (Ref/Des).

Generating the Bill of Material is taking several minutes.

After a little troubleshooting I found that if I disabled the Suppliers in DXP Preferrences the BOM would generate in a few seconds, vice several minutes.

As shown below enabling the Suppliers Links will display real time Supplier Information in the Libraries Panel. 

This is a nice feature when you are placing parts, but it comes at price when you want to configure or generate your BOM..

The reason for the performance hit is Altium searches the supplier websites looking for inventory and pricing for the 225 line items in the BOM, this takes a considerable amount of time.

If are using an Outjob to generate your BOM and you select Configure the configuration dialog will also take a few minutes to open if the Supplier Links are enabled.  

Altium Bug Crunch  #1508

Altium will freeze, but eventually thaw out and come back to life.



Work around 1:

To speed up the BOM un-check the Supplier Links in DXP Preferences before generating or configuring a BOM in the Outjob.

Interesting point:

In my Outjob BOM Configuration I have not selected stock or pricing information.

Supplier 1 and Supplier Part Number 1 are already in my design's database.

Why is Altium searching the Internet for Supplier Data?


Work Around 2:

Open the Parts Backend and rename Supplier 1 to Supplier and Supplier Part Number 1 to Supplier Part Number.

This will stop the long searches for supplier data on the web.  However the Supplier details will not be visible in the Libraries panel.

You can quickly open Supplier Part Details or datasheets using right clicks in the library panel or schematic.

Related link: Supplier Data


That's It !