AutoCAD Block linking dimensions to table

[balbert]

Hi,

 

I have a question about if it is possible to set a block's dimensions to read a table's cell value. Say a rectangle has dimensions x wide by y tall and a table has the x and y values given in cells a1 and b1 linked from an excel spreadsheet. I would like to link it like this because i have an excel file that will update and then output to AutoCAD. Is this possible and if so how? I have figured out how to link the excel table into AutoCAD. I am using AutoCAD 2012 if that helps.

 

Thanks,

 

Barry

[Dadgad]

Yes you can. You will want to insert a field into your dimension text, then set the path for the field to the appropriate cell in your excel file.

 

Hopefully Bill Tillman will see this, as he has been blazing a trail through that neck of the woods of late.

No doubt there are plenty of other folks who would have some valuable insights for you on this.

[geekster]

@Dadgad

That worked great. It took me a few attempts to link from a table to a dim (or to other Mtext). I had to select under field category Objects>Formula>Cell (button)> select cell of table..

 

If you know a better way then please let me know. I found it to be very limiting extracting/linking from a table.. Fields treat a table as a single object, and using the described approach is to only way I could extract from single cell of a table.

[Dadgad]

@Dadgad

That worked great. It took me a few attempts to link from a table to a dim (or to other Mtext). I had to select under field category Objects>Formula>Cell (button)> select cell of table..

 

If you know a better way then please let me know. I found it to be very limiting extracting/linking from a table.. Fields treat a table as a single object, and using the described approach is to only way I could extract from single cell of a table.

 

I'm glad that helped you, I've never done that myself, though I do create fields regularly.

You might want to check this Lee Mac lisp out

 

http://www.lee-mac.com/quickfield.html

 

There is a wealth of great stuff on Lee's site.

Thanks Lee!