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Thread: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

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    Default Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Hi everyone,

    I am wondering if there is a way to give drawings attributes like cost or pricing information and have those attributes linked into a spreadsheet? I just took an introductory course to GIS and found it interesting how we could give attributes to the objects being displayed and then make reports from the attributes. Is there any way of doing this sort of thing with Autocad and Excel? I would sure find it helpful when making a budget or estimate for a project. I would like to associate costs to the drawings or blocks of equipment I use in a layout, then make a spreadsheet of those costs, and have it change with the layout.
    Can anyone lead me in the right direction or is this impossible?

    Thanks in advance for any feedback
    Frank Walsh
    Langley, BC, Canada
    fww@shaw.ca

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    The Silent Type Mike.Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Hi Frank

    Please note I've *moved* this thread from the ACAD 2005 General Forum to this one as I feel this particular Forum is a more appropriate place for such a topic.

    Thanks, Mike

    Forum Moderator

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    The Silent Type Mike.Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Hi

    Have a browse of the following threads -

    dbconnect

    tracking drawings

    Automatic BOM Generation

    Have a good one, Mike

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    Certified AUGI Addict jaberwok's Avatar
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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Hi Frank.
    In AutoCAD Help, look up "blocks/attaching atributes to". Then look up "ATTEXT command". This will give you an idea of what is possible and a starting point.

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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Thanks for the info
    Now I just have some reading to do.
    This is sure a great way of getting answers to questions.
    There is just so much information out there now a days, its hard sometimes to know where to start.

    Thanks again
    Frank Walsh
    Langley, BC, Canada
    fww@shaw.ca

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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Well I started to read through some of the VBA articles and found it to be long and confusing. I tried to make a connection with Excel and launch it but got errors. Only after feeling like a computer programmer. There has to be an easier way to put an attribute table into a spreadsheet from Autocad. This is too time consuming.

    Can anyone help me out?

    Thanks
    Frank Walsh
    Langley, BC, Canada
    fww@shaw.ca

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    The Silent Type RobertB's Avatar
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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Have you tried extracting to a .csv file, which Excel will read?

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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    I did, but when I tried using the template file I made in Word I got a fatal error.
    I don't have Notepad on my station so I used Word and saved as a .txt file. When I attempt to export the blocks using my template file I get an error message back about not able to open the template file then a fatal error: Unhandled access violation reading 0x0038 exception at 6517e9c0h. Whatever that means.
    Attached is my template file. Did I do something wrong there?

    Thanks
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Frank Walsh
    Langley, BC, Canada
    fww@shaw.ca

  9. #9
    The Silent Type Mike.Perry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    Hi

    You need to use a ASCII Text Editor or at least a piece of Software that will SaveAs "pure" ASCII format for the creation of your Template file (Word does not SaveAs "pure" ASCII TXT file, it leaves a lot of rubbish laying about).

    A search on the web will turn-up a lot of freeware ASCII Text Editors.

    Have a good one, Mike

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    Default Re: Budget estimating - link Attribute information to a spreadsheet

    I've been on the path of creating an interactive CAD environment myself, and have had to do it more or less all alone. If you check out some of my previous questions, you'll see that I've asked about integrating Access, Excel, and CAD, and that really no one has had any input here! (sarcastically said) Seriously though, you'll find some great information there along these same lines.

    What I've discovered:

    1) Access and AutoCAD actually go rather well together, but take a bit of programming and of course forethought to develop. I decided to go with Access so that I could move beyond Excel's spreadsheets and jump right to complete enterprise organization and data solution automation.

    2) Tool palettes in 2006 are awesome, and with attributes and dynamic blocks, one could essentially have all of their information stored in very few blocks and linked to an Access database at the same time.

    3) Check out the VBA course in AUGI's educational seminars. If the past version called something close to "Integrating Access with AutoCAD through VBA" isn't on file, I can post it (a three part pdf format series).

    4) To specifically solve the problem you're dealing with, as I was, I planned out the following:
    -Create a part inventory in Access for all parts we would use (with cost, model#, etc)
    -Create relations between Access tables for costs, estimates, and scheduling
    -Create CAD blocks to represent the necessary equipment/parts
    -Link via VBA programming and OLE integration, Access database to CAD block database
    -Utilize Access database forms, reports, and queries to generate BOM's, quotations, weld factors, time estimates, inventory forecasts, job site equipment and supplies estimates, Purchase orders directed to appropriate vendors, even links for printing installation/configuration manuals from our reference library, etc!

    This is a 3D modeling system, requiring that only one design is every needed, and the database does the rest.

    Hope this is helpful!

    Albert
    Last edited by slayer913; 2005-04-06 at 08:26 PM.

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