Create Table from Attached .dxe File

[ArchD]

Is there a way to create a new table from an already existing .dxe file attached to a drawing?

If I do a data extraction and drop in a table that references it, then xref that file into another, the dxe file shows up as a nest object in the host drawing. I would like to be able to create a table from this nested dxe file without going through the whole data extraction wizard. 

Just wondering if this is possible.

[john.vellek]

Hi @ArchD,

Is it possible to attach some sample files and I can test on my side?

Please send me the table drawing, the DXE and the host file (It can be sample data)

[ArchD]

Here is a drawing that has a block with an attribute and a table linked to the data extraction. If you delete the table, is there a way to drop in a new table using the attached data extraction file without having to go through the data extraction process again?

The reason I ask is because the attached data extraction file shows up in host drawings if this drawing is xrefed into and would like to be able to create tables from it within the host drawings that actually require the information that I extract, if that makes sense.

[john.vellek]

Hi Archie,

I think I understand what you are trying to.  The DXE does not contain the data but is the template which the extraction is utilizing.  If you insert a Table based upon a data extraction you can select the existing DXE file. You will still need to run the full data extraction in order to make the table but using the DXE that already exists makes  it a bit faster than having to set up the extraction query from scratch.

So, if you delete an existing data extraction table you will no longer be able to simply click on it and use Update. You can create a new table using the same query and insert that.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[ArchD]

From what it looks like to me is that the .dxe contained in the external reference window is the dxe file that the table is using, not the template that created the file. It seems like a waste to always have to run the data extraction wizard each time to create a new dxe just to get the same information that is already there.

That's a shame. Thanks for your input.

[john.vellek]

HI @ArchD,

Is there a reason you don't leave the table in the drawing and and then you can just let it update rather than going through a whole data extraction process again?

[ArchD]

When creating a table, you have an option under the insert options "From object data in the drawing (Data Extraction)" which brings you through the DE Wizard creating a new dxe, in my case a re-write of an existing dxe. If I need to show this table of information on multiple sheets but not nearly all, it seems counter productive to recreate it each time I need to create a sheet. Of course I could do that I do now and drop the table and various texts blocks needed for the different sheets, but that's messy in the base file. 

It'd be nice to have another option to create a table from an existing dxe. Sorta like data links to dxe files.

No biggie though, I manage, just seems counter productive not to be able to create tables from already established dxe files.

[john.vellek]

Hi @ArchD,

What if you build the table in a separate drawing and xref it into all your sheets as required. Then when it needs updating it will be updated everywhere?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.