Model Database Upgrade

Learn what happens during the model database upgrade process and how you can use the backup database with prior versions of the software.

Starting with Advance Steel 2024, the SQL version used by the product to connect to the content databases was upgraded to a newer version. The database mechanism does not support backwards compatibility, so to ensure data integrity and avoid accidental database upgrades that would make them unusable by prior versions, Advance Steel will automatically create backup databases in several scenarios.

Open a model file saved in a prior version of Advance Steel

When Advance Steel opens a model file, it will automatically connect and convert the model.mdf database. The MDF database file is saved next to the model file, has the same name as the model.dwg file, and contains project-data used by bills of material, preferred sizes, project category in prefix settings and other different settings.

Because of this automatic behavior, if you open an Advance Steel project created with a prior version, Advance Steel 2024 will partially convert the project, making it unusable by prior versions, even if you do not save the model DWG file. To prevent this, Advance Steel will automatically create a backup of the model database file. The backup database will have the same name as the original database plus the "_backup" suffix.

If you do not save the model DWG file with Advance Steel 2024, you can still open it with prior versions of Advance Steel. To do so, you will need to replace the model MDF database file with the backup one, as follows:

1. Close Advance Steel 2024.
2. Delete the current model.mdf database file (not the backup).
3. Rename the backup model database file by removing the "_backup" suffix.
4. Open the model DWG file in a prior Advance Steel version.

Important: Once a project is converted to Advance Steel 2024 - the model DWG file is saved with the 2024 version, the model MDF backup database is no longer useful, as it will no longer be possible to open the project in a prior version of Advance Steel. At this point, the backup database file can be safely deleted, if needed.

For Model DWG files coming from Advance Steel 2016 only: In case the model contains objects with values for APPROVAL STATUS, APPROVAL CODE and/or APPROVAL COMMENT this information will be lost after the upgrade process. If you want to keep this information, close the model without saving and finish your work in Advance Steel 2016.