GIS Data From A Personal Geodatabase File (.MDB) 121009 GISData

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Autodesk Products Tip & Tricks

Copyright 2008 – Advanced Solutions, Inc.

Product: AutoCAD Map 3D 2009-2010

Topic: GIS data from a Personal Geodatabase File (.MDB)

Written by: Doug Folck, Technical Support Manager

Date: December 10, 2009

The following information applies to the 2009 and 2010 versions of AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil and

AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Using open-source Feature Data Object (FDO) technology, AutoCAD Map 3D provides direct access to the

leading data formats used in design and GIS and enables the use of AutoCAD software tools for maintaining a

broad variety of spatial information. A number of popular FDO providers, produced and supported by Autodesk,

are installed with AutoCAD Map 3D. In addition to these, other FDO providers, produced and supported by the

FDO Open Source community can be added to further augment AutoCAD Map 3D’s capabilities.

This document describes best practices to utilize GIS data in the Personal Geodatabase File format. The

Personal Geodatabase File is a Microsoft Access MDB file, which contains both geometry and tabular

information.

Adding the Open Source OGR FDO provider to AutoCAD Map 3D

The Open Source OGR provider allows direct access to Personal Geodatabase Files and other geospatial

formats.

1. Determine and obtain the correct OGR FDO provider.

a. Specific versions of AutoCAD Map 3D require specific versions of the FDO provider as follows:

For other versions and product which use FDO providers, see Products Using FDO.

AutoCAD version FDO provider version

2009 3.3.1

2010 3.4.0

b. Open Source OGR providers are downloaded from the OSGeo web site. Choose the correct

version and then download the Windows Binary OGR Provider.

2. Install the OGR provider

a. If open, close AutoCAD Map 3D.

b. The downloaded archive file contains a single file, OGRProvider.dll. Save this file to the

C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Map 3D 2010\FDO\bin folder. A similar folder structure exists for

2009 and the Civil products, substitute your product’s name and look for the FDO\bin folder.

c. For AutoCAD Map 3D 2010. In the FDO\bin folder, locate the providers.xml file and open it

with Notepad. Scroll to the bottom of the file. Immediately before the last line,

</FeatureProviderRegistry>, paste the following text:

<FeatureProvider>

<Name>OSGeo.OGR.3.4</Name>

<DisplayName>OSGeo FDO Provider for OGR</DisplayName>

<Description>FDO Access to OGR Data Sources</Description>

<IsManaged>False</IsManaged>

<Version>3.4.0.0</Version>

<FeatureDataObjectsVersion>3.4.0.0</FeatureDataObjectsVersion>

<LibraryPath>.\OGRProvider.dll</LibraryPath>

</FeatureProvider>

www.advsolinc.com

ASI Client Center

1-877-438-2741

Autodesk Products Tip & Tricks

Copyright 2008 – Advanced Solutions, Inc.

For AutoCAD Map 3D 2009. In the FDO\bin folder, locate the providers.xml file and open it with

Notepad. Scroll to the bottom of the file. Immediately before the last line,

</FeatureProviderRegistry>, paste the following text:

<FeatureProvider>

<Name>OSGeo.OGR.0.1</Name>

<DisplayName>FDO Provider for OGR</DisplayName>

<Description>Access to OGR data sources</Description>

<IsManaged>False</IsManaged>

<Version>0.1.0.0</Version>

<FeatureDataObjectsVersion>3.3.0.0</FeatureDataObjectsVersion>

<LibraryPath>OGRProvider.dll</LibraryPath>

</FeatureProvider>

Save and close the providers.xml file.

The OGR Provider is now installed and ready to use.

Using the Open Source OGR FDO provider in AutoCAD Map 3D

1. Open the Data Connect window. You should now see a new provider on the list. Locate and click on

Add OGR Connection.

2. The OGR provider does not have a browse function; you will need to enter the full path to the Personal

Geodatabase File. You must include the drive letter, path and complete file name including the .MDB

extension.

3. Name the connection anything you like, leave the ReadOnly field set to True and click Connect.

AutoCAD Map 3D will read the contents and display a list of available data sources.

4. Add and style layers as with any FDO data source.

Migrating data from a Personal Geodatabase File into a more robust data source.

The Open Source OGR Provider allows only read access of a Personal Geodatabase File; it does not have the

ability to write to or update this format. A limitation of the format itself is poor performance, resulting in long wait

times when querying data. Both of these limitations can be overcome by migrating the data into a standard,

highly optimized format like SDF.

1. Begin by establishing an OGR connection to a Personal Geodatabase File. Adding layers is not

necessary.

2. On the Task Pane’s Map Explorer tab, right click on the Schema icon and select Create SDF...

3. Enter a name for your new data source and click Save.

4. Choose a Coordinate System and click OK. This opens the Schema Editor.

5. Right click on Schema1 and select Delete Schema. Confirm and click OK. This creates both an empty

SDF file and a connection to it.

6. On the Task Pane’s Display Manager tab, click on the Data icon and select Bulk Copy...

7. On the From (left) side of the Bulk Copy window, select the OGR connection.

8. On the To (right) side, select the SDF connection.

9. Under Select items to copy, choose the desired data. To choose the entire data set, select the top

check box.

10. Under Ignore the following errors..., select Coordinate system.

11. Click Copy Now and confirm.

The data is now in a fully functioning, performance optimized SDF file. Disconnect the OGR connection, it is no

longer needed.