Component Database Hang

[didymus7]

I've stupidly named two component the same name and I'm now having problems with that component.  To delete these components, if I try Tools->Database and click on the Components tab, the program hangs and I can only shut it down.  I'm not sure if the two problems are related but there's no way I can access the Components tab (Multisim 11.0.2).  What do I need to do?

Thanks...Steve

[derekdb]

I don't think you can name two components the same name: if you do so Multisim will overwrite the old component. So I don't think the two problems are related. Could you provide more details like the component names so that we can reproduce the scenario. Thanks

[didymus7]

The two components are in the User Database, one under Mixed->Demodulators;  the other under Analog->Test1.  Both are named MC1496BDG.  That's the minor problem, if I could get to those components and delete them, then I could probably get it all right.

Thanks...Steve

[derekdb]

I suspect your database file is corrupted. Do you have any backup files?

Derek

[didymus7]

The quick answer is that I don't know if I have a backup.  We have full-fledged IT Nazi's here and I'm very limited and what I can do or find out.  If you could give me some idea as to where the database is supposed to be and what the size is/filename(s), maybe I can find out where they installed it.  I don't think we have a central location for the database, it might be right on my computer (most likely).  Then I'd need some instructions on how to reinstall the database because IT here might just wipe my computer and start everything from scratch, when I put in a complaint.

I think I have one dedicated license to this computer and there might be one other license in this facility.  Since Multisim is not 'standard', most likely they installed it as a single seat on my computer and wouldn't have a clue how to fix the database other than re-install multisim and all the updates.  If there is an easier way to do it, we'd have to tell them how.

Steve

[derekdb]

Hi Steve,

If you don't have many important components in your user database and just want to clear the components you created without worrying about losing all the content in your database, you can go to Options->Global Preferences->Paths->User Database. Navigate to the corresponding paths and delete that file. Once you restart your Multisim it will automatically help you restore your user database. However, if you want to keep the existing components we then need to think of some more careful ways of doing it. Hope that helps.

[didymus7]

I only have 3 or 4 components (other than the 1496's), so it wouldn't take much to whip them up again (if I'd even remember that I needed them).  So I will try deleting the user database.  Stay tuned!

Steve

[didymus7]

Okay, I found and moved the user database.  Multisim automatically created a new database (no messages when starting up multisim) and added a .ldb file (access record locking?), which wasn't there before. 

However, that doesn't solve the hang problem.  When I go to Tools->database, components tab; the top window shows Master Database, but the listings never fill up, and figuring that there are a lot of entries there, I've waited up to ten minutes with no success.

Obviously, my problems with the MC1496 will now be solved, but is the database hang a symptom of a problem?

Thanks....Steve

[derekdb]

Hi Steve,

If it takes 10 minutes to load all the components, then that's definitely a problem. Another thing you can try is to repair the software. You can create a backup copy of your Master Database in the same fashion as what you did to the User database but this time make a copy of the database file to a different directory. Then go to Control panel->NI software->Multisim and select Repair. The wizard will help you restore your software and hopefully the hanging problem can be solved. If that still doesn't work, please let me know and we can think about other solutions.

[didymus7]

Does a repair require the original disk?  If it does, I'd have to get it out of the IT lockup before I even start.

Thanks....Steve