AutoCAD’s COPY command keeps asking for a second point until you press Esc. Paste a column of coordinates from Excel at that prompt and the object is copied to every point in one go: hundreds of doors, lamps or trees in seconds.
CommandCOPY (Multiple mode)
Formula=B2&”,”&C2
Works inAny AutoCAD version, including LT
Video
How COPY works
Type COPY, select the object, press Enter, pick a base point, then pick a second point. AutoCAD keeps repeating Specify second point for as many copies as you want.
So if we paste a list of points at that prompt, AutoCAD makes one copy for each.
Step 1: Build the points in Excel
With X in column B and Y in column C, join them with a comma and copy down:
=B2&","&C2
Add Z if needed: =B2&","&C2&","&D2.
Step 2: Copy in AutoCAD
- Copy the formula column in Excel.
- In AutoCAD, type
COPY, select the object(s), press Enter. - Pick the base point. Use the object’s insertion point (for a block, snap to its insertion point), because each copy is placed so the base point lands on the coordinate.
- At Specify second point, right-click the command line → Paste, or press Ctrl + V.
- Press Esc when done.
Avoid these problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Copies snap to nearby objects | Turn off Object Snap (F3) before pasting |
| Copies are offset from the points | The base point wasn’t the object’s insertion point |
| Only one copy is made | Check COPYMODE is 0 (Multiple) |
| Comma decimals in the coordinates | Set Windows to use a dot as the decimal separator |
For blocks, an even cleaner way is -INSERT with a script, which also sets rotation and scale per point.