Convert Text to Points with Elevations By Data Extraction and Lisp

Convert Text to Points

There are many methods to convert text objects to the points. Some use lisp files some other use Civil 3D. But the following method will show you an example of text to points conversion that doesn’t need any additional files or plug-ins.

Today one of my friends asked me that he has received a drawing file it has the topographic data of a site. But problem with the file is that, there no points in the file. We have only text objects that show the elevation of existing ground at the location of text node. Moreover this entire text object is in zero elevation as you can see here. All we have is only text node which is the location of surveyed points and the value of elevation in text object.

So the question is how we can convert these text only objects to 3d points that we can use for further use in our terrain medal or surface or triangulation.

Watch this video below to learn how to draw 3d points with this text.

Data Extraction

By using this method we will use AutoCAD’s simple Data Extraction tool to transfer our text data to Microsoft Excel. The data that we will transfer is the X, Y and the content value of the text. This value will be used as Z coordinate of the points.

For more you can check this post to learn about How to use AutoCAD Data Extraction Tool

Once we have extracted our text data to a Microsoft excel file, we have three columns that shows Easting, Northing and Elevation of the text objects that we transferred from AutoCAD to Excel. I will use simple concatenate formula to combine all these values so we can use in our AutoCAD file.

Now that all my 4^th cell looks like Easting,Northing,Elevation. This data in other words looks like 3D coordinates of our points. Copy all of cells in this column. After opening my AutoCAD file, I need to draw points on these coordinates.

Go to Draw menu and select “multiple points” form points option. Now right click in the command line and Paste the data. This will draw a 3D point at all of the coordinates that we generated in Microsoft excel. You can ask any of questions in the comments below or you can also utilize our live chat feature on free cad tips and tricks .com

Convert Text to Points By Lisp File

Txt2Pt lisp is used to make a new 3D point with all of the text objects in the AutoCAD drawing. Below is a free downloadable link to a lisp file to help you get out of this problem. This lisp file uses the existing text values as the point’s Z value. The easting and Northing of the text object are used as Easting and Northing of the point. As a result, you get a point drawn with every text object in the drawing.