LINEAR Solutions for AutoCAD

Import Room Book without Previous Export

Shows step-by-step how to import a room book in *.xls or *.xlsx file format without having performed a previous Excel export of the room data.

Before you begin

You want to import a room book that is not based on a previously exported room book with Data Exchange IDs.

Requirements:

  • You have a room book that does not contain Data Exchange IDs and therefore does not allow a unique assignment of rooms.
  • There are identical parameters in the room book and in the building model, the combination of which enables the room labels to be clearly identified, e.g. the room number in combination with the floor.

Navigate to:

Labeling and Output tab ➤ Export ➤ Component lists ...

or

Labeling and Output tab ➤ Label drawing ➤ Component lists ...

Dialog component lists - LINEAR Solutions for Autodesk AutoCAD

Procedure

  1. In the area Component classes, expand the component class group Building and tick the checkbox Room label.

    In the Parameters section, all parameters of the room label are displayed in different groups.

  2. In the Parameters section, in the ID group, enable the Data Exchange ID parameter.
    In the lower part of the dialog, the component list appears with all the Data Exchange IDs of the individual room labels.
  3. Click in a cell of the Data Exchange ID column and enter the names of the parameters for unique identification surrounded by angle brackets and separated by a blank. In our case we enter LIN_STOREY for the floor and ATT_RNR for the room number.
    Tip: If a single parameter is already sufficient for unique identification, it is enough to enter this single parameter.
    The cell contains the text <LIN_STOREY> <ATT_RNR>.
  4. Confirm your input with Return.
    Tip: Via you open a context menu where you can select suggested parameters or parameter combinations for the unique identification of the elements of the component list.
    The new Data Exchange ID is automatically adopted for all room labels.
    Image of the component list with the “Data Exchange ID” column in the component lists dialog of the for LINEAR Solutions Autodesk AutoCAD
  5. Open your room book in Microsoft Excel, create a new column and enter LIN_DATA_EXCHANGE_ID in the first row.
  6. Define the formulas for the LIN_DATA_EXCHANGE_ID column so that the structure of the column content is structured exactly like the content of the Data Exchange ID column in the Component lists dialog.
    The formula first reads the value of the Storey field, then inserts a comma followed by a space, and then adds the value of the Room No. field.
    Image of the room book with the “Data Exchange ID” column in Microsoft Excel
  7. Save your room book.
  8. In the dialog Component lists, click Import ....
    The Select file for import dialog opens.
  9. Select your room book and click Open.
    The import of the room book starts and you are asked whether the new parameters from the room book should be created in the building model.
  10. Decide which parameters should be created.
    A message is displayed telling you how many entries have been imported.
    Tip:

    If necessary, activate the Resolve variables checkbox to see the variable values.

    Image of the “Data Exchange ID” column with resolved variables in the component lists dialog LINEAR Solutions for Autodesk AutoCAD

Results

You have imported the room book into the building model and thus assigned the parameters from the room book to the room labels in your drawing.