PSA: Do not install Microsoft creators fall update if you use Altium

[tszaboo]

There is a problem with update kb4041681 which comes with this.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4041676

Installing this update may cause applications based on the Microsoft JET Database Engine (Microsoft Access 2007 and older or non-Microsoft applications) to fail when creating or opening Microsoft Excel .xls files. The error message is, “Unexpected error from external database driver (1). (Microsoft JET Database Engine)".

Altium uses this for DBLib libraries, at least the Excel ones. I couldnt open any of my libraries, I got a EOIeException error. SoI couldnt place any new components. I dont know what else might have been broken, I had to go back to a restore point.
Forum with similar error.
https://forum.live.altium.com/posts/219414

Hopefully someone from Microsoft realizes, that they are breaking software that are somewhat more important than their 3D wet dream desktop.

[capt bullshot]

Just follow rule #1: never update a working system

First thing to do after setting up a PC: disable all automatic updates.

Edit:
Rule #2: Don't rely on M$'s build in features if you create serious software.

[tszaboo]

OK, so windows 7 is also affected
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4041681/windows-7-update-kb4041681


Also

Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

For both systems.

[ajb]

I haven't had any issues with my Access-based DBLibs.

Just follow rule #1: never update a working system

First thing to do after setting up a PC: disable all automatic updates.

  You forgot the required rule #3: never connect your unpatched machine to the internet or to any removable media that has ever touched another computer.  Good luck getting anything done that way.

[stefanh]

Thanks for the heads up.

I had troubles making a new BOM this morning which is most likely also due to kb4041681.  Updated my ticket with Altium with this information. 

[D3f1ant]

Haha, I was about say this update broke my database. So very annoying.

So are we screwed until a patch comes out? I love my DBLib libraries.

[ajb]

So are we screwed until a patch comes out? I love my DBLib libraries.

I'm not 100% clear on if this only affects Excel or if I'm just lucky, but as I said my Access-based DBLib is still working just fine.  It shouldn't be too hard to transfer your excel file into access and redirect your DBLib file to it. 

[free_electron]

use ACCESS old MDB format. The problem comes from upgrading a core library to 64 bit .

[tszaboo]

use ACCESS old MDB format. The problem comes from upgrading a core library to 64 bit .

Doesnt that involve of getting the XLS files and inserting all the data into Access?
To be honest, I dont really want Access, because I like how little effort it takes to create multiple components.
And I'm fairly familiar with Excel and not at all with Access.

[Ice-Tea]

Yep. My DB is buggered as well. 

[tszaboo]

Yep. My DB is buggered as well. 

Use a restore point, kill windows update in services.exe, at least until they fix it.

[free_electron]

use ACCESS old MDB format. The problem comes from upgrading a core library to 64 bit .

Doesnt that involve of getting the XLS files and inserting all the data into Access?
To be honest, I dont really want Access, because I like how little effort it takes to create multiple components.
And I'm fairly familiar with Excel and not at all with Access.

Access is just like excel : a collection of tables. The advantage is that you can make 'filters' in access that represent the data to altium . So you can create fields that are actually a combination of subfields. This happens in the DB before the data goes to altium.

also: if you add things like links to digikey ( or other vendors)  altium will write that data back into the Access DB for you.

Note : you do not need access to be installed on your machine. It is sufficient to have the MDB file and install the odbc drivers. you only need access to make the initial database file , tables and name the fields. You can add parts from within altium

I have it set up as follows : a directory containing my schlibs and pcblibs and the mdb file that ties them together. the dblib project holds the field allocation. i link to the dblib file fromt within the library browser..  it behaves just like an integrated library but there is never the need to compile anything.

[tszaboo]

Thank you. I will take a look at it on monday. It is probably a better option than turning off windows update forever . Or until "when it's done".

[Ice-Tea]

also: if you add things like links to digikey ( or other vendors)  altium will write that data back into the Access DB for you.

That... I like.

[D3f1ant]

Installing this
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255&751be11f-ede8-5a0c-058c-2ee190a24fa6=True

Then editing the Dblib in Altium, changing the database type from 'Microsoft Excel' to 'Microsoft Excel 2007' fixes the problem.

[onesixright]

Just follow rule #1: never update a working system

Your joking right? Terrible advice 

Don’t use Windows 

[julianhigginson]

Sounds like a good reason to upgrade from excel to to an SQL database.

And, the idea of not updating a system when it's working is the craziest idea ever. Because there's always stuff not working that you don't know about, and leaving those things unfixed once discovered is a quick route to having your computer overrun with all sorts of garbage... pretty sure ransomware locking all your work away from you trumps an excel database you can't automatically update your schematic parts details from most days of the week!

[logictom]

Can confirm that you don't need the Creators Fall Update (1704) to get the dreaded KB4041676 update. I had to manually uninstall that update on my machine for Altium and for a colleagues machine for a label printer that also uses a spreadsheet for data.
I have paused updates for now until they release a fix, hopefully soon.

It also effects Win 7 apparently, some useful info in this thread https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/45ebe780-967e-4748-a146-9ec7a15626dc/unexpected-error-from-external-database-driver-1?forum=itmanager

[gregl]

@D3f1ant i can confirm this worked for me on a Win 10 box running Altium 17.1.6 with KB4041681 still installed. I have posted some basic info here: https://electronicmethods.blogspot.com.au/2017/10/altium-kb4041681-jet-database-fix-for.html

Thanks and hope everyone else can move past this MS headache!

[D3f1ant]

Nice write up  , but you can save yourself the step of editing the connection string, changing the database type to Excel 2007 does the edit for you in one click. Editing the connection string might work for others if the simple solution doesn't.

Its really only a minor inconvenience to get everything working again, depending on how many seperate dblibs you have to edit.

[D3f1ant]

Did this 'update' also screw up window behaviors with multiple monitors? In the past I've always been able to drag a tab off onto the second screen and a second instance of AD would open. I can't do that now, and projects that did have 2 instances open when last saved, open in two instances but I can't drag tabs between the sessions. If I close one the sessions and re-open a document it in the first instance, it still opens a new second instance. WTF, its doing my head in.

[ebclr]

I have 4 monitors 2 4K and 2 2560x1444 , everything works just fine regarding monitors, works exactly as before

[D3f1ant]

Yeah it's fine on my laptop with external screen. Guess something is corrupt somewhere in windows on my desktop machine, reinstalling AD didn't fix it, sigh.

[mrpackethead]

Seems to be ok for me, i'm using a dblib that is in a remote MySQL Database.  ( oh and i love it, it rocks, woudl never go back the old way it saves SOOOO much time )

[tszaboo]

Seems to be ok for me, i'm using a dblib that is in a remote MySQL Database.  ( oh and i love it, it rocks, woudl never go back the old way it saves SOOOO much time )

The Excel part which is broken.
And I haven't tried to fix it yet. You know busy with actual work instead of trying to fix the tools.

[mrpackethead]

Thanksf or the heads up on that.

Dblibs and the database ( its mysql ) has become so critical to my operation that its scary. Loosing it would mean we would stop work.     

We have created a custom python/flask web based application that does all our library management, but it goes further than that...vWe now track all our inventory with the same database, and we use the database for creating pnp machine files.   Its a massive time saver.    The next thing to do is to automate the creation of part purchasing orders...

[D3f1ant]

So the bug I mentioned with drag and drop has been confirmed by Altium and they are working on a fix. It only affects the Fall Creators Update. M$ have introduced mouse gestures or something, even tho there are currently no settings for it. If you have videos scaling set to anything other than 100% it won't affect you either apparently.

Drag and Droping tabs actually still works, but you have to 'throw' the tab rather than simply dragging and dropping gracefully. If the mouse isn't moving why you let go of the button, it doesn't work.