Its possible thet the XCEL fiel is "linked" to the dwg.
Often this happens thru 3rd party software(s) that manage the data for you. This is entirely appropriate, but sometimes a bit inconvenient for those you're wanting to share the results of your work with. Ok. That's fine, but doesn't solve your problem.
Try a couple of things- 1st: don't worry about dealing with re-mapping directories re-linking your data with your drawing. Just put the data file in the same directory as the drawing file, and reopen the drawing from THAT directory. I do this by going directly to the directory (folder) and double-clicking on the drawing. It'll look for the associated data file (XCEL) in its own directory 1st, and since you put them there together, it (the dwg) will find the data file.
This should bring up the info in your drawing.
Then I do one more thing- I go ahead and re-input the same data points in another new drawing based on the 1st one, but I actually do it directly by actually inputting the points "manually". I use scripting. Its a bit cumbersome, but saves 1. buying external specialty software that my customers almost NEVER possess without me buying it for them- I've done that a couple of times when necessary, and 2. Actually puts the data INSIDE the drawing where its needed. A sample script line might look like:
POINT 210.38<-157.04,17.0 -TEXT 210.38<-157.04,17.0 #1315_NE-corner_Main-Deck_extension
LINE 210.38<-157.04,17.0
where the "line" at the end of this data entry step is just to point me to where the point came in and its associated description text. If I'm zoomed way out, or in another area of the drawing, this really helps.
I use cut-&-paste extensively in this process, saving alot of work, but it doesn't eliminate or completely "automate" the process of getting the data out of the xcel file. I copy the data coordinates to a notepad "text" file, format the script line there, and copy the formated script line directly to the ACAD command prompt. Swipe the formatted script line in the text file, [ctrl]-[c] the line, click into ACAD, click to the command prompt & [ctrl]-[v] the pre-formatted script line into the command prompt. Be careful of formatting spaces etc. so your line runs right, and that script line should run, placing the point, a description and point you to it with the 1st half of the acad "line" command.
In a week, I may input 200-400 points or more using this process. Since I have a complete modeling workload, this process is important to me in getting the data in, in a way that makes the results useable to my clients. If there is a better way, or some automated method that I could become aware of, I'm interested, but this works well for me, and may include a clue or 2 you might get some benefit from. Let us know by posting back, what's worked for you as you solve this problem for yourself ! I hope this helps in the mean time-
Good luck-
C. Fee
