How to Link Excel to SOLIDWORKS
Linking Excel to SOLIDWORKS provides a robust framework for parametric design, configuration management, and data automation, allowing you to drive model dimensions, features, and properties directly from spreadsheet data.
Understanding Excel Integration in SOLIDWORKS
Integrating Excel streamlines design changes, enabling you to manage complex configurations and design families efficiently. This connection is particularly powerful for parts or assemblies that require variations based on a set of parameters.
| Integration Method | Primary Use Case | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Design Tables | Parametric control of model features & configs | Centralized management of design variations |
| BOM Export/Import | Data analysis, reporting, and external sharing | Flexible Bill of Materials customization |
| API/Macros | Advanced automation and custom workflows | Programmatic control for complex tasks |
Method 1: Using Design Tables for Parametric Control
Design Tables are the most common and direct way to link an Excel spreadsheet to a SOLIDWORKS model. They allow you to create and manage multiple configurations of a part or assembly by controlling dimensions, features, and custom properties directly from an Excel sheet.
How to Link an Existing Excel File as a Design Table
Follow these steps to integrate an Excel spreadsheet into your SOLIDWORKS part or assembly:
- Open your SOLIDWORKS document: Ensure you have the part or assembly open that you wish to link to Excel.
- Access the Design Table command:
- Click on Design Table in the Tools toolbar.
- Alternatively, go to Insert > Tables > Design Table.
- Specify the source: In the PropertyManager that appears, under the "Source" section, select From file.
- Browse for your Excel file: Click the Browse button to locate and select the Excel spreadsheet you want to link.
- Establish the link (Optional but Recommended):
- Select the Link to file checkbox. This critical option establishes a dynamic connection. If you make changes to the Excel file outside of SOLIDWORKS, those changes will automatically update your SOLIDWORKS model's Design Table and configurations the next time you open the SOLIDWORKS file or rebuild the model.
- Confirm and configure: Click the green check mark to confirm your selections. SOLIDWORKS will then prompt you to select which dimensions, features, or parameters you wish to include in your Design Table, or it will automatically populate them if your Excel file is correctly formatted with SOLIDWORKS parameter names.
Once linked, your Excel file becomes the master control for your model's configurations.
Best Practices for Design Tables
- Structure your Excel sheet clearly: The first row typically contains parameter names (e.g.,
D1@Sketch1,SW-Configuration Name@Configuration), and subsequent rows define the values for each configuration. - Use meaningful names: Name your dimensions, features, and configurations logically to simplify management within Excel.
- Test your configurations: After making changes in Excel, open the SOLIDWORKS model and activate different configurations to ensure they update as expected.
- Save your Excel file: Ensure the linked Excel file is saved in a stable location, ideally alongside your SOLIDWORKS model, to prevent broken links.
Method 2: Managing Bill of Materials (BOMs) with Excel
While not a direct parametric link from Excel to SOLIDWORKS in the same way as Design Tables, SOLIDWORKS allows for seamless export and import of Bill of Materials data to and from Excel. This is vital for procurement, manufacturing, and data analysis.
Exporting a SOLIDWORKS BOM to Excel
- Insert a BOM: In a SOLIDWORKS drawing, insert a Bill of Materials table (Insert > Tables > Bill of Materials).
- Right-click the BOM: Right-click on the BOM table in your drawing.
- Select "Save As": Choose the "Save As..." option from the context menu.
- Choose Excel format: Select "Excel Workbook (.xlsx)" or "Excel 97-2003 Workbook (.xls)" as the file type.
- Save the file: Specify the location and filename, then click Save.
This allows you to take your SOLIDWORKS BOM data into Excel for further calculations, custom formatting, or integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Method 3: Advanced Automation via SOLIDWORKS API and Excel VBA
For advanced users, the SOLIDWORKS Application Programming Interface (API) allows for highly customized integration with Excel using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This method provides programmatic control over almost every aspect of SOLIDWORKS.
Practical Applications
- Batch processing: Automate the creation or modification of multiple parts, assemblies, or drawings based on data in an Excel spreadsheet.
- Custom property updates: Quickly update custom properties across many files using data stored in Excel.
- Report generation: Extract data from SOLIDWORKS models into Excel for custom reports.
This approach requires programming knowledge but offers unparalleled flexibility for complex automation tasks.
Tips for Effective Excel-SOLIDWORKS Integration
- Version Control: Always use proper version control for both your SOLIDWORKS and Excel files, especially when files are linked.
- Clear Documentation: Document your Design Tables and any custom Excel logic to ensure maintainability.
- Data Validation: Use Excel's data validation features to prevent errors in your parametric inputs.
- Performance: For very large Design Tables, be mindful of potential performance impacts when opening or rebuilding models.
By leveraging these methods, you can significantly enhance your design process, reduce repetitive tasks, and manage product variations more efficiently within SOLIDWORKS.
