Expressions Spreadsheet Updating Formulas

[MrRogers1987]

I have been able to update expressions that are purely numeric values into my part by using the spreadsheet edit. For some reason though it will not add the expressions for items whose value is represented by a formula. I tried using the "Expressions" spreadsheet and updating the values, as well as the general "Modeling" spreadsheet (Tools->Spreadsheet) and defining the "Expression Range". Both times it picked up only the items whose value was a number and skipped over those that had formulas. Just to note, the formulas were originally written in the NX Expressions window so I know they are formatted correctly. Anyone know a way around this?

I found this thread but it doesn't address the issue I'm having with formulas:
thread561-284942

I'm running NX 8.0 and have Office 2010.

 

[JohnRBaker]

That's correct, formulas are evaluated and the resulting values are sent to the spreadsheet.

John R. Baker, P.E.
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[MrRogers1987]

Sorry I guess I wasn't clear in stating my issue. I was hoping to create all the expressions I needed in a spreadsheet, then copy and paste them into the "Worksheet in Expression" internal spreadsheet. I copied them over, went to "Add-ins" to update, then closed the worksheet. After NX resumed it wouldn't have read in any of the additions/changes I'd made. I did notice that the message in the lower left of excel stated that only the expressions which were previously defined in NX before opening the worksheet were updated.

I eventually gave up using the "spreadsheet edit" functionality and just entered it all into NX directly. It would've been nice to be able to do this with Excel though, especially in the future for larger scale models. Or is it not possible to define formula in spreadsheet edit mode for expressions' values?

 

[cowski]

You can import expressions, but they must be in a certain format. Search the NX help file for "import expressions" and "expressions sheet" for more info.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

OK, what you can do, rather then using the 'Spreadsheet Edit' function from within the Expression editor, while in the Modeling application, go to...

Tools -> Spreadsheet...

...and when the empty spreadsheet opens, go to the Excel Ribbon 'Tab' labeled 'Add-Ins' and select the 'Extract Expr' item and all of the expressions from the part will be inserted into the Spreadsheet where you can edit them and then hit the 'Update NX Part' item to cause your edits to be loaded into the NX part. Now if you've added some additional expressions to the end of the list, what you need to do is select all of the cells which contains your expressions and then select the 'Define Expr Rng' item and THEN select the 'Update NX Part' item. But whatever you do, if you don't want to start from scratch each time, when you leave the Spreadsheet, select the OK button when the 'Exit Spreadsheet' dialog comes-up.

Now if you are entering a formula as the 'value' of your expression they must be entered using an '=' sign as the first character in the cell containing the formula. Now it will look like it was replaced by the evaluated result, but it actually is recorded as a formula (if you reselect the cell you'll see that in the Excel 'Formula Bar').

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.