Import properties from the clipboard

The import programs retrieve data from the Windows clipboard and insert it into the properties of a material or block, as well as into block attributes. This allows you to assign all properties to a single material or block at once. Copy the properties from an Excel table or a manufacturer's catalog to the Windows clipboard. Then, select the material or block—you can do this via the solid's properties or the Drawing Tree—and click the import button.

The import program expects the clipboard to contain text consisting of 14 fields, separated by tab characters:

• A. Name – the name for the block or material (must be compatible with AutoCAD naming conventions). Empty lines are ignored.

• B. Usage – the purpose of the material. One of the following: Volume, Sheet, Rod, Cover, Banding, or Item. Selecting "Item" for a block will enable the "Product" flag.

• C. Kind = Type = Sort – the catalog category.

• D. Info = Description – any descriptive text. This field must not contain tab characters, though line breaks are permitted.

• E. Length – a numerical value. For blocks, this is stored in the "SizeX" block metric attribute.

• F. Width – a numerical value. For blocks, this is stored in the "SizeY" attribute.

• G. Thickness – a numerical value. For blocks, this is stored in the "SizeZ" attribute.

• H. Supplier

• I. Article

• J. Cost = Price – a numerical value in any currency. Currency symbols are permitted but will be stripped out. For sheet materials and coverings, the price should be per square unit; for rods and edge banding, per meter; and for blocks, per individual item.

• K. Density = Weight

• L. Package – the number of units per box (used only for blocks).

• M. Hyperlink = URL

• N. ImagePath – a URL or a local file path to an image (for materials, the program will attempt to load the file and assign it as a render texture).

Dimensions may include units of measurement; in such cases, the program will automatically convert the value into the drawing's current units.

If a specific field should not be modified, enter a minus sign (-) in that field. Leaving a field blank will still result in that empty value being assigned to the material (with the exception of the name field).

For blocks, dimensions, price, and weight are stored as constant attributes, which are configured within the block's metric. The metric is automatically locked to prevent the accidental deletion of this data. Other information is stored in standard constant attributes with localized names.

Please note that while an "Import Properties" button is available on the "Block Reference" tab, all data is actually stored within the block definition itself; consequently, you will only see a change in the block name on this tab. Constant attributes are always visible exclusively on the "Block" (block definition) tab.

If a material or block name already exists, the program will append a number to the end of the name.