Preparing the Microsoft Excel File

When you use design tables in SOLIDWORKS, 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. Leave cells A1 and A2 blank.
  3. For cell A2, change the text in the Name Box from A2 to Family.
    Cell A2 is reserved as the Family cell. This cell determines where the parameter and configuration data begins. The cell contains no text while the Name Box displays Family.

  4. In the first column (cells A3, A4, and A5), enter the names of the configurations that you want to create.

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

  5. In the second row (cells B2, C2, and D2), enter the parameters that you want to control. Parameters can be dimensions, features, or parts.
    Column headers are not case-sensitive.
  6. Enter the values for each parameter in the spreadsheet cells.
  7. Save the worksheet.