Link field from another drawing

[Anonymous]

I have searched far an wide for an answer to this with no success.

I am using 2013 AutoCAD Arch.

Here is the scenario I am attempting to accomplish.

We have many individual Unit files (apartment units) that we xref into our building files to create our building. In each of these files I have created a field linked to a polyline to calculate the area of the Unit.

We then have a separate sheet where I would like to link each of these area values into a table.  This minimizes any errors in transcribing areas from one sheet to the next.

With all of the fancy things 2013 can do, there must be something. I can select different attributes using DATAEXTRACTION but fields and/or areas is not one of them.

Any help would be appreciated.

[leothebuilder]

I would create a space style to be used for the overall unit size(s)

You can then create a schedule that extracts the areas.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like it might work, though I don't know how to do it exactly.

I looked up space styles and bound objects but some of the options are not showing up (like the Bound Spaces in the property palette).

This looks like it could do what I need to do, I just need to find out why it isnt letting me.

Thanks.

[leothebuilder]

Create a new space style and drag this onto a tool pallette.

Right click the new space stool and select "apply to linework"  and select the polyline

[Anonymous]

Maybe this is the problem?

Command: SPACESTYLE
Demand load failed due to missing module:
Name: AecArchApp70
Description: AecArchApp70
Module Path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\AecArchApp.arx
Unknown command "SPACESTYLE".  Press F1 for help.

I literally cannot create a space style.

[leothebuilder]

Just insert a standard space object in your drawing.

Right click the space object and select "copy and assign"

Give the new style a new name and make any other edits you want.

Save the drawing and drag the space object onto a tool palette.

Then r/c the tool and select "apply to linework" and select your polyline(s)

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I can get this to work on our older version of AutoCAD Arch 2009.

How do I get a schedule to extract the area? All I get is the option for a polyline which takes every polyline in the xref. There is no option for "space objects".

Thank you for all of the help so far.

[Anonymous]

Actually I can get it to show up, but separate from the count of the unit. Hopefully there is a way to get them all on the same row.

[leothebuilder]

You can either replace the plolines with space objects as explained previously.

Or you can schedule the polylines.

Yes, will work in 2009 version.

Space objects have an area property which you can extract into an ACE schedule.

This would be the best way to do this IMHO

I have never "scheduled" polylines but I guess there is no reason why you couldn't.

Place the polylines that define your unit areas on a separate layer, e.g. layer AREAS

Place you schedule in a different drawing file.

Let the schedule "scan" the xref that contains all the area polylines.

Apply a layer wildcart filter so the schedule reads only the polylines on layer AREAS.

[Anonymous]

As an update, I got it to work!

I dont need to include the xref for the count, I just need to include the filename as one of the properties to display on the table.

Thanks!

[leothebuilder]

Cool....glad it's working for you