FAQ – Stable Excel References When Reloading in Tables
This FAQ explains why Excel references are lost after clicking "Reload" and presents three approaches to create stable references — particularly for cost estimation workflows.
When Reload is triggered, Tables fully rebuilds the table:
- The current table formatting is analysed and saved.
- All data rows below the header row are deleted.
- Fresh data is pulled from Revit and inserted.
- The saved formatting is reapplied to the new table.
There are three proven approaches:
Using the Excel functions INDEX and ROWS, you can
always read the value from the last row of a named range —
for example, the footer (total) row of a Tables table.
| INDEX(…,…,…) | Returns the value at a specific position within the range. |
| '351 Stairflight'!PX_Table_1 | The named table range on the sheet "351 Stairflight". |
| ROWS(…) | Counts the number of rows in the range → always equals the last row. |
| 7 | The 7th column within the range (here: the "Count" column). |
Result: The value in column 7 of the last row (footer / grand total).
Using SUMIF, you can sum values in one column where another
column meets a specific criterion — for example, all stairflights with
exactly 9 risers.
| SUMIF(…,…,…) | Sums values where a condition is met. |
| '351 Stairflight'!G:G | Check range: column G (number of risers). |
| 9 | Criterion: only rows where G = 9 are included. |
| '351 Stairflight'!H:H | Sum range: column H (Count) — added up where G = 9. |
Result: The total count of stairflights with exactly 9 risers.
Tables includes the "Grouped Parameter" command specifically for use cases like cost estimation. It groups Revit values and writes the result as a single value into a cell — this definition remains stable even after reloading.
The full step-by-step workflow for Variant C is described in the next question.
Example goal: Count all stairflights with exactly 14 risers.
The Grouped Parameter writes the count of stairflights with exactly 14 risers directly into the target cell — and remains stable even after reloading.
For the typical cost estimation workflow, we recommend Variant C (Grouped Parameter) because:
- No Excel formulas are required.
- The definition is saved directly in Tables and remains stable after reloading.
- Filters (e.g. by number of risers, material, type) can be configured directly in Tables.
- The workflow is accessible even for users with limited Excel experience.
No — deleting and regenerating rows during reload is necessary so that Tables always delivers up-to-date data from Revit. Since Excel fundamentally cannot preserve references to deleted rows, keeping references intact automatically is not possible.
The three variants described above are the recommended approaches to building stable and reliable links despite this limitation.
Summary of the Three Variants
| Variant | Method | Best for | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | INDEX + ROWS |
Footer / grand total row values | Medium |
| B | SUMIF |
Filtered sums (e.g. by number of risers) | Medium |
| C ✓ | Grouped Parameter (Tables) | Cost estimation, direct Revit aggregation | Easy |
Questions or issues? Contact us: support@planworks.de
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