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AUTOCAD DRAWINGS This write-up is aimed at intermediate and advanced users. There are a couple of quick ways to bring AutoCad drawings into Excel. First -- you probably do a lot of your work in model space with a black background. But you can print out of paper space where you can xref in your title block(s) and create view ports. Set the paper space background color to white to make copy clipping an image easier. Otherwise, if you are working just in model space, you'll have to go to Tools, Options, Display, Colors, Background color, and set it to white.

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This image can be AutoCAD 13, 14, or 2000. row 30

Model space tab indicating that this view is model space Paper space tab Figure 0-1 Hoist displayed in AutoCad model space.

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Viewport border

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Figure 0-2 Hoist displayed in AutoCAD paper space. Note that screen captures were done with HijakkPro and pasted into Excel as bit map files.

Switch into and out of model space with this tab. You can continue to draft in model space or switch into paper space for titles, notes, and etcetera. row 80

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DIAGRAMS WITH BACKGROUND Often times, simple diagrams are more easily created in AutoCad. This 3D diagram was created in AutoCAD and copy clipped with the command [Ctrl] [c] or Copy in the drop down menu (right click). In Excel, use Paste Special Picture (Enhanced Metafile) This allows you to print the diagram without borders but, in this case, you are left with a opaque white background.

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Figure 0-3 Cut-and-paste "Special." If you want to have a dynamic diagram using numbers produced in your spreadsheet, you'll have to use the drawing tool bar and select the text button.

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Create the text box. Then, in the formula window, select the cell to be referenced.

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P_force

200 k

Change this value to see the value in the diagram change. Figure 0-4 Active text in diagrams and drawings. row 140

If the text box is hidden, send the diagram to back with a right click of the mouse button and the appropriate choice.

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DIAGRAMS WITHOUT BACKGROUND To create a diagram without a background, copy clip out of AutoCAD and paste into the spreadsheet. Then, click on the diagram and right click the mouse to select Grouping, Ungroup. From the same right click pop down menu select Format Object and the Colors and Lines tab. At the Fill Color: window, click and choose No Fill.

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Figure 0-5 Removing the background from an AutoCAD drawing. Then, while holding the [Shift] key down, highlight an item so that the mouse pointer shows a "+." This can be a bit tricky so be forewarned. From the pop down menu select Grouping, Group to turn the diagram back into one contiguous, moveable picture. Now, values can be directly referenced in the drawing. A complicated diagram will be harder to scroll past when you are moving around the spreadsheet. The borders will print and it cannot be edited with the Drawing tool bar.

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PHOTOGRAPHS Pictures can be downloaded into the spreadsheet from scanners, digital cameras, and digital and analog video tape. Differential slip between OSB panels This picture is downloaded from an analog video camera with SNAPPY by PLAY, Incorporated in Windows 95.

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Also, simple diagrams can be created with the spreadsheet's drawing tools. PANEL DIFFERENTIAL SLIP TOP PLATE FORCE row 240

HOLDDOWN

BOTTOM PLATE Figure 0-6 Elevation diagram of the test sample. row 250

Gap between stud and plate

Nails torn out vertically, not horizontally as would be expected in a shear wall

Figure 0-7 An analogue cam-corder picture of the tested sample.

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