Linking SW with external Excel file

[Standing]

How can I link the SolidWorks properties (for example: $PRPSHEET:"SW-File Name&quot to an external Excel file? What I am looking for is the ability to fill in SolidWorks properties and have the Excel file be filled in automatically.

Bradley

 

[SBaugh]

You will have to use a fomula to link one sheet to another. Have both the DT and the external sheet open and click "=" and pick the other sheet cell. That should link it, but you might want to use VBA code as well.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Standing]

I must be missing something here. I insert a Design Table in my SolidWorks part model. Edit the Design Table, click "=", then click on the external excel worksheet cell that has text in it. Now I click back on the Design Table green check mark. All I get is "=" in the cell. I am using Microsoft Excel 2000 (9.0.6926 SP-3) and SolidWorks 2003 SP 5.1



Bradley

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I'm confused!

Bradley
From your original post I got the impression you were trying to populate an external Excel spreadsheet from a model parts custom properties. If that's correct, then simply create a DT from your part, then save it as a seperate excel file.

If, however, you want to populate a parts DT from an external spreadsheet then:-
Open the parts DT.
Open the external spreadsheet.
In the parts DT highlight a cell & type =.
Activate the external spreadsheet.
Click the cell with the data you want referenced.
Hit Enter on your keyboard.
Parts DT should now show external cell data.

Good Luck



CorBlimeyLimey, Barrie, Ontario.
Sign on a Barrie restaurant reads, "We serve Molsons, but we only smoke Ribs"
faq559-863

 

[Standing]

CorBlimeyLimey,
Your 1st statement is right. I would like to use the DT to populate the external Excel spreadsheet. However I could not get any properties to show up on the DT.

I tried your 2nd method of “In the parts DT highlight a cell & type =”
The DT did not change at all. The cell was blank.



Bradley

 

[JNR]

You cannot link FROM an EMBEDDED design table TO an external Excel file. However, you can link the other way around. This is because the embedded Excel DT object never has a true file name to link to. It only ever exists when opened in temporary "RAM-land". However, if you are using SW 2003 or later, you should be able to use an external design table spreadsheet (separate Excel file) and link both ways.

A couple of pointers - You should make sure you open your DT in a separate window so you get all the Excel tool bar, etc. Also note that you can have multiple sheets in a DT, but SW will only ever use the first sheet for the DT. Finally the downside to external DT's is that you have to do more careful file management.

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

A hobbit's lifestyle sounds rather pleasant...... it's the hairy feet that turn me off.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

JNR
I've lost count of the number of times you've posted a similar reply regarding link direction of DT's. Perhaps you should post an FAQ about it.

Even if no-one checks the FAQ before they post, at least you could simply refer them to FAQ559-xxxx and save the wear & tear on your fingers.


CorBlimeyLimey, Barrie, Ontario.
Sign on a Barrie restaurant reads, "We serve Molsons, but we only smoke Ribs"
faq559-863

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Bradley
"Your 1st statement is right. I would like to use the DT to populate the external Excel spreadsheet. However I could not get any properties to show up on the DT."

After creating your part & typing in the properties you want, insert a DT. Make sure Auto-create is selected in the Source section & that New parameters & New configurations are selected in the Options section. Click the Green check mark. A blank DT should appear. Now RMB on the DT icon in the Feature Manager & select Edit Table. A "Add Rows and Columns" dialogue box should appear and it should have a list of all the properties related to the part. Highlight all the ones that you want to include in the DT. Click the Show unselected items again then click OK.
Your DT should now be populated with your chosen properties.

Let us know if this works.


CorBlimeyLimey, Barrie, Ontario.
Sign on a Barrie restaurant reads, "We serve Molsons, but we only smoke Ribs"
faq559-863

 

[Standing]

Works great for Configuration Specific properties, but the Custom properties do not show up to pick. Is there a way for the design table to allow picking of Custom properties?

In the Add Rows and Columns dialog under configurations there is only "Default". In the Parameters dialog there is all my Configuration Specific properties. When I pick them they do show up in the design table.


Bradley

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Config Specific Props seem to take preference over Custom Props. I always use only CSP's,whether or not configs are used. That way if I add a config later, I don't have to redo the Custom Props in the Config Props!!! You have all the same choices in CSP as you do in Custom...as yet, I have not figured out why SW has both? This may not be the way that's intended, but it works fine for me.
Try deleting your CSP's and have only Custom Props or move your Custom Props to CSP.



CorBlimeyLimey, Barrie, Ontario.
Sign on a Barrie restaurant reads, "We serve Molsons, but we only smoke Ribs"
faq559-863

 

[Standing]

I tried deleting all my Configuration Specific properties and had only Custom properties, which did not work. We have to many drawings 21,000+ with both Custom properties and Configuration Specific properties to move our Custom Props to Configuration Specific properties, which management would not like.
I am trying to write a Visual Basic 6.0 program to read the properties and insert the data into an Excel form. This may do the trick.
Thanks for you help CorBlimeyLimey,

Bradley

 

[JNR]

CorBlimeyLimey, you are right, I should work up a FAQ and post it. Trouble is I feel that I really should find time to check out any corrections due to the SW2003/2004 changes to DT's before I write a FAQ. I think FAQ should be definintive and accurate whereas I'm comfortable with suggestions, outlines and general pointers in the forum threads. People can come back for more detail if they need it. At the moment I have no spare time at all. The only reason I make time to log in to the forum is to give my brain a break!!!

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

A hobbit's lifestyle sounds rather pleasant...... it's the hairy feet that turn me off.