Get Data Extraction to work as it did in AutoCAD 2007

[kathy71046]

Does anyone know if there is a way to get the data extraction to work as it did in 2007?

Being able to extract from an entire folder is nice, as is the renaming and merging function.......BUT

needing a new dxe for EVERY table, and also not being able to update data from an existing 2007 table is really depressing.

I use standard drawings with extraction table to count my fitments, but with the new system I can no longer copy the drawing and modify the existing data, the extraction basically has to be redone from scratch rather than simply needing to tweak the selection.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Are you using the _.EAttExt command?

If yes, where exactly in the process is it breaking down?

If no, please supply more information (if possible).

Have a good one, Mike

[kathy71046]

I'm using the toolbar button which calls _dataextraction, but tried _.EAttExt and both bring up the wizard, which after selecting a base dxe or blk then prompts for a save when you click next from page 1)

99% of the time, the old in drawing extraction file was perfect.

Old tables in my existing standards need to be "converted" to change the block count, and thus ask for the same save location for the new dxe.

One thing that's quite annoying with this is that I can't simply have the name and count, which is all I need, but I have to add in another property and then hide that column.

Trying to edit one by selecting the source dxe ends up inserting a new table (basically changing attribute selection is no longer possble either)

Thanks for having a look Mike, but it seems to me if there is no simple solution, I will be doing all my tables at least, if not everything in 2K7 despite having a subscrption and 2K8 installed.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Could you possibly post some example files, so we can have a play experiment...

Have a good one, Mike

[kathy71046]

I can't upload the dxe, but if you don't get asked for a save location every time you extract data, then it has to be a setting

[Mike.Perry]

I can't upload the dxe, but if you don't get asked for a save location every time you extract data, then it has to be a settingHi

Hope you do not mind me asking - Why can't you upload the DXE file?

Example, does it contents prevent you from posting it here on the forums due to private and_or confidential content?

If yes, ok! not a problem.

If no, you could upload it via a ZIP file.

Have a good one, Mike

[kathy71046]

Just the forum wouldn't accept it.

I noticed if you move the file or the dxe it breaks, not sure if there is a reconnect in there, as I've been mostly running 2K7 in order to keep my workflow from grinding to a halt.

Thanks again Mike.

[Chris.N]

i'm having problems with my tables just POPULATING!! why isn't there (or if there is, please help me find it) any decent help for creating title headers as shown in the New Features workshop? i would LOVE to figure out how to do multi-header tables with merged cells to work properly and in such a way that i can understand how i got there!
:banghead:

[HnAw]

i have problems extracting data from dynamic block, i only get the first dynamic parameter, other next appear in blank, even with only 1 i got error in internal tables ( no prob exported tables)some cells appear blanks and it doesnt match with the full preview. Somebody could try extract dynamic data ? Heeeeelp me please!

[kathy71046]

So nobody knows if I can stop this from forcing me to create an external dxe file?

[gfreddog]

it appears AutoDesk went and broke a perfectly good tool in th old version of EATTEXT.

All I want to do is use my old .BLK file to generate a table in one drawing counting blocks and listing their attributes WITHOUT linking to any external files.

[kathy71046]

it appears AutoDesk went and broke a perfectly good tool in th old version of EATTEXT.

All I want to do is use my old .BLK file to generate a table in one drawing counting blocks and listing their attributes WITHOUT linking to any external files.


Yep, me too (actually I just simply want a block count without attributes most of the time). The only thing I have seen that I would want in the new stuff is the rename and merge thing, but only for "one" fitment which was easy enough to do manually.

Unfortunately if I use 2K8 to model, then go back to 2K7 to do my extraction, it tends to lock up certain functions forcing me to exit and re-open drawings continuously to get my work done.

[Chris.N]

i have problems extracting data from dynamic block, i only get the first dynamic parameter, other next appear in blank, even with only 1 i got error in internal tables ( no prob exported tables)some cells appear blanks and it doesnt match with the full preview. Somebody could try extract dynamic data ? Heeeeelp me please!Sorry Dude, it's a known bug that tables don't play well w/ Dynamic Blocks used as the info source. i've also heard that DB's and annotative features don't play well together yet either...

[Chris.N]

So nobody knows if I can stop this from forcing me to create an external dxe file?actually, they're not that bad if stored with the rest of the project files, but no. you can't stop it from creating that file.

[kathy71046]

actually, they're not that bad if stored with the rest of the project files, but no. you can't stop it from creating that file.

Thanks Chris for answering my original question.

I thought I'd try using the new format in a small drawing, and this is what I have got after doing 2 drawings...

1. The template always keeps the drawing it was created from, so if you only want current drawing it forces you to delete the original

2. The only include blocks from model space option doesn't work.

3. Any other settings such as include blocks only that I select are not kept.

Other than the final output format, what's the point of the template then?
If I didn't need to pick an attribute to hide and change the count column name to QTY it would pretty much be totally pointless.

Sorry for the rant, just getting frustrated with the format and with working on a Sunday.

[JOlson.96857]

So that is why my blocks won't work with Data Extraction. I can create a table but it's never completely filled in, but If i remove the Dynamic part of the block and update the table, it works fine. So close to being a long awaited upgrade.

[CarlG]

I have troubles with data extraction...my blocks with attributes show up on the table if I open each drawing, one at a time, but not if I open multiple drawings, because then data extraction misses about 50% of the blocks with attributes. What gives? Does anyone have a solution?

[Capt. Computer Crasher]

Just the forum wouldn't accept it.

I noticed if you move the file or the dxe it breaks, not sure if there is a reconnect in there, as I've been mostly running 2K7 in order to keep my workflow from grinding to a halt.

Thanks again Mike.

I know this an old post, but if you never got an answer to your reconnect qusetion right click on your data extraction table and pick data extraction to create a .dxe file from your table.

P.S. I liked it better in 2007 myself but you could only do blocks. 2008 can do any drawing object and I think this is why the .dxe file is needed.

[Capt. Computer Crasher]

Service Pack 1 to correct some of the Data Extractor issues came out yesterday for AutoCAD 2008 and Revit 2008

[kathy71046]

Service Pack 1 to correct some of the Data Extractor issues came out yesterday for AutoCAD 2008 and Revit 2008

I've only just updated and will check this out shortly.

Thanks Capt

[mike.brooks]

I just wish they would have made the data extraction a new command and left the attribute extraction at least tell they got all the bugs fixed like AutoCAD 2010.

I to am having a hard time with it getting all the information. Also I often get this error message Non-uniformly scaled Blocks Blocks that were not uniformly scaled were found objects in those blocks were not extracted.

Ok whats that all about???

So I am guessing by what you all are saying theres no system variable that can be changed to set it back to the old way??

Thanks for listening (reading)

[forrest_marc]

Has anyone been able to solve this? I have a similar problem. I've promised my team of 23 that I can automate their equipment schedules. Problem is, the DWG files are renamed, moved, copyed etc. and I don't want to tie a DXE file to it and modify the name etc. each time a file is renamed. I just need a simple table that displays attributes and counts blocks.
Cheers,

[irneb]

There's an issue with data extraction discarding blocks with non-uniform scales. "But I didn't scale my blocks, non-uniformly" you say. Well, when you mirror a block you actually do. You'll find that either the X or Y scale will be -1 - those blocks will then not be included in data extraction.
The only solution I can think of, is to create one or two flip parameters in the blockdef. Then using filter / qselect select the blocks with a negative X or Y scale factor. Then in properties palette change the scale factor back to 1 and set the corresponding flip parameter to show the block as if it's mirrored.

[ch00su]

needing a new dxe for EVERY table
Did anyone find a fix for this yet?

And this "Non-uniformly scaled Blocks" message keeps popping up. Driving me nuts!

Does Autodesk know that they broke perfectly working "eattext" command?
This is serious enough reason not to upgrade for people who does lot of data extraction especially with script or lisp.

It used to take 2 seconds to extract datas from the drawing, now you have to go through this re-saving .dxe files and when you see this "non-uniform block blah blah" message, it gives me wrong datas extracted.

Anyone found a cure yet?

[irneb]

No cure :cry: ... the work-around is to define your blocks with "Scale uniformly" unchecked. But then you can end up with tags being stretched in the X-axis (which usually you don't want). The other (less easy) workaround is as per my previous post.