Excel Datalink Background Fill Colour

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

I'm using a table associated with a datalink to a range in the Excel spreadsheet. What I want is to have the background fill colour of each cell follows what's in the original Excel range. Something like the below left hand side. But the table in Autocad only reflects the font colour setting without the background fill colour setting (right hand side). How can I do this? Thank you very much!

Max

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am not sure that this is possible but if you have some sample files that you could attach to a post I am happy to take a look and see if I can think of any options to help.

[Edit] I understood your question to be that AutoCAD could read the color number in the Excel cells and convert that to a background fill color.

However, if all you want to do is apply a fill color in Excel then the datalink should allow you to have that color applied in the DWG.

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

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

That's what I want - I just need to have the background colour in Excel to appear in AutoCAD drawing. Don't need to base the colour on the cell values - that would definitely need some coding. Would to great to know how you get this. Thank you.

I can post sample files if you still need.

The numbers in the table are somewhat misleading but actually they are irrelevant. 

Max

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I just need to have the background colour in Excel to appear in AutoCAD drawing

Please look to that video, it shows 2 options to get XLS-content including background color into AutoCAD

• simple copy and paste
• using commands _DATALINK and _TABLE

HTH, - alfred -

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

In excel, apply the background fill colors that you want in each cell. Then in AutoCAD start the Datalink command and make sure that you select to keep all formatting of the Excel file. Then insert a table based upon the datalink.

If you have your sample files I can help you set this up.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much Alfred for taking time on your video - very easy to follow! I did exactly the same way. For Copy-and-Paste no problem. For Datalink way, initially it also worked. But after I change the background and refresh datalink in dwg, only font colour got refreshed. Background didn't.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Pls see attched files.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> But after I change the background and refresh datalink in dwg,

>> only font colour got refreshed. Background didn't.

Sorry to say ... confirmed (with 2018 Update 1)

Have not found a way to get the cell fill color(s) updated with "update links" ;(

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

It's not the end of the world.  Really appreciate your time and help, Alfred!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I found that I can update the cell background colors too but not when there is the formula in the cell in Excel. I believe this is on the Excel file side. I tried applying the manual colors and numbers and then Un-protecting the cells. Now I can update the table in AutoCAD properly.

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

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Yes, good news I also found out I could have what I wanted by properly setting up the datalink as follows:

Select "Use Excel formatting" & "Keep table updated to Excel formatting" 

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have a grey background fill on a DataLinked Table Linked into Revit, and it is showing up solid black. How can I effectively get this to link and preserve/control the color? I"m using AutoCAD 2019 and Revit 2019.

[pendean]

REVIT forum folks are likely to be the source for your answer https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/bd-p/133