Reading external excel and creating racks in AutoCAD

[SaddamShaikh77]

Hello,

I have created an addin in AutoCAD in which I can read data from excel(length,height,width,obstacles,warehouse dimensions). I need to create racks and pallets and place them in the warehouse. Please guide me on how to deal with this. Any sample code will help.

Thank you

[TheCADnoob]

This is a pretty broad request and im not sure what the end result you are going for is.

Have you looked into using dynamic blocks? https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU/AutoC...

If you are looking form more of an automated process have you looked into the application of generative design?

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/article/Generative-Design-Architectural-Space-Planning-...

[pendean]

Is this for warehouse shelving/storage/racks design?

[SaddamShaikh77]

Thank you.Yes it is for creating racks/shelving using data from excel and creating addin in AutoCAD to automate proecss.

[Sea-Haven]

You said "I have created an add in to read excel"

is this correct or are you asking how to do all this ?

Your request may become very big and are you prepared to pay for some customisation ?

Post a sample xls.

[SaddamShaikh77]

I have created add in and trying to implement the codes for creating a rack and pallets. Reading excel and trying to get data from it. I am not getting how to create rack and place according to dimensions and exclude Bims and units in-between paths.

Please find attached excel sample.

[Sea-Haven]

Your excel looks good so want some one now to read it and do all the coding to draw the racks ? Do you have the draw rack code or is this the real question ?

Happy to do it for a price contact me via private mail this could become a big job and time consuming most of us posting do so free but this is more a commercial answer. There are others here also that could provide solutions for a fee.

Do you only want to know how to read the excel then use Getexcel.lsp easy to find and free.

[SaddamShaikh77]

Yes, I want to draw the racks. I don't have code to draw racks and I can't pay as I am doing this for my organization where I work.

It would be helpful if you could provide me guidelines or some help for draw racks using excel data or sample for draw racks.

Thank you.

[Sea-Haven]

If you have no lisp experience in drawing objects then drawing the racks may be a big task. You need to be able to draw racks first then add the read excel when that is working.

If the racks are blocks then that helps. 

How is it done now ?

[Scottu2]

Saddam.shaikhQ959M,

After looking at your spreadsheet, I thought it may be better to reverse the flow of data.

Rather than using the spreadsheet to make the drawing, make a drawing to create a list in a spreadsheet.

For example, use a dynamic-block rectangle with stretchable distances 1 & 2 for x & y to represent your building and another one for the different Rack Block areas.  Also, make a dynamic-block rectangle for a rack and half-rack with the minimal attributes that match the Rack Block charts in step-2 & 3 and the BOQ-Output chart. 

Then export (via lisp routine) your building size, rack block size and racks with levels to the same drawing or to an excel spreadsheet like a data base list.  (I was trying to figure out how the BOQ-Output numbers came to be, but you would be the best to handle that, rather than me racking my brain over it).

Good Luck,

Scott.

[SaddamShaikh77]

Thanks..!
Rather than using lisp can I use ObjectArx and dotnet with c#?

Also, I am getting excel as input for racks, so reverse workflow, I am not sure will work. But will surely give a try

[SaddamShaikh77]

Hello Sean,

I have no lisp experience but I am familiar with ObjectArx and AutoCAD with dot net api.

I actually want to know how to draw racks using dot net api with c#.

I will hardcode it for now and then will implement for excel.

Currently, it is manual process. But I guess creating blocks of racks and placing them according to positions will be a good idea.

Please express your thought. Or if you could help with draw racks api or some codes that will expedite my process.

Thank you..!

[Sea-Haven]

There is no problems with .net and the insert command, I dont use .net.

Using blocks is the way to go then you can do stuff like insert block x scale 1.5 y scale 1 so get a 1.5 times rack.

For me would do all of it in Autocad not use excel at all.

Just google making rectang, insert, pline, line, arc, circle using .net once you have these functions then you just call them. 

Another way as excel has VBA you can control Autocad from excel and draw objects in Autocad.