Only Export Certain Data to Excel?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am trying to export data regarding terminals to an excel file. I was wondering if there was a way to only export certain aspects of this data. For example, I end up with an excel sheet that has many blank columns because my terminals do not have certain descriptors filled out. 

I am doing this because I would like to create a clean and excel-linked table in my drawings that I can export to and import from. I cannot hide or delete columns once there is a data link, so the exported data needs to have the same layout and my desired end-product imported data, as far as I can tell.

In case I am not being clear, I have attached a picture. The current data exports in the format as the top table. I can clean up the table in excel and import in the desired format, which is the format of the bottom table. However, if I make a change to my drawing and want to export that data to the same file, I would need to do excel work to reformat that table again. I would like to have this be more automated.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[TRLitsey]

Hi there,

If I understand you correctly I don't think you can do that.  When you generate the table within the ACE environment the data cells are handled one way.  When you import a table from an Excel spread sheet the data cells are handled differently and they are not dynamically linked.  I can tell you how it behaves, maybe someone can chime in with a good explanation of why it works the way it does.  If someone has a slick trick to handle this I would love to hear it.

In the mean time you can create your own templates for the tables you can generate.

Good luck

Select the data types you want in your table and save the format to use it again with another project.  This is not creating a table so to speak, it is creating a format file for tables to be created with.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to export additional data then is standard? I am trying to export data that would typically go into a terminal strip, so I would like to be able to export data regarding terminals that a specific terminal is connected to in additional columns (Pin1, Pin2). Is that possible? 

[TRLitsey]

Hi again,

I am sure there are a lot of folks much better at reports than I am but I will give you my two cents worth.  First you should look through the 'out of the box' reports provided.  With each report you can pick which elements you want collected and the format you want the tables to be displayed.  Each report has predefined elements you can select from.  To say that another way the reports are focused for specific intent so the typical elements reported in a Bill of Materials will be a different selection than the elements offered for selection when doing a PLC I/O Address and Descriptions report.  Look through the various report formats and you will probably find one that will give you what you are looking for.

That being said there used to be a thing called User Defined Attributes or something like that.  I have not used that in a long time but as I recall you can define any attribute you want to be included in the report.  What has to be done is to get into the report setup and fill out all the information to define a new attribute to be included with the report.  I remember it being a fair amount of work to set up so I would encourage you to look around the reports offered before setting off do the custom design path.

Good luck