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:
- Download and install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010), alongside your existing install of 32-bit Microsoft Office.
Procedure for Installing 64-bit MS Access Database Drivers alongside 32-bit MS Office
The following procedure can be used to manually install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) on a computer that already has 32-bit Microsoft Office installed and running (versions 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2016).
This manual workaround is not required if you already have 64-bit MS Office already installed.
The procedure is as follows:
- From a command prompt (run cmd.exe from a Windows search), enter the file path and name of the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) install file, followed by a space and the switch /passive, for example: C:\Users\<ProfileName>\Downloads\AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe /passive. The /passive switch runs the installation without showing any error messages.
- When a 32-bit Office application is launched it will detect the presence of the 64-bit driver and display a Reconfiguring message (and launch a process which takes some time). This can be prevented from happening by:
- Opening the Registry Editor (regedit.exe from a Windows search).
- Browsing to one of the following paths (depending on the version of Office installed):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\FilesPaths
- Locating and deleting or renaming the registry value: mso.dll
Note that if you do not delete or rename the mso.dll registry entry, you will get a Reconfiguring message each time an Office application is accessed.
- 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.
Procedure for Installing 64-bit MS Access Database Drivers, followed by 32-bit MS Office
The procedure to install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) first, followed by the 32-bit version (2007) of Microsoft Office, is as follows:
- Uninstall all 32-bit Office installations (including language packs and so on). If you have installed the 32-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010, or 2016, you must uninstall this too.
- Install the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010.
- Reboot your computer.
- Test if your 64-bit Altium Design Software works with Database Libraries.
- Install the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office (2007).
- Reboot your computer.
- Test if your 32-bit Altium Design Software works with Database Libraries.
- 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.
Procedure for Installing the 32-bit and 64-bit MS Access Database Engines
The following procedure can be used to manually install both the 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engines (2010) on a computer that does not have Microsoft Office (with Access) installed.
The procedure is as follows:
- Run an elevated command prompt window. To do this, use the Windows search feature on the Taskbar to find cmd.exe, then select the Run as Administrator option.
- In the command prompt, enter the file path and name of the 32-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) install file, followed by a space and the switch /passive, for example: C:\Users\<ProfileName>\Downloads\AccessDatabaseEngine.exe /passive. The /passive switch runs the installation without showing any error messages.
- In the command prompt, enter the file path and name of the 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine (2010) install file, followed by a space and the switch /passive, for example : C:\Users\<ProfileName>\Downloads\AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe /passive. The /passive switch runs the installation without showing any error messages, and also allows both engines to be installed.
This procedure is also used to install Service Packs for the Microsoft Access Database Engines.
