topic Windchill and Datalinks in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

Windchill and Datalinks

olhado — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:04:46 GMT

This is a real long shot question but I see other Windchill questions posted under the umbrella of forums.autodesk.com and I am literally at my wits end.

We use the AutoCAD: Electrical plugin for PTC and for the most part it works; but we also use Datalinks. Our CAD team discovered that if you attach an Excel file that is saved as a xls file as a file that is "automatically downloaded" you can access it in Workspace (under a .dir directory). They are able to attach it as a datalink.

The error I get is "The Specified Excel file is not valid or not supported." However, if I download the xls to my local drive (say my desktop), then I can attached it from there.

I have reinstalled the Winchill Manager, I reinstalled AutoCAD: Electrical, I updated AutoCAD Electrical (Autodesk Access), I have reinstalled Office 365. I disabled all Excel Add-ins. I have basically followed this link have but as I indicated the datalinks work when on a proper local windows directory.

Anyways, if there is anyone else out there who also use Windchill with AutoCAD Electrical, then maybe you can be of help.

Some humor for those in 2035.....

Re: Windchill and Datalinks

ccad2509 — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:27:38 GMT

your only hope is if you find somone whos done it before your choices are this and talking to PTC as autodesk effectevly dosent support or want to play with any ofther software vendors hence the lack of any meaningful support

Re: Windchill and Datalinks

arshdeepsingh404 — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:31:13 GMT

Hello @olhado

Not sure if this will work but check out the article below, This helped me once with acade 2022 excel data link issues.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-using-Datalink-in-AutoCAD-cannot-add-link-because-excel-cannot-be-found.html