EXCEL WORKSHEET AS AUTOCAD TABLE

Note: If the Excel document has a title at the top, it is highly recommended that the entire top row be merged so that the title will not be “wrapped”.

  1. Type “table”. You will get the Insert Table dialog box.
  2. Put a bullet in From a Data Link.
  3. One row down and to the right is a button to Launch the Data Link Manager Dialog—pick this button.
  4. You will now get a Select a Data Link dialog box. Highlight Create a New Excel Data Link. This will bring up a Enter Data Link Name dialog box. Type any name you want; example: XYZ.
  5. Pick OK. You will get a NewExcel Data Link: xyz dialog box—pick the button to the far right on the first row (this box has three very small dots). Browse for the file you want and Open it.
  6. In the next dialog box, make sure there is a bullet in Link Entire Sheet. You will get a preview; make sure it is the Excel file you wanted and then pick OK.
  7. You will now get a Select Data Link dialog box, pick OK.
  8. Finally, you will be back to Insert Table dialog box. Pick OK.
  9. Place the Excel Worksheet.

Linking an Excel Worksheet is important, as any changes in the Worksheet will be reflected in the AutoCAD dwg when it is updated.

NOTE: Once an Excel Worksheet is inserted into an AutoCAD table, it is possible to edit the cells, but it is tedious at best. The cells are locked and must be unlocked first. It is better to edit the original Excel Worksheet, and then the table in AutoCAD will be updated automatically.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR 2010: Using the method above will not allow updating. Must use Quicker Method below.

QUICKER METHOD

Setup the Excel Worksheet with the required number of cells and rows, changing widths as required.

For titles at the top, change height of row as required. Then highlight the text and center. Then pick a cell at the left and go to the right as far as needed. Then pick Merge cells. Change text to Arial (or whatever font is desired) and make bold if desired.

Leave the next row blank so that there will be a noticeable space below the title and the date.

On the third row, enter any data in each cell as required (see note below about numbering and/or currency). If two lines of text are required (one line over the other), change row height and then go to Format>Style>Modify. Center text and use Wrap Text. You can also change text/numbers or currency to bold and change the font size as required.

If number text in cells is required, pick the cell(s) and use Format, entering either General or Number (with or without decimal places). See Format, number, decimals. For currency, use Currency, and Dollar symbol.

It may be required to change the color of text.

When the Excel Worksheet has been completed,

  1. Highlight the area to be used as a table in AutoCAD.
  2. Copy to the clipboard. Do not close the Excel Worksheet.
  3. In AutoCAD, under Edit, pick Paste Special.
  4. The Excel Worksheet will now be listed in a dialog box. Pick OK.
  5. The Excel Worksheet will now be in the AutoCAD dwg where it can be scaled and/or edited. When the inserted table in AutoCAD is double picked, the Excel Worksheet will become available where it can be edited and theinserted table in the AutoCAD dwg will be appropriately updated.