Spreadsheet add in not working

[martin_mortensen]

I'm trying to use the spreadsheet add in. But when I click on the parameters tool in excel the parameters UI doesn't pop up.
I've checked that macros are enabled.
Has anyone else seen this and figured it out?

 

[DavidJ]

Does the 'bitness' (32 or 64) of the installed add in match that of your Excel installation?

There are also other Excel add ins that will prevent the Alibre add in working
Analysis Toolpak
Analysis Toolpak VBA
Solver

 

[martin_mortensen]

I made sure I was using the 64 bit version that matches Excel. I don't have any other add ins.

 

[martin_mortensen]

I discovered it works if I move the file to a local drive instead of a network drive.
Anyone know how to make it work on a network drive?

 

[NateLiquidGravity]

I discovered it works if I move the file to a local drive instead of a network drive.
Anyone know how to make it work on a network drive?

Which file is having problems networked? The Excel File? The Addin file? Or the Alibre model files?

 

[martin_mortensen]

The Excel file.

 

[DavidJ]

You may have to trust the network location in the Excel trust centre.

 

[Ex Machina]

Question: How do you unlink a spreadsheet from a part..?

 

[DavidJ]

How do you unlink a spreadsheet from a part..?

It doesn't appear to be designed for simple disconnection. Move the spreadsheet so it can't do the look up (will hold old values), or manually overtype the file path in the equation field with an actual value to replace it.

 

[Ex Machina]

It doesn't appear to be designed for simple disconnection. Move the spreadsheet so it can't do the look up (will hold old values), or manually overtype the file path in the equation field with an actual value to replace it.

Yeah, I tried typing a different value but it doesn't work. The name shows up in red, the equation shows the same file path, and the parameter has the value I typed in... Hmmm...

 

[DavidJ]

Hmm - in that case there isn't any smooth way I can think of.

Out of interest why would you want to un-link anyway?

 

[Ex Machina]

I want to save as and use the main part as a generator

 

[DavidJ]

Not sure I follow - by 'generator' do you mean using Toolbox?

I did some experiments, but only manage to disconnect 1 row out of 4 on a particular part, using a brute force approach.

 

[Ex Machina]

No, no. A couple of parts and an assembly driven off of a spreadsheet. Input values, Excel does the logic and lookup magic and populates the parameter values, I update and then save as. Now I have my "Generator" file and a new file/files which is the specific SKU.

But that specific SKU needs to be untied from the spreadsheet so that in the next change only the "Generator" file gets affected and not the "Generated" one...

I hope I made sense. It's still a bit complicated in my head too. Still hammering everything out.

By the way, I can do that with GLP, but I want it to work for Alibre Atom 3D too...

 

[DavidJ]

Well you could Save As the Excel for each instance, and re-link each new part to corresponding Excel file....

 

[Ex Machina]

Yeah, I guess that would work but I want to hand over the files then for someone else to use. That's not really a comfortable workflow and people are going to object to it. I'm sure you know how it is. It's OK. I'll figure it out.

 

[DavidJ]

To be clear, do you want to pass on both files or just the resulting part?

 

[Ex Machina]

To be clear, do you want to pass on both files or just the resulting part?

I want to pass on the method of making new SKUs... Preferably using Alibre.

P.S. I'll figure it out

 

[DavidJ]

I eventually managed by deleting and replacing dimensions, but even that took a few attempts before I could delete the spreadsheet links.

 

[Ex Machina]

I eventually managed by deleting and replacing dimensions, but even that took a few attempts before I could delete the spreadsheet links.

Thanks for all of the effort man. But again, I couldn't possibly ask that of a client. But I think I will "give proper instructions" and just say that the design should be exported to step since any change should be done in the "Generator" part and not in the Final, "Generated" parts.