Creating worksheets

For complex drawings, it is best to create separate worksheets for each task rather than one large worksheet. Worksheets can be linked to share data, formulas, and calculations.

Worksheets can be created in several ways:

Use the Create Report command to select worksheet data from the information associated with the objects in the drawing. See Creating reports.

Import worksheets from other Vectorworks files or from other spreadsheet programs. See Importing worksheets.

If Vectorworks Design Suite is installed, preformatted records and schedules such as room finishes, plant lists, and lighting devices can be added to the drawing. See Using preformatted reports.

Use the Resource Manager to create a blank worksheet, and then add the desired information to it. (See below.)

Access worksheets from the Resource Manager, or select Window > Worksheets.

If the same objects are typically used in your drawings, you can create a template file with a worksheet that serves as a “master price list” listing all the objects and their costs. Then, to create supply/materials lists and cost estimates for a new design, simply import the worksheet into the new drawing file.

Creating a blank worksheet

Instead of using the Create Report command, you can create a blank worksheet and add data to it manually. This gives you more control over the contents and format of the worksheet.

To create a blank worksheet:

From the Resource Manager, click New Resource, select Worksheet, and then click Create. Alternatively, from the Resource Manager, select Worksheets from the list of resource types on the tool bar, and click New Worksheet.

The Create Worksheet dialog box opens.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Name

Enter a worksheet name.

To rename the worksheet later on, from the Resource Manager, right-click on the resource, and select Rename.

Rows/Columns

Enter the number of rows and columns for the worksheet; the number of rows and columns can be modified later

Specify the basic worksheet parameters.

A new worksheet window opens.

At this point, all rows contain spreadsheet cells, and they are all undefined. Define the contents of each row and cell as needed:

To add simple text, numbers, or formulas to the worksheet, see Spreadsheet rows.

To list data that is associated with objects in the drawing, change a spreadsheet row into a database row, and specify which objects to include in the list. A sub-row displays for each object that matches the criteria defined in the database header row. Then specify which information to display in the columns for each row; these can be fields from the object’s data record, as well as text, numbers, or formulas. See Selecting a function or field for a database column.

To add images to either spreadsheet or database rows, see Inserting images in worksheet cells (Vectorworks Design Suite required).

Creating reports

Using preformatted reports

 

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