Can't retrieve data from Optics 6

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Bill

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Apr 5, 2021, 11:22:54 AM4/5/21
to Berkeley Lab WINDOW
Hello,

When trying to open the Optics program (Optics 6), I get some error messages:

Could not find file C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL\LBNL Shared\Glazing.mdb

Could not connect to International Glazing database

Could not find file C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL\LBNL Shared\User Glazing.mdb

Could not connect to User Database

Any idea what might have happened?

Thanks.

Bill

Jacob C. Jonsson

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Apr 5, 2021, 1:36:55 PM4/5/21
to berkeley-...@googlegroups.com

Hi Bill,

On 4/5/2021 8:22 AM, Bill wrote:
> When trying to open the Optics program (Optics 6), I get some error
> messages:
>
> Could not find file C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL\LBNL Shared\Glazing.mdb
> Could not connect to International Glazing database

This sounds like IGDB might not have been installed or it might
be same problem as below. Download the latest version at
https://windows.lbl.gov/tools/IGDB/software-download

> Could not find file C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL\LBNL Shared\User Glazing.mdb
> Could not connect to User Database

Unless you are running Optics as Administrator in Windows you
will not be allowed to modify the files under the
default program folder.

Best,
Jacob

Robin Mitchell

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Apr 5, 2021, 3:59:37 PM4/5/21
to Jacob C. Jonsson, Berkeley Lab WINDOW
Bill 

Was Optics working previously and just stopped being able to access these databases, or is this the first time you have tried to use Optics? 

In general, the program should be looking for those files in 

C:\Users\Public\LBNL\LBNL Shared

rather than
C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL

Also, Optics does not have this folder that Optics is giving the error about -- so something has been set up incorrectly somewhere

C:\Program Files(x86)\LBNL\LBNL Shared

You could look at the UserOptions.txt file found in the Program Files (x86) directory and change the paths by hand, as long as the correct files are in Users\Public\LBNL\LBNL Shared
image.png

Robin


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Robin Mitchell
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

William Hull

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Apr 6, 2021, 3:09:02 PM4/6/21
to Robin Mitchell, Jacob C. Jonsson, Berkeley Lab WINDOW
Hi Jacob and Robin,

Thanks for the replies. I downloaded the latest IGDB as you suggested Jacob, but there was no change. Yes Robin, I had downloaded Optics about 5 months ago and it has always worked. A week ago I tried to open it and got the error messages. Searching my computer's C drive, it looks like I have two files entitled Program Files (x86). One of them has LBNL information, including what you had outlined in red. The other doesn't. I tried to delete the one without LNBL info, but wasn't allowed to. I could try to uninstall Optics6 and then reinstall it. By doing this, would anything I created be deleted? I saved the results so that should be alright. Do you have any idea why this occurred in the first place?

Thank you.

Bill

Robin Mitchell

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Apr 6, 2021, 3:15:02 PM4/6/21
to William Hull, Jacob C. Jonsson, Berkeley Lab WINDOW
Bill

I don't know what would have happened. It's always puzzling when something has been working and then all of of a sudden it doesn't. Might be some change to your system that doesn't have to do with Optics, but who knows. 

You definitely should not try to modify Program Files (x86) -- that is the directory where most programs are installed and it is a protected folder. 

I think you might want to uninstall and then reinstall Optics6. If you have saved any imported glass layers or glazing systems, those would be stored in the UserGlazing.mdb file. If you can find that file, you could copy it to some place on your computer (like even your desktop) and then you can copy it back to the right place once you reinstall Optics 6.

The two databases, glazing.mdb and userglazing.mdb, should be located in C:\Users\Public\LBNL\LBNL Shared, NOT in the Program Files (x86) folder. 

When you reinstall Optics6, verify that they are in the users/public folder.

Let me know how it goes. 

We could also do a Zoom call if you would prefer that.

Robin

Robin Mitchell

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Jun 29, 2021, 2:23:44 PM6/29/21
to William Hull, Jacob C. Jonsson, Berkeley Lab WINDOW
The user database has to be selected from the pulldown list at the end of the Toolbar icons.
image.png
Once you select the User Database the records in that db are displayed
image.png

The default location for the User Database is: C:\Users\Public\LBNL\LBNL Shared
image.png
You should be able to set the location from Tools/Option, which opens up this dialog box where you can browse to the desired UserGlazing.mdb file with the button that has the three dots on it.
image.png

Robin 

On Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 7:34 AM William Hull <hu...@smartglass.com> wrote:
Hi Robin, 

I just wanted to let you know how everything turned out with this problem from a couple of months ago. I uninstalled and reinstalled the Optics program but still got the same error messages. As you also suggested, I looked at the UserOptions.txt file found in the Program Files (x86) directory and changed the UDB and IGDB paths by hand. I also changed the default folder path. Optics now opens again without errors. The main database is present but I don't see any user database data.

Thanks. 

Bill

William Hull

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Jul 6, 2021, 4:55:47 PM7/6/21
to Robin Mitchell, Jacob C. Jonsson, Berkeley Lab WINDOW
Hi Robin, 

I just wanted to let you know how everything turned out with this problem from a couple of months ago. I uninstalled and reinstalled the Optics program but still got the same error messages. As you also suggested, I looked at the UserOptions.txt file found in the Program Files (x86) directory and changed the UDB and IGDB paths by hand. I also changed the default folder path. Optics now opens again without errors. The main database is present but I don't see any user database data.

Thanks. 

Bill

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