{"id":361,"date":"2019-08-27T18:06:27","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T12:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teslacad.co.uk\/blog\/?p=361"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:39:54","slug":"what-is-open-database-connectivity-in-terms-of-architects-how-does-it-help-to-export-a-file-to-odbc-in-revit-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teslacad.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-open-database-connectivity-in-terms-of-architects-how-does-it-help-to-export-a-file-to-odbc-in-revit-software\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Open Database Connectivity in terms of Architects? How does it help to export a file to ODBC in Revit Software?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open Database Connectivity is an\nApplication Programming Interface (API) connected to drivers that can access a\nunified database for architects. By using ODBC in a program, we can get access\nto files in a different common database. ODBC standard was introduced in 1992,\nwhich was designed by SQL Access Group to merge access of data to the SQL\ndatabase.<\/p>

Open Database Connectivity enables\ncompatibility of data shared by architects, which is linked through application\ndevelopers to write a single application while accessing data sources. For Architectural\nBIM Services<\/a> <\/strong>Companies which have huge database wherein they can use\nODBC to let specific tools be connected with a program. <\/p>

 Tools such as Printers can be connected with\nmultiple devices where ODBC creates a link between application and database. It\nallows centralizing the data into a single application more efficiently.<\/p>

How\nOpen Database Connectivity Works For Architects?<\/strong><\/p>

ODBC works by creating a bridge\nbetween the application and database to enhance information from end-users that\nis translated in DBMS for processing it. <\/p>

There are four components of ODBC that\nworks together to enable functions which allows the programs to use SQL that\naccesses the database. ODBC Connection handles the SQL request that is\nconverted for each coherent database system. <\/p>

The\nfour Components of ODBC are as follows:<\/strong><\/p>

Application:\n–<\/strong> ODBC\nprocesses and calls the functions and submits the SQL statements.<\/p>

Driver\nManager: –<\/strong>\nEvery application such as Assemble and SQL needs a local driver to be loaded to\nprocess it.<\/p>

Driver:\n–<\/strong> It handles\nODBC functions, submits to SQL to request it to a data source. <\/p>

Data\nSource: –<\/strong>\nThe data is being accessible by OS with Database Management System.<\/p>

\"Structure<\/figure>

Advantages\nand Disadvantages of ODBC<\/strong><\/p>

The\nadvantages of ODBC are:<\/strong><\/p>

•   \nIt is Compatible between CR and most ODBC compliant database. It is not\nlimiting its connection to only one company’s drivers. For example, In Oracle\ndatabases, it has three options for database driver such as Oracle’s ODBC\nDriver, Merant’s ODBC Driver and Microsoft’s ODBC Driver. <\/p>

•   \nDrivers are often updated to include the latest data type. It allows\nmore connection control and options such as over table joins, including left\nouter join. It is the only way to enable cr to a report of a Microsoft Access\nquery. <\/p>

The\nDisadvantages of ODBC are:<\/strong><\/p>

•   \nData Source Name is required to use reports from ODBC connection to be\nconfigured on computer devices. <\/p>

•   \nThird-party drivers and software limitations are a subject matter of\nODBC connection in CR. <\/p>

•   \nIt requires SQL call statements and data to pass through the ODBC layer\nthat can slow down the speed of data transfer. <\/p>

How\nto export a file to ODBC in Revit?<\/strong><\/p>

Below are the steps to export data to\nan Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) <\/p>

1.) It is easy to export Revit data to\nan ODBC<\/p>

\n
\"Export<\/figure>\n<\/figure>

2.) Access the database from any\nDatabase Management System (DBMS) like Oracle, Cloudera, MySQL, etc. <\/p>

3.) Mostly, MySQL is used to access\nthe data in any DBMS. It is a domain-specific language that is used to\ninterface with databases. <\/p>

4.) This data is used to create\ngraphs, visualizations or presentations which are relevant to the on-going\nproject. Printing multiple drawings from multiple models in Revit can be used\nas well.<\/p>

5.) Using DBMS, work can be continued\neven though printing is going on. For instance, a remote desktop can be used\nfor printing job on DBMS, minimize the window and start working on a project.<\/p>

6.) Non-Revit users can access and\nmodify data without opening Revit from third-party applications such as\nInnovaya, Assemble, etc. <\/p>

Integrating\nData between model and database<\/strong><\/p>

Synchronizing data between model and\ndatabase depends on what kind of information is to be managed for which a\ncustomized database is created that will synchronize the data which is\nnecessary for the project. <\/p>

It is important to save time during\nsynchronization and setting up the database. External Application Program\nInterface (API) is used to synchronize model data to the database. Information\nfrom various models can be segregated periodically when needed. <\/p>

\n
\"Interconnecting<\/figure>\n<\/figure>

In the above diagram, we can see the\nred boxes noted as the ID Boxes, which are the primary identifiers for each row\nin the table. Duplicate Information should be avoided as it makes it more\ndifficult to manage or update the database. <\/p>

For example, if you need to change\nanything in data, then you will need to remember the place where you have\nstored the information. You need to create a new table if you are using data in\nmultiple locations. MySQL will be used to ensure the database is performing the\ntasks properly or not. For instance, the below code says that when the document\nis synchronized to run the code. <\/p>

\n
\"Coding<\/figure>\n<\/figure>

Example of Database Management\nSoftware<\/p>

\n
\"BIM<\/figure>\n<\/figure>