When moving a Microvellum project to a different computer or system, a simple database backup or folder copy is not enough — project-level materials and specification groups require a proper export using the Database Management tool.
Always back up your data before performing any Database Management import or export.
What Transfers when you Export a Project
When you export a project via Database Management, the following records are transferred by default:
Rooms and Locations
Drawings
Products and Subassemblies
Specification Groups
Project Level Materials
Primary Processing Stations and Tool Files
Important: Copying the SQL Server database file or the Factory Data folders does NOT transfer project-level materials. You must use the Database Management export/import process described below.
Step 1 — Export the Project from the source computer
Open Microvellum on the source computer and go to Microvellum Settings > Options > Utilities > Database Management.
Select EXPORT from Current Configuration to Selected Target.
Click the ellipsis (…) next to the target box and choose a destination folder (USB drive, network share, or cloud folder).
Select the Projects tab in the center panel.
Check the project(s) you want to export. They will appear in the right-side summary.
Check Transfer All Hardware Drawings in the Additional Options section. Skipping this can cause errors on the destination system.
Click Transfer. A MicrovellumFactory.sdf file is created at the destination path, along with a folder for each project containing AutoCAD or BricsCAD drawing files.
Step 2 — Import the project on the destination computer
Copy the exported folder (containing MicrovellumFactory.sdf) to the destination computer.
Open Microvellum on the destination system and go to Microvellum Settings > Options > Utilities > Database Management.
Select IMPORT from Selected Source to Current Configuration.
Click the ellipsis (…) next to the Source box and browse to the MicrovellumFactory.sdf from the export.
Select the Projects tab. The center panel shows all projects available in the source database.
Select the project(s) to import. They will appear in the right-side summary.
Check Transfer All Hardware Drawings in Additional Options before proceeding.
Click Transfer. If duplicate names are detected, you will be prompted to Skip, Replace, or Keep Both for each conflict.
After import, materials are stored in the Microvellum database (not as separate files in the Factory Data folders). You can find them in Toolbox Setup → Project Specification Groups → Open Material File, under a subfolder named _Project [project name].
Step 3 — Transfer the specification group (if needed separately)
Specification groups are included automatically when you import a project (Step 2). However, if you need to transfer a spec group independently — for example, to use it in a different project on the destination system — follow these steps:
Make sure the source project (the MicrovellumFactory.sdf) is imported using the Database Management utility.
On the destination system, go to Microvellum Settings > Project Specification Groups.
Click Import Specification Group from Another Project.
Browse to the Project imported from the source system and expand the tree.
Select the specification group you want (for example, "EPEC Group Master") and confirm.
Troubleshooting: Materials Missing after Import
If project materials are missing after import, check the following:
Materials are not selected by default when importing a project (this changed in the 2021 release). You must manually select materials in the center panel during import, or export them separately using the Materials tab.
If you did not use Database Management to export (e.g. you only copied the SQL database or Factory Data folders), materials will not be included. Re-export using the process above.
If Transfer All Hardware Drawings was unchecked, hardware-linked materials may be missing. Re-import with that option checked.
Use Microvellum Settings > Options > Utilities > Database Management > Tools > Fix Project Material Categories if imported materials are not appearing in the correct folder in the Material File.
If you confirmed clicking Transfer but materials are still missing on the destination system, try the following during the import step:
Ensure"Transfer All Hardware Drawings" is checked before clicking Transfer.
As a fallback, export materials separately: in the source project, go to Database Management > Materials tab, select the materials, and export to a new file. Then import that file in the destination project using the Materials tab.
Related articles