Extracting Point Data from AutoCAD - Using Data Extraction

Here's a quick and crude example of getting point data out of AutoCAD 2008.

There is of course a lot more functionality for managing points in AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Civil 3D, but it is also possible to do some data manipulation/extraction from plain AutoCAD. So if you need to do this, here's a quick example...

I have setup a new drawing with a single block definition comprised of a Point and a single Attribute definition (the attribute tag is ID, to represent the ID of each point)

I have inserted 5 points, as shown, with ID's from 1 to 5...

Start the Data Extraction command, either by typing EATTEXT at the command line, or by selecting Data Extraction...  from the Tools pull-down menu

The Data Extraction Wizard starts...

Page 1 - Select Create a new data extraction and click the Next... button

In the Save Data Extract As dialog browse to a suitable location and provide a name for the data extraction definition file

When completed, you are returned to Page 2 of the wizard

Page 2 - Accept the default selection of Current Drawing and click the Next... button

Page 3 - Un-tick all items in the list except the entry for the Point Block and click the Next... button

Page 4 - I just want to extract the ID, coordinates and elevation details, so I have un-ticked some of the entries in the Category Filter and then un-ticked the scale entries in the Property list, when complete click the Next... button

Page 5 - Shows me a preview of my data and gives me the opportunity to reorder and sort columns, filter results, add formula columns, and create external data links.

I want to sort the data by the point ID's as they are currently not in order

You can sort the data simply by clicking on the column headers...

When complete click the Next... button

Page 6 - allows me to select the output types, I will insert the data extraction as an AutoCAD table and extract the data to an Excel file

When complete click the Next... button

Page 7 - Allows me to setup the table style, I will accept the defaults for this example and click the Next... button

Page 8 - is the final confirmation screen... click the Next... button to complete the process

You are then prompted for an insertion point for the table...