AutoTableX-QXLink

KozMos AutoTableX-QXLink

Alive linkage for AcDbTable to Excel

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AutoTableX-QXLink can link picked AcDbTables with representative Excel spreadsheets and process the AcDbTable update on cells' contents from linked Excel spreadsheets. AutoTableX-QXLink will only focus on content strings, other cell properties such as Style, Alignment, Rotation, Color are both discarded.
To start AutoTableX-QXLink just type QXLINK at AutoCAD "Command:" prompt.

Options in AutoTableX-QXLink dialog:

Linkage data between AcDbTable and Excel spreadsheet:
Linked AcDbTable and Excel spreadsheet will display together in the list. Each line contain two parts: the 1st is the handle of AcDbTable and another is the name of the spreadsheet.
When there is not any linkage found, the list will be
CAD *EXCEL*
and some relative buttons will be gray.
Establish a linkage:
A new linkage can be added by picking a valid AcDbTable. Then a representative table will be created in Excel (if the Excel is not active, AutoTableX-QXLink will start Excel automatically). The spreadsheet name will be changed into linkage mode.
Zoom to the AcDbTable:
AutoTableX-QXLink support multiple AcDbTables in list (But we can only UPDATE and REMOVE them one bye one, only active AcDbTable will be processed). AutoTableX-QXLink can zoom the window to display the active AcDbTable in graphic screen only.
Data synchronization from Excel to AutoCAD:
The [Update <] button will run the synchronization procedure on active AcDbTable. Whatever changed in Excel will take effects on linked AcDbTable then.
Processing BlockCell:
If BlockCell is in the AcDbTable, we can overwrite the blocks in cell by content string in Excel or keep the blocks there.
Remove linkage:
Remove the linkage will not close existing representative table(s) in Excel. And these dropped linkages will be alive next time calling AutoTableX-QXLink.
If all linkages is removed, CAD *EXCEL* will appear in list.
Overwite BlockCell with normal text:
BlockCell will be empty in Excel, if these empty cells was filled in Excel, the update procedure may be able to switch the BlockCell into TextCell and fill the contents from Excel if this option is not activated.
Lock FIELD contents:
Normal fields in cell may have link with objects (curve area is a good example for this), Only the field contents will be exported into Excel, if we have these contents to fill back into AcDbTable cells, the content may be changed into normal text and lose all fields information. This option is imported to prevent this un-expected consequence.
If this option is active, the fields in AcDbTable will not be modified while updating.
Math functions synchronization between AcDbTable and Excel:
In AutoCAD2006+, math functions in AcDbTable will be passed into Excel directly, or just the result digits will be transferred. Any change (modify or add) on math functions in Excel will also be transferred back AutoCAD as same as in Excel.
Merge cells in Excel:
AutoTableX-QXLink will not process merged cells. Merge certain cells in Excel will help users obtaining a better conception in Excel and changing correct cells.
Keep the linkage re-connectable or totally erase:
In default, AutoTableX-QXLink will shut down all linked spreadsheets in Excel. But we can still keep these linkages alive by disable this option.

AutoTableX-QXLink ALIVE LINKAGE:
An AcDbTable handle string and a certain Excel spreadsheet name created from it were called a LINKAGE in AutoTableX-QXLink. Once the linkage is established, it is alive. AutoTableX-QXLink may detect it and connect certain objects (AcDbTable and spreadsheet) automatically. Manually change on name or delete the Excel spreadsheet will destroy the linkage. The linkage may keep alive even calling the command again and again except it is cut.

PROCESSING MERGED CELLS:
To improve the speed, AutoTableX-QXLink does NOT support merged cells. If merged cells id detected, only the Top-Left sub-cell will be valid and recorded (both in AcDbTable and Excel). It will be very hard to determine which cell to edit if too many merged cells are converted into Excel. AutoTableX-QXLink have an option to run the merge in Excel to help users keep a good recognition on the data in table (AcDbTable and Excel, because they looked same).

*QXLINK* CONTENT IN EXCEL:
In order to prevent data lost of empty AcDbTable cells, especially while updating from Excel. a label string is introduced in ATX-QXLink: "*QXLINK*". If the Right-Bottom cell of the linked AcDbTable is empty, "*QXLINK*" will be used to replace the null content (but this will be displayed in AcDbTable), then the Excel spreadsheet will have the same columns and rows number with the AcDbTable. Cell content of "*QXLINK* in Excel will be skipped while upgrading from Excel back to AutoCAD.

BLOCKCELL:
        AcDbTable has three cell types: AcTextCell, AcBlockCell and AcUnknownCell.
        BlockCell means there will be a block in certain AcDbTable cell (The block may contain one or more attributes, or even to be a dynamic block). Contents will not be shown in BlockCell as the TextCell do. All AutoTableX commands can handle BlockCell and may be able to replace it by normal cell contents, or match a BlockCell to another TextCell.
        Detail functions can also be found in AutoTableX-Convert and AutotableX-CellSuite-EXMATCH.

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//Koz Jono Yeoh//