CE U17 Place Table tool - THEY MADE IT WORSE?????

How is this even possible. I am working on setting up tables for use on our projects. I have been experimenting with the various options to figure what works & what does not. Using CE 16.3 I was having an issue with the Import from File (Excel). In CE 16.3 I have a seed table created with the appropriate column headers and a title. Then I have several empty rows.

Using the Place Empty table the inserted table looks like this (seed table name is PointList). This seed table contains the correct formatting for the rows, columns & cells.

Placing another table and selecting From File I select the seed table. Then I select the Excel file, which only contains data that should populate the body of the table (no title or column headers).

When I place the table, the first row of data is inserted into the 3rd row of the table overwriting the Northing & Easting column headers. 

There is no solution for this but, I did find a forum post describing this same issue.

Talking with a colleague earlier today, they mentioned that the table tool had some updates in CE 17 so I thought I would see if my table would work in there.

WOW! is about all I can say. Unless I am missing something, they broke this tool's limited functionality.

In CE 17 I selected the Place Table tool and selected From File once again. With this version you cannot even pick a table seed. You can only select a Table Style.

Table Style???? What's that? No surprise here, looking at the Help Documentation the only information provided is

The Ribbon tool group they reference does not contain this tool. You need to select a table that was already placed and formatted. Once you select an existing table in the file the Layout tab becomes visible and contains the Save Style tool.

So I placed my PointList tabled seed, selected it and used the Save Style tool. Going back to the Place Table tool & selecting From File the Style I saved (just named it Style1) is in the list of Table Styles. So I set that style, selected my Excel file and placed the table in my file. I had to chuckle in dismay when I saw the result

The table is placed on the correct level but, the color, weight & style are all 0. Notice there are no grid lines and the title row & column header rows are non-existent as well. Ok, select the the new table and check the properties dialog. Looking at the General section the Color Style & weight of the table are not set bylevel, even though the original table was set that way. Attempting to change those settings, only the color attribute changed.

For the Text Styles section the Default Text Color & Weight were set to From Table, even though the original table was set to use Color 0 & Weight 3. Trying to change those settings failed as well. Going to the Layout tab and trying to turn the Borders on fails as well.

Anyone else noticing these issues with Place Tables in CE 17?

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  • I had to chuckle in dismay

    The Table tools have always been dodgy.  It's disappointing to read that their usefulness is worsening rather than improving.

    β Testing

    What's puzzling is why, as others such as  have asked many times, Bentley Systems don't offer new or changed functionality or new or changed tools to the community for β-testing (beta-testing). Then stuff like your experience could be caught before it escapes into a released product.

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • It's disappointing to read that their usefulness is worsening rather than improving.

    It's just mindboggling!!!

    Bentley Systems don't offer new or changed functionality or new or changed tools to the community for β-testing (beta-testing).

    I agree. Just a simple test by Bentley's staff could have revealed this new issue. I realize the person writing the code probably has no working experience with the software but, having someone internally who knows the program should be testing at a minimum.

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Reply
  • It's disappointing to read that their usefulness is worsening rather than improving.

    It's just mindboggling!!!

    Bentley Systems don't offer new or changed functionality or new or changed tools to the community for β-testing (beta-testing).

    I agree. Just a simple test by Bentley's staff could have revealed this new issue. I realize the person writing the code probably has no working experience with the software but, having someone internally who knows the program should be testing at a minimum.

    Microstation CONNECT 10.17.00.209

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    Microstation v8i SS 10 08.11.09.919

    Power InRoads v8i 08.11.09.615

    ORD CONNECT 2021 R1 10.10.1.3

    ProjectWise 10.0.3.453

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