topic Re: Dynamic Table Data in AutoCAD Forum

Dynamic Table Data

renee2XPMS — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 21:25:38 GMT

Hi,

I can Draw just fine but these data/attribute things have me clueless.

My Problem: I need to make a table that automatically updates various info as the quantity of the main object increases. Ideally my attributes would "feed" the table.

I tried the data extraction wizard but that just gives me an updated count of my object, not total cost etc.

What I need is how to update total cost of my object as the total count increases. Should I be using data extraction or manually make a table using fields?

Thanks!

Thanks,

Re: Dynamic Table Data

ChicagoLooper — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 23:32:17 GMT

It won't be dynamic but you can rerun your DataExtraction again. Be sure to SAVE your dxe file in your project folder and reuse it so you don't have to input the parameters again. The dxe file can serve as a Data Extraction Template.

Run the Data Extraction and create your Table. You can either insert the Table directly into your drawing OR create an external Table in a spreadsheet.

See image-1.

Image-1

You can edit your table. For example, you can add a column for per unit cost. You can also add another column to calculate the 'extension' using a formula., e.g. =C3*D3 See Image-2

In addition to columns you can also add a row. The row can be at the bottom with another formula, e.g. =SUM(E3:E7)

See Image-2

Image-2

If your objects change, you can rerun the Dataextraction again using the dxe file you saved earlier.

Re: Dynamic Table Data

renee2XPMS — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:54:06 GMT

Thanks for the reply! I pretty much get all you suggest and have tried it.
I need to have a table automatically update
-number of solar panels
-total wattage production
- total annual savings
I am good on all these requirements other than having the table update the
number of panels.
In other words...I can get the number of panels to update with data
extraction. I can also use formulas to get the other info. but I cant seem
to get a table together that uses data extraction for quantity and triggers
the formulas in the cells. I would expect the attributes like cost to
update with quantity but it doesnt. It seems like something that would be
pretty typical.

Re: Dynamic Table Data

ChicagoLooper — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 01:52:21 GMT

All that information is data and AutoCAD entities are notoriously lacking in data storage and retrieval.

Unfortunately you can't create a dynamic table as you've described. If your data changes, you'll need to rerun the data extraction using the dxe you saved on the first run. If you didn't save the dxe in the first place you've missed a critical component of the data extraction feature. No, the saved dxe isn't the answer--it won't make your table dynamic, it's just the best you can do if you're unwilling use a different workflow or another program.

Re: Dynamic Table Data

renee2XPMS — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:54:06 GMT

OK. Thanks for the reply!