Access Excel from ACAD

[csorensen]

Is there away to access an Excel spreadsheet straight from ACAD? Let's say I'm working in ACAD and I need to access a spreadsheet that I use a lot, I can click a button on my toolbar and it will open the spreadsheet.

[buzz]

Yep, by using the SHELL command.

-Buzz

[TerribleTim]

Yep, by using the SHELL command.

-Buzz

Why not just open it from windows exploder then?

Are you talking about an Excel sheet that is on your drawing? Or just a random Excel file?

[buzz]

Why not just open it from windows exploder then?

Are you asking me (cause you quoted me)?

The SHELL command can be put into a button and point directly to a file (.xls file in this case) - and it will open the file using Excel. So, like the OP wanted, you can click on a toolbar button and have it directly open an Excel file.

-Buzz

[csorensen]

I can get to Excel by using shell, but is there a way to go directly to an existing spreadsheet? Or does this envolve more code?

[Statler]

I can get to Excel by using shell, but is there a way to go directly to an existing spreadsheet? Or does this envolve more code?

The files drawing related? you could insert as on OLE object them with a link.

[buzz]

I can get to Excel by using shell, but is there a way to go directly to an existing spreadsheet? Or does this envolve more code?

Yes, just use the file path... so for example, if you wanted to open the file C:\MyFiles\ExcelStuff\AwesomeExcelCalc.xls you would have this:

(command "shell" "C:\\MyFiles\\ExcelStuff\\AwesomeExcelCalc.xls" )

-Buzz

[TerribleTim]

Are you asking me (cause you quoted me)?

I was, 'cause I was not real sure how you were going about that. Thanks for the explenation.

The SHELL command can be put into a button and point directly to a file (.xls file in this case) - and it will open the file using Excel. So, like the OP wanted, you can click on a toolbar button and have it directly open an Excel file.

-Buzz

Just seems like it would be just as easy to click "start button, open office document". I'm looking for why using shell is better. I know he asked if it could be done, just not sure why you would want to.

[csorensen]

I know he asked if it could be done, just not sure why you would want to.

We have an Excel spreadsheet we use sometimes to figure items that go on to our drawings. I just thought I could make it easier to just click one button that would bring the spreadsheet up automatically, than it would be to click out of the drawing and go into the spreadsheet. It's all about the clicks man.


(command "shell" "G:\\MSOffice\\Templates\\DrawingItems.xlt" )


Got it to work on the command line, but having a heck of a time getting it to work in the toolbar. This is what comes up on the command line:
(command "shell" "g: <Enter>
("_> <Enter>
("_> msoffice <Enter>
("_> <Enter>
("_> templates <Enter> and so on all the way throught the path. Then after it gets through it, it just continues to give me ("_> each time I press enter, until I cancel out of it.

[dgorsman]

Hyperlink it to the titleblock (or other common item) in the DWT template file.