Arguably the most valuable tool in the modern-day engineer’s toolbox is Microsoft Excel. People love Excel so much that after its launch in 1985 Microsoft redesigned the rest of the Microsoft Office programs to look more like it. Microsoft Excel’s dominance is undoubtedly tied to its flexibility. After all, I think it’s fair to say that nearly all of us have at least one Excel table that is “wickedly complex”. The introduction of OLE objects, and more recently AutoCAD Tables were noble attempts to synchronize AutoCAD with Excel, but still fell short for many real-world needs. What engineers wanted and needed was bidirectional synchronization between AutoCAD and Excel. Among the new features packed within AutoCAD 2008 is just that capability through use of Data Links.
To Recover Sheet Set Data Files Autocad For Mac
A drawing file is marked as damaged if corrupted data is detected, or if you request that the drawing be saved after a program failure. If the damage is minor, sometimes you can repair the drawing simply by opening it. Otherwise, you can use the following: RECOVER. Performs an audit on, and attempts to open, any drawing file.
To set up Data Links:. Press the Ok button 3 times to get out of the command, and insert your linked table. Assuming you checked the “Retain Formulas” option when setting up the Data Link, you’ll notice fields (text with a grey background) for any calculated value.
After inserting your Excel table, any updates made in the source Excel file will be updated in AutoCAD. By default however you will not be able to update data from AutoCAD, and have it update in the source Excel document. To modify a table value in AutoCAD, select a cell, right-click, and navigate down to “Locking”, and select “Unlock”.
After unlocking a cell, you can click into a cell, change a value. As a deliberate checks and balances, to update the Excel file, you must right-click once again, and select “Write Data Links to External Source“. So there you have it, a quick run-through on how to harness the new Data Links in AutoCAD 2008. Stay tuned for more in AutoCAD 2008.
Update: If you found this post helpful, you might also be interested in my other post titled “ “. You can find it and all of my posts related to Microsoft Excel by clicking the Excel tag below. I am now using AutoCAD 2013. Is it possible to change hatch layer via excel input through VBA or LISP? Or other methods? I have a plaza floor plan with each hatch for each unit (room) to represent unit type.
I also have an Excel spreadsheet that contains room number in column A (001, 002, 003, etc) and unit type in column B (Small Shop, Food, Hypermarket, Cinema, Department Store, etc). Is is possible to update layers in AutoCAD automatically when we change unit type in column B?
For example: Unit No. 001 change from Small Shop to Food, and Unit No. 005 change from Hypermarket to Cinema., and then the layer in AutoCAD updates automatically.
The floor plans contains about 300 units and 50 different layers to represent unit type. If this is possible, it would save the amount of time & effort than selecting hatch one by one and change the layer. I have never used VBA nor LISP before., but I eager to learn. Any clue will be much appreciated. Regards, Bagus. Hi Donnie, I am now using AutoCAD 2013.Is it possible to change hatch layer via excel input through VBA or LISP? Or maybe another method like MS Access etc.
I have a plaza floor plan with each hatch for each unit (room) to represent unit type. I also have an Excel spreadsheet that contains room number in column A (001, 002, 003, etc) and unit type in column B (Small Shop, Food, Hypermarket, Cinema, Department Store, etc). Is is possible to update layers in AutoCAD automatically when we change unit type in column B? For example: Unit No. 001 change from Small Shop to Food, and Unit No. 005 change from Hypermarket to Cinema., and then the layer in AutoCAD updates automatically. The floor plans contains about 300 units and 50 different layers to represent unit type.
If this is possible, it would save the amount of time & effort than selecting hatch one by one and change the layer. I have never used VBA nor LISP before., but I eager to learn. I also don’t limit the solution for those 2 programming language, any clue will be much appreciated Regards, Bagus. Hi Donnie, I have around 10 excel links from excel sheets to autocad tables, for about 100 drawings. As in, I have just as many excel SHEETS as Autocad DRAWINGS, all named accordingly.
To do this I made a block with these links, and using a script, inserted the same block into every drawing. All I have to do is open each drawing and change each of the 10 links to match the drawing/sheet which is open. (i am struggling to explain) I was hoping there would be a way of selecting all links at once and changing all 10 SHEETS to the correct one. (they are all pointing to the first sheet, because they are all the same exploded block). Believe it or not even changing each one individually, it is still saving me a lot of time but i was hoping it could be done a bit faster. Thanks Sigurd. Donnie, thaks for sharing this post, i found it really useful.
I have a problem uploading my changes to the excel table inserted in autocad to the original excel file. I tried to create a field with the area of a pline and I can upload it but when I modify the poliline and the field shows the new area, I click on update to source file and get the message: 1 object(s) found. 1 data link(s) could not be written out. 0 data link(s) written out successfully. It happens only when the object to which the field is referred is modified after creating the field. I am looking for a way to link values from individual cells of the spreadsheet to text boxes inside an Autocad 2010 dwg (I have used this tutorial to successfully link spreadsheet from excel to autocad that will actively update, but I am having trouble pulling data from the speadsheet within the autocad dwg).
I can use the “Formula” option from “insert field” in some cases but in some places I simply need for Autocad to duplicate a name or text filled cell. (This is where I have normally been able to use “insert field”, selected “object”, and used the “click selection icon” to tell Autocad what “text” or “multiline text” data to duplicate). This works between for linking “text” and “multiline text” boxes within the dwg will not acknowledge cells of the spread sheet that contain text rather than number values. Essentially I am setting up an excel spread sheet and will eventually link it to multiple Autocad dwg's that will need to pull data from the “master” excel file. When data is changed in a cell on the spread sheet it will be updating place values over multiple dwg files. (like I started to explain above, I can get the spreadsheet from excel to the multiple dwg's but I haven't been able to link data, mostly text data and oddly formated numbers that should be treated as a text entity, to designated places within the autocad dwg.). Has anyone figured out a way to link an Excel range that has hidden columns into acad2010 and successfully create a table that does not include the hidden cells?
For example, my data range is A2:M22, but I do not want columns B-F to be includedis there any way to do this? I saw an earlier post suggesting pivot tables but that does not seem to work in this situation. A Second, unrelated question, has anyone scaled a linked table in acad only to need to insert rows into the table and have the new text come in at the original scale when updated? Is there a way to set the table so updates will come in at the proper scale? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!! I want to create many layouts in Autocad 2008 with a table on its with some text field like the name of the table, the number of the table, the scale I want that Autocad takes the info from an Excel sheet where the data are stored in many rows (name, number, scale) for each layout. I can make a table with those data link on it but i wanna copy the table on each layout but it must take the data from the subsequent row.
Example: The table 1 take the data from the row 1 of an Excel sheet and is on the layout 1. On the layout 2 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 2, on the layout 3 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 3, etc So how can i edit the reference data link that are in the table automatically? Thanks in advance and excuse me for my english Georg Ceci. I want to create many layouts in Autocad 2008 with a table on its with some text field like the name of the table, the number of the table, the scale I want that Autocad takes the info from an Excel sheet where the data are stored in many rows (name, number, scale) for each layout. I can make a table with those data link on it but i wanna copy the table on each layout but it must take the data from the subsequent row. Example: The table 1 take the data from the row 1 of an Excel sheet and is on the layout 1.
On the layout 2 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 2, on the layout 3 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 3, etc So how can i edit the reference data link that are in the table automatically? Thanks in advance and excuse me for my english Georg Ceci. I posted the following Excel Data Link question on Autdesk forum without respone. Can anyone help me with this?
When I move a drawing which is linked to an excel spreadsheet, I have issues with the path when I click on a cell to open the Data Link File. Is there a way to get Autocad to look in the current drawing directory for the spreadsheet?
I’m always putting the spreadsheet in my directory with the drawing. I can open the excel file through my XRef utility fine. The problem only occurs when I click on a cell and then select open data link file. The path will be an old path that does not show up in my XRef utility. I posted the following Excel Data Link question on Autdesk forum without respone. Can anyone help me with this?
When I move a drawing which is linked to an excel spreadsheet, I have issues with the path when I click on a cell to open the Data Link File. Is there a way to get Autocad to look in the current drawing directory for the spreadsheet? I’m always putting the spreadsheet in my directory with the drawing. I can open the excel file through my XRef utility fine. The problem only occurs when I click on a cell and then select open data link file.
The path will be an old path that does not show up in my XRef utility. @ Vince – I do not know of an “out of the box” way of doing what you are talking about. As you alluded to, you would be better served developing a customization (VBA,.NET, LISP, etc). @ Javier – The illustration I have above is just one of the sample DWG/XLS’s shipped with AutoCAD.
Nothing is actually linked to any real linework in the drawing. I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to unlock a cell, link it to some linework, and then write it back to the XLS. Haven’t personally tried that idea – so I’m not certain it can be done.
@ Vince – I do not know of an “out of the box” way of doing what you are talking about. As you alluded to, you would be better served developing a customization (VBA,.NET, LISP, etc). @ Javier – The illustration I have above is just one of the sample DWG/XLS’s shipped with AutoCAD. Nothing is actually linked to any real linework in the drawing. I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to unlock a cell, link it to some linework, and then write it back to the XLS. Haven’t personally tried that idea – so I’m not certain it can be done. I am using AutoCAD 2008 and of course I took advantage of great new linking possibilities.
I have linked number of cells (about 70 links) from single XL file to AutoCAD file. XL file is a template file with some calculations which can be used in different projects; therefore I need to create copy of this XL file and copy of AutoCAD file as well. Copy of AutoCAD file stays linked to original file (which is logical). My next step is to edit each data link and specify new source file (cell location in XL remains as in original file). By using Data Link Manager I can do this task one by one, it takes so long. Is there any better way to tell AutoCAD that new data will be linked with different file with same cell locations? Thank you for your help.
I am using AutoCAD 2008 and of course I took advantage of great new linking possibilities. I have linked number of cells (about 70 links) from single XL file to AutoCAD file. XL file is a template file with some calculations which can be used in different projects; therefore I need to create copy of this XL file and copy of AutoCAD file as well. Copy of AutoCAD file stays linked to original file (which is logical). My next step is to edit each data link and specify new source file (cell location in XL remains as in original file). By using Data Link Manager I can do this task one by one, it takes so long.
Is there any better way to tell AutoCAD that new data will be linked with different file with same cell locations? Thank you for your help. I noticed your note: Comment by Donnie Gladfelter on October 29, 2007 @ 7:06 pm The Excel linking feature is only available in 2008. Pre-2008 you would have to fall on a 3rd party package of some type.
Jquery Set Data Attribute
Another option is to create a linked OLE object. However, the OLE object is not close to what we are sssking. In your suggestion, you proposed seeking “a 3rd party package.” Please know I do not consider your positive response any endorsement, but can you please recommend one or 3 such 3rd party packages that I probably should check out so I can use this feature now before having access to 2008 in years to come? I noticed your note: Comment by Donnie Gladfelter on October 29, 2007 @ 7:06 pm The Excel linking feature is only available in 2008. Pre-2008 you would have to fall on a 3rd party package of some type.
Another option is to create a linked OLE object. However, the OLE object is not close to what we are sssking. In your suggestion, you proposed seeking “a 3rd party package.” Please know I do not consider your positive response any endorsement, but can you please recommend one or 3 such 3rd party packages that I probably should check out so I can use this feature now before having access to 2008 in years to come?
Compatible with Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2012 to 2019 There are 2 commands for this plug-in 1. DWG-PURGE To purge the Current Drawing By entering DWG-PURGE at the command line this plug-in will delete all the DGN unreferenced LineTypes, RegApps and Annotation Scale. Also a dialog box will show with list of any XRefs attached to the drawing that needs to purge. By clicking 'Purge' will start to purge the attached XRefs. DWG-PURGE-BATCH To purge multiple drawings without opening the files. In DWG-PURGE-BATCH you can add the drawings by following methods. By selecting the drawing from 'Select drawing' button.
By selecting a folder. Copy/Paste a folder path. Drag and drop From this dialog box go to Options tab for more options. Purge the drawings and save to a different location. Purge the drawings and add a suffix to the file name e.g:- Mydrawingpurged.dwg. Purge and save the drawing to an another version About This Version Version 8.2.0.0, 7/2/2018. This error is due to the restriction in the code to ignore the drawings with INDEXCTL system variable value other than Zero(0).
When I was testing the app, I have noticed that if INDEXCTL is not zero, then sometimes the batch process crashed/failed. I have added an option to ignore this error in the new version of the app (version 8.2.0).Please install the latest version and on the 'About' page, there is an option turn off this error checking. This error is due to the restriction in the code to ignore the drawings with INDEXCTL system variable value other than Zero(0). When I was testing the app, I have noticed that if INDEXCTL is not zero, then sometimes the batch process crashed/failed. I have added an option to ignore this error in the new version of the app (version 8.2.0).Please install the latest version and on the 'About' page, there is an option turn off this error checking. Hello, Thanks for the review. Please use the app tabs to change the settings. Editing the xml files directly is not recommended.
But editing the xml files in correct way should work. Can you please provide one example where the settings changed to default after editing the xml file? You can also reach me at HelloThanks for the review. Please use the app tabs to change the settings. Editing the xml files directly is not recommended. But editing the xml files in correct way should work.
Can you please provide one example where the settings changed to default after editing the xml file? You can also reach me at ajilalv@gmail.com. Press 'ALT TAB' and switch to the program (you wont see it) Press 'ALT SPACE' (you wont see anything) Press 'R' (You wont see anything) Press 'ALT SPACE' again, followed by 'M' Press the ARROW keys to initiate the movement. Now use your mouse to move the window into place. Works with any window off the AutoCAD screen Press 'ALT TAB' and switch to the program (you wont see it) Press 'ALT SPACE' (you wont see anything) Press 'R' (You wont see anything) Press 'ALT SPACE' again, followed by 'M' Press the ARROW keys to initiate the movement. Now use your mouse to move the window into place. Works with any window off the AutoCAD screen.
Alex,Thanks for sharing the drawings by email for testing.As I mentioned in the email, the files that you have shared is purging as expected in my system. I am not able to figure out why its not working on your system. I would suggest you to try these files in 2016 or later version. Alex,Thanks for sharing the drawings by email for testing.As I mentioned in the email, the files that you have shared is purging as expected in my system. I am not able to figure out why its not working on your system.
I would suggest you to try these files in 2016 or later version. Hello, I have a warm greeting, I have revoked your application and it works excellent in autocad 2014, but since I can not install 2016 and 2017, maybe I'm doing something wrong, downloading the link and executing it, now I'm doing it right. I asked the application installed in all versions instantly or there to route it to be so I tried to load through customize, and although I load the icons when invoking them does not recognize them.! That's why I come to you to see that it could be happening in this respect.?
Waiting for your answer Attentively Felix. I just have tried v6.3.0.0 on ACAD 2017x64 in a project folder of 94 Files. Total folders size has been reducted from 187mb to 76.5mb without any look strange on the drawings on the first impression and with most of the used drawings been purged frequently. Seems promising, so keep up the good work! Update Fixed: Houston we have a problem.
Suddenly on day the DWG-PURGE-BATCH plugin decided to stop showing up it self anymore! I Have uninstalled an re-installed AjilalVijayanDrawingPurge700.msi again -still not working, took the hard decision to reset the AutoCAD 2018 interface -still not working, i m really not shure if Uninstalling AutoCAD will work out. DWG-PURGE command works perfectly as it should but when i type the DWG-PURGE-BACH command it loads it self and displays the taskbar icon next to AutoCAD, but the main window is not visible and the only think i can do its press escape to continue working. Dear kaye, thanks for the review. In the new version I removed 'Empty texts' and 'Zero length geometry' options as these two options sometimes caused the app to fail while purging. If you are mentioning these options, I will try to add it back in the next version. Dear kaye, thanks for the review.
In the new version I removed 'Empty texts' and 'Zero length geometry' options as these two options sometimes caused the app to fail while purging. If you are mentioning these options, I will try to add it back in the next version. Thanks for the review Slava. 1)This app currently supporting Civil3D,Electrical and so other vertical products, so at this stage adding a proxy remove/explode option is not a good choice for all users. 2 & 3)I was not able to reproduce this issue, can you share any drawing to test this please?
Thanks for the review Slava. 1)This app currently supporting Civil3D,Electrical and so other vertical products, so at this stage adding a proxy remove/explode option is not a good choice for all users. 2 & 3)I was not able to reproduce this issue, can you share any drawing to test this please? While I love the program and what it is capable of, there are still serious bugs and stability issues that need to be worked out that prevent me from adopting it to use full time: 1) Sometimes DWG-PURGE-BATCH will hang on a single file (stuck at Saving.) indefinitely.
When attempting to restart the purge, the file originally being saved with be corrupted with a 0kb dummy file that would be marked Read Only. This is extremely dangerous - it seems to happen to random files, including original client CAD drawings that are sensitive and cannot be replaced. Drawing Purge does not create a failsafe or temporary backup in the event of a failed purge, and it is a pretty big oversight. I would not use a program that has a chance to corrupt the original drawings without warning. 2) I have gotten 'err00: The calling thread must be STA, because many UI components require this.'
Error multiple times. It seems to be a.NET framework problem, and this error also leads to file corruption similar to 1). 3) When closing AutoCAD after using Drawing Purge, a 'FATAL ERROR: Unhandled Access Violation Reading 0x0037 Exception at e9c24084h' occurs after every time of using Drawing Purge. I have used the updated version. But i still have the problem in cad 2017 it doesn't work. So i can't shift to 2017 bcz of this. It's written.
DGNPURGE is an unknown command in 2017 i don't know why. Hope you would help me with fixing it. Thank you very much for your valuable reply related to this. Expect i can use this application ASEP Ajilal Vijayan. After i tried Dwg-Purge and Dwg-Purge-Batch it started working.
In 2016 i didnt' have to type commands like that. If i just type dwgpurge. The command was working. Anyway thank you so much for your help.
Hi Krishnan, You have mentioned that 'DGNPURGE is an unknown command in 2017'. Please note that the two commands that are available with this app is Dwg-Purge and Dwg-Purge-Batch. Can you please try to run any of these commands? Please let me know if the problem still exists.
Hi KrishnanYou have mentioned that 'DGNPURGE is an unknown command in 2017'. Please note that the two commands that are available with this app is Dwg-Purge and Dwg-Purge-Batch. Can you please try to run any of these commands? Please let me know if the problem still exists. Dear Santiago, Thanks for sending the sample drawing and thanks for the detailed explanation. I understand this issue and I will try to fix this in the next version.
It seems that once you delete the nested block, the app needs to run 2-3 times to erase all the unused blocks. I will add a loop in the next version to fix this. Thanks for pointing this out. Dear Santiago, Thanks for sending the sample drawing and thanks for the detailed explanation. I understand this issue and I will try to fix this in the next version. It seems that once you delete the nested block, the app needs to run 2-3 times to erase all the unused blocks.
I will add a loop in the next version to fix this. Thanks for pointing this out. Hi Ansal, Thanks for the review.The app should work with 2016 (not LT). If the commands are showing as unknown command, may be the plug-in is failed to load automatically. Can you please try the steps in the below link to load the app manually? Hi Ansal, Thanks for the review.The app should work with 2016 (not LT).
If the commands are showing as unknown command, may be the plug-in is failed to load automatically. Can you please try the steps in the below link to load the app manually? Hi Sinan, Thanks for the review.If the file size is not changed, may be there is nothing to purge in that drawing.Can you run the native AutoCAD purge command and see if there anything to purge? Also if possible please send a sample drawing to. Hi Sinan, Thanks for the review.If the file size is not changed, may be there is nothing to purge in that drawing.Can you run the native AutoCAD purge command and see if there anything to purge?
Also if possible please send a sample drawing to ajilalv@gmail.com. Hi Evgeny, Thanks for the review.The options(which items needs to purge) you set in Batch purge applies to both Purge and Batch purge commands. In other words Dwg-Purge will only purge the items that you have selected in the Batch processing options.So at this stage, you have to untick the layer or other items that you don't want to purge and then run Dwg-Purge command.In the next version I will try to add the options in Dwg-Purge also. Thanks for your suggestion.
Hi Evgeny, Thanks for the review.The options(which items needs to purge) you set in Batch purge applies to both Purge and Batch purge commands. In other words Dwg-Purge will only purge the items that you have selected in the Batch processing options.So at this stage, you have to untick the layer or other items that you don't want to purge and then run Dwg-Purge command.In the next version I will try to add the options in Dwg-Purge also.
Thanks for your suggestion. Hi Mark, Thanks for the review.When you click the Batch Purge button, the program basically opens the drawing in the background without loading to the drawing window.So I have to check how this method can be used to open the corrupted drawing.If possible I will try to fix this in the next version. Hi Mark, Thanks for the review.When you click the Batch Purge button, the program basically opens the drawing in the background without loading to the drawing window.So I have to check how this method can be used to open the corrupted drawing.If possible I will try to fix this in the next version.
Hi Victor, Thanks for trying Drawing Purge and thanks for the review. Yes, Drawing Purge should work with AutoCAD 2012 series. If the commands are showing as unknown command, may be the plug-in is failed to load automatically. Can you please try the steps in the below link to load the app manually? Hi Victor, Thanks for trying Drawing Purge and thanks for the review.
Yes, Drawing Purge should work with AutoCAD 2012 series. If the commands are showing as unknown command, may be the plug-in is failed to load automatically. Can you please try the steps in the below link to load the app manually? Hi Goel, The latest version of this app is now available. Your two suggestions are now added to the this version (5.0).
Instead of right click on the name to open the explorer, you can double click on the file name to open the explorer and CSV export option is in the right click menu. Hi Goel, The latest version of this app is now available. Your two suggestions are now added to the this version (5.0).
Instead of right click on the name to open the explorer, you can double click on the file name to open the explorer and CSV export option is in the right click menu. Hi Murray Clack, Thanks for this review. And also thanks for the review in AUGI Newsletter, June. I am glad to hear that you liked this app and helped you. There is a new version(5.0) will be released soon(currently reviewed by Autodesk) with some additional features.
Hi Murray Clack, Thanks for this review. And also thanks for the review in AUGI Newsletter, June. I am glad to hear that you liked this app and helped you. There is a new version(5.0) will be released soon(currently reviewed by Autodesk) with some additional features. Thanks for the review Jignesh. In case you did not noticed, there is a dialogue box, where you can select/unselect what should purge in both DWG-PURGE and DWG-PURGE-BATCH command. After entering DWG-PURGE-BATCH command click on 'Items to purge' and select/unselect the items to purge.
Thanks for the review Jignesh. In case you did not noticed, there is a dialogue box, where you can select/unselect what should purge in both DWG-PURGE and DWG-PURGE-BATCH command. After entering DWG-PURGE-BATCH command click on 'Items to purge' and select/unselect the items to purge.
Yes, the program will only remove the link with the objects. Once the link/association is removed, that objects will be available for standard Autocad purge. So you need to enter standard purge at the end of this routine to remove the referenced blocks. Yes, the program will only remove the link with the objects. Once the link/association is removed, that objects will be available for standard Autocad purge.
So you need to enter standard purge at the end of this routine to remove the referenced blocks.