Export/Import spreadsheet data

Use this to edit component tags, descriptions, catalog assignments, wire numbers, or PLC I/O descriptions from a spreadsheet and then have your edits update your drawings. Your spreadsheet/database edits can update existing or blank values on existing components, terminals, PLC I/O modules, and wire numbers but it cannot insert new items into the drawings.

1. Click Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.
2. Select the data category to export.

   If you select General, information for the categories marked with an asterisk (*) is extracted. Each category is saved to a separate sheet (spreadsheet format) or table (database format). The tab-delimited or comma-delimited formats are not available when writing out to multiple categories.

3. Click OK.
4. In the Data Export dialog box, specify to export the spreadsheet data for the current drawing or the entire project.
5. Specify the output format (Microsoft Excel, Access file, Tab-delimited ASCII, or Comma-delimited ASCII) and the location codes to extract, and click OK.

   AutoCAD Electrical creates a file of the data pulled from your wiring diagram drawings.

6. Open this file in any spreadsheet or database program for view and edit.

   Caution: If you selected a Tab or Comma-delimited ASCII format, import all fields as text. Some spreadsheet programs may try to convert some fields into numeric or scientific notation values. You may need to save the AutoCAD Electrical extracted data to a file with a .txt extension and then use the spreadsheet's import wizard to force all fields to be classified as text.

   Note: Do not edit the HDL and DWGNAME fields. These are used by the Update from Spreadsheet utility to link your edits back to the correct drawing and correct block insert on that drawing.

7. After editing, save the spreadsheet data back out to its original format.
8. (Optional) Before importing the spreadsheet data back into the drawing or project, add additional columns to the spreadsheet data. Label each column with a target ATTRIBUTE name.

   During the import function, AutoCAD Electrical checks for these new attributes and updates them with data you entered into the spreadsheet.

9. Click Import/Export Data tab Import panel From Spreadsheet.
10. Select the spreadsheet and click Open.
11. In the Update Drawings per Spreadsheet Data dialog box, specify to import the spreadsheet data for the current drawing or the entire project.
12. Select any other import options and click OK. The data for the project or drawing automatically updates to match the edits on the spreadsheet.

    All spreadsheet update changes are automatically logged, complete with time and date, in a text file saved to the AutoCAD Electrical user subdirectory.

    If you edit the BLOCK field in the spreadsheet and assign a different block name, AutoCAD Electrical tries to find the new block during the update. If found, the old block is switched to the new one.

Exports project data to a comma-delimited, Excel spreadsheet, or Access database file so you can examine and edit the data.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

You can edit component tags, descriptions, catalog assignments, wire numbers, and PLC I/O descriptions in the spreadsheet. Import the changes from the spreadsheet using Update from Spreadsheet. The spreadsheet can update existing components and wire numbers with your edits. If the block name is modified, it can swap one block for another. It cannot insert new items into drawings.

Limitation: Your spreadsheet edits can update existing or blank values on existing components, terminals, PLC I/O modules, and wire numbers but it cannot insert new items into the drawings. It only changes existing values.

This utility copies components to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Note: The User-defined attributes list can be used to add fields to the spreadsheet if an attribute from a component is not exported by default.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select Component from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies all the data categories to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select General from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies PLC I/O header information to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select PLC I/O header information from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies PLC I/O wire connections to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select PLC I/O wire connections from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies PLC I/O address/descriptions to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select PLC I/O address/descriptions from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies panel components to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Note: The User-defined attributes list can be used to add fields to the spreadsheet if an attribute from a component is not exported by default.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select Panel components from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies panel terminals to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Note: The User-defined attributes list can be used to add fields to the spreadsheet if an attribute from a component is not exported by default.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select Panel terminals from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

This utility copies terminals to a comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB file format for editing.

Note: The User-defined attributes list can be used to add fields to the spreadsheet if an attribute from a component is not exported by default.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Export panel To Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Export to Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEEXPORT2SS

Select Terminals from the list.

Data export for

Output format

Location Codes to extract

Imports data from an edited spreadsheet, and retags or updates components, wire numbers, terminal text, or PLC I/O.

Ribbon: Import/Export Data tab Import panel From Spreadsheet.

Toolbar: Schematic Reports

Menu: Projects Export to Spreadsheet Update from Spreadsheet

Command entry: AEIMPORTSS

Select the spreadsheet and click Open.

Export project data using Export to Spreadsheet. Edit the data and import changes to update the project drawings. The spreadsheet can update existing components and wire numbers with your edits. If the block name is modified, it can swap one block for another. It cannot insert new items into the drawings.

Process

Force spreadsheet new values to uppercase

Flip any updated tag/wire number values to fixed