DataTools Links

[Sean Doolan]

I've been trying to bring in element properties through Excel using the DataTools Links tab in Global Options. Does anyone have experience with this? How exactly is the excel data linked to the geometry? There doesn't seem to be a very thorough description in the documentation on how to link extended properties to geometry using this method.

I'm using Tekla and it doesn't seem that there is a simple way to get custom user attributes into Navisworks and was hoping this might do the trick.

Thanks in advance for anyone with insight.

[dgorsman]

I've done trial runs with this using an Access database, with the key field containing the AutoCAD handle of the object. In theory, any other method should work as long as you can uniquely identify the objects in question in both NavisWorks and the storage file. I'm not sure how well Excel would do at this - its more for calculations rather than a look-up table.

[Dave Sutcliff]

We had similar problems connecting to excel information, it is syntax!!

this example came through from Autodesk and worked.

SELECT * FROM [stab$] WHERE "NAME" = %prop("Item","Name");

the [stab$] is the sheet name to connect to in the excel file that has been connected to via odbc.

[yuska20]

To all,

Don't forget to Name A Range on your selected columns in Excel.