I’m looking for a convenient way to import a Word text document into AutoCAD. Our CADD guys are saying that it has to be created in Excel, with each line of CADD text in a single cell. I gotta believe there’s a better way. 10 years ago (in the CADD Dark Ages) at another firm, we were seamlessly importing WordPerfect text into Arris CADD drawings, with minimal formatting issues. Have we gone backwards in the last 10 years??
Any help?
Yes, you have definatly gone backwards if you migrated towards AutoCAD. LOL 
However, even AutoCAD supports OLE, which allows you to link or embed information from almost any Windows application into AutoCAD.
Note, you cannot next embedded items. In other words, if you have a Word.doc with an Excel table embedded into it, when you link the Word doc in, the Excel portion of it won’t print out. I don’t know why.
To do this in AutoCAD, go to Insert>OLE Object, chose “Create from File”, and click the Link button and browse to your file.
It does take some experimentation, but it can be done. I’m not even a CAD guy
You have NOT gone backwards. Open AutoCAD. Open explorer. Drag the document (word or excel etc) from your list of files and place it in to the AutoCAD file. A dialog opens up that allows you to scale it if you want. If not just close the dialog accepting the defaults.
Print the drawing to check scale etc.
I have an “on the drawings” spec that only lives in the AutoCAD file (no separate copies anywhere else) If I have to edit it I open AutoCAD, doubleclick the document, Word opens and off I go. tabs, formatting etc.
Perfect? No. Works? Yes.
I’ve inserted word into autocad a bunch of times.
I type “MTEXT” to create a multiline text window, switch to the word doc, highlight the text to copy, click control C, flip to autocad, click control V.
This copies the text of the moment to the file. You can use a link command rather than copy, but that’s beyond my limited cad skills. Autocad has a huge discussion area at http://discussion.autodesk.com/index.jspa
Bryant,
I use the same techniques as Randall. Copy/paste natve MSWord into MTEXT.
It does require some reformating of indents and hanging indents; it is easy to do with the MTEXT ruler.
It is also easy to change the MSWORD font style to the desired AutoCAD text style.
I use this for specs on drawings for over the counter subject to field inspection permit applications to satisfy the City of Seattle.
Wayne
Yes, yes, mtext. Really ! Open AutoCAD. Open your explorer. Drag a doc file (different type faces, formatting auto numbering etc.) off of explorer and drop it into the AutoCAD drawing.
2002 asks you for a size HxW, 2006 asks you for the OLE Typeface and point height. Or just say OK
Autonumbering OK, Format OK, Typeface OK
Then print.