Overview#
Assembly drawings need a parts list (bill of materials on the sheet) and balloons that tie each component in a view to a row in the list. Plates and machined parts with many holes often use a hole table instead of dimensioning each hole individually. Fusion's Tables panel covers these, plus tables you can export as CSV.
Where to find it#
Drawing workspace toolbar:
- Tables panel: Table (with Parts List, Hole Table, Revision History, bend table and custom table types), Balloon, Bend Identifier, Renumber and Align Balloon. The Tables menu also lists Parts List, Hole Table and Revision History as separate entries.
- You can also right-click an assembly in the browser and choose Table to create a parts list.
Step by step: parts list#
- Make sure the assembly is the source of your drawing and components have meaningful names. Set part numbers, descriptions, and materials in component Properties in the Design workspace; these feed the columns.
- In the drawing choose Tables > Table or Tables > Parts List. In the Table dialog set the Type: Automatic (builds a parts list or bend table from the current sheet) or Parts List (from an assembly, storyboard, component or sheet-metal reference).
- Click the drawing view to associate with the parts list. An empty list follows the cursor.
- Choose the Structure: First Level (first-level components only) or All Levels.
- Click to place the table. Balloons are added automatically to the associated view.
- Double-click the table to edit: Structure, Table Direction (Up puts the header at the bottom and orders rows bottom-up; Down puts it at the top), Units (mass units and precision) and Columns: Item, Quantity, Part Number, Part Name, Description, Material and Mass, in the order you set with the arrows. If you use Fusion Manage, Item Number, Lifecycle, Revision and State are also offered.
- Click Close.
Placing the table on the bottom half of the sheet flips the header to the bottom and orders rows bottom-up; press Shift to lock or unlock that flipping. Drag the grey grips to resize rows and columns and the blue arrow grip to split the table into sections. Text height follows Document Settings.
Step by step: balloons#
- Choose Tables > Balloon.
- Pick a balloon Type: Standard (straight leader) or Patent (curved spline leader; click to place the bend point).
- Select an edge of the component to identify, then click to place the balloon. The number matches the component's Item number in the parts list.
- Repeat for further components and press Esc. Balloons created automatically with the parts list can be added to, deleted, moved or re-associated.
- Use Renumber (Tables > Renumber): choose Type Automatic or Balloon, the Level (First or Last) when the list structure is All Levels, and a starting number, then click balloons in the order you want. The parts list re-sorts to the new numbers.
- Align Balloon lines balloons up in a view.
Autodesk's help documents only the Standard and Patent balloon types; it does not list circle, square or hexagon shapes.
Hole tables#
A hole table lists holes in a view by position and size, so the views only carry tags, not dimension strings.
Step by step#
- In the Tables panel choose Hole Table (the Table dialog Type is Hole Table).
- Select the drawing view to associate and click to place the origin. Positions are measured from it, and a hole table reuses an ordinate-dimension origin if the view has one.
- Optionally edit the Title, choose Arrange (by Position or by Size, smallest to largest) and the Origin Style, then click to place the table.
- The table is populated with information about the holes in that view.
Double-click an existing hole table to change Title, Table Direction, Arrange, Origin Style and the displayed columns. Double-click the origin marker to switch its style between Datum Target, ISO Origin, ASME Origin and Alternate Origin.
Note: not confirmed in Autodesk's documentation: whether only holes made with the Hole command appear in a hole table (this is reported on user forums), and the exact column names offered.
Revision tables and other tables#
Choose Tables > Revision History. The empty table matches the title block width and drives the title block's revision attribute (REV). Double-click a description cell to fill it in; the Revision History dialog sets direction, columns, rows (add, hide or delete revision rows) and text settings. Revision markers and revision clouds are separate commands. In Document Settings you can change the Revision Scope (Drawing or Sheet) and numbering (Custom, A,B,C or 1,2,3). Define the table in a template so new drawings start with it.
Editing and exporting tables#
- Editing: Double-click a table to change structure, direction, units and columns. You can also build a custom table (Create and populate a custom table), and property fields can be inserted into text, tables and dimensions.
- Exporting: Autodesk documents Export > Export CSV: select a table, parts list or bend table, name the file and save. Text formatting is not included. Use it for purchasing or ERP import.
- Tables in DWG: DWG export is not associative (see export page).
Options reference#
| Option | What it does | Notes/default |
|---|---|---|
| Table Type | Automatic, Parts List, Hole Table, Revision History | Parts list uses an assembly, storyboard, component or sheet-metal reference |
| Structure | First Level or All Levels | |
| Columns | Item, Quantity, Part Number, Part Name, Description, Material, Mass | Plus Fusion Manage columns if used |
| Table Direction | Up or Down | Up puts the header at the bottom |
| Mass units / precision | Mass unit and decimal precision | In the Parts List dialog |
| Balloon Type | Standard or Patent | |
| Renumber | Type, Level, starting number | Parts list re-sorts |
| Hole table Arrange | by Position or by Size | |
| Hole table origin style | Datum Target, ISO, ASME, Alternate | Shared with ordinate dimensions |
| Export CSV | Write table data to CSV | No formatting retained |
Tips and pitfalls#
Tip: Fill in part number and description in the design before creating the table. Empty cells in a BOM are a sign you skipped the design setup.
Tip: Place the parts list on the lower half of the sheet so the header flips to the bottom and rows grow upward, away from the title block.
Tip: For exploded assemblies, put balloons in a clear, sequential, clockwise order; Renumber helps.
Warning: Set the parts list Structure deliberately: First Level lists first-level components only, All Levels lists every component in the assembly.
Warning: Standard parts (bolts, nuts) from content libraries must have names and part numbers that distinguish sizes (M6x20 vs M6x25), or they may merge in the list.
Warning: A hole table covers the holes in the view you associated it with; check that the holes are visible in that view.
Parts list logic#
The parts list shows a Quantity per component. As general guidance, give library fasteners with different lengths different names and part numbers so they stay distinguishable.
Note: not confirmed in Autodesk's documentation: exactly how Fusion decides that two components are "the same" for the Quantity column. A worked case: an assembly with a plate, a bracket, four M6x20 screws and two M6x25 screws should produce four rows (plate 1, bracket 1, M6x20 qty 4, M6x25 qty 2), with total piece count 8. If you see M6 screw qty 6, the screws are merged because they share a name; fix the names or part numbers in the design.
Column choices by audience#
| Audience | Useful columns | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Machine shop | Item, Quantity, Part Number, Description, Material | Mass |
| Purchasing | Item, Quantity, Part Number, Part Name, Description | Material |
| Assembly line | Item, Quantity, Part Number, Part Name | Description paragraphs |
| Inspection | Item, Quantity, Part Name, Mass, Material | Description paragraphs |
Use Export CSV for purchasing and ERP import; the file carries data but not formatting, as Autodesk's help notes.
Balloon discipline#
A good balloon set follows simple rules. One balloon per unique item per view; the number must match the parts list. Place balloons outside the view in a column or ring, evenly spaced, with leaders that do not cross (Align Balloon helps). Number clockwise from the top left in assembly order, then run Renumber if the order drifts. Use the same balloon type and text height (Document Settings) across a set of drawings. For identical items (four screws), use one balloon with a quantity note or leader to one instance, as your standard dictates.
Hole table details#
For a plate with 24 holes in 3 sizes, a hole table is shorter than 24 dimension strings. Pick an origin at a real datum corner, set Arrange to by Size to group holes smallest to largest, or by Position to label them by location from the origin. A hypothetical example: a 200 x 100 plate with the origin at the lower left, holes A1 at X 20, Y 20 (diameter 6.0), A2 at X 180, Y 20 (6.0) and B1 at X 100, Y 50 (12.0). A coordinate list helps inspection, and tolerances can be given once for all holes of one size.
Failure modes and fixes#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Parts list empty | The wrong view was associated | Delete it and associate the assembly view |
| Quantity 1 for four identical screws | They are separate components | Copy and paste instances of one component and re-check |
| Balloon number does not match list | List was reordered | Run Renumber (parts list re-sorts to match) |
| Columns blank | Properties not filled in | Fill them in the design |
| Table covers the title block | Table placed on the upper half so rows grow downward | Place it on the lower half so rows grow upward, or set Table Direction |
| Hole table misses holes | Holes hidden in that view, or not recognized as holes | Check visibility; see the unconfirmed note above |
| Sub-assembly shows as one item when you needed its contents | Structure is First Level | Set Structure to All Levels |
| CSV opens with merged cells | Spreadsheet import setting | Import as comma-delimited, UTF-8 |
Workflow advice#
Do the data work in the design: names, numbers, descriptions, materials. The drawing only presents it. Before creating the parts list, flip through the Browser and check that each component has a unique, meaningful name. Make one balloon pass in a single isometric or exploded view and let the others follow. If purchasing wants a flat list but production wants sub-assemblies, produce both: one table for the assembly drawing and an exported CSV for purchasing. Re-run Renumber and re-export every time the assembly structure changes.
Practice exercise#
- Build an assembly: a 100 x 60 x 8 mm plate with four 6 mm holes, a bracket, four M6x20 screws and two M6x25 screws as library fasteners. Name each distinct component clearly and fill in part number and description.
- Create a drawing from the assembly with an isometric view on A3.
- Add a parts list with Item, Quantity, Part Number, Description and Material columns and check that the quantities are 1, 1, 4 and 2 for a total of 8 pieces. If screws merge, fix their names.
- Add balloons clockwise from the top left. Run Renumber with a new starting number and confirm the parts list follows.
- Create a second sheet with a face-on view of the plate and add a hole table with the origin at the lower left corner, Arrange by Size.
- Export the parts list to CSV and open it in a spreadsheet; confirm the row count and total quantity.
- Expected result: a BOM with four rows and eight pieces, balloons that match, a hole table listing all four holes with X, Y and diameter, and a CSV that matches the sheet.
Related#
- Sheets and exploded drawings
- Annotations, text, and notes
- Export to PDF, DWG, and DXF