Link an Excel Spreadsheet in a Revit Project

[p_brianXNTJJ]

In AutoCAD, it is possible to link an Excel Spreadsheet to a drawing, open said spreadsheet from AutoCAD via OLE, make edits to it IN EXCEL, and then the spreadsheet in AutoCAD is updated with the new information when the Excel file is saved...

THIS IS WHAT I WANT

My company lists out system classifications, labeling methods, etc. used in the field using a simple Excel Spreadsheet. I want to link this spreadsheet into my Revit file so that I can put this spreadsheet into our Sheets that are eventually printed for construction documents. Why is this a hard thing to do? I don't want to import data. I don't want to import formulas. I just want to link a simple spreadsheet into Revit so that the data in the spreadsheet is visible in Revit and updated whenever the spreadsheet is updated. I feel like this is not a difficult task, and I may even try to make a simple Revit add-in that will do this.

Does anyone know how to do this? Or perhaps a workaround that would effectively do the same thing? I would really like to avoid just taking a screenshot of the spreadsheet and importing that into the project onto a sheet, changing the screenshot anytime the spreadsheet changes.

[RLY_15]

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-import-exce...

Of the proposed options,

• DB Link doesn't align to your needs (it's suited for mapping to modelled elements, not generalized specifications/legends/notation)
• AutoCAD as an intermediary would probably require you to execute a command in some way to background open + save the file when you finish work in Excel so that the changes propagate up to Revit
• Add-Ins are generally well thought out options if you're willing to pay the associated workstation costs
• You're not really vibing with image-based updates
• Dynamo is a one-click option but requires you to initiate the update. Dynamo Player can make this relatively painless if you don't like working in the Dynamo Environment, but you still have to remember to do it.

My understanding is that DiRoots add-in is a synchronous update, though I have not used the add-in personally (someone correct me on this). Generally speaking for add-ins, you have a multitude of options for one-click solutions, and a much smaller number for synchronous/scheduled methods.

As for the venting, all I can offer is to make a Revit Ideas post or support the ones that exist which match your request. This is a forum of users helping users, the pertinent Autodesk staff do not engage in this part of the forums unless there is a service-breaking issue (like the 2024 schema conflict). I can't really comment on why the OLE method isn't integrated into Revit, except probably because it originates from a completely different dev team.

[SteveKStafford]

Look at Ideate Sticky and BIM Link.

[RDAOU]

I ve just replied to the same question on a different post...you might find that helpful see link below

 Import excel into Key Schedule - Autodesk Community

[p_brianXNTJJ]

That was helpful, but not quite what I was looking for. Thank you for your help though!

[p_brianXNTJJ · Accepted solution]

I figured out how to do it!

It's sort of a roundabout way to do it, but it worked so I'm happy

1. Create and Save your spreadsheet in Excel
2. Put your spreadsheet into a table in AutoCAD (not just paste-special)
   • Create a datalink to the Excel Spreadsheet file
   • Create a table
     • Select:  "From a data link"
     • Choose your newly created data link
     • Click:  "OK"
   • Place your table
   • Save the AutoCAD file
3. Link the AutoCAD file to your Revit file
   • I placed my file directly onto a sheet

Anytime you want to update the Excel Spreadsheet:

1. Edit the spreadsheet in Excel
   • Save
2. Run the "DatalinkUpdate" command in AutoCAD
   • Save
3. Reload the linked AutoCAD file in Revit
   • Save

You now have an Excel Spreadsheet linked to your Revit project that will update anytime edits are made to the spreadsheet without having to make the edits yourself in Revit or having to make the table using Schedules