# Can you link Component drop down lists to external data? **URL:** \ **Category:** Dynamic Components\ **Created:** [August 2, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368 "2017-08-02T04:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/1 "2017-08-02T04:03:08Z")
What I am wanting to do is this. We have several dynamic models for designing furniture. We use Space design to export predefined component attributes to a CSV sheet which can be read by our ERP system. This in turn creates the parts, BOM’s and Router steps and calculates labour and materials in the system. This works great. The problem is that in order for the ERP system to create the BOM’s, the attributes in the dynamic components for the raw materials must match exactly the names of the raw materials in the ERP system. In order to do this at present we create drop down lists in the model and enter in all the material names. The issue with this is keeping this up to date across multiple models with an ever changing range of raw materials. Is there some way we can link these drop down lists to a CSV sheet so that we only have to update the one CSV sheet and all models will have access to the same Raw material names? ---
**Author:** ![MikeWayzovski](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/mikewayzovski/32/98346_2.png) [@MikeWayzovski](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/MikeWayzovski)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/2 "2017-08-02T06:17:16Z")
Have a look at attribute inspector by Eneroth, you can edit the attributes of multiple components at the same time. While this still need several steps, you will develop a sense of how DC are set up and eventually get you to the next step, which is developing your own ruby script for your workflow ---
**Author:** ![eneroth3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/eneroth3/32/1222_2.png) [@eneroth3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/eneroth3)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:15am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/3 "2017-08-02T07:15:16Z")
I would actually recommend [Attribute Inspector](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/attribute-inspector) by Aerilius. It lets you edit attribute of multiple components all at once. ---
**Author:** ![MikeWayzovski](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/mikewayzovski/32/98346_2.png) [@MikeWayzovski](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/MikeWayzovski)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/4 "2017-08-02T15:34:45Z")
Oeps! ---
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/5 "2017-08-02T21:38:59Z")
Thanks for that - giving this a try. Do you know anyone who may be interested in developing his kind of a script for us? I haven’t done anything with Ruby scripts and have my hand full just developing the models to interact with our ERP side of things, ---
**Author:** ![MikeWayzovski](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/mikewayzovski/32/98346_2.png) [@MikeWayzovski](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/MikeWayzovski)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/6 "2017-08-02T21:51:53Z")
Maybe this is what you are looking for ? Haven’t tried it myself, though : [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/su2xl-0](https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/su2xl-0) or try to contact the author : @Wisext ---
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/7 "2017-08-02T22:19:39Z")
Looks interesting but i need to export and import custom attribute which exist inside my dynamic models. For example we may have a raw material attribute which has a list of 20 options to choose from. I need to export these lists and be able to update and re import them into a number of different models. I will try and contact the author as this one is getting close. ---
**Author:** ![Wisext](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/wisext/32/214269_2.png) [@Wisext](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Wisext)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 9:10am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/8 "2017-08-10T09:10:09Z")
Hi Ken, Did you receive my email about your request? It’s possible that it was blocked by a filter… I have a little time in the next days to try to develop what you ask. Could you send me a .csv file with an exemplary dynamic component and the raw material list? Olivier. ---
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/9 "2017-08-10T09:29:35Z")
Hello Oliver- I did send it. I will try and resend… Kind Regards Ken Simpkin | Research and Development | IT Managagement ken@compacfurniture.co.nz[mailto:ken@compacfurniture.co.nz](mailto:ken@compacfurniture.co.nz) [cid:image006.jpg@01D11D5A.D6E63BD0][http://www.platform10.co.nz/](http://www.platform10.co.nz/)[cid:image007.jpg@01D11D5A.D6E63BD0][http://www.compacfurniture.co.nz/](http://www.compacfurniture.co.nz/) PO Box 393 Dargaville 0340 New Zealand | 0800 710 1010 | www.platform10.co.nz[http://www.platform10.co.nz/](http://www.platform10.co.nz/) Legal Disclaimer: This email may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the document. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/5/75e0a8c38f4d558da1dbca3420c927a8189c0f4d.jpg) ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/b/bbfdea1e63c229abef70c02efd68a3f8ff9f8f4c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/10 "2017-08-10T09:33:17Z")
Hello Olivier, Please find attached an example model. This is a fairly simple one. An example of an option list for a dynamic component is in the screen shots below. This is a very simple list with 3 options but usually we would have list of 20 or 30 options. If there was some way of exporting selected option lists to a excel sheet like the attached then reimporting the lists into other models that would be the ideal solution. I have attached a spread sheet how I think it will need to be formatted. Appreciate your comments. [/uploads/default/original/3X/b/1/b12b27a6b4e031dea64fad88399fb80a5b19188e.png] In the editor it look like this: [/uploads/default/original/3X/5/8/58ed2abfa488030fbbdffbfce04edb148ece6570.png] Kind Regards Ken Simpkin | Research and Development | IT Managagement ken@compacfurniture.co.nz[mailto:ken@compacfurniture.co.nz](mailto:ken@compacfurniture.co.nz) [cid:image006.jpg@01D11D5A.D6E63BD0][http://www.platform10.co.nz/](http://www.platform10.co.nz/)[cid:image007.jpg@01D11D5A.D6E63BD0][http://www.compacfurniture.co.nz/](http://www.compacfurniture.co.nz/) PO Box 393 Dargaville 0340 New Zealand | 0800 710 1010 | www.platform10.co.nz[http://www.platform10.co.nz/](http://www.platform10.co.nz/) Legal Disclaimer: This email may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the document. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/5/75e0a8c38f4d558da1dbca3420c927a8189c0f4d.jpg) ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/b/bbfdea1e63c229abef70c02efd68a3f8ff9f8f4c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ken2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e57/32.png) [@Ken2](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Ken2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/11 "2017-08-10T09:44:27Z")
Ok. I resent it. Did you receive this? Kind regards Ken Simpkin Compac Furniture ---
**Author:** ![Wisext](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/wisext/32/214269_2.png) [@Wisext](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Wisext)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 10:41am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/12 "2017-08-10T10:41:25Z")
I sent sent you a message from my [info@wisext.com](mailto:info@wisext.com) address. If you haven’t received yet, I will use another email address… Olivier L. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2a121500b085ed60806607a82720b092d800bb3.png) [@system](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/can-you-link-component-drop-down-lists-to-external-data/49368/13 "2017-11-10T02:55:40Z")
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