Using Database Libraries with 32-bit and 64-bit Altium Designer on the Same Computer

Applies to Altium Designer versions: 18.0, 18.1, 19.0, 19.1, 20.0, 20.1 and 20.2

Database Libraries (DbLibs) are a popular and powerful component management solution. However, when using Microsoft Access as the backend database for your components, there is one important difference between using 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Altium Design Software:

  • 64-bit Altium Design Software (Altium Designer 18.0 and later; Altium NEXUS) - requires 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine to be able to use MS Access with database libraries (DbLibs).
  • 32-bit Altium Design Software (Altium Designer 17.1 and earlier) - requires 32-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine to be able to use MS Access with database libraries (DbLibs).
Typically, the appropriate version of Microsoft Office would be installed, of which Access is a constituent part. However, it is likely that many users will have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Altium Design Software running on the same computer. The issue is that Microsoft does not officially support, nor endorse, the coexistence of both 32-bit and 64-bit Office applications and drivers on the same computer.

Altium suggests the following three solutions:

  1. Download and install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010), alongside your existing install of 32-bit Microsoft Office.
  1. Download and install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) first, followed by 32-bit version of Microsoft Office (featuring Access).
Note that this solution only works with 32-bit Microsoft Office 2007. It does not work with 32-bit Microsoft Office 2010, 2013, or 2016.
  1. Download and install both the 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engines (download file includes both), when Microsoft Office (with Access) is not available.

 

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