Data Linked Excel Table

[unsivilaudio]

Hello C3D users,

I recently learned how to insert a linked excel table into my drawing, however I have not figured out how to add rows to the table, the option is greyed out.  I can insert rows above and below the (inserted) table but not anywhere in the middle. I've tried everything I can think of, even removing all the formatting in the .xls spreadsheet to no avail.  Any help would be largely appreciated.  The cells are unlocked, I can manipulate the data, but not being able to insert rows is really hindering the efficiency of using a data linked table.

Thanks in advance

[matTech]

Are you inserting the table with the 'TABLE' command? If so, just edit the excel file. After editing the file, update the cell range. That's why the table function is so nice, you don't have to mess with the data in AutoCAD.

[unsivilaudio]

I thought the whole point of linking a table was so that it was TWO-way.  Sure I can edit it and add rows in the excel file and update it into the drawing to get another row, but that kind of defeats the purpose of linking the table in the first place.

[matTech]

I just don't see the point of using a CAD program for editing spreadsheets. Why would you even want to do that? The only thing I use the TABLE command for is displaying the information in a neat and orderly way and it's much faster then making my own table with dtext and lines.

[Joe-Bouza]

I'm not sure of the two way business, I know you can write to source but I'm pretty sure the formatting rows and cols is not part of that:

For example if you had a 8x4 table linked to an 8x4 excel, you can edit a table cell and write it back to excel, but you can't add stuff to the table and write back to excel. Think about it when you linked the table you mapped a range. Besides with the power of a table to link fields to drawing objects, add formula (more or less anything you can do in excel - excel is almost not necessary.

[thepworth]

I'd suggest looking at Lynn Allen's blog on linking autocad to excel.  I believe I've added rows in the middle of a table, but not very successfull appending to the end.  I'll check on a drawing we're working on at the office tomorrow - I think my colleague was complaining that his tables have lost their dynamic properties, but I haven't dug too deeply.  The plans are going in for review and we'll need to know for when we get into construction / asbuilts for this, so I'll update with my findings 🙂

[Joe-Bouza]

Thanks. There is some irony here. About 7 years ago I went to a seminar and Lynn was speaking / demonstrating her bailiwick, and I asked her about dynamic linking and she looked at me like I has three heads. Thanks for the tip.

[unsivilaudio]

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@matTech wrote:

I just don't see the point of using a CAD program for editing spreadsheets. Why would you even want to do that? The only thing I use the TABLE command for is displaying the information in a neat and orderly way and it's much faster then making my own table with dtext and lines.

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I'm not using it to edit spreadsheets, per say. I'm using it for the same reason as you, displaying the information in a neat and orderly way, the excel spreadsheet is just a bonus.  I don't NEED an excel spreadsheet, but this way if one of our project managers needs that information, they can get to it without having to open up the drawing and easily print or email it, rather than funnel through the hordes of other information in the autocad drawing.

As for adding rows and columns it makes no sense that autocad has added that functionality to the table but disabled it in dynamic linking. I can add rows at the above the very top and below the very bottom of my original table.  I can even add rows above and below those new rows, but not anywhere in between the first and last row of my original table.

[thepworth]

Joel,

My case in point is a new water metering project - we're putting the meter sizes & addresses in a table within our C3D drawing set.  Then, since it's address & owner linked, I can mail-merge notices to the owners as the contractor progresses with installation.  Also, we'll have the ability to manage contact phone numbers, etc in the excel file.  Or, in the past, I've had to do fixture counts for meter sizing with development plan submittal to a city in Denver - the city was adamant about using their spreadsheet for calculations on the fixtures' flows.  So there are a few instances where it makes sense.

Todd Hepworth, P.E.

M.C. Schaff & Associates

Cheyenne WY

[unsivilaudio]

Thanks for the replies Todd, I would be interested to know if you have the ability to add/delete rows in your linked tables?  If you do, then I'm definitely setting it up wrong in some aspect just can't figure it out yet.  Perhaps this is more of a question for Autodesk support, I think I will write them an email.

[thepworth]

So, here's what my co-worker and I have found out:

When he started the project, the linking worked great - he could add rows in the table & the link was dynamic.  However, we recently upgraded our server and changed the server name with the update (real bad idea there) and since we changed the name, all of his data links looked at the server address versus the drive letter pathing.  If it were by drive path, the name change should have been transparent to client software.  But not the case.... After he updated his reference paths it seems like the tables in the .dwg are now static.  When I just tried right-clicking on the table in C3D & open/edit the Excel spreadsheet outside of C3D in Excel, the changes there don't update in the dwg.  dang!  gottat fix this one.  If I figure out how/why, I will certainly update.

TdH

[thepworth]

What I'm getting are inconsistent results.  I'm trying variations of selecting the table, right clicking, having to go to "data links" then on that fly out - open data link file.  It opens excel.  I edit & save from excel, including adding a row.  Then in C3D I've tried a variety of (a) highlight the table & on the context ribbon, udate links (b) lower right icon data link - update datalinks and (c) close & reopen the file.

I"ve also closed C3D and then deleted all temporary files in my user directory %temp%.

The linking seems to be most consistent on updating C3D to match Excel only when I reopen the drawing and select update links.  I can't seem to get a consistent response editing a table while the drawing is open & having a dynamic update. 

I have a call into our reseller, but since I used to work for them, I think I know more about this one than their A/E.  If he has any ideas, I'll update further.

Go Badgers!

[thepworth]

Joel,

We're using the same reseller.  Ken is looking into it, the key seems to be that the data link is locked, but I can't consistently unlock the data link.  He's trying to figure out why with a copy of my files.  During our online session, he was able to observe that I couldn't get the data link updated, even when closing & reopening and all of my previous steps.  something is inconsistent and both of us are at a loss.  This isn't what I exptected to spend the morning troublshooting, but I'd rather be ahead of it when we get to construction. 😞

The key is that when I am able to unlock the data link, then I can sometimes update the table when I reopen the drawing.  This really should be more simple and yet another case where you'd like things to be as intuitive as they appear....

TdH

[unsivilaudio]

Todd thank you so much for you work on this.  I really do appreciate you taking the time to help me with MY problem.

[thepworth]

Sorry that I can't come up with a viable solution that addresses either of our issues.  I'll let you know if I find something that works.

Cheers!

[thepworth]

say, are you able to unlock your excel file from C3D to be able to insert rows? - select the table & right click then unlock.  Mine is not consistent, as mentioned in my previous posting.

[unsivilaudio]

I have not yet been able to replicate that behaivior, even created dummy excel files to try and do so.  The only cells I can add/delete rows or columns on are exterior (expanding outward), I.E. 'A1' will let me add a row above but not below, 'A62' (my bottom-most cell) will let me add a row below but not above, 'A19' will let me add a column to the left only, 'D19' (farthest right) will let me add a column to the right only.  Any of those add-ons will let me add a row/column either way, but no where inside the original spreadsheet.  If I detach the data link I can add row/columns like normal as if in excel itself.