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CXCSV2ATTExport and import (CSV)Version 1.0.0Tested in AutoCAD

Fill block attributes from a CSV file

Updates the attributes of many blocks from a spreadsheet: each row finds its block by a key such as a tag number and sets the other columns.

Download cxcsv2att.lspLISP terms

How to use it

  1. Make a CSV whose first line holds the attribute tags. The first column is the key.
  2. Type CXCSV2ATT, select the blocks and choose the file.
  3. The report says how many blocks were updated and how many rows found no block.

Good to know

  • Use CXBLK2CSV first to get a file with the right columns, edit it, and bring it back.

Load it in AutoCAD

  1. Save the file anywhere you like.
  2. Type APPLOAD, pick the file and choose Load.
  3. Type the command name: CXCSV2ATT.

To have it at every start, add it to the Startup Suite in the same dialog, or load a whole folder at once with the optional loader. About the optional loader

Tested in AutoCAD (full version). Other programs that run AutoLISP may work, but they are not tested.

The code

Plain text, nothing hidden. Copy it into a file named cxcsv2att.lsp, or download it.

;;; ============================================================================
;;; CXCSV2ATT - Fill block attributes from a CSV file
;;; Version 1.0.0
;;; CADXChange LISP tools - https://cadxchange.net/resources/lisp/cxcsv2att
;;; Tested in: AutoCAD (full version). Other programs that run AutoLISP may work but are not tested.
;;; Copyright (c) CADXChange. Free for personal and commercial use; do not resell or
;;; republish it as a collection. Terms: https://cadxchange.net/legal/lisp-terms
;;; ============================================================================

;; Fill block attributes from CSV ROWS. The first row holds attribute tags; its first column is the KEY tag. Every
;; other row finds the blocks in NAMES whose KEY attribute equals its first column and sets the other columns.
;; Returns (blocks-updated rows-without-block).
(defun cx:csv2att-run (names rows / tags updated missed hit v)
  (setq tags (car rows) updated 0 missed 0)
  (foreach r (cdr rows)
    (setq hit nil)
    (foreach b names
      (if (= (cx:att-get b (car tags)) (car r))
        (progn
          (setq hit T v (cdr r))
          (foreach tg (cdr tags)
            (if v
              (progn (cx:att-set b tg (car v)) (setq v (cdr v)))))
          (setq updated (1+ updated)))))
    (if (not hit) (setq missed (1+ missed))))
  (list updated missed))

(defun c:CXCSV2ATT ( / *error* cx:sv ss file rows r)
  (setq *error* cx:err)
  (if (setq ss (cx:pick "\nSelect the blocks to fill: " '((0 . "INSERT"))))
    (if (setq file (cx:file-open "CSV file: first row holds the tags, first column is the key"))
      (if (and (setq rows (cx:csv-rows file)) (cdr rows))
        (progn
          (cx:start '(("CMDECHO" . 0)))
          (setq r (cx:csv2att-run (cx:ss->list ss) rows))
          (princ (strcat "\n" (itoa (car r)) " block(s) updated, " (itoa (cadr r)) " row(s) matched no block."))
          (cx:end))
        (princ "\nThe file is empty or could not be read."))))
  (princ))


;;; ---- Shared helpers (used by the command above; identical in every CADXChange tool) ----

(defun cx:dxf (code ed)
  (cdr (assoc code ed)))

;; The ATTRIB entities of a block reference, in order.
(defun cx:attribs (ins / e out)
  (setq e (entnext ins))
  (while (and e (= (cx:dxf 0 (entget e)) "ATTRIB"))
    (setq out (cons e out) e (entnext e)))
  (reverse out))

;; The ATTRIB of a block reference with the tag TAG (any case), or nil.
(defun cx:att-find (ins tag / r)
  (foreach a (cx:attribs ins)
    (if (and (not r) (= (strcase (cx:dxf 2 (entget a))) (strcase tag))) (setq r a)))
  r)

(defun cx:att-get (ins tag / a)
  (if (setq a (cx:att-find ins tag)) (cx:dxf 1 (entget a))))

;; Replace the text of a TEXT, ATTRIB, ATTDEF or MTEXT.
(defun cx:text-set (ename str / ed out)
  (setq ed (entget ename))
  (if (= (cx:dxf 0 ed) "MTEXT")
    (progn
      ;; MTEXT stores text in 250-character pieces: 3 groups for the first pieces, 1 for the last
      (foreach p ed (if (not (member (car p) '(1 3))) (setq out (cons p out))))
      (setq out (reverse out))
      (while (> (strlen str) 250)
        (setq out (append out (list (cons 3 (substr str 1 250)))) str (substr str 251)))
      (setq ed (append out (list (cons 1 str)))))
    (setq ed (subst (cons 1 str) (assoc 1 ed) ed)))
  (entmod ed)
  (entupd ename)
  T)

;; Set the attribute TAG of a block reference to VALUE; returns T when the block has that attribute.
(defun cx:att-set (ins tag value / a)
  (if (setq a (cx:att-find ins tag))
    (progn (cx:text-set a value) (entupd ins) T)))

;; Close the undo step and put the system variables back.
(defun cx:end ()
  (foreach v cx:sv (setvar (car v) (cdr v)))
  (command "_.UNDO" "_End")
  (setq cx:sv nil)
  (princ))

;; Error handler: restores everything, stays quiet on Esc.
(defun cx:err (msg)
  (if (> (getvar "CMDACTIVE") 0) (command))
  (cx:end)
  (if (and msg (not (wcmatch (strcase msg) "*BREAK*,*CANCEL*,*EXIT*")))
    (princ (strcat "\nError: " msg)))
  (princ))

;; Use the objects already selected, or ask the user to select; FILTER is an ssget filter list or nil.
(defun cx:pick (msg filter / ss)
  (setq ss (if filter (ssget "_I" filter) (ssget "_I")))
  (if (null ss)
    (progn
      (princ msg)
      (setq ss (if filter (ssget filter) (ssget)))))
  ss)

;; Ask which CSV file to read. Returns a path or nil. With FILEDIA 0 the name is typed at the command line.
(defun cx:file-open (title / f)
  (if (= (getvar "FILEDIA") 0)
    (progn
      (setq f (getstring T (strcat "\n" title ": ")))
      (if (= f "") nil f))
    (getfiled title (getvar "DWGPREFIX") "csv" 4)))

;; All lines of a text file, or nil when it cannot be opened.
(defun cx:read-lines (file / f l out)
  (if (setq f (open file "r"))
    (progn
      (while (setq l (read-line f)) (setq out (cons l out)))
      (close f)
      (reverse out))))

;; One CSV line to a list of strings (handles quotes and doubled quotes).
(defun cx:csv-parse (line / out cur q i c)
  (setq out nil cur "" q nil i 1)
  (while (<= i (strlen line))
    (setq c (substr line i 1))
    (cond
      ((and q (= c "\"") (= (substr line (1+ i) 1) "\""))
       (setq cur (strcat cur "\"") i (1+ i)))
      ((= c "\"") (setq q (not q)))
      ((and (= c ",") (not q)) (setq out (cons cur out) cur ""))
      (T (setq cur (strcat cur c))))
    (setq i (1+ i)))
  (reverse (cons cur out)))

;; Remove spaces and tabs at both ends.
(defun cx:trim (s / a b)
  (setq a 1 b (strlen s))
  (while (and (<= a b) (member (substr s a 1) '(" " "\t"))) (setq a (1+ a)))
  (while (and (>= b a) (member (substr s b 1) '(" " "\t"))) (setq b (1- b)))
  (substr s a (max 0 (1+ (- b a)))))

;; The rows of a CSV file as lists of strings, empty lines skipped; nil when the file cannot be read.
(defun cx:csv-rows (file / out)
  (foreach l (cx:read-lines file)
    (if (/= (cx:trim l) "") (setq out (cons (cx:csv-parse l) out))))
  (reverse out))

;; Save the system variables in VARS ((name . value) ...), set them, and open one undo step.
;; The caller declares cx:sv as a local so the saved values live exactly as long as the command.
(defun cx:start (vars)
  (setq cx:sv (mapcar (function (lambda (v) (cons (car v) (getvar (car v))))) vars))
  (command "_.UNDO" "_Begin")
  (foreach v vars (setvar (car v) (cdr v)))
  (princ))

;; Selection set to a list of entity names.
(defun cx:ss->list (ss / i out)
  (setq i 0)
  (if ss
    (repeat (sslength ss)
      (setq out (cons (ssname ss i) out)
            i   (1+ i))))
  (reverse out))

(princ "\nCXCSV2ATT loaded. Type CXCSV2ATT to start.")
(princ)

Version history

Version 1.0.0 · October 27, 2026

First release.

Need this across many drawings?

BlockSync does this kind of job on a whole folder of drawings in one run.

BlockSync

More commands: Export and import (CSV)