How to link Excel using DataTools within NavisWorks

This is not in the NavisWorks tutorial, but very handy.

1. Start MS Excel and open:
   C:\Program Files\Autodesk\NavisWorks Manage 2009\Examples\gatehouse\gatehouse.xls


2. Insert a Row on the top of the file and add column names (eg Layer, Date and Remark)


3. Save the Excel file
4. Start NavisWorks and open: gatehouse.nwd
5. Activate DataTools via Tools\File Options
6. Select the Tab DataTools
7. Press on New to create a new DataTool set

8. Type a Name eg: Excel link


9. Choose for ODBC driver: Driver Microsoft Excel (*.xls)


10. Press the Setup button and select the Worksheet


11. In the SQL String type:
    SELECT * FROM [GateHouse_LayerInfo$] WHERE "Layer"= %prop("Item", "Layer");


12. Whatch out! The $-sign is very important here!

13. Double click in the Fields section and Enter the Field names according to the Column names you entered in Excel earlier


14. Press OK
15. The new Excel link is activated
16. Press OK again
17. Now, select an object and show the property in NavisWorks

18. An extra tab "Excel link" is shown with the linked data to it.
    

Back from the BIMstorm

It was great. With a number of 50 participants we were able to integrate models from different platforms and disciplines together into one big "Super BIM model" and next to this we were able to add Custom properties to our objects that could be shared with anyone else in the BIMcaseweek (all in Dutch).

It looks like a small step. But I think this is very important!

BIMstorm or BIMcaseweek in the Netherlands

From 17 to 21 November 2008 a BIMcaseweek is organised in the Netherlands. It is all about BIM and using different kind of applications (like Revit, NavisWorks), by different parties in one large project (buildings and infrastructure are integrated in this BIMcaseweek).

Unfortunately, the whole site is in Dutch. But keep looking to this site, it will be updated frequently in that week!