DXE tables in AutoCAD

[Titanium5]

May column headings be switched with row headings in a Data Extraction Tables?

john.vellek has embedded your image(s) for clarity

@Titanium5

john.vellek has edited your subject line for clarity: DXE tables

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

DATAEXTRACTION can't change rows with columns and vice versa.

Columns are always the attributes for an object ... and every exported object is one row.

Sorry, - alfred -

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Titanium5,

As @Alfred.NESWADBA correctly indicated, this can not be done in AutoCAD.  You could however extract the data to an Excel file and do this transition in Excel.  Here is a link that might help get you started.

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

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

You can't switch column headings with row headings in the data extraction wizard, but it can still be done. Try this:

1. Perform data extraction using the wizard. For output, select the xls option and save the spreadsheet.Save the data extraction to xls.
2. Open the xls file and COPY all cells with data, include the column headings. Then in an empty area of your spreadsheet PASTE the cells using the TRANSPOSE option.

Use the transpose option within the PASTE function.

3. This will pivot your table and the result will flip-flop the columns and rows.

Columns become rows and rows become columns.

[Titanium5 · Accepted solution]

Thank you all for your responses and feedback 🙂

[Titanium5]

Will I still have the table linked with data extraction function?

[ChicagoLooper]

Unfortunately no. The DATAEXTRACTION operation merely 'extracts' properties associated with objects in the drawing or properties of the drawing itself. It can also extract attributes of blocks in the drawing. In order to have the cells in a table linked to objects in the drawing file, you'll need a completely different procedure, such as a DATALINK or FIELDS.

Datalink: this will link an external file (e.g. xls, xlsx, csv) to a table that you place in your drawing. From the external file, you can link all rows and columns, a row, a column or a 'range' of columns & rows. 

Fields: You can use a field to populate a cell in the table. There are many types and purposes of fields. Examples: the radius of a circle, the viewport scale, the area of a rectangle, the name of a layout tab, line weight, line type, the file path or the drawing name, etc. etc.

The table itself is also something you should consider. Even without linking the table, there are benefits to using a Table  vs. Drawing-horizontal-and-vertical-lines-and-placing-text-within-the-grid. Like a text style or a multi-leader style,  you can also have a table style, where a range of table settings will constitute a 'Table Style.' They even have functions, albeit limited, similar, or identical to a spreadsheet. When you finalize your table style you can save it in your dwt so it'll be available for future drawings.