Attaching Custom ACAD Blocks attributes to Database or excel 2

[mstg007]

Here is the magical question.

Is it possible to create a GENERIC Block in autocad with attributes ( lets use 3 ) and when you insert the block into autocad it prompts for the 3 values...

In where you put the vaules, is it possible to link that value to a Excel CELL ( A1 ) for example... and ( B2 ) ( C3 ) and then hit ok.

Then the attribute through the block will show the LINKED cell data.

I hope this sounds simple.... Let me know what you think...thxs

 

[borgunit]

Yes, what you are saying is possible. Basically, you are inserting a block with attributes. From that point, you can either "push a button" (write a program to link it to a table somewhere). Do you have any programming knowledge?

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford

 

[mstg007]

honestly.... sadly.... and wantingly to do so.... I do not have any programming language... Any ideas of what I could do?

 

[borgunit]

Do you have the add-on CD, Express Tools from Autodesk? It contain a built in program to import attribute values from a delimited text file. The express tools were free at one time. We got them when they were free.

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford

 

[mstg007]

I do have the express tools for Autocad 2000... and the express tools came with our install of autocad 2k...

 

[borgunit]

It should be under EXPRESS>>BLOCKS>>IMPORT ATTRIBUTE INFORMATION. The help file of the Express tools describe how to format the file for importing (ATTIN). The easiest way to do it is to set it up in Excel how it needs to be and then export the file as a delimitted text file to import into ACAD.

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford

 

[mstg007]

tried it... no luck.... any other ideas...

thank you

 

[borgunit]

I have programmed things like that in the past, but an off the shelf solution doesn't come to mind.

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford

 

[mstg007]

do you think it is something that is hard to program... I would have figured this could be usefull to anyone! is there a way to create this so that it can work between any spread sheet EXCEL and any AUTOCAD DRAWing?

I sure hope we can get this....


thanks again for your help...

 

[SEAnGATE]

hey mstg007,
I am currently using autoCAD 2004 and I just used the 'attout' and 'attin' functions in the express tools menu to link to an excel file and it worked great. I'm guessing the problem that you might have is that you can't use the excel cell number (A1, etc.). you have to first create the block with attributes in an autocad drawing then use the 'attout' command and it will create a tab deliminated text file, then you can open this file and in excel and edit it however you want... save it then go back to the CAD drawing and do the 'attin' command and select the text file that you just edited and it should update all of your changes.
I hope this works for you because it just solved a huge headache of mine.

Sean

 

[mstg007]

Hey,
Do you think this can work dyanmically?

Or a better question...

Do you think they have the attin and attout for Autocad 2000 or 2002?

If there is, do you know where to get it at?


thanks seangate

 

[exit]

Hi,

a star for Sean, a link for "mstg"
thread555-59790

Win NT4.0(SP6),2000(SP3)
AC 2000i(SP2), ADT 3.0(SP3),
AC 2002, ADT 3.3,
AC 2004, ADT 2004