def METHOD_NAME(self, tooltable,comments,fms):
    ''' populate the table'''
    try:
        conn = pyodbc.connect(self.connectstring)
        conn.autocommit = True
        cursor = conn.cursor()
        cursor.execute("select * from tools;")
        for row in cursor.fetchall():
            pocket = row.pocket
            t = tooltable[pocket]
            t.toolno = row.toolno
            t.orientation = row.orientation
            t.diameter = row.diameter
            t.frontangle = row.frontangle
            t.backangle = row.backangle
            t.offset.tran.x = row.x_offset
            t.offset.y = row.y_offset
            t.offset.z = row.z_offset
            t.offset.a = row.a_offset
            t.offset.b = row.b_offset
            t.offset.c = row.c_offset
            t.offset.u = row.u_offset
            t.offset.v = row.v_offset
            t.offset.w = row.w_offset
    except pyodbc.Error as e:
        traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
    else:
        start = 0 if self.random_toolchanger else 1
        for p in range(start,len(tooltable)):
            t = tooltable[p]
            if t.toolno != -1: print(str(t))
    finally:
        cursor.close()
        conn.close()