| Product(s): | WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, HAMMER, StormCAD, CivilStorm, SewerGEMS, SewerCAD |
| Version(s): | 08.11.04.XX and Later |
| Area: | Layout and Data Input |
Problem
When trying to import an Excel spreadsheet or Access database file into ModelBuilder or SCADAConnect, or when importing an InRoads database file, the following message dialog is generated: Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 64-bit is required to access this Data Source type. Note that this applies to all of the products listed above.
"Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 64-bit is required to access this Data Source type"
"Microsoft Access Database Engine 64-bit is required to access this Data Source type"
"This file type require the Microsoft Acecss Database Engine 2010 (64 bit) to be installed. Please contact your system administrator."
"Make sure the Microsoft Access Database Engine (64-bit) is installed. Otherwise, try running the 32-bit version of this application."
Background
ModelBuilder and SCADAConnect can use many different file types to create a model, including Excel spreadsheets and Access database files. The 64-bit version of this Bentley software requires the "64-bit Access Database Engine" (ADE) component (not included with this Bentley software) to be able to work with these Microsoft Office file formats.
When using the 64-bit version of the Bentley OpenFlows product, all components inside the program must be 64-bit in order to work. This means that the 64-bit version of the Access Database Engine component is needed in order to work with external data sources like Excel spreadsheets. The 32-bit version of the Access Database Engine cannot run inside a 64-bit process.
This "Access Database Engine" is not the complete version of Microsoft Access but rather it is a small prerequisite component that programs (including SewerGEMS) need to use in order to communicate with Office files like Excel spreadsheets and Access databases. So, the message you're seeing indicates that you're trying to work with an Excel or Access Database file while using the 64-bit version of the product, but do not have the 64-bit Access Database Engine component installed.
Solution
For version 10.02.00.XX and greater, the OpenFlows product installer will attempt to first install the 64-bit version of ADE (2016 for version 24.XX.XX.XX and higher, or 2010 for versions 23.XX.XX.XX and earlier) then the 32-bit version (2007 for version 24.XX.XX.XX and higher). This is the proper order of installation and enables you to connect to Access and Excel data sources in both the 32-bit and 64-bit version of the OpenFlows product. Because of a conflict on Microsoft's side, they do not allow the 64-bit Access Database Engine to be installed after the 32-bit version (and in general they tend to conflict.) So, if you already had the 32-bit version of ADE installed before installing the OpenFlows product, the OpenFlows product installer will not be able to install the 64-bit version of ADE, and you'll be left in this situation. (it will not attempt to uninstall software on your computer) Additionally, older versions only installed the 32-bit Access Database Engine.
1) Make sure both the 32-bit and 64-bit Access Database Engines have been downloaded. It is recommended that you use the 2016 version for 64-bit and the 2007 version for 32-bit. (or 2010 32-bit)
2) Navigate to Control Panel > Programs and Features, search for "Access" and uninstall the current Access Database Engine version(s) (which may show as "2007", "2010" or "2016")
3) Install the 2016 64-bit Access Database Engine version - you should not encounter an error, since the 32-bit version is no longer present.
4) Install the 2007 or 2010 32-bit Access Database Engine version.
Alternatively, steps 3 and 4 can be replaced by uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version of the OpenFlows product. As mentioned further above, version 10.02.00.XX and greater will attempt to install the 64-bit Access Database Engine followed by the 32-bit Access Database Engine, in order to overcome the problem. This can only be done if there are no existing 32-bit Access Database Engine installations.
If you encounter an error stating that you cannot install it because 64-bit components are installed, you may have tried a combination that does not work. Again, the recommended combination is 2016 Access Database Engine 64-bit followed by 2007/2010 Access Database Engine 32-bit.
5) Open the 64-bit version of the OpenFlows product and confirm that it runs and you are able to work with the external file (in Modelbuilder, SCADAConnect, etc).
If you are in this situation where you are not using a compatible version of Access Database Engine, you can either use the 32-bit version of the OpenFlows product, or install the 32/64-bit ADE versions in the proper order, as outlined below.
If you are using an older version, need to work with Access or Excel files within the OpenFlows product and your company policy prevents the 2007 and 2010 versions of Access Database Engine from being installed, you can use the 2016 version instead, but you will be limited to using the 64-bit version of the OpenFlows software. This is usually not a problem since almost all systems are 64-bit and the standalone version of the OpenFlows software will be the 64-bit version by default. This can be confirmed from File > Help > About. First, uninstall the 2007 and 2010 versions from Windows "Programs and Features", then download the 2016 64-bit version from the link below and install it. Reopen the 64-bit OpenFlows product.
Note that the ArcMap integrated version of WaterGEMS and SewerGEMS is only 32-bit, so if you remove the 2007 and 2010 ADE versions and use 2016 64-bit, you will need to open the Standalone version in order to interact with Excel and Access files (the 64-bit ADE will not work in the 32-bit ArcMap). You can save the model in the standalone version once the data is imported, then close the Standalone version and open the model in the ArcMap integrated version. The ArcGIS Pro integrated version is 64-bit and would work with the 64-bit ADE 2016.
See more: Required versions of Microsoft Access Database Engine (ADE)
32-bit Workaround
If you are not able to use the solution above, the 32-bit version of the OpenFlows product can be used as a workaround, as it will use your existing 32-bit Access Database Engine.
The 32-bit version is acceptable in cases where the model does not require the use of additional memory bandwidth that the 64-bit version affords. It is important to note that this does not mean you need to create a new model file - the "bitness" (32 vs 64) applies to the architecture and memory bandwidth of the program and is independent of the model file.
If you browse to the installation folder (by default that would be C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\<ProductName>, you can double-click on the .EXE file corresponding to the product (such as WaterGEMS.EXE, SewerGEMS.EXE, HAMMER.EXE, etc) the 32-bit version version of the product will be launched. You can then use ModelBuilder to build a model using the Excel spreadsheet or Access database created in the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office. If you need to open an existing model, you can do so without a problem. This only needs to be done once; you can import your data through Modelbuilder in the 32-bit version, save the model, then open the 64-bit version using your regular desktop shortcut, if you prefer to be using the 64-bit version.
Note: if you're having trouble opening the .EXE file, ensure that you do not have file extensions hidden in Windows explorer. Otherwise, you might be opening for example SewerGEMS.exe.config, even though it looks like "SewerGEMS.exe", since the .config was hidden. You can access this option in the Windows 7 and Windows 8 Explorer, in the upper-left side under Organize > Folder and Search Options > View > Hide Extensions for Known File Types.
If you'd like to have the 32-bit version of the OpenFlows application on your desktop for quick access you can also right-click on the .EXE file in the program files folder and use the 'Send To > Desktop' option to create a shortcut on your desktop. Generally speaking, the 32-bit version should work without a problem in most situations. For very large models that may consume a large amount of system memory, the 64-bit version will help ensure that you do not run out of memory (as 32-bit applications can only access a limited quantity of memory).
If you encounter the below error when trying to access the external data source in the 32-bit version, check your Windows Programs and Features to ensure that the 32-bit Access Database Engine is installed (it may not be labeled as such and could have a year of 2007, 2010 or 2016). If so, try running a Repair on it or uninstall and reinstall. If not, please download and install from Microsoft, or reinstall your OpenFlows product (as this is part of the prerequisites)
"This file type requires the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 (32-bit) to be installed. Please contact your system administrator."