Importing Coordinates (or Dimensions) from MS Excel 2007 to Autocad 2008

[sublettch]

Hello,

I am designing a RCC Dam and the shape of the dam is constant and will not change, but the dimensions of this shape are very likely to change depending upon hydraulic analysis.

I have written a program (irrelevant, but I am using MathCad 14) that performs a stability analysis of a RCC Dam (based on elevations from the hydraulic analysis) and then exports the dam dimensions and coordinates to Excel.

I am attempting to then take those coordinates (or dimensions) from Excel to create a 2-D dimensioned drawing of the Dam in AutoCAD.

I have successfully linked the Excel spreadsheet containing these coordinates and dimensions to AutoCad tables in my drawing, but I am having trouble getting AutoCAD to update my drawing as these tables update with different coordinates and dimensions.

I would like to have a drawing that is fully dimensioned (as the shape of the dam will not change), but that will update coordinates and dimensions as I pump out different dam dimensions from my stability analysis.

Hope this makes sense, let me know if anything is unclear.


Thanks!,

Sublett

[BIGAL]

See if you can find an old excell to autocad example called "shaft" it dynamically updated as you changed the excell cell values, its around R12 though.

[sublettch]

BIGAL,

I have been unable to find the example, "shaft," you mentioned. Do you have any other advice?

In other words, I would like to link values in an AutoCAD table to values of coordinates (or dimensions) of an existing drawing, such that, as those table values are changed, the coordinates and dimensions in the drawing will update.

I have successfully overwritten dimensions using FIELDS and text override, but I would like to find a way to actually update the dimensions, so that the scale of the drawing will remain correct.

Thanks for your help!,

Sublett

[BIGAL]

Post an image or a dwg of your dam the example I refered to changed the length of lines for an object. change in excel object changed, if you have points and dim two points moving a point the dim updates so you need a dynamic link for points to excell. I have done excel link but very basic stuff. Some one else may be able to help.

[sublettch]

Here is an example set of coordinates that could define the dam:

PLINE
0.0,0.0
0.0,141.9
30.0,141.9
30.0,131.9
117.5,0.0
0.0,0.0

And here is the shape of the dam, which will not change. Only the dimensions will change.

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