AutoCAD 2008 User's
Guide > Share Data Between
Drawings and Applications > Extract Data from
Drawings and Spreadsheets >
Extract Data Using the Data Extraction Wizard
You use the Data Extraction wizard to choose the data source (drawings) to extract property data from selected objects. You can output the data to a table or external file.
The Data Extraction wizard guides you through the process of
The first time you extract data, you are prompted to save the data extraction settings in a data extraction (DXE) file. Later, if you need to edit the data extraction, you select the DXE file, which contains all the settings (data source, selected objects and their properties, output format and table style) that you used to create the extraction. For example, if you wanted to remove some property data from the extraction, you would select the DXE file that was used to create the extraction and made the desired changes.
A data extraction file can also be used as a template to perform the same type of extraction in a different drawing. The DXE file stores drawing and folder selections, object and property selections, and formatting choices. If you need to extract the same type of information repeatedly, using a DXE file is time-saving and convenient.
You can also edit a DXE file. You can add or remove drawings, add or remove objects, or select different properties from which to extract data. Tables that reference the same DXE file, even if those tables are in other drawings, display the changes when those tables are updated.
You can extract data from individual objects in a drawing, and all objects in a single drawing, multiple drawings, or folders.
You can select objects, including blocks and their attributes and drawing property information, from which to extract data.
Extracted data can be organized, refined, and formatted before it is output to a table or external file.
A table style or existing table can be used to format a data extraction table.
