The database interface is a set of tools and settings that lets you associate (or link) a row in a relational database to an element in the design. This is done by storing information about the linkage on the element in the DGN file. In order to link a table to a graphical element, the table must have a numeric MSLINK column. This column acts as a unique row identifier (essentially a row ID) for Promis.e . The second requirement is that the database contains a table called MSCATALOG, which Promis.e creates upon connecting to a database if one has not already been created. The attribute table name is entered and assigned a unique entity number.

There are two pieces of information that are used to retrieve the correct row from the correct table. The first is the entity number, a unique value assigned to the table in the MSCATALOG. The second is the MSLINK number, a unique value assigned to the row of data in the table. When a database row is linked to a graphical element, attribute data, in the form of a USER DATA Linkage containing the MSLINK and entity number, is written to the element.

Once this linkage is established you can manipulate and review the database information from inside Promis.e .

Promis.e supports a direct connection to Oracle databases. In addition, Promis.e supports database connectivity through industry standards ODBC and OLE DB. Another database connectivity option is BUDBC, a new Promis.e -specific connection that provides additional benefits.