CONFIGURATION DRIVEN DRAWING TABLES 4

[hotiron]

Hi all,
I have various parts, each with configurations controlling key lengths. I would like to have a tabulated drawing with the table pulling the changing dimensions from the model. Do I use a general table and designate cell properties some how?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

For each model drawing, you can Insert > Tables > Design Table into the drawing. More info in the Help files.

 

[hotiron]

Thanks CBL
I thought there was another way of specifying properties to be displayed in drawings. Design tables are great but sometimes require some manipulation.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

... and General Tables don't???

 

[hotiron]

CBL
Couldnt get them to work. I'm using the design table and get the attached error message whn trying to label columns for the drawing. Cell formats are specified and I see no unwanted values. Any ideas?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Are you using the $comments or $user_notes in the row you are labelling the columns?

See Help file for design tables, configuration parameters and design tables, in drawings and follow all Related Topics links.

 

[miket000]

hotiron,

You can't have a feature of "0" (zero) length. If the feature in that configuration is suppressed, you can leave the original length value (2.5625 or whatever), grey the cell color, grey (same color) the font color, so that it is "invisible". Or as an alternative, you can make the font White, cell color White....

Not perfect, but that is how we got around that issue...

Mike T

 

[hotiron]

CBL
I edit the design table and hide the columns I dont need, inserting a new row after the header, and put labels here per the Help instructions. It appears the table does not like values in this newly inserted row(sometimes?)
Also, after renaming model configs to more appropriate descriptions, I find when I go to open, the preview window lists all the old config names? The newly created table uses these instead of the re named?? Checked references and re booted

MT000
I didnt find any reference to a zero length but will check again. Thanks

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Are you using the $comments or $user_notes in the row you are labelling the columns?

 

[hotiron]

CBL
I am using neither. I am inserting a row between the header and first configuration row and entering names column names as needed per "Help, design tables in drawings, displaying design tables in drawings".

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

In this case the Help files suck. They have omitted the need for the $user_notes to be used in the first cell of the row.

See the Help file index for design tables, parameters

 

[hotiron]

Apparently labels can be added by inserting a row above the default design table header, not below it as the help files indicate.(It seems to work)
If I understand correctly, $user_notes will allow comments not driven by configurations.
What about a design table displaying different information on different sheets of the same drawing?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

The DT has to be formatted for insertion into the drawing, so if you change the format all insertions of it will be affected.

You could save the DT as separate Excel files and insert those (each formatted to suit) into each drawing sheet, but they will not be associative.

 

[JMarv]

Hotiron,

I don't do these on a regular basis, but when I have, I do as you have described. The help files aren't really clear which row is the "header" row. The new row that you insert should be row #2 after it's inserted. I've attached a quick example that I've done.

Joe
SW Office 2006 SP5.1
P4 3.0Ghz 1GB
ATI FireGL X1

 

[hotiron]

Thanks to all.
I guess if I have to save out multiple copies of unassociative spread sheets, I'll just add a general table for the second instance and be careful. Thanks again.

 

[JMarv]

Hotiron,

I guess I misunderstood that you wanted to do this in a tabulated drawing. You can do that. Before you insert a DT into a new sheet, you will need to go back to the table and reformat (hide/unhide rows) what you want it to display. This will not change the display of a design table that was previously insert onto a sheet. I think this will give you what you want, but it may end up being easier to use a general table.

Joe
SW Office 2006 SP5.1
P4 3.0Ghz 1GB
ATI FireGL X1

 

[JMarv]

My mistake. How a DT is displayed in drawing DOES does update if you go back and change it in the model.

Joe
SW Office 2006 SP5.1
P4 3.0Ghz 1GB
ATI FireGL X1

 

[drawoh]

hotiron,

You need to play with Excel a bit. If you are sneaky and you read the help files, you can do just about anything.

Take for example the 0 dimension you have been told you cannot display.

[ol]
[li]Create an extruded feature.[/li]
[li]Open a design table.[/li]
[li]Create a column in the design table with the desired height of your extrusion. You can type the length 0 [zero] into this column.[/li]
[li]Capture the length of your extrusion into the design table, and link this to your length column.[/li]
[li]Capture the feature itself into your design table. This column allows you to SUPPRESS or UNSUPPRESS the extrusion.[/li]
[li]=IF(length=0,"S","U")[/li]
[/ol]

If the length is zero, the feature is suppressed. You can still display the 0 on your drawing table.

JHG