Creating a Design Table as a Separate Excel File

You can create a design table as a separate Excel file, then use the Design Table PropertyManager to insert the file in your model.

NOTES:

• When you use design tables in the SolidWorks software, it is important to format the tables properly.

• If you copy and paste the contents of a design table to a new worksheet in Microsoft Excel, follow the instructions below.

To create a design table as a separate Excel file:

1. Open Microsoft Excel and create a worksheet.

2. In the first column (cells A2 , A3 , and so on), type the names of the configurations that you want to create. Leave cell A1 blank .

   The names can include numerics, but must not include the forward slash (/) or at (@) characters.

3. In the first row, (cells B1 , C1 , and so on), type the parameters that you want to control.

Column headers are not case sensitive.

4. Type the parameter values in the spreadsheet cells.

5. Save the worksheet.

6. Open the model document where you want to insert the design table.

7. Click Insert, Design Table.

8. In the Design Table PropertyManager, under Source:

   1. Click From file.

   2. Click Browse and open the Excel file. You can also select Link to file, which links the table to the model. A linked design table reads all of its information from an external Excel file. When a design table is linked, any changes you make to the table outside of SolidWorks are reflected in the table within the SolidWorks model, and vice versa.

      The path to the Excel file appears above the Browse button.

If you update a linked design table in Microsoft Excel, then open the SolidWorks model, you can choose to update either:

• the model with the design table values

- or -

• the design table with the model values

You can set the update options in Tools, Options, System Options, External References . Set Update out-of-date linked design tables to to Prompt, Model, or Excel File.

9. Click OK .

   The worksheet appears in the model document, and the Excel menus and toolbars replace the SolidWorks menus and toolbars.

10. Edit the design table if necessary. When you finish editing, click anywhere outside the table to close it.

    A message indicates the names of any new configurations that were generated by the design table, and the SolidWorks menus and toolbars reappear.

    Design Table appears in the ConfigurationManager . Double-click the configuration name, or right-click the configuration name and select Show Configuration .