I have a co-consultant using 2006 Building Systems who is inserting Excel tables (mechanical equipment schedules) via drag and drop. In Autocad 2004 I can see and print the tbles, but I can't select them by any method. In Autocad 2006 a double click on an Excel table brings up the properties box. I don't have Excel (WordPerfect shop for 15 years) and have no other reason to buy it. I do have the Microsoft Excel 2003 viewer installed, and I have Open Office, which normally handles Excel files transparently.
My ulitmate goal is to be able convert the embedded Excel tables into Autocad entities (lines and text or mtext) so I don't have to re-type all the tables for my electrical drawings.
So the questions:
1. Is there a way to access the Excel tables from 2006 ABS in plain Autocad 2004? All I need is to be able to export the tables asExcel files or comma delimited files -- I have no need to edit the .dwg files I receive directly.
2. Is there a way to set Autocad, any version, to use Open Office or XLviewer in place of Excel?
The consultant has offered to send the Excel files, but I need a back-up method for times when I'm on deadline on a weekend and the other consultant isnt't available.
Any other suggestions are also appreciated.
Martin