DataExtraction

Option

Description

Select (Page 1 of 4)

Create data extraction definition: Creates a new .dxd (Data eXtraction Definition) file:

1. Turn on the option, then click the Browse button* ().

2. In the file dialog box, select a folder, and then enter a name in the File name field.

3. Click the Save button.

Based on an existing data extraction definition: Uses an existing .dxd file as the template for the new one.

1. Turn on the option, and then click the Browse button* ().

2. In the file dialog box, select a .dxd file.

3. Click the Open button.

* By default .dxd files are saved in the ...\Bim\Schedules subfolder of the Support folder. Newly created custom *.dxd files can be used to create schedules in the Project Browser.

.dxd files can be edited in a text editor such as MS Notepad.

Select entities to extract data from: 

•  - dismisses the dialog box temporarily so that you can select entities in the drawing; enter Ctrl+A to select all entities in the drawing. Press Enter or right click to stop selecting entities.
• Add Folder - adds a folder of drawing from which to extract data
  Double click to open the Folder Options dialog box:
  
  
  • Folder: Click te Browse () button, then select a folder in Select Folder dialog box.
  • (option) Check the Include subfolders option
  • (option) Check the Use wildcard option, then type a text string in the filter field. E.g. House*.dwg includes all files starting with 'House'.
• Add Drawing - adds a drawing from which to extract data
• Add Sheet Set - adds a sheet set which to extract data

Extract entities from blocks: Includes entities in selected blocks.

Extract entities from Xrefs: Includes entities in externally referenced drawings.

Add Xrefs to block counts: Counts selected xrefs as blocks.

Data Extraction - Entities (Page 2 of 4)

Click Next for the next page:

Controls which entity types are included () or not () in the data extraction procedure.

Select multiple items:

• To select more than one item in a row: select an item, and then hold down the Shift key while click additional items
• To select multiple items: hold down the Ctrl key while selecting multiple entities.
• To unselect items, click them again while holding down the Ctrl key.

To sort the list, click the title in the column heading. Click again to sort in reverse order.

• Entity - lists the entity types and blocks in the selection, according to the options set in the Data Extraction dialog.
• Name - entity names. Accept the default names or type a customized name. The entity type name displays in the default Name field in the data extraction export.
• Type - reports the type of the selected entity: Non-Block, Block or Block with attributes.

Select All: Selects all items for data extraction.

Select Blocks: Selects only blocks in the list, because they usually contain attributes.

Back: Returns back to the Data Extraction - Select page.

Data Extraction - Properties (Page 3 of 4)

Click Next for the next page:

Select the properties to be included in the data extraction file: click the checkbox to check/uncheck a property, which indicates whether it is selected () or not (). Use the same techniques to select more than one item as described in Data Extraction - Entities page.

To sort the list, click the title in the column heading. Click again to sort in reverse order.

• Property - lists of all properties of the selected entities.
• Name - lists all names of the selected entities. Accept the default names or type a customized name. The property names display in the column headings in the data extraction export.
• Category - reports the category of the selected entities.
• Additional Format - Formats the item in the export file. Click to display the dialog box. The layout of the dialog box depends on the selected item, just like the Format section of the Field dialog.
• Select Attributes - select only items that contain attributes
• Show Checked Only - show only selected items, hiding those that are not selected.
• Show All - shows all items, whether checked or not.
• Move Selected Up - move the selected item(s) up the list.
• Move Selected Down - move the selected item(s) down the list.
• Combine Equal Rows - combine rows that contain the same entities.
• Include Name Column - toggles the display of the Name column in the exported data.

Back: Switches back to the Data Extraction - Entities page.

Data Extraction - Output (Page 4 of 4)

Click Next for the next page:

Output to CSV: Exports the data in a delimiter separated format (.csv):

Defines the format and name of the exported data file:

• Delimiter - specifies the separator between fields of data:
  • Semicolon - separates fields with ;
  • Comma* - separates fields with ,
  • Space - separates fields with spaces
  • Tab - separates fields with tabs

*Multiply composition names contain a comma, therefore do not select comma as the delimiter character in case multiply compositions are processed.

• Click the Browse button (), give the data file a name, and then click Save. If you select an existing .csv file, you will be prompted to overwrite it.

Create Data: Exports the data in a Table:

• Create table: Creates a static table.
• Create table with datalink: Creates a dynamic table. Executing the DataLinkUpdate command synchronizes the data in table with the model. Save the model first. You will be prompted to save the *.dxd definition file with the table.

Table Style:

• Click the list button and select a table style.
• Click the Table Style icon (); edit an existing table style or create a new one (see the TableStyle command).
• Table formatting: Type a title in the Title field.

Finish

Depending on the selected output:

• Extracts the data and saves them to the .csv file. The file can be opened in a spreadsheet or database program.
• Prompts you to specify an insertion point for the table(s).