I am currently working with AutoCAD 2015 LT on a 64 bit Windows 8.1 computer (just to knock out the pre-requisites). I noticed something interesting (that I would like to use in my own work) on some drawings I recently got for editing from an architectural firm (I work as a telecoms subcontractor), the room numbers are linked blocks...but I 1. don't have the origin for updates, and 2. they stay that way until exploded. However, this is soooo useful and I have several labels I'd like to use the same technique on but, how is it done? Because these labels are special little snow flakes and linking them would be great.Things done to try to auto update these labels like those room numbers:1. TABLE command, would've worked okay except labels are irregularly spaced and require individual measurement due to drift on printing.2. XREF command, at first it didn't print, and then it didn't update.3. OLE object, no updating when I needed a new sequence of numbers.All I want this block (or what ever works, truly) to do is stay where I put it, and update from an excel spread sheet, irregular measurements and all...Thanks for any help or suggestions!        

Update...Darn the room numbers are block attributes, which while possible, tends to be time consuming. Anyway, any help on getting these labels setup for expediency would still be awesome. 

The room number blocks are linked to a spreadsheet and you want to do the same thing?

Yes, because I really don't want the lines that come with a table...

So how would you a) set up your attributed block and 2) set up the spreadsheet?

Less on how do I make a block with attributes and more how do I make an attribute from an excel spreadsheet...such asxxxx           xxxxxxx            xxx                  xxx    xxxx             xxx                   xxxright? and then link the xxx blocks to individual cells on the same spread sheet...The spread sheet I have but double lines in excel are a pain as well as irregular spacing so...CAD?

I thought all you were concerned about were the numbers?  Are you also trying to draw the lines that surround the numbers too?

Sigh, no we need numbers that update from excel with exact placement since the lables are perferated and standard sizing in a table ends up with at least one row (or more) of labels with perferations through the text. We also only want the text, no borders since these are small labels that need to be legible. We've been trying with blocks to get the placement but we still need this to update from excel...which is where a table would be nice (and we know how to remove the borders) and it links to excel but... the excel sheet is all single line, and the labels are double line (room number and slot #) which is not arranging well on the sheet...So, yeah, how do you link a block attribute to multiple spots on an excel sheet?As in excel=  line 1           line 2to...AutoCAD Block=  attribute 1                attribute 2  

Every time you expand upon a question I ask I can think of six more questions.  Maybe I should stop.Post a sample drawing.  Perhaps that will clear up my confusion.

Maybe you can use Express Tools to accomplish the task?In AutoCAD go to...Express Tools > Blocks > Export Attribute Information > Specify Output File Name > Select Blocks.

Open the resultant text file in Excel, edit your attributes and "save as" a text file.  You can choose to overwrite the exported text file or create a new one.

Back in AutoCAD go to...

Express Tools > Blocks > Import Attribute Information > Select Saved Text File.I tested the method using a simple block with one attribute (a room number) and it worked.This method was originally suggested at CADTutor by someone calling themselves Newby Bern.

Here's an example of what we're trying to do...uploads/506613/Copy_of_Patch_panel_label_example_2.pdfexcel won't upload so pdf instead

I can't find the express tools in LT... CAD keeps telling me that the data upload should go to a table...

Damn LT!  Yep, no Express Tools.  Also means the lisp routine I found won't work either.  Too bad.
John Connor2015-05-20 16:41:01

Yeah, begining to see why it was cheaper

You can get a limited report of blocks in AutoCAD LT through one of the functions in LT Extension. See:http://www.cadstudio.cz/en/apps/ltextension/ 

Not really what I was looking for, thanks anyway. We ended up tweaking a table after all, since it auto updates with the corresponding excel sheet.

I have some doubts in BOM creation in AutoCad. I am in need of step by step procedure for creating BOM. Anyone can clarify my doubt?

Bill of Materials right? Not actually to far off topic then since the command you need is TABLE. Just type that in hit enter and the dialog box will pop up. Then you can pick how many columns, rows, etc., you need or just link it to an excel sheet. Just watch the preview box after you make changes to make sure you're getting everything you need your table to have. 

Can anyone help me to know about BOM migration?

Migration from what to what?  We need more specifics.

What is the keyboard shortcut for blocking an object and how to explode it?

Are you asking about command aliases?B=BlockWB=WBlockThere is no command alias for Explode.  The default for EX=Extend while EXP=Export.  You could change one or the other or come up with your own like EPD and add it to the acad.pgp file.
John Connor2015-06-01 15:37:32