Using Worksheets and Databases

Creating Worksheets

VectorWorks gives you a wide range of options when using and creating worksheets. You can create an independent worksheet. An interactive worksheet works with the drawing as it's being created, updating along the way. An independent worksheet does not directly use information from the drawing.

To create an independent worksheet

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    This opens the Resources palette.

    2. Click New.

    The Create Resource dialog box appears.

    3. Click the Worksheet radio button.

    4. Click Create.

    The Create Worksheet dialog box appears.

    5. Enter a Name for the worksheet.

    6. Enter the number of Rows for the worksheet.

    7. Enter the number of Columns for the worksheet.

    Note: You can modify the number of columns and rows later, if desired.

    8. Click OK.

    Your new blank worksheet appears in the Drawing Area.

    You can now assign names and functions to your columns, as well as select whether you want individual rows to be spreadsheet or database rows. The worksheet can be resized, moved, and closed as desired.

Changing Worksheet Row Types

In VectorWorks worksheets, rows are automatically set up as spreadsheet rows. These can be changed as needed.

To change a spreadsheet row into a database row or vice versa

    1. Click and hold the mouse on the number for the row you want to change.

    A pulldown menu appears with Spreadsheet or Database options.

    2. Select either Database or Spreadsheet.

    The row is changed to the selection.

    If you change a spreadsheet row into a database row, the Database Criteria dialog box appears. Enter the desired search criteria and click OK.

    If you change a database header row into a spreadsheet row, any subrows and the information in them is removed. The information in the database header row is carried over into the spreadsheet row.

Moving Around in Worksheets

You can select cells by clicking in individual cells, use the arrow keys to move around from cell to cell, or use the Enter and Tab keys in conjunction with the Shift key. The Enter, or Return, key moves you to the next cell in that column, while the Shift-Enter key combination moves you up one cell in that column. The Tab key moves you to the next cell in that row and the Shift-Tab key combination moves you to the previous cell.

You can select individual cells, a group of cells, entire rows or columns, or the entire worksheet. Simply clicking in a cell makes it the active cell. You can click-drag across a range of cells to select a group or click in one corner and Shift-click in the opposite corner to select a range. To select an entire column or row, click on the heading cell. Simply click-drag across the heading cells to select multiple rows or columns. You select the entire worksheet by clicking on the square in the upper left corner of the worksheet.

Entering Data

To enter data, you must select a cell or range of cells that the information will be applied to. There are two types of information you can enter into a worksheet: formulas or constant values. All information is entered via the Worksheet Entry Palette, which appears at the top of the screen overlaid on the Data Display Bar.

Entering Constant Values

Constant values are typed in the Worksheet Entry Palette and can consist of text or numbers, usually in the form of dates or times. They do not change unless you change them or they are the result of a formula.

To enter a number as a constant value, click in the desired cell and enter the number in the Worksheet Entry Palette. To enter a negative number, place a negative sign (-) before the number. Do not include dollar signs or commas in a number entry or VectorWorks will consider the entry as text. Cells can be formatted with commas or dollar signs, as needed.

In a VectorWorks worksheet, text is anything that is not a formula, number, date, or time. Text can be entered into a cell as the result of a formula with each cell holding up to 255 characters. These characters can be any character, letter, or number that can be produced by the font in use at the time. However, to keep VectorWorks from treating numbers entered as text in a cell as a number cell, enclose the number in single quotation marks, e.g., '40'. If you need to enter text as part of a formula and the text is more than a single word, you must also enclose it in single quotation marks, as VectorWorks doesn't recognize the spaces between words in a formula.

Worksheets as Graphic Objects

Either of the worksheet types can be included in your drawing as a graphic object. For example, if you've generated a parts list for an object in the drawing and you want to include this list with the drawing, you could place the worksheet on to the drawing as an object. You can move the worksheet to any location on the drawing. However, you can not resize it, nor can it be edited as an object. You can only edit it when its window is open.

To include a worksheet as an object on a drawing

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    The Resources palette appears.

    2. Select the desired worksheet.

    The worksheet must be a part of the current drawing.

    If the worksheet is part of another drawing, you must first import it to the current drawing. See "Worksheet Functions" .

    3. Click the On Dwg check box on the Resources palette.

    4. Close the worksheet window.

    The worksheet is now included in the drawing as a graphic object. You can now move the worksheet like any other graphic object and place it where you want on the drawing.

To edit a worksheet included as a drawing's object

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    The Resources palette appears.

    2. Select the desired worksheet.

    3. Click Open.

    The worksheet is opened in a window and available for editing. The space on the drawing where the worksheet was is now outlined and marked with an X. Closing the worksheet will return it to the drawing as a graphic object.

Creating Spreadsheets

When entering cell references in formulas, you can refer to cells inside the current worksheet, known as internal references, or to cells in another worksheet, known as external references. Internal references can be made by clicking on the cell when creating the formula or by typing the cell address in the Worksheet Entry palette. External references must be typed and must include the full path name for the worksheet. The syntax for entering an external reference into a formula is [worksheet name:cell/range address]. An external reference is updated when you select Recalculate from the worksheet menu.

To enter a formula

    1. Select a cell on the worksheet.

    The Worksheet Entry palette appears, listing the cell's address in the left.

    2. Click to place the cursor in and activate the Worksheet Entry palette.

    3. Enter an equals sign (=).

    All formulas must begin with an equals sign.

    4. Enter the formula.

    A formula can consist of functions, operators, cell references, and values. These may be typed in or entered via the mouse. The Paste Function and Paste Criteria menu items can assist formula creation.

The following syntax is used in formulas

Syntax Explanation
Parens () Enclose a parameter list
Square brackets [] Enclose a record destination
Periods. Separate record identifier and Field identifier
Colons: Separate path name levels
Single quotes Enclose a string constant
Dollar Signs $ Absolute reference designator
Double periods.. Used to designate ranges

    5. Complete the formula.

    When you finish entering the formula, click the Check Mark box.

    To cancel an entry, click the X Mark box. The cell is returned to its previous state.

Creating Reports

A report is an interactive worksheet which integrates the worksheet with the items in your drawing. As you change items in your drawing, the interactive worksheet is updated. You can create an interactive worksheet in your drawing file at any time. However, it usually is easier if you first create record formats, as well as part or all of your drawing.

To create a worksheet from record formats or symbols

    1. Select Create Report from the Organize menu.

    The Create Report dialog box appears.

    2. Enter a name for the worksheet in the Title text box.

    3. From the List all pulldown menu, select the objects that will comprise the worksheet.

    The choices here are Objects With A Record and Symbols.

    4. Select the name of the record format you want to include in the worksheet from the Listing Objects With Record pulldown.

    5. Select the columns to include in the worksheet.

    The names of all Possible Columns are included in the left-hand list. Names of included columns are grayed.

    6. Click the Add button.

    The name of the selected column(s) appears in the right-hand Worksheet Columns list.

    Click the Add All button to add all of the possible column names to the worksheet.

    7. If desired, change the order of the Worksheet Columns.

    Select the name of a column and click the Up or Down button to change its position in the list and worksheet.

    8. Click the Summarize items with same checkbox.

    This will summarize items that have the same entries in a selected field.

    9. Select the name of the summarized field from the pulldown list.

    10. Click the Options button.

    The Create Report Options dialog box appears.

    11. Choose a worksheet option.

    Options include creating a New worksheet or Append to existing worksheet. The default is New worksheet.

    You can also choose to search inside symbol instances to include information from them into your worksheet by clicking the Search in symbols checkbox.

    12. Click OK.

    This returns you to the Create Report dialog box.

    13. Click OK.

    This returns you to the Drawing Area and displays the worksheet, which can be resized and moved as desired.

    The worksheet now contains a subrow for each object or symbol in your drawing. It also displays the column information that you specified. The first data row shows the total value for the column.

    14. Close the worksheet.

    Click the close box in the title bar.

Using the Database Functions

Creating Record Formats

Creating record formats in your drawing file is an important step to creating meaningful database rows in your worksheets. You can attach record formats, which store a wide range of data, to any object (including symbols) in your drawing, such as price or part number data.

Note: Data that is an intrinsic part of your object (such as its width or length) can be edited with the Object Info palette.

VectorWorks' flexibility lets you create the object or the record format first. Either way, any data you attach to an object becomes a permanent part of it, staying with the object even when you import or cut-and-paste it into another drawing. This doesn't mean that you can't change the values of the data, though. For directions on editing data linked to an object, see "Editing Record Formats" .

You can create as many record formats as you need in a drawing file, each attached to whichever objects you desire. Many formats can be created for a single object.

To create a single record format

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    The Resources palette appears.

    2. Click New.

    The Create Resource dialog box appears.

    3. Click the Record Format radio button.

    4. Click Create.

    The Create Record Format dialog box appears.

    5. Enter the Name of the Record Format.

    6. Click New.

    The Edit Field dialog box appears.

    7. Enter a Name for the field.

    8. Choose the type of field.

    There are four choices here: Integer, Boolean, Text, and Number.

    Select the Integer radio button to use whole numbers ranging from -32,768 to 32,767.

    Note: Using Integer requires less memory than Number.

    Select the Boolean radio button to use a data value of either true (1) or false (0).

    Select the Text radio button to enter a string of characters, such as a word or a sentence.

    Select the Number radio button to use numbers outside the range for Integer, fractions or decimals, or to specify a number format. The following table defines the fields available under Format.

Format Description
General The default setting for Number Format.
Boolean Used to indicate a True or False situation. Enter a value to represent True and False.
Fractional When using fractions, the value fractions will be rounded to.
Angle Accuracy Determines the accuracy of angles and measurement system applied. Measurement system is degrees, minutes, and seconds or decimal numbers up to four decimal places.
Dimension Setting for using dimensions.
Decimal Setting for using decimal numbers. Enter a value for the number of decimal places and check to use comma separators.
Scientific Setting for using scientific numbers. Enter a value for the number of decimal places.
Date Setting for using dates. Select the desired date representation from the pulldown list.

    Note: If you select Number, you must also select a number format.

    9. Enter the data value in the Default text box.

    For Integer and Number formats, type the numerical value you want to assign to the record.

    For Booleans, type the desired values, usually 1 (true) or 0 (false).

    For Text, type up to 256 characters.

    10. For each additional field you want to add, repeat Steps 6 through 9.

    11. Click OK.

    This returns you to the Create Record Format dialog box.

    12. Click OK.

    This returns you to the Drawing Area and the worksheet.

    The Data tab of the Object Info palette displays all records contained in the current drawing.

    Note: To save the record format(s) you create, be sure to save your document before closing it.

Attaching Record Formats to Objects

To attach record formats to symbols in the symbol library

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu

    The Resources palette is displayed.

    2. Select the symbol.

    3. Click Attach.

    The Attach Record dialog box appears.

    4. Select the record to attach.

    Multiple records can be attached to a symbol.

    5. Click the Attach checkbox.

    The record is attached to the symbol. To attach multiple records to the same symbol, select each of the records and click the Attach checkbox for each record.

    Note: You can select multiple records to attach by pressing the Control (windows) or Option (Macintosh) key and clicking on each record.

    6. Click OK.

    The attached record(s) will be included with the symbol each time the symbol is used in the drawing or imported into another drawing.

To attach or unattach record formats to previously placed symbols

    1. Select the symbol.

    2. Select Object Info from the Palette menu.

    The Object Info palette is displayed.

    3. Select the Data tab of the Object Info palette.

    The Object Info palette repopulates to show a list of all record formats in the drawing. An X in the box indicates the record format is attached to the symbol.

    4. Click the check box next to the name of the desired record format(s).

    If unattaching a record format, a dialog box asks you to confirm the deletion of the record format from the object.

    If attaching a record format, an X appears in the box and the record is attached to that instance of the object.

To attach record formats to other types of objects

    1. Select the object to which you want to attach a record format(s). Select Object Info from the Palette menu.

    The Object Info palette is displayed.

    2. Select the Data tab.

    The Object Info palette repopulates to display a list of all attached record formats in the drawing.

    3. Enter a name for the selected object, if desired.

    Note: Names of objects are limited to 20 characters.

    4. Click the check box next to the desired record format(s) in the list.

    An X in the box indicates the record format is attached to the object.

    If unattaching a record format, a dialog box asks you to confirm the deletion of the record format from the object.

    If attaching a record format, an X appears in the box and the record is attached to that instance of the object.

Linking Text to Record Formats

The Link Text to Record command gives you a way to link symbols in your drawings with text that is part of a record format. It is particularly useful if you want to label symbols in a drawing with unique information. In order to use this command, you must have symbols and record formats already created in your drawing file.

To link text to records

    1. Create a line or block of text.

    Make sure the text is in the font and style you want. What you type is not important at this point. You may also want to create and assign a class.

    2. Select the text.

    3. Place it next to an unrotated symbol.

    Make sure you place it exactly where you want the record format information to appear.

    4. Select the symbol and text or block.

    5. Select Link Text to Record from the Organize menu.

    The Choose Field text box appears.

    6. Select the record format(s) from the Formats list.

    7. Select the field(s) in the format from the Fields list to apply the text.

    8. Click OK.

    VectorWorks will attach the record field information you selected to your symbol, placing it as you designated with your dummy text.

    Note: If you edit the record format after placing symbols linked to that record, the link is broken and the text reverts to the default value.

Viewing and Editing Records

The Object Info palette can be used for a wide variety of things, among them viewing and editing record details for objects via the Data tab. When you select this tab in the Object Info palette, VectorWorks displays a listing of any records attached to the object(s) that you have selected along with detailed information about the records. You can also use the Object Info palette to make changes to record settings. However, if you select multiple objects that have different records attached to them, the Data tab will list all the records attached to your selected objects, but you will not be able to tell which records are attached to which objects.

Note: You can resize the three lists by selecting and dragging the bars between them.

To view record information for a selected object

    1. Select the object in your Drawing Area.

    Select Object Info from the Palette menu.

    The Object Info palette appears.

    2. Click the Data tab.

    The Object Info palette repopulates with the appropriate information.

    Information for the object is displayed in four text boxes.

Text Box Description
Object Name Displays the name of the selected object.
Record List Displays all records defined for and contained in the drawing. Records attached to the selected object are indicated with an X in the check box to the left of the record name. If more than one object is selected, only records attached to all the objects are marked with an X.
Field List Displays a listing of all the fields in the selected record. If a default value was assigned to the field, it will appear after the field name.
Edit Field Displays the values for the selected field, if any. This field is used to enter field values for the selected objects. All entered values override any default values for the object.

Editing Record Formats

Once you've created a record format in your drawing, you can edit its field values or layout at any time. The Object Info palette lets you edit the field values for existing objects or the default field values for new objects. The Resources palette allows you to edit the layout of a record format, changing any existing objects as well as new objects.

To change the field values for a record format for existing objects

    1. Select the object or objects with the record format attached to them that you want to change. Select Object Info from the Palette menu.

    The Object Info palette is displayed.

    Note: The ChangeSymDefRec script lets you easily attach a particular record format to a folder of symbols in one step. This script can be found in the Goodies folder in the Design and Drafting Toolkit.

    2. Select the Data tab on the Object Info palette.

    The Object Info palette repopulates to display information on the record format(s) attached to the selected object(s).

    3. Click the name of the record field you want to change in the Field List box.

    4. Change the data in the Edit Field box.

    VectorWorks changes the record format data for all selected objects. It does not, however, change the default data. Therefore, any new object you create will still use the original (default) record format. Directions for changing the format for new objects follows.

    To change the default field values for a record format for new objects

    5. Make sure no objects are selected in the drawing.

    6. Select the Object Info from the Palette menu.

    The Object Info palette appears.

    7. Select the Data tab on the Object Info palette.

    The Object Name field displays *DEFAULTS*. This indicates that no objects are selected and you are about to edit the default values.

    8. Select the record to edit from the Record List box.

    9. Select the field to edit from the Field List box.

    10. Make the desired changes in the Edit Field box.

To change the layout of a record format for new and existing objects

    1. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    The Resources palette is displayed.

    2. Select the name of the current drawing file from the pulldown menu.

    3. Select the name of the record format you want to edit.

    4. Click the Edit button.

    The Edit Record Format dialog box appears.

    5. Click the name of the field you want to edit.

    6. Click the Edit button.

    The Edit Field dialog box appears.

    7. Make the desired changes to the field type.

    8. Click OK.

    The changes are made and you're returned to the Edit Record Format dialog box.

    Note: You may also add new fields by clicking New and remove unwanted fields by clicking Remove.

    9. Click OK.

    When finished editing all the fields, this returns you to the Drawing Area.

Worksheet Functions

Functions are calculation tools that allow you to make decisions, take actions, and return values automatically for VectorWorks spreadsheet worksheets. All functions that begin with a capital letter use search criteria. Lower case functions, known as worksheet functions, require a number value or a cell range. Worksheet functions take a value or values, perform some action on them, and return a value or values. The argument for all trigonometry functions must be in radians. The following table alphabetically lists all of the worksheet functions available in VectorWorks.

Code Returns Example Related Functions
acos(number) The arccosine of a number. The arccosine is the angle whose cosine is number. The returned angle is given in radians in the range 0 to pi. Number is the cosine of the angle, and must be from -1 to 1. acos(cos(x))=x. (cos) (pi)
Angle(criteria) The angle of lines and walls, the span angle of arcs (in degrees), and the slope angle of slabs (in degrees). . .
Area(criteria) The total area of 2D objects that meet the criteria. Area(T=rect) (Perim)
asin(number) The arcsine of a number. The arcsine is the angle whose sine is number. The returned angle is given in radians in the range -pi/2 to pi/2. Number is the sine of the angle you want and must be from -1 to 1. To express the arcsine in degrees use the rad2deg function (or multiply the result by 180/pi). (pi) (sin)
atan(number) The arctangent of a number. The arctangent is the angle whose tangent is number. The returned angle is given in radians in the range -pi/2 to pi/2. Number is the tangent of the angle you want. To express the arctangent in degrees, multiply the result by 180/pi(). (pi) (tan)
average(number1, number2...) The average (mean) of the arguments. average (85, 70, 95) (max) (min) (sum)
BotBound(criteria) The minimum y coordinate of objects that meet the criteria. BotBound(sec) (LeftBound) (RightBound) (TopBound)
cos(number) The cosine of a given angle. Number is the angle in radians for which you want the cosine. cos(Deg2Rad(90)) (pi)
Count(criteria) The number of objects that meet the specified criteria. Count(sel) .
deg2rad(number) Converts number from degrees to radians. Number is the value in degrees you want converted to radians. deg2rad(45) .
exp(number) e raised to the power of number. The constant e equals 2.71828182845904, the base of the natural logarithm. Number is the exponent applied to the base e. exp(2) (ln)
Height(criteria) The delta y (height) of objects. height(T=Rect) (Width)
if (logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false) One value if logical_test is true, another if false. Use this function to conduct conditional tests on values and formulas and to branch based on the results of that test. The outcome of the test determines the value returned by the If function. The logical_test can be any value or expression that can be evaluated to true or false.Up to seven If statements can be nested as value_if_true, value_if_false arguments to construct elaborate formulas. Boolean statements within an if statement must be in parentheses. Text within an if statement should be enclosed within quotation marks. =if((c7>100),100,c7) .
int(number) Removes any fractional part of a number. Number is the real number you want to round down to an integer. int(1.5) (round)
IsFlipped(criteria):REAL Returns a value which is the total number of flipped objects which meet the criteria. . .
LeftBound(criteria) The left side minimum x (left boundary) of the objects that meet the criteria. LeftBound(N='Obj') (BotBound) (RightBound) (TopBound)
Length(criteria) The length of lines or walls that meet the criteria. (Length(T=line)) .
ln(number) The natural logarithm (base e). Number is the positive real number for which you want the logarithm. . (exp)
log(number) The base 10 logarithm of a number. Number is the positive real number for which you want the logarithm. log(2) . (ln)
max(number1, number2,...) The largest number in the list of arguments. Number is 1-14 numbers for which you want to find the maximum value. max (5,7,9) (min)
min(number1, number2,...) The smallest number in the list of arguments. Number is 1-14 numbers for which you want to find the minimum value. min(5,7,9) (max)
Perim(criteria) The perimeter of objects that meet the criteria. Perim(SEL) .
rad2deg(number) Converts number from radians to degrees. Number is the value in radians you want converted to degrees. rad2deg(0.52359878) .
RightBound(criteria) The right side minimum x (right boundary) of the objects that meet the criteria. RightBound(SEL) (BotBound) (TopBound) (LeftBound)
round(number,num_digits) Rounds a number to the specified number of digits. Number is the number you want to round. Num_digits specifies the number of digits you want to round to. round(3.24259,3) (int)
sin The sine of a given angle. sin(deg2rad(30)) (pi)
sqrt(number) A positive square root. Number is the number for which you want the square root. sqrt(16) .
sum(number1, number2,...) The sum of all numbers in the list of arguments. Number is 1-14 numbers for which you want the sum. sum(10,20,30) . (Average)
SurfaceArea(criteria):REAL Returns the sum of CalcSurfaceArea for each object that meets the criteria . .
tan(number) The tangent of the given angle. Number is the angle in radians for which you want the tangent. tan(deg2rad(45)) (pi)
TopBound(criteria) The maximum y (top boundary) of the objects that meet the criteria. TopBound(n='Root') (BotBound) (LeftBound) (RightBound)
Volume(criteria):REAL Returns the sum of CalcVolume for each object that meets the criteria . .
Width(criteria) The delta x (width) of objects. Width(N='Box') (Height)
XCenter(criteria) The center of objects in x direction. XCenter(N='Board') (YCenter)
YCenter(criteria) The center of objects in the Y direction. YCenter(N='Board') (XCenter)

Some aspects of VectorWorks' worksheets vary from the standard used by Excel. While executed differently, the same things can usually be done. An example is the Fill Right/Fill Down feature of Excel. This feature allows you to repeat the same value or formula over a range of cells. In VectorWorks, you can do the same thing by selecting the cell with the information you want to repeat and copying the cell to the clipboard. Then, select the cells you want to place the information and paste it in. The formula or value is repeated in each of the selected cells.

Search Criteria

Search criteria are used within a function to find a specific type of object within a file. For example, you could use search criteria to find specifically-sized doors, walls of a certain color, or objects costing less than a certain amount of money.

Criteria is placed in the formula when you select the Paste Criteria item from the Worksheet menu. If an object is selected in your drawing when you select this command, the paste attributes dialog appears. This dialog allows you to choose which of the selected object's attributes you want to include in the function. You can click the custom dialog to perform a database criteria custom selection. If no objects are selected in the drawing, the Database Criteria window appears allowing to do a database criteria custom selection.

The following search criteria codes can be manually entered and used in a VectorWorks formula. These same codes are placed in a formula, with proper parentheses and syntax, by the Database Criteria dialog box.

Criteria Name Code Criteria Name Code
Arrowhead AR Object Name N
Class Name C Object Record R
Every Object All Object Type T
Fill Background FB Pen Background PB
Fill Foreground FF Pen Foreground PF
Fill Pattern FP Pen Pattern PP
Layer Name L Selected Status Sel
Line Style PP Symbol Name S
Line Weight LW Visibility V

Operators

VectorWorks uses the following operators. If the operator can be created with a special key combination, it is shown.

Arithmetic

Performs basic mathematical operations. They combine numeric values and produce numeric results.

Operator Description
+ Addition
- Subtraction
* Multiplication
/ Division
^ or ** Exponentiation

Comparison

Compares two values and produces the logical value TRUE or FALSE.

Operator Description
= Equal
<> or (Option=) Not Equal
< Less than
<= or (Option<) Less than or equal to
> Greater than
>= or (Option>) Greater than or equal to

Reference

Combines references to two cells into a single joint reference. The operator is... or Range.

Special Words and Characters

The following special words and characters are reserved for use in formulas.

Operator Description
( Left parens
) Right parens
, Comma
; Semicolon
: Colon
TRUE True
FALSE False

Tips and Tricks

This section provides a few tips and tricks to enable you to make better use of VectorWorks' Worksheets function.

Adding Default Values While Editing a Symbol

You can add default values while editing a symbol. While in Edit Symbol mode, the Data tab of the Object Info palette displays Symbol Defaults in the Object Name text box. You can select the field you want to have a default value and enter that value in the Field List text box. Once you exit the symbol, the values are applied. This will change the default from this point. Symbols placed prior to this point will not be affected.

Using VectorWorks as a Database

You can use VectorWorks as a database for symbols and information associated with them. Several different text fields are applied to the symbol definitions. Each text field is assigned a class and is linked to a field of the record attached to the symbol. Using the Custom Visibility tool, these classes are either hidden or visible, allowing for different information to be shown with each symbol, depending on which classes are shown.

Importing a Table from Microsoft Word

The following procedure is an example of how to import a table from Microsoft WordTM into a VectorWorks worksheet.

To import a Microsoft Word table into a worksheet

    1. In Microsoft Word, select the desired table.

    You must select the entire table. The import will not work with only a portion of the table selected.

    2. Select Convert Table to Text from the Table menu.

    The Convert Table to Text dialog box appears.

    3. In the dialog box, click Tabs for the separation identifier.

    4. Click OK.

    5. Save the table.

    If the file consists of only the table, select Save As from the File menu. In the Save As dialog box that appears, select Text Only With Line Breaks from the Save as type pulldown menu, and click OK.

    If the table is part of a larger file, copy the table to the Clipboard. Select New from the File menu, and paste the table text into the new document. Save the file as above.

    6. Return to VectorWorks.

    7. Select Resources from the Palette menu.

    The Resources palette appears.

    8. Click the New button.

    The Create Resource dialog box appears.

    9. Click Worksheet.

    10. Create a new worksheet with the same number of rows and columns as the table in Microsoft Word.

    11. Select the Import Worksheet item from the Import option on the File menu.

    The Select Worksheet File dialog box appears.

    12. Select the worksheet file to import.

    13. Click OK.

    VectorWorks' worksheet files can be exported and read by spreadsheet programs, such as Excel, as well as by some word processing programs. Because many of these programs have different format requirements, VectorWorks gives you a selection of formats to choose from when you export files as a worksheet. These include comma delimited, tab delimited, merge, DIF, and SYLK. Using the tab delimited format, for example, creates a file that can be opened as a table in Word. In addition, VectorWorks allows you to export all rows or just selected rows of a worksheet.



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