Easiest Way to Import Points into AutoCAD from Excel

There are several way to draw points in AutoCAD from a list of coordinates in excel spreadsheet.

• Through AutoLISP/ Visual Basic or .NET
• Through Scripts

Through AutoLISP/ Visual Basic or .NET

AutoLisp, Visual Basic & .NET are programming language not everyone knows them. Also, these will not work with AutoCAD LT versions.

Through Scripts

This one is easier and is available across all AutoCAD versions. But, it is difficult to read an excel spreadsheet with script files.

Easiest Method

Click here to download the excel spreadsheet & read the instructions.

I found this the easiest method. No programming know-how required.
Just have to type your coordinates in the sheet and copy the commands. Goto AutoCAD set a point style of your choice and paste the copied command on your command line.
Your points will be drawn on the AutoCAD screen.

Hope you find the trick useful.

- Abhay Chauhan

PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends. 

Tutorial : AutoCAD Drawing Template (Part-1)

Templates are used with almost all the softwares today be it Microsoft Excel, Word, Access or AutoCAD. Every software has its own terminology for the templates.
A template provides us a standard already prepared format to start our work. Contents of a template vary as per software and usage requirements.

AutoCAD Drawing Templates
A drawing template is actually a drawing file which has standard settings for drawing creation. Only difference between your drawings and drawing template is extension of the file name, for templates its .dwt where as drawings are saved with a .dwg extension.

How do they work
When we start our drawing using a template, its makes a stand alone copy of itself. We can have as many templates as we wish to use. For example, separate template for each project and further separate template for each sheet size and more like type of drawing, discipline etc.

Where are my templates
Well, AutoCAD provides lot of templates. These are stored on our computer in a folder named "Templates". Exact path can be found in the "Options" on the command line or Select Tools >Options> from toolbar
It will open a dialog box, click om files tab and than Template Settings>Drawing Template File Location

See the snapshot below :

You can also save your customized templates on a suitable location of your choice.

Contents of a Drawing Template
A Drawing Template commonly stores the following

• Unit type & precision
• Title block, border and logos
• Standard Layers
• Snap, Grid & Ortho settings
• Grid Limits
• Dimension styles
• Text styles
• Linetypes

Some graphics, like North Arrow can also be added to the template.

This is all for this part in next part we shall discuss "Creating A Drawing Template".

Thanking You,

- Abhay Chauhan 

PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

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AutoCAD Icon/ Startup Switches

Hi Everyone,

Today we shall discuss about AutoCAD Icon Switches.

First of all, What are Icon/Startup Switches?

These are parameters to be added to the shortcut properties any program's Windows desktop icon.

Second, What is the use?

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-5)

Run your scripts on multiple files at once

Hi Everyone,

So, we all now have an idea about scripts and I assume, most of you have tried your hands on it and must have created some scripts also.

For friends who have just joined the series here are the links for the previous posts of the series :

Part - 1          Part - 2          Part - 3          Part - 4

If you need a topic on which you wish to create a script for, here are few,

• Purging
• Creating standard layers in a drawing
• Save drawings to a  previous version of AutoCAD
• Setting up your AutoCAD system variables to your choice
• etc. etc.

You can find more if you observe your day to day work closely.

Well now that you have written a script to purge or to save drawings to an earlier version of AutoCAD.
What to do next? You have 100's of drawings and you need them to be purged and saved to an earlier version. What will you do?

Opening each file and running script on each of them is not a practical solution.

So, what you actually want is to process a script on multiple drawings. There are multiple methods to do this.
But the easiest is to use ScriptPro. It's a free software from Autodesk. You can download it from following links.

ScriptPro 32bit download now
ScriptPro 64bit download now

There are another way to process your scripts on multiple drawings. I will share that in my next post of this series.

Thanks for taking time off to read the blog from your busy schedules.

- Abhay Chauhan

 PS : Don't forget to comment and share the post with your friends.

uClicky : The simple yet powerful automation tool

Hi Everyone,

I just found this awesome tool, developed by Will writer and founder at howtoautocad.com. 

HowtoAutoCAD.com is agreat source for AutoCAD lovers.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-4)

Making Some Graphics & Animate With Script

Hi everyone,

In this post we are going to see how powerful a script can be and what you can accomplish with a script. Also, we will learn a new feature about script.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-3)

Commands that control AutoCAD scripts

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all having an idea of what scriptys are and must have created some scripts.

For the friends who have just joined the series here are the links for previous posts :

Part - 1         Part - 2

Today, We shall discuss command that control the AutoCAD scripts.
Actually, there are a only a few commands that relate specifically to scripts. In fact, these commands are of absolutely no use for any other purpose.

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-2)

Creating the AutoCAD scripts

Hi Everyone,

Wish you all a very happy and safe Diwali.

As I promise you in my first post of this series, today I am presenting you with an example of an AutoCAD Script.

For the friends who have just joined the series here is the link for previous post :
Part - 1

Tutorial : Automation with scripts (Part-1)

Introduction to AutoCAD Scripts

Hi Everyone,

Here I am to bother you and kill (/ save) your time again.
Hope you are all enjoying the blog.

Today, We will talk about AutoCAD scripts.

Before explaining what scripts are. First, let's see why they are needed.
If you have any action that you repeat multiple time. You should think about automating it, so you don't have to go to the same steps over & over again.