I paste special a excel file into AutoCAD, Where is the excel file saved at?

[tasherrill]

Hi,

I'm using AutoCAD 2016 and I had some problems with excel files. Sometimes I get locked out of my excel files or they disappeared and I lose a lot of work time when this happens.I use the excel files as electrical panels to roll in totals and such. I was wondering where the excel files get saved after you enter them as a paste special into the file? So when the file becomes locked or disappears I can go and find it.

[Anonymous]

when you copy paste an excel file into AutoCAD, it's embedded as high graphics object and is not editable. Try inserting it as an OLE - create from file. This way everytime you update the excel file, it will update your CAD file once you open it (vise versa).

[tasherrill]

##- Ok, I tried this but the box that is given when I insert a OLE isn't big enough for what I'm needing to show no matter how many times I reset or change the text height to 9". -##

[Anonymous]

I have a schedule and had an embedded worksheet. Is this the type you had?. See sample CAD

[tasherrill]

This is what I'm trying to insert.

[john.vellek]

HI @tasherrill,

Have you tried using Datalink to connect your spreadsheets to the drawings? I made a small video of how this works.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[tasherrill]

##- I have tried datalink. I still can't get the size right and it only shows a portion of view. -##

[john.vellek]

HI @tasherrill,

Is it possible to share some files with me so I can get a better idea of what you are seeing on your side? I am happy to take a closer look at this for you.

[tasherrill]

##- Yeah sure, here is the file of my panel boards that I'm trying bring in. I think it might be that I'm new to datalinks -##

[john.vellek]

Hi @tasherrill,

I'm sorry but I don't see your file attachment. You might try putting it into a ZIP file and then attach to a post. I use Google Chrome for my browser and attachments always behave so you might try that too.

[tasherrill]

Here is the file. I think I may have got it to link with datalink but I still like a second opinion to make sure I got this.

[Anonymous]

SEE SAMPLE

[john.vellek]

Hi @tasherrill,

I am hoping that you haven't abandoned this thread. Please come back and attach your file as I am happy to help you get this into your drawing and retain the formatting.

[tasherrill]

Here's the file.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @tasherrill,

I noticed that you have a lot of merged cells in Excel which AutoCAD does not treat very nicely.

I made a short video to show the datalink in action once I removed the merged cells.

While the formatting is not perfect I believe this works better than pasting in a OLE object.  I also recommend placing the tables in paperspace as that way scaling is less of a factor.

[tasherrill]

I was able to replicate what you did. But when I used our excel main distribution file the letters merged together. I think it was caused by the merged cells I have because from your video you didn't have any merged cells. Also, to edit or update the link slows my computer but it works! Thanks so much.