AutoCAD Tip – Importing Excel Data into AutoCAD as tables

by Dennis Collin

I often get a question on the best practice for linking or importing an Excel spreadsheet into Full or LT AutoCAD.

My answer is don’t use OLE, or Microsoft’s Object Linked and Embedding! OLE is found to be an unreliable method of import especially when using nested External Reference Files and has all kinds of display fidelity issues with numerous Windows Platforms and systems. It does sometimes work but sometimes it doesn't! Why risk the quality of your professionally issued documents with such a temperamental function?

Fig 1. Data links can be created directly or from AutoCAD’s Table command

You are much better off using the Data Link Utility that comes with AutoCAD 2008 or later.

• Execute the Datalink Command
• Create a New Excel Data Link
• Give it a name (e.g. Parts list or similar)
• Browse to your Excel File (XLS/XLSx) and choose the relevant Full, Relative or No Path option
• Also select which sheets or the entire workbook that you wish to reference

Fig 2. Configuring a data link is easy.

The Link Setup process is now Complete!

The table can now be placed using the configured link, via the create table command. Provided the area isn’t too large, the resultant table should show in the preview window.

Fig 3. Tables can be created from scratch or via a data link from an external file.

Clicking OK will place the table like a block, be assigned a layer etc. like any conventional AutoCAD object! This layer can then be used to control final appearance, visibility etc.

External Reference files and Excel data linking are just some of the topics that we cover on the 2-day AutoCAD Intermediate Course. For more details visit here: Talk to one of the team where we can help and discuss your needs.