This blog post will guide you through the simple steps required to export the necessary data to send to us during onboarding as a new Microvellum client. This ensures that we can accurately replicate your configuration for effective shop drawings.
At Duckworks, this process is quite common, especially for new clients.
Introduction
Microvellum configurations are critical for your operations, and transferring them correctly is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive process for exporting your entire configuration. This process applies if your configuration is hosted on a SQL server.
Microvellum’s Default Process and Limitations
First, it’s worth noting that Microvellum offers a default process for exporting configurations, specifically for server configurations operating on a SQL server. This involves using the Toolbox setup options in Microvellum, navigating to the data access tab where your SQL server is listed. The built-in method uses transfer tables, copying your factory database to a local folder. However, Windows has a 4-gigabyte file size limit, which can be problematic if your database exceeds this size, resulting in incomplete exports. Here, I will explain how we ensure we export all required data without hitting this roadblock, enabling reconstruction of your configuration in a SQL CE environment.
How to Export Your Server Configuration:
- Locating and Copying the Microvellum Data Folder
Start by locating your Microvellum data folder through the “Help” menu by selecting “Browse to Factory Data.” This will show where your server configuration files are mapped. Your factory database, including project drawings, graphics, and templates, is located here. Copy the data folder to your desktop by navigating one level up. This folder will act as the repository for all files you intend to export.
- Creating Subfolders for Database Exports
Within the newly created folder on your desktop, rename it to something recognizable, like “Local Config.” Next, create a subfolder specifically for database exports to organize files efficiently. This subfolder will store everything else that needs exporting in the following steps.
- Exporting Database Components
From Toolbox Setup in Microvellum, navigate to database management under the “Utilities” tab. Begin by selecting your entire library, including materials, products, sub-assemblies, reports, and processing stations, but exclude work orders and projects to keep the database lightweight. Save these components as an SDF file in the database export subfolder created earlier.
- Backing Up Template Spec Groups
Ensure you have a backup of all template spec groups via database explorer. From Toolbox Setup in Microvellum, go to Options, then on the Utilities tab, click on Database Explorer. Map to your desktop folder on the right side of the Database Explorer interface. Select and copy all spec group components from the left panel to ensure a comprehensive backup.
- Saving the Factory Workbook
Library Specification Groups hold the Factory Workbook, a crucial component often missed without table transfers—an important piece you must back up. In Microvellum, from Toolbox Setup, click on Library Specification Groups, and Open the Workbook Designer. Once Workbook Designer is open, click on the ‘F’ workbook, and from the File menu, save the “Factory Workbook” as an Excel file named “factory.xls” in your database export folder. This step captures necessary universal references and lookup tables.
- Finalizing and Sending the Configuration
Once all components have been exported and saved into the folder, compress this folder into a zip file. You can then use WeTransfer to send us the zipped folder, providing us with everything needed to recreate your configuration to produce accurate shop drawings.
Conclusion
By following these detailed steps, you’ll ensure a complete and seamless transfer of your Microvellum configuration. This not only minimizes disruption but ensures that we can accurately assist in your projects and configurations. If you encounter any issues during this process, feel free to reach out for further assistance.