Forum Discussion
Cell reference auto populate
OK, I'll give a better explanation.
I'm trying create a wiring guide where each cell is given a name based on its destination. I want to only type in one end of the guide, and have the other end populate.
I need the names of the cells in collumn A to be 1A-1 to 1A-300. Collumn B to be the same but replace A with B. This same pattern goes to collumn H.
Then, I would like to be able to type any destination in any cell and have the refenced destination populate with the cell of the original reference. For example, if cell A1 is named 1A-1, and I type in it 1B-1, then B1 (named 1B-1 now) auto populates with 1A-1. If I put 1C-33 in cell A2, cell C33 will populate with 1A-2.
Have you heard that somebody has done something like this with Excel? It may be possible, but it's certainly not a "standard" application for Excel. I'm just wondering if there's not a software package more suited to the task, perhaps some sort of CAD-CAM software that architects use.
I would assume, for example, that ultimately you're expecting a wiring diagram as the output, and that diagram would somehow make visible the connections you establish between Start and Destination cells.
In any event, let's go back to the "normal" references for cell names. Why not, instead of the sequence you're describing, where you type in the source cell the name of the destination cell and expect the former to appear in the latter, why not simply enter the source name in the destination cell? Doesn't that accomplish the same thing? You have both pieces of information at the start; use that information differently.
- I hanks again for the input!
Your assumption is correct that the ultimate goal is a wiring diagram. I would be using this info in conjunction with CAD software. I would copy the text from excel to Autocad. Currently my company does not have the best software for wiring and I don't expect it in the near future , so this was a solution I was exploring.
The diagram I am creating needs to show both the source and destination and their connections so while your solution makes sense (and would make my life easier) it doesn't meet the requirement of the product I need to develop. In the end, there are roughly 900 connections being made, meaning 1800 lines of text on the drawing. The goal with my idea was efficiency and accuracy. I would only need to type out one line of text to get the full connection.
I have not heard of anyone being able to accomplish this but thought I would ask the Microsoft community.In the end, there are roughly 900 connections being made, meaning 1800 lines of text on the drawing. The goal with my idea was efficiency and accuracy. I would only need to type out one line of text to get the full connection.
So let's go back to the basic task. One of the things that can sometimes lead folks astray in asking for Excel help is that they (you, in this case) try to "help" us, the Excel Geeks, jump start by describing the task in language that they/you think will make sense to the Excel geeks. They/you will start by using what they/you think is "Excel language"-- such as referring to cells and cell references.
What might be a better start, now that we know where you want to go, and that you need to have some sort of output that will feed a CAD software input, let's back up to describe more precisely, in the English language,
- what that CAD software input will have to look like
- what that "one line of text" would look like [if you were NOT using Excel]
In other words, if we were sitting down face-to-face, rather than talking via these forum postings, what would you be showing and explaining to me. Assume I'm a relatively intelligent person, with some general knowledge of software--not necessarily Excel--and some experience in helping others think through process improvements, but that I'm a novice at the specifics of wiring diagrams. How would you help me grasp the task within those parameters?
- Thanks for the advice. I'm relatively new to forums and not usually asking questions so I'm thankful for the feedback.
The CAD drawing consists of 1800 terminals. 6 rows of 300. They are represented by small rectangles with a number in the centre (1-300) and lined up in columns typically named A, B, C, D, E and F. Each terminal has a specific name dependent on the group they are in, their column and the number assigned to them. So the first terminal in column A in group 1 is name 1A-1
The terminals will have a wire that connects to another terminal in the same group (each of these drawings has a unique pattern for the connections). The wire is represented by text that is located beside the terminal. The text will simply state the location of the terminal that the wire needs to land (i.e. 1A-1 needs a wire to connect to 1C-3, so beside terminal 1-A1 the text reads 1C-3, and beside terminal 1C-3 there will be text that says 1A-1)
In the end, you can look at any terminal and see where the other end of the wire is located.
The thought was I could somehow use excel to speed the process by only needing to type one end in a cell while having the other end populate in another cell. Then from here, I can copy into autocad and paste in a way that lines up with my terminals.
I believe there is already software that does this but I am not able to use it, so I thought that excel may be an option that I have available.