Tables, Formatting & Data Link Woes - AutoCAD

[arkelec]

I've been looking into creating Revision Tables and other linked data & I've run into something of a doom loop.

Workflow (so far):

1. Create Excel Workbook with named worksheet & defined range.
2. Create additional named worksheets with the same format & range (for use later).
3. Create data link in dwg, selecting the named range.
4. Insert table using link/range.
5. Format table to reflect the old "live objects".

So far, so good.  But the dwg file has 8-10 sheets, each needing it's own table (step (2) above).

I can copy & paste the table, but I can't break the data link & reassign a new one for that instance of the table (pasted copy, table nº 2).  I can create new data links to the other worksheets, but can't assign an instance of this formatted table to them (if I change the link of one, they all change).

I can insert a new table nº 2, repeating (4) above, but the format is wrong.  I can create a table style, but this does not actually affect the cell size or text formatting.  I can create a cell style, but cant easily apply it.

There is a greater issue though, which is ultimately, I want to create a template for this dwg file, but the data links would be fixed & inflexible.

So my questions are:

1. Have I missed something?
2. Is there a better way for this sort of function?

The drawing border will need some other interactive text elements, for which I was going to look at Sheet Set Manager.  But I haven't actually got off the ground, yet.

Any ideas, gratefully received.

This post has been edited due to: @heather_tracy added the product to the title to help more community members find this topic. 

[arkelec]

Isn't this jus typical.  Having spent the best part of two days trying to resolve to a sensible workflow, I found a solution to most of what I had identified I wanted to achieve.

But that solution retains a barrier to creating a template, as each table data link will need manually changing (or adding) to a new Excel data file (again, unless I have missed something).

Anyway, here's how I got the table insert, format copy & paste to work:

1. Insert table (no data link) & format cell size, text alignment, cell margins, text size, etc. - see image below.
2. Copy & paste table.
3. Assign data link as required.

With the data link, make sure the "Use Excel formatting" box is unticked under "Cell Formatting", or the table formatting performed in (1) above, will be overridden.

I think this workflow might be a halfway house to resolving the burden of Revision Control, but it will need to be tested in the real world before that is established.

It may be possible to further automate, but I think Vault is involved & that is not practical for small & fringe use.

Any suggestions on LISP to overcome this would be welcome.

P.S. I know LISP is needed to update the links, to I might be posting on that, next.

[heather_tracy]

Hi @arkelec,

I wanted to check in and see if you still needed assistance, or if you found a solution to your question already? Let us know if you need further assistance by providing an update or if you have found a solution, please share it with the community so other members who may have the same question could learn from your experience.

All the best,

Heather | Community Manager

[R_Tweed]

Have you considered using a ssm editor?  There are a couple in app store.

This would be one spot to handle all sheet related info. Title block, sht num, page num etc.  and revisions.

You could remove the multiple ranges, multiple links from your workflow. 

[heather_tracy]

Hello, @arkelec,

Did the information provided by @R_Tweed help you and answer your question?

If yes, please click on the "Accept Solution" button. This will assist other community users in finding and benefiting from this information.

If not, please do not hesitate to give an update in this thread so all community members receive an update on the progression of your question, and can suggest next steps that may be helpful for you to achieve what you're looking for.

All the best,

Heather | Community Manager

[arkelec]

Hi @R_Tweed, I'm already using SSM & that App to handle the title block stuff

The Revision Table would take a bit of setting up & there would be a lot of fields.

The table is an easier, cleaner solution.  Well it would be, it there was a way to update the links & range without having to click inside each table & re-path.

[arkelec]

Hi @heather_tracy , there doesn't seem to be an Ideas page for general AutoCAD, but it would be useful to suggest/request Autodesk look at any improvement that could be made to the re-pathing of the Excel files containing table data.

[heather_tracy]

Hi @arkelec,

Apologies for the delayed response. I did some digging and found that you could post this idea in the Feedback Community if you are a member of this group and have access to it. If not, please reach out to Dan Kuhmann (@dan908) for further guidance.

All the best,

Heather | Community Manager