New Commands in AutoCAD 2005: Part 1
Creating Tables
by Ralph Grabowski
Introduction
Table is a new command in AutoCAD 2005 that draws the
outline structure of tables. It creates a table object. Tables are similar
to spreadsheets: you have rows and columns that hold related kinds of
data; unlike spreadsheets, tables in AutoCAD don't perform calculations.
Figure 1: The parts of a table.
The figure above illustrates a table with three kinds of rows: a title
row at the top, a header row right below, and 17 data
rows. Title rows are meant to be titles for the entire table, while
header rows are meant to be titles for each column. The different types
of rows allow you to format each differently with the TableStyle
command.
The intersection of rows and columns is called a "cell."
New tables contain empty cells; each cell is filled by you with mtext,
a hyperlink, field text, or a block. As you add rows and columns, tables
grow down or up from their insertion point.
To go along with the Table command, AutoCAD 2005 includes
these support commands. Roughly in order of use, they are:
TableStyle - creates styles that define the look of
the table, much like text styles.
TablEdit - edits the content of cells.
MatchCell - copies the properties of one cell, and
applies them to other cells.
TableExport - exports tables as CSV (comma-separated-value)
text files.
To add or edit text, double-click a cell. In addition, numerous commands
are "hidden" in shortcut menus, which you access by right-clicking
a selected table, cell, or group of cells. These commands are described
in the next installment of this column.
Finding the Command
To start the this command:
• From the Draw menu, select Table.
• At the command prompt, enter the table command.
• Alternatively, type the tb shortcut.
In all cases, AutoCAD displays the Insert Table dialog box. As an alternative,
you can enter the -Table command, which displays prompts
at the command line:
Command: -table
Current table style: Standard Cell width: 2.5000 Cell height: 1 line(s)
Enter number of columns or [Auto] <5>:
Enter number of rows or [Auto] <1>:
Specify insertion point or [Style/Width/Height]:
Step-by-Step Tutorial
There are many ways to place tables in drawings:
• Use the Table command to create a table from
scratch.
• Copy and paste a table from another drawing.
• Copy and paste a spreadsheet from Excel XP.
• Right-click a sheetset name in the SheetSet manager, and then
select Insert Sheet Set Table from the shortcut menu.
• Drag a table from the Tools Palette into the drawing.
Table Command
The Table command creates new tables from scratch.
After you enter the command, AutoCAD displays the Insert Table dialog
box.
Figure 2: Insert Table dialog box.
1. Select a table style name from the drop list. (Styles determine
the look of tables.) If you want to define a new style, or modify an
existing style, click the ... button.
2. When placing the table, there are two ways to do it:
• Specify insertion point -- after clicking OK
and exiting dialog box, AutoCAD prompts you to pick a point to locate
the corner of the table.
Specify insertion point: (Pick
a point.)
You also specify the number of rows and columns, and their starting
width and height.
• Specify window -- in this case, AutoCAD prompts
you to pick two points that specify the opposite corners of an invisible
rectangle, into which the table is fitted.
Specify first corner: (Pick
a point.)
Specify second corner: (Pick another point.)
You specify either the number of columns/rows or their width/height,
because the actual number or width depends on the size of rectangle
you specify.
3. Specify the number of columns, rows, and their spacing. You don't
need to worry about the exact number at this point, because you can
always change the number(s) later.
4. Click OK.
Depending on the option you selected earlier -- specify insertion point,
or window -- AutoCAD prompts you to the pick point(s) that places the
table. If the location isn't exact, don't worry: you can move the table
later with the Move command. (The table is a single
object, like a polyline or block.)
5. After you place the table, AutoCAD pops up the Text Formatting bar
so that you can enter a title for the table. (Remember, the table's
first row is usually the title row.)
Figure 3: Entering the table's title.
6. To place text in the next cell, press the Tab key.
The next cell is the one to the right; at the end of the row,
the next cell is one row down, on the left. Alternatively, you can use
the arrow keys to navigate to other cells: up, down, left, and right.
7. When done entering text, click the OK button on
the Text Formatting bar.
To enter or edit text later, double-click one of them. AutoCAD again
displays the Text Formatting bar.
Copying and Pasting
An east way to create a new table is to copy and paste it from another
drawing.
1. Open the drawing containing the table. Sample drawings with tables
can be found in the \AutoCAD 2005\Sample\Sheet Sets folder.
2. To select the table, click it.
3. Copy the table to the Clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C.
(Alternatively, from the Edit menu, select Copy.)
4. Switch to the drawing needing the table.
5. Paste the table in the drawing by pressing Ctrl+V.
(Alternatively, from the Edit menu, select Paste.)
6. Notice that AutoCAD prompts you:
Specify insertion point: (Pick
a point.)
The table is pasted with its contents and formatting intact. If you
want the table pasted to the identical coordinates, from the Edit
menu, select Paste to Original Coordinates.
You can also paste spreadsheets from Excel, OpenOffice, and other programs.
The problem is that AutoCAD 2005 only recognizes spreadsheets from Excel
XP, pasting them as table objects. Spreadsheets from other programs
are pasted as OLE images.
Insert Sheet Set Tables
AutoCAD 2005 has the ability to create an "automatic" table
that lists the numbers and names of all sheets in sheet sets. This feature,
called a "sheet list table," is hidden in the Sheetset Manager,
and is easily missed.
1. Open a sheet set with the SheetSet command, and
then select the Sheet List tab.
2. Open the title page drawing by double-clicking its name in the Sheet
Set Manager. Notice that AutoCAD opens the drawing.
3. In the Sheet Set Manager, right-click the title sheet (usually the
topmost drawing), and then select Insert Sheet List Table.
(This command will be missing when Model tab is active, or when the
current layout is not a sheet found in the current sheet set.)
Figure 4: Inserting a sheet list table.
4. In the Insert Sheet List Table dialog box, select the data you want
shown in the table. You can add and remove columns with the Add
and Remove buttons.
Figure 5: Insert Sheet List Table dialog box.
5. Click OK. Notice that AutoCAD generates the table.
Figure 6: Sheet list table with automatically generated sheet numbers
and other other data.
Tool Palettes
If you commonly use the same kind of table over and over, the best thing
is to store it on the Tool Palette, and then drag it from a palette
into the drawing. Here's how you get it on the palette in the first
place:
1. Create the table using one of the methods described above. If necessary,
fill the table with text, blocks, hyperlinks, and/or field text.
2. Open the Tool Palette by pressing Ctrl+3. (Or, from
the Tools menu, select Tool Palettes window.)
3. Select the table, and then hold down the right mouse button.
Drag the table onto the palette. The table appears as an icon. (Tool
Palettes can hold more than one table.)
Figure 7: Table dragged onto Tool Palette.
4. To use the table in other drawings, simply drag the table icon into
the drawing. AutoCAD prompts you:
Specify insertion point: (Pick
a point.)
TIP: You can share Tool Palettes with other CAD users.
From the Tools menu, select Customize,
and then select Tool Palettes. In the dialog box, right-click
a tool palette name, and then select Export from the
shortcut menu. Save the file, and then send other AutoCAD users the
.xtp file.
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