Exporting from Excel to AutoCAD

Victor Ammons asked for help on importing information from Excel into AutoCAD. He reports that when he tries to import a worksheet, anything larger than what will fit on an 8.5x11 page is cut off by AutoCAD.

This problem is documented at the AutoCAD Web site, here:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?id=2895807&linkID=2475323&siteID=123112

The problem, it seems, is related to the fact that when you import a workbook, only a picture (a metafile) of the worksheet is included. This picture apparently only includes only the first page of the first worksheet in the workbook.

The AutoCAD Web page, referenced above, includes a couple of ways that you can get around this limitation. (They don't list what is perhaps the best solution--to upgrade to the latest version of AutoCAD.) The problem, in many ways, sounds very similar to a problem importing Excel worksheets into PowerPoint, as described in this Knowledge Base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278543

In any case, the problem seems to be that AutoCAD is importing the worksheet as a picture. If you only want the worksheet's data--not a picture of the data--then you may consider getting the information into AutoCAD in a different way. For instance, you might export the Excel data in CSV format (which is plain text) and then import it into AutoCAD. Other intermediary formats may also fill the bill, but some experimentation may be necessary.

One ExcelTips reader suggested following these general steps to make sure that the data is pasted properly in AutoCAD:

1. In Excel, select the data area you want to copy.
2. Press Ctrl+C to copy the data to the Clipboard.
3. In AutoCAD, choose Edit | Paste Special | AutoCAD Entities.
4. Click OK.

To get the Excel data into the CAD model at the right size, it is necessary to zoom the model to the correct size before you paste the Excel data. The simplest way is to attempt the paste the first time and mark the width that you require by holding a piece of paper against the screen and marking the width of the floating paste area on the paper. Then, escape and zoom the model to the required size and then paste the data.

A final possible solution is to look into using a third-party program to handle the conversion of Excel data and its placement in an AutoCAD drawing. There are a number on the market, each with different features and strengths. You should be able to turn up a number of good candidates by doing a quick Internet search.