I want to be able to put parts into my assembly with a color specified. What is the correct way to assign color, via Appearances, to parts in a design table? I added the \$COLOR column to my table, but when I select an instance and apply the color desired, it seems to change all configurations of my part.

I have some of these set up that I have fought through and gotten to function, but I believe I am doing something incorrectly because the process isn't going smoothly and doesn't seem especially stable once I do get it correct. If I write down the number it generates for an appearance in the color column for each color I want, I can open and close the table a number of times, get the color number for each color required, then open it one last time and put the desired value in for each row. After that, I can close the table and the parts display correctly as I cycle through them. The problem is that it seems if I add a new color later, or sometimes even a new part, it want to change them all.

The attached file seems to work but, again, doesn't seem rock solid. Is there a better method?

This particular file (attached) also has some strange problem where, if I select any of the color cells I see a note referring to the adjacent column and it is trying to get me to enter a state vs. a value?

Can anyone take a look and weigh in on either problem? I am fine with creating a second post for the excel error, but wanted to mention it in case anyone sees it. I just wanted to let you all know I was aware of the second issue with the table, also.