Data Extraction Wizard
Provides step-by-step instructions for extracting information from objects, blocks,
and attributes, including drawing information in the current drawing or a set of drawings.
The information is used to create a data extraction table in the current drawing,
or is saved to an external file, or both.
List of Options
The Data Extraction wizard includes the following pages:
- Begin
- Define Data Source
- Select Objects
- Select Properties
- Refine Data
- Choose Output
- Table Style
- Finish
Begin
Starts the data extraction process. Options include creating a new data extraction,
using a template, or editing an existing data extraction.
- Create a New Data Extraction
-
Creates a new data extraction and saves it to a DXE file. You can also specify a previous
extraction file (DXE or BLK) to use as a template file. - Use a Previous Extraction as a Template
-
Uses settings previously saved in a data extraction (DXE) file or an attribute extraction
template (BLK) file. As you move through the wizard, each page is already filled in
with the settings in the template file. You can change these settings. Click the […] button to select the file in a standard file selection dialog box. - Edit an Existing Data Extraction
-
Allows you to modify an existing data extraction (DXE) file. Click the […] button
to select the data extraction file in a standard file selection dialog box.
Define Data Source
Specifies the drawing files, including folders from which to extract data. Allows
selection of objects in the current drawing from which to extract information.
Data Source
- Drawings/Sheet Set
-
Makes the Add Folder and Add Drawings buttons available for specifying drawings and
folders for the extraction. The drawings and folders for the extraction are listed
in the Drawing Files view. - Include Current Drawing
-
Includes the current drawing in the data extraction. The current drawing can be empty
(not contain objects) if additional drawings are selected for extraction. - Select Objects in the Current Drawing
-
Makes the Select Objects in the Current Drawing button available so you can select
objects for data extraction. - Select Objects button
-
Closes the wizard temporarily so that you select objects and blocks in the current
drawing. - Drawing Files and Folders
-
Lists the selected drawing files or folders. Checked folders are included in the extraction.
- Add Folder
-
Displays the Add Folder Options dialog box, where you can specify folders to include
in the data extraction. - Add Drawings
-
Displays the standard file selection dialog box, where you can specify drawings to
include in the data extraction. - Remove
-
Removes the checked drawings or folders listed in the Drawing Files and Folders list
from the data extraction. - Settings
-
Displays the Data Extraction – Additional Settings dialog box, where you can specify
data extraction settings.
Folders Shortcut Menu
You can see the shortcut menu for Folders (and the drawings listed within the selected
folder) only after you explicitly add a folder using the Add Folder button.
- Edit Folder Settings
-
Displays the Add Folder Options dialog box where you can specify the folders to be
used for data extraction. Drawings in the selected folders are monitored for data
changes. - Remove
-
Removes the selected folder.
- Check All
-
Selects all the drawings listed below the selected folder.
- Uncheck All
-
Clears all the drawings listed below the selected folder.
- Invert Selection
-
Inverts the current selected items below the selected folder.
Select Objects
Specifies the types of objects (blocks and non-blocks) and drawing information to
be extracted.
Valid objects are checked by default. Objects that do not exist in the selected drawing
are not checked. Click the column head to reverse the sort order. Columns can be resized.
Property data from checked objects is displayed on the Select Properties page.
Objects
- Object
-
Displays each object by its name. Blocks are listed by block name. Non-blocks are
listed by their object name. - Display Name
-
Provides a place to enter an optional alternative name for an object as it will appear
in the extracted information. Select a display name, right-click in the list, and
click Edit Display Name. - Type
-
Displays whether the object is a block or non-block.
- Preview
-
Displays a preview image of the checked block in the Object list view.
Display Options
- Display All Object Types
-
Displays a list of all object types (blocks and non-blocks) in the Object list view.
This option is selected by default. - Display Blocks Only
-
Displays only blocks in the Object list view.
- Display Non-Blocks Only
-
Displays only those objects that are not blocks in the Object list view.
- Display Blocks with Attributes Only
-
Displays only those blocks in the Object list view that contain attributes. Dynamic
blocks are listed if they have special properties assigned to them (for example, actions
and parameters). - Display Objects Currently In-Use Only
-
Displays objects in the Object list view that exist in the selected drawings.
Select Properties
Controls the object, block, and drawing properties to extract.
Each row displays a property name, its display name, and category.
Right-click a column head and use options on the shortcut menu to check all or clear
all items, invert the selection set, or edit the display name. Click the column head
to reverse the sort order. Columns can be resized.
Properties
- Property
-
Displays object properties from objects selected on the Select Objects page. The property
list is filtered according to the filter categories that are selected. Properties
are the same as those listed in the Properties palette. - Display Name
-
Provides a place to enter an optional alternative name for a property as it will appear
in the extracted information. Select the property display name, right-click in the
list, and click Edit Display Name. - Category
-
Displays a category for each property. For example, General designates ordinary object properties, such as color or layer. Attribute designates user-defined attributes. Dynamic designates user-defined property data for dynamic blocks. Categories are the same
as those listed in the Properties palette.
Category Filter
- Property Category List
-
Displays a list of categories that are extracted from the property list. Unchecked
categories filter the Properties list. Categories include 3D Visualization, Attribute,
Drawing, Dynamic Block, General, Geometry, Misc, Pattern, Table, and Text.
Property Grid Shortcut Menu
Refine Data
Modifies the structure of the data extraction table. You can reorder and sort columns,
filter results, add formula columns and footer rows, and create a link to data in
a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
Data Grid View
- Columns
-
Displays properties in a columnar format as they were specified in the Select Properties
page. Right-click any column header to display a shortcut menu of options. The Count
column and Name column display by default. Icons display in the column header for
inserted formula columns and columns extracted from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. - Combine Identical Rows
-
Groups identical records by row in the table. Updates the Count column with the sum
of all aggregated objects. - Show Count Column
-
Displays the Count column in the grid.
- Show Name Column
-
Displays the Name column in the grid.
Link External Data
Displays the Link External Data dialog box, where you can create a link between the
extracted drawing data and data in an Excel spreadsheet.
Sort Columns Options
Displays the Sort Columns dialog box, where you can sort data across multiple columns.
Full Preview
Displays a full preview of the final output, including linked external data, in the
text window. The preview is for viewing only.
Column Shortcut Menu
- Sort Column Options
-
Displays the Sort Columns dialog box, where you can sort data across multiple columns.
- Show Hidden Columns
-
Displays the hidden column. The flyout option includes Display All Hidden Columns.
- Set Column Data Format
-
Displays the Set Cell Format dialog box, where you can set a data type for cells in
the selected column.
- Insert Formula Column
-
Displays the Insert Formula Column dialog box, where you can specify the formula that
is inserted into the table. Inserts the formula column to the right of the selected
column. An existing formula column cannot be used as a value for another formula column.
- Edit Formula Column
-
Displays the Edit Formula Column dialog box. This option is only available when a
formula column is selected.
- Remove Formula Column
-
Removes the selected formula column. This option is only available when a formula
column is selected.
- Combine Record Mode
-
Displays numeric data in the selected column as separate values or collapses identical
property rows into one row and displays the sum of all the numeric data in the selected
column. This option is available when the Combine Identical Rows is checked and the
selected column contains numerical data. - Show Count Column
-
Displays a Count column that lists the quantity of each property.
- Insert Totals Footer
-
Displays a flyout menu with options for Sum, Max, Min, and Average. Creates a footer
row for the selected column that is placed below all the data rows and displays values
based on the selected arithmetic function. This option is available only for columns
that have a numeric data type.
Choose Output
Specifies the type of output to which the data is extracted.
Output Options
- Insert Data Extraction Table into Drawing
-
Creates a table that is populated with extracted data. You are prompted to insert
the table into the current drawing when you click Finish on the Finish page. - Output Data to External File
-
Creates a data extraction file. Click the […] button to select the file format in
a standard file selection dialog box. Available file formats are Microsoft Excel (XLS),
comma-separated file format (CSV), Microsoft Access (MDB), and tab-separated file
format (TXT). The external file is created when you click Finish on the Finish page.The maximum number of columns that can be exported to an XLS and MDB file is 255.
Table Style
Controls the appearance of the data extraction table. This page is displayed only
if AutoCAD Table is selected on the Choose Output page.
Table Style
Formatting and Structure
- Use Table in Table Style for Label Rows
-
Creates the data extraction table with a set of top rows that contain label cells
and a bottom set of label rows that contain header and footer cells. Extracted data
is inserted between the top and bottom label rows. This option is only available when
the selected table style contains a template table. - Manually Setup Table
-
Provides for manually entering a title and specification of the title, header, and
data cells style. - Enter a Title for Your Table
-
Specifies a title for the table. This row is not overwritten when the table is updated.
The default table style, STANDARD, includes a title row. If the selected table style
does not include a title row, this option is not available. - Title Cell Style
-
Specifies the style for the title cell. Click the drop-down list to select a title
cell style defined in the selected table style. - Header Cell Style
-
Specifies the style for the header row. Click the drop-down list to select a cell
style defined in the selected table style. - Data Cell Style
-
Specifies the style for data cells. Click the drop-down list to select a cell style
defined in the selected table style. - Use Property Names as Additional Column Headers
-
Includes column headers and uses the Display Name as the header row.
Display Preview
Displays a preview of the table layout. If the table style does not include a title
row or header row, none is displayed.
Finish
Completes the process of extracting object property data that was specified in the
wizard and creates the output type that was specified on the Choose Output page. If
data linking and column matching to an Excel spreadsheet was defined in the Link External
Data dialog box, the selected data in the spreadsheet is also extracted.
If the Insert Data Extraction Table into Drawing option was selected on the Choose
Output page, you are prompted to insert the table into the drawing when you click
Finish.
If the Output Data to External File option was selected, the extracted data is saved
to the specified file type.
Related References
- DATAEXTRACTION (Command)
- Add Folder Options Dialog Box
- Data Extraction – Additional Settings Dialog Box
- New Drawings Found Dialog Box
- Link External Data Dialog Box
- Sort Columns Dialog Box
- Insert Formula Column Dialog Box
- Set Cell Format Dialog Box
- Edit Formula Column Dialog Box
- Filter Column Dialog Box
- Data Extraction – Outdated Table Dialog Box
Related Concepts
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