topic Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 09:37:03 GMT

Hi there,

I have been tasked with setting up a report that automatically outputs attribute data from my drawings to an excel spreadsheet which is then used to upload to out order management system to automatically create part numbers and all the associated attributes. A separate spreadsheet will also be created from ACADE to again upload to our order management system to automatically create the BOM for each contract. The idea of this exercise is to standardise and automate the process more thus reducing overall time spent on loading parts and creating BOMs on each contract. However I do know how to create reports for outputting the attribute data on the drawings onto a spreadsheet. However the spreadsheets need to carry a specific format for loading onto our order management system. Is it possible set up a report that outputs specific attribute data on the drawings to a spreadsheet that already exists in a specific location??? In otherwords I don't want ACADE electrical creating a new spreadsheet each time I run the report as it need to be a specific spreadsheet. Can anyone advise me on how this can be done?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

dougmcalexander — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 05:31:57 GMT

I teach my clients to use the Automatic Reports option to produce wire list, BOM, wire label report, etc., so they can produce all necessary reports quickly, perhaps while they grab a refill of coffee.

You can create a report format file, using the Report Format Setup utility, that can output a table to drawings that get added to the end of the project, while simultaneously creating a report that is output to a specific file (i.e. spreadsheet). This can be a spreadsheet that everyone shares on a network drive or it can be a user-specific spreadsheet that is output to a folder on the local drive. In the case of the latter, I advise my clients to create a folder on their C drive named AcadE Reports. Set the path to this folder, and filename, while defining the Save to File option in the Report Format Setup. Once the report is created you can copy it to your project folder or wherever you need to place it.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 08:57:40 GMT

Thank you for your reply Doug.

I do have similar reports set up. However my issue here is that the spreadsheet in which I need populate already exists and needs to carry a specific format for uploading to our order management system. Is it possible to store this spreadsheet locally and set up an automatic report to populate specific fields of the spreadsheet?

Thanks again.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

rhesusminus — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 10:06:54 GMT

You might need to do some programming. When you run a report to file, you're asked if you want to run a script.
Here, you can create a macro/script that takes the output from the report, and manipulate it anyway you want. Like putting the data into specific field into a specific document at a specific location.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 10:09:22 GMT

Thank you.

Do you have any examples of scripts that I can use?

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

rhesusminus — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 10:36:05 GMT

No, unfortunately not.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 11:13:06 GMT

Ok thank you.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

ccad2509 — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:27:07 GMT

You mean like this choose your report

specify the template file and target file

select your attributes

add markers in your template file

generate your report

all out of the box pity its not ACADE

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:26:30 GMT

Oh great. This looks promising. I will give it a try and let you know how I get on.

Thank you so much.

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

ccad2509 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:08:59 GMT

sorry Arlene that's not ACADE

its me having a dig at president for life Doug

who has over the years made a big issue on how flexible and good ACADE is but goes very quite when he cant sell you training or a solution

when another product does what people want in this forum out of the box without investing in custom coding there is also a deafening silence from president Doug

Re: Drawing Spreadsheet to Excel File

Arlene_Brown — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:15:06 GMT

Yeah I guessed that as I tried searching for the command and couldn't find it.