AutoCAD

[Jedidia]

Is it possible to have elements/variables within CAD similar to a textbox that when numbers are entered it auto populates/performs actions?
I am trying to find out if I would be able to create a spreadsheet type environment within AutoCAD without the help of external Microsoft programs (Excel/Access)..

[rkmcswain]

Is it possible to have elements/variables within CAD similar to a textbox that when numbers are entered it auto populates/performs actions?
I am trying to find out if I would be able to create a spreadsheet type environment within AutoCAD without the help of external Microsoft programs (Excel/Access)..

R2006 includes the ability to include formulas in fields and tables. So in theory, you could have a table that includes columns whose elements are totaled, averaged, etc. that will automatically update.

Entering/editing data is not as easy as Excel, but you lose the step of having to import the data into AutoCAD.

FYI: You can also copy from Excel, paste into AutoCAD as a Table, and formulas are imported also (obviously only if AutoCAD supports the type of formula)

[Galingula]

For years I've been dragging and dropping spreadsheets and word docs right into the drawing from the file explorer ("windows key"-"E").

You can double click on the spreadsheet from inside the dwg and it activates Excel.

Keep in mind that there are issues. ADT 3.3 can only import a certain size thing. Size as in dimensions. I get around it by formatting text to be the smallest I can in Excel and then drag scaling in ADT. This means the original spreadsheet prints funky on its own.

One of the bonuses is that people can access the spreadsheet without opening ADT. Then it is "paste special" back into the drawing when it opens and updates OLEs. Principles and non-cad people can access it.

I keep a word doc in all of our drawings that is a "To do" list for the project. Anyone can add to it, and their text is their color (Bob is blue, Joe is green) so you know whom to ask questions of. Anyone who addresses something on the list can just make the text cross thru to indicate it has been completed.

We use a *.doc jobstart form with client addy and phone and what not.

These are automatically paste specialized into the job's title blocks. And the text can be double clicked to activate the doc for the job start form.

Play around with this and OLE and you might get tickled by what you find