This guide covers two point workflows in AutoCAD: exporting points from a drawing into a CSV file and importing a list of coordinates from Excel or Google Sheets back into an AutoCAD drawing as points.

Export points from AutoCAD to a CSV file

This workflow uses AutoCAD's built-in Data Extraction command to pull point coordinates out of a drawing and save them as a CSV.

Before you start

Confirm your drawing units. Set units to decimal, in either inches or feet — the Dusty system works with both, so either is fine.

Steps

1. Start the Data Extraction wizard. Type DX (or DATAEXTRACTION) in the command line and press Enter.
2. Create a new extraction. Choose Create a new data extraction, then click Next.
3. Save the extraction file. Select the folder where the extraction will be saved, name it, and click Save.
4. Choose your objects. Select Select objects in the current drawing. Select the objects you want to extract, press Enter, then click Next.
5. Filter to points only. On the object selection screen, uncheck everything except Point. If your points are represented as circles, select Circle instead. Click Next.
6. Choose the properties to export. On the right side, select only the Geometry category. Then select only Position X, Position Y, and Position Z. If circles were selected, select Center X, Center Y, Center Z. Click Next.

7. Refine the preview. On the preview screen:

   • Check Combine identical rows.
   • Uncheck Show count column.
   • Check Show name column.

   Click Next.

8. Set the output. Check Output data to external file. Click the button with the three dots (…), name the file, and make sure the file type is set to CSV. Click Save, then Next.
9. Finish. Click Finish to generate the CSV.
10. Give control points unique names. Open the CSV. By default every point has the same name (typically POINT or CIRCLE). Control points must have unique names, so if you're working with control points, rename each one so it's different (for example, number them). Save the CSV.

Note: Unique names only matter for control points. Printable points can have duplicate names.

Upload the CSV to the Dusty Portal

11. Upload the CSV file into the Portal.
12. Fix units if needed. If the points came in using the wrong units, click the button with the three dots (…) and change the file units (for example, from feet to inches).
13. Set the classification. Points are usually imported as Trade points by default. For control points, edit the file classification and set it to Control.

Verify it worked

You should see your points in the Portal with the correct units, unique names on any control points, and the classification set to Control where required.

Import points from Excel or Google Sheets into AutoCAD

This workflow takes a list of coordinates in Excel or Google Sheets and brings them into an AutoCAD drawing as points. It works for both control points and printable points.

Before you start

Open your points file in Excel or Google Sheets and confirm your table has clear, correctly labeled headers:

• Point Number (or Point Name)
• X coordinate
• Y coordinate
• Z coordinate
• Description

The goal is to combine the X, Y, and Z values for each point into a single cell, separated by commas. This is the format AutoCAD expects when you paste point data. Enter every digit accurately — small errors change the final result.

Steps

1. Add a column. Add a new column just to the right of the Description column. This is where the combined coordinates will go.
2. Combine the coordinates into one cell. In Excel: In the first row, manually type the X, Y, and Z values into a single cell, separating each value with a comma (for example, 120.5,84.25,0). Press Enter. In the cell directly below, press Ctrl + E to use Flash Fill, which fills the rest of the column automatically. In Google Sheets: Use the CONCATENATE function to combine the X, Y, and Z values into a single cell, separated by commas. Then click the small circle at the lower-right corner of the cell and drag it down to apply the formula to all remaining rows.
3. Copy the combined cells. Select all the cells containing the combined coordinates and press Ctrl + C to copy them.
4. Switch to AutoCAD. Open your AutoCAD drawing and start the Multiple Points command (press Draw and select Multiple Points).
5. Paste the points. In the command bar, right-click and paste, then press Enter to import the points. Press Esc to finish.
6. Make the points visible. If the points are hard to see, type PTYPE in the command line to open Point Style. Change the point style and adjust the size to make the points easier to see.

Verify it worked

Your points should appear in the drawing at the pasted coordinates. If you can't see them, adjust the point style and size with PTYPE.