Object data is an efficient method for storing small amounts of attribute data that you want to associate with drawing objects, but external databases store larger amounts of data more efficiently, and allow for more complex queries.
To convert object data to a linked database table
- At the Command prompt, enter mapod2ase.
- In the Convert Object Data To Database Links dialog box, under Source Object Data Table, select an object data table.
- Select Remove Data From Objects Processed to delete the object data after creating the link.
- Under Target Link Template, click Define to specify the link template.
- In the Define Link Template dialog box (MAPOD2ASE), select an available data source. Click Connect.
- Enter a table name.
- Specify the fields to use as key fields (columns). To enter more than one field name, separate names with a comma.
To select from a list of field names in the object data table, or to rename the fields, click Select to display the Select Link Template Key(s) dialog box.
You can use an existing object data field as the key column or create a new field. If you select Generate Key Field, specify a name for the field in the Generate Key area. AutoCAD Map 3D toolset sets the first record in the database table to 1, and increments each subsequent record by 1. Click OK to close the Select Link Template Key(s) dialog box.
- In the Define Link Template dialog box, enter a name for the link template and click OK.
The link template stores the address of the database table and the name of the key field. Accept the default or enter a new unique name.
- In the Convert Object Data to Database Links dialog box, specify how to select objects with attached object data.
You can select objects automatically or manually, and you can use a filter to restrict selection to specified layers.
- Click Proceed.