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.
    

Import SKP into Revit - units again!

When importing/linking Google Sketchup files into Revit the units can be a problem. Especially when you are working in mm in Revit...

Let's see...

The steps:
- Open Revit
- Create a Mass
- Within the Mass go to File\Import/Link\CAD Formats
- Use for Import units: Auto-detect
- Select SKP for the file type and search your Google Sketchup file
- Finish Mass

You will notice that the linked Sketchup object is too small! Although you have set the units in Google Sketchup to mm. Strange isn't it?!

- Select the Mass
- Hit the Edit button in the Option bar
- Select the Imported Sketchup object
- Go to the Element properties and you will see this.
The import units is set to inch and the scale factor to 1.000

- Change the scale factor to 1000. Do NOT change the units

That's all!