For all tables and datasheets which were made as tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText in DWG files you need to manually copy from Text, MText blocks and paste their content to Excel to use data from them. This long process could be automated with Excel file with Macro to create tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText from DWG files to Excel sheets.
There are two options to extract tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText: use free version of NanoCAD or AutoCAD commercial software.
Use NanoCAD Free:
1. Download NanoCAD Free
2. Read official NanoCAD installation guide
http://nanocad.com/page/InstallationGuide
In PDF format
Use video guide
3. Don’t forget to register and activate NanoCAD Free.
4. Download “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_to_Excel_NanoCAD.xlsm” Excel file with Macro.
5. Open Excel file, press “ALT+F11” to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Application, then “Tools - References”, add:
“nanoCAD Type Library (NCAuto.dll)”
“OdaX Type Library (OdaX_csd.dll)”,
then press OK.
6. Close Microsoft Visual Basic for Application editor.
7. Enable Macros in Excel
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Enable-or-disable-macros-in-Office-documents-7b4fdd2e-174f-47e2-9611-9efe4f860b12
8. Copy all DWG files to the same folder with Excel file. From these DWG file all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText will are created on Excel sheets.
9. Press “ALT+F8” to run “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel_NanoCAD” macro.
10. Macro will open NanoCAD application and scan all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText in DWG files. Each created table from DWG file will be placed on a new Excel sheet.
Use AutoCAD commercial version:
1. Download “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_to_Excel_AutoCAD.xlsm” Excel file with Macro.
2. Open Excel file, press “ALT+F11” to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Application, then “Tools - References”, add:
“AutoCAD YYYY Type Library” file” (acaxXXenu.tlb),
where YYYY – YEAR of your AutoCAD Version, XX – 21, 20, 19,…(version number);
“AutoCAD Focus Control for VBA Type Library” (AcFocusCtrlXX.dll);
“AXDBLib” (axdbXXenu.tlb),
then press OK.
7. Enable Macros in Excel
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Enable-or-disable-macros-in-Office-documents-7b4fdd2e-174f-47e2-9611-9efe4f860b12
8. Copy all DWG files to the same folder with Excel file. From these DWG file all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText will are created on Excel sheets.
9. Press “ALT+F8” to run “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel_NanoCAD” macro.
10. Macro will open NanoCAD application and scan all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText in DWG files. Each created table from DWG file will be placed on a new Excel sheet.
Use AutoCAD commercial version:
1. Download “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_to_Excel_AutoCAD.xlsm” Excel file with Macro.
2. Open Excel file, press “ALT+F11” to open Microsoft Visual Basic for Application, then “Tools - References”, add:
“AutoCAD YYYY Type Library” file” (acaxXXenu.tlb),
where YYYY – YEAR of your AutoCAD Version, XX – 21, 20, 19,…(version number);
“AutoCAD Focus Control for VBA Type Library” (AcFocusCtrlXX.dll);
“AXDBLib” (axdbXXenu.tlb),
then press OK.
3. Close Microsoft Visual Basic for Application editor.
4. Enable Macros in Excel
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Enable-or-disable-macros-in-Office-documents-7b4fdd2e-174f-47e2-9611-9efe4f860b12
5 Copy all DWG files to the same folder with Excel file. From these DWG file all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText will are created on Excel sheets.
6. Press “ALT+F8” to run “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel_AutoCAD” macro.
7. Macro will open AutoCAD application and and scan all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText in DWG files. Each created table from DWG file will be placed on a new Excel sheet
Known features and limitations:
a. Maximum DWG files – 1000.
b. There are no limitations for table’s quantity for each DWG file or each layout.
c. Each table contour (outline) must be closed.
d. Each cell must be rectangular, not use “stairs” like cells.
e. All text found in the DWG table cell will are placed in Excel cell by vertical order from top to bottom.
f. Tables in DWG files must be draw with lines, old type polylines (2D polylines), Text and MText basic primitives.
e. If your DWG tables are made of blocks with lines, polylines, please explode them all before running the Macro.
f. If your DWG text are made of blocks with Text, MText, please explode them all before running the Macro also.
g. “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel” Macro supports creating merged cells found in DWG files.
h. Macro will extract data even there are no some additional SHX fonts installed for DWG file and the text in NanoCAD Free/AutoCAD is shown as “?????????”.
i. All text from DWG files will be copied as “Text” with “Format Cells”
j. All Fonts formatting – Bold, Italic, etc. will be unformatted according to these specifications:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-7D8BB40F-5C4E-4AE5-BD75-9ED7112E5967-htm.html
4. Enable Macros in Excel
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Enable-or-disable-macros-in-Office-documents-7b4fdd2e-174f-47e2-9611-9efe4f860b12
5 Copy all DWG files to the same folder with Excel file. From these DWG file all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText will are created on Excel sheets.
6. Press “ALT+F8” to run “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel_AutoCAD” macro.
7. Macro will open AutoCAD application and and scan all tables of lines, polylines and Text, MText in DWG files. Each created table from DWG file will be placed on a new Excel sheet
Known features and limitations:
a. Maximum DWG files – 1000.
b. There are no limitations for table’s quantity for each DWG file or each layout.
c. Each table contour (outline) must be closed.
d. Each cell must be rectangular, not use “stairs” like cells.
e. All text found in the DWG table cell will are placed in Excel cell by vertical order from top to bottom.
f. Tables in DWG files must be draw with lines, old type polylines (2D polylines), Text and MText basic primitives.
e. If your DWG tables are made of blocks with lines, polylines, please explode them all before running the Macro.
f. If your DWG text are made of blocks with Text, MText, please explode them all before running the Macro also.
g. “Extract_Line_Tables_from_DWG_To_Excel” Macro supports creating merged cells found in DWG files.
h. Macro will extract data even there are no some additional SHX fonts installed for DWG file and the text in NanoCAD Free/AutoCAD is shown as “?????????”.
i. All text from DWG files will be copied as “Text” with “Format Cells”
j. All Fonts formatting – Bold, Italic, etc. will be unformatted according to these specifications:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-7D8BB40F-5C4E-4AE5-BD75-9ED7112E5967-htm.html
