How to Export a Library using Database Management

How to Export a Library using Database Management

The articles in this section of the Knowledge Base involve importing and exporting from the Database Management window. For general information regarding the Database Management tool, or how to access it, see Database Management Utilities (Overview).

This simplified article provides a brief tutorial for exporting Library(s) using the Database Management Utility.

When exporting a Library, all records associated with the selected Library are transferred by default. These records include Products, Subassemblies, Product Groups, Specification Groups, Materials, Primary Processing Station, Primary Toolfile, and Categories.

Select the Libraries tab > select the Library to be exported > accept the file to be exported to or browse for a different location.


Fig. 01 – Database Management Utilities – Export Library

When a library is selected for export, all of the Library’s materials are selected by default, as shown in the right-hand pane in Figure 01. These materials can be unselected in the Materials tab.

Additional Options

When exporting a library, the following Additional Options are available:


Fig. 02 – Additional Options when Exporting a Library

  1. Zip Exported Items – Check this box to create a compressed zip file named the same as the folder selected for the export files. The zip file contains the same files as the subfolders created in the folder designated for the export files and is located at the same level as the folder selected. 
  2. Transfer All Hardware Drawings – Check or uncheck this box to control the automatic transfer of all hardware drawings associated with a library or project. If the materials are not transferred, errors may be generated after the items have been imported, when working with the data on another system. 

Once everything has been selected for export, and any desired additional options included, select Transfer.

With the Database Management utility, multiple items from multiple categories can be exported at once.

Resolving Duplicates

When the file being exported to is empty, or lacking a MicrovellumFactory.sdf database, a database is automatically created with the exported data inside. When the file being exported to already has a MicrovellumFactory.sdf database, and this database features duplicate information, the Resolve Duplicate Names window appears.   When there is no duplicate information, the data being exported is appended to the database.


Fig. 03 – Resolve Duplicate Names

There are three options to resolve duplicates:

  1. Skip – Does not change the existing item, and an additional item is not added. The item is ignored.
  2. Replace – Replaces the item in the target location that has the duplicate name. 
  3. Keep Both – Appends to the target location. A new name must be given to the item.

  4. Fig. 04 – New Name

Export Folder Structure


Fig. 05 – Folder Structure

A MicrovellumFactory.sdf database file is created containing the libraries exported. Also, a Graphics subfolder is created containing all of the hardware graphics files used in the source projects.


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