SUITE X: Importing Projects and Data in One Step

Importing projects and data from a previous V201x version into the new WSCAD SUITE X

The WSCAD components involved are:

• Symbol libraries
  All libraries from the Symbol Explorer. Stored in the Libraries directory.
• Frames and forms as well as labels and legends
  All templates from the Templates Explorer. Stored in the Templates directory.
• Macros
  All macros from the Macro Explorer. Stored in the Macros directory.
• Databases
  g., lexicon, addresses, manufacturers, … – but no part databases. Stored in the Databases directory.
• Project templates
  Predefined sets of frames and forms for the lists and plans. Stored in the Patterns directory.
  
• Logos
  Company logos for frames. Stored in the Logos directory.
• Data sheets
  Data sheets for the parts. Stored in the Externals directory.

The configuration settings involved are:

• Settings: user-specific and program-specific settings that were changed under Tools | Settings (options) (e.g., for directories, colors, reports, texts,…).
• Work areas: position of the predefined, changed and newly created work areas. It is not possible to import work areas from previous WSCAD versions because the code for the program interface was changed for WSCAD SUITE X.
• Toolbars: position of predefined, changed and newly created toolbars.

Procedure for importing projects and data

Importing projects and data

4. To select a previous version for the project and data import, you have the following options:

• Select the installation path of the previous version via the version found drop-down list. The Data directory field will be updated.
• Navigate from the Data directory field via the Browse symbol button to the installation path of the previous version (e.g., to a separate network drive).

5. In the Files pane, select the check boxes of the WSCAD components to be taken over. The Browse symbol button allows you to change the directories if the WSCAD components are not in the default directories.
6. Select the Overwrite existing file(s) check box only if you want the current WSCAD SUITE X files to be overwritten with the files from the previous version.
7. If you do not want to import any part database, proceed to step 16.
8. To import your part database, select the Part databases check box in the Configuration data transfer area and click the associated Browse symbol button.
9. Select the type of part database to be imported via the Access, SQL Server or MySQL tabs.

10. Using the Browse symbol button next to the Database connection field, navigate to the part database whose parts are to be imported.
11. If your part database contains multiple tables, you can set the mappings between the database fields and the WSCAD fields for each table individually. In general, you do not need to change the field assignments. Just click the Automatically assign all tables button.
    
12. Click Next. If necessary, you can change the field assignments for each individual table here.
    Note: Please change the field assignments here only if you really know what you are doing.
13. Click Next. If required, you can exclude parts from the import by using filters.
14. Click Next. Here you can specify whether you want to use self-created database fields (user fields).
15. Click on Done to exit the settings for importing the part database. You return to the data import dialog.
16. If you do not want to import projects, proceed with step 24.
17. To import your projects, select the Projects check box in the Configuration data transfer area and click the associated Browse symbol button.
18. Select the directory with the projects to be imported (e.g., C:\WSCAD\WSCAD SUITE\2018\Projects).
    If the check box Take projects of the project management file in the directory is activated, only those projects that are present in the Project Explorer of the previous version are offered for import. If the check box is cleared, all projects are imported from the directory.
19. Click Next.
20. Activate the projects that you want to import.
21. If you want to copy the projects to a different project directory, select it using the Browse button behind the Working directory field.
    
22. If the check box Convert the central database of the projects to the current version is activated This can take some time, depending on the number of projects and the size of the project. If the check box is not selected, the projects are converted once when in the WSCAD SUITE X is first opened.

23. Click on Done to end the project import settings. You return to the data import dialog.
24. If you want to apply the configuration settings from the previous version, activate the check boxes of the settings in the Settings area.
    
25. If the configuration settings are not stored under Settings in the default program directory of the previous version, navigate in the Configuration path field to the storage location using the Browse symbol button.
26. Click Run. The progress of the data import will be displayed.
    Note: count shows the number of data items in the previous version; copy shows the number of copied files. If the Overwrite existing file(s) check box was selected, the values of count and copy should be the same.
    Note: If the central databases are to be created when importing projects, the data import can take some time.
27. Finally, click Done. The project and data import is completed.
28. Refresh the Symbol Explorer so that all imported symbols are displayed there.
29. Depending on the selection of the components, a restart of the WSCAD SUITE X may be required.

I hope this blog post has helped you. If you have any questions regarding project and data import, our support team will be happy to help you.