topic Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD in AutoCAD Forum

How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 19:59:42 GMT

Hi there,

I have a data set with the coordinates (northing, easting) of gauges on a construction site that I would like to plot on an AutoCAD drawing of the site. Is there an easy way to do this using Excel and AutoCAD only?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

jabowabo — Tue, 07 May 2019 20:55:13 GMT

You can modify your Excel file into a .scr file as detailed here:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-import-a-list-of-coordinates-into-AutoCAD.html

Lots of other ways but this one is pretty simple and straightforward.

Ex. script text shown in link:

_MULTIPLE _POINT
9231.55,8799.44,10
9241.83,8781.49,20
9194.23,8765.63,20
9191.68,8751.05,30
9158.88,8725.80,50
9147.11,8726.84,80
9128.10,8712.21,40
9145.18,8690.02,10
9152.41,8689.65,0
9167.86,8585.40,0

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

leeminardi — Wed, 08 May 2019 16:00:08 GMT

Your goal with Excel is to create a column of coordinates that are of the format number-comma-number (e.g., 1.23,4.56) and then use that column of coordinates in response to an AutoCAD command. This can be done by creating a script file (.scr) or by simply doing a copy-paste of the coordinate list from Excel to AutoCAD.

If you wanted to generate a single polyline base on the coordinates you would select the coordinate in Excel, use Ctrl-C to copy them to the clipboard and then in AutoCAD give the command pline and then do a paste (Ctrl-V).

I like to use the Excel concatenate function to format the coordinates. As you can see below it takes the value from column A then adds a comma (",") then the value from column B.

In this example you would Ctrl-C the values in column D and then in AutoCAD give the pline command followed by Ctrl-V (paste).

If you want to add a series of points then you need to terminate each coordinate with a space character. The contents in B3 would look like this:

=CONCATENATE(A3,",",B3," ")

note the " " at the end. This adds a space at the end of each line.

Again, Ctrl-C the values in column D but in AutoCAD give the point command and then Ctrl-V paste.

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 16:06:19 GMT

That worked! Thanks!

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

Russell_I — Wed, 08 May 2019 22:11:31 GMT

You can also add the AutoCAD command into the Excel formula in D3:

=CONCAT("point ",A3,",",B3," ") or

=CONCAT("pline ",A3,",",B3)

Note the space after the AutoCAD command.

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

criveQ4B2V — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:53:56 GMT

This is very helpful, however, how can you use this tool and command to also include the point ID's so that you can tell what each point is once it is imported into AutoCAD?

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

leeminardi — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:29:07 GMT

@criveQ4B2V wrote:
... how can you use this tool and command to also include the point ID's so that you can tell what each point is once it is imported into AutoCAD?

Try the following:

Create a block with an attribute that will be used as the point number. For example,
Set ATTDIA to 0. This will disable the dialog box for attribute value entry.
Add a column to you Excel file for the AutoCAD command like the following:
Note that cell I2 contains the following (fill it down to other rows):

=CONCATENATE("(command ",CHAR(34),"-insert",CHAR(34)," ",CHAR(34),A2,CHAR(34)," ", CHAR(34),B2,",",C2,",",D2,CHAR(34)," ",E2," ",F2," ",G2," ",H2,")")

CHAR(34) in the formula above is used to create quote marks needed by the LISP statement that are not confused with quote marks that are reqired by Excel.

4. Copy to the clipboard cell I2 down to the last row.

5. Paste to the command prompt in AutoCAD yielding:

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

ssise — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:58:46 GMT

I tried option 2, but it doesn't on my system.

Re: How to Transfer Data Points from Excel File to AutoCAD

leeminardi — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:28:14 GMT

post your Excel file and a drawing file that contains the blocks.