Automating Survey Data Import in ActCAD 2027: Free LISP Script for Engineers
It is a scenario every land surveyor and civil engineer knows too well: You return from a long day in the field with thousands of coordinate points stored in raw .csv or .txt files. You launch your CAD workstation, run a basic point importer, and the application suddenly crashes or drops half your data because point 101 was named REF_101-A or used a comma instead of a decimal point.
Manual point entry or fixing text files by hand is a massive drain on project margins.
To eliminate this bottleneck, our technical team created an open-source, fault-tolerant AutoLISP automation script designed specifically for ActCAD 2027—available on TrueCAD.eu as the modern, high-performance evolution for international CAD users running on the IntelliCAD 14.1 engine.
Key Advantages of the ActCAD Point Import Script
Unlike basic built-in CAD converters, this routine handles messy, real-world field data effortlessly:
Fault-Tolerant Parsing: Ignores empty rows, automatically unifies comma and dot decimal formats, and strips out unwanted spaces.
Full Alphanumeric Point ID Support: Smoothly imports point names containing letters, hyphens, and underscores (e.g.,
GW-01,NODE_B) without truncating characters.Automated Visual Hierarchy (4-Layer System): Automatically organizes incoming coordinate elements onto distinct, color-coded CAD layers upon execution:
POINTS: Native CAD point entities set to high-contrast display.PT_ID: Point identifiers rendered in cyan/blue text.PT_ELEV: Elevation Z-values displayed in subtle grey text.PT_DESC: Field codes and descriptions categorized in distinct green text.
Free AutoLISP Code (Copy & Save as IMPORTPOINTS.LSP)
Copy the code below, paste it into Notepad, and save the file as IMPORTPOINTS.LSP inside your dedicated CAD scripts folder:
Technical Specifications
| Feature / Metric | Specification & Capability |
| Software Compatibility | ActCAD 2027 (Professional & Standard), TrueCAD, IntelliCAD 14.1 Engine |
| Supported File Extensions | .txt, .csv, .dat, .asc, .xyz ASCII files |
| Delimiter Auto-Detection | Space, Tab, Comma, Semicolon |
| Coordinate Ordering | PNEZD (Point, Northing, Easting, Elevation, Description) or PENZD |
| Layer Automation | Automatic creation of 4 thematic CAD layers upon execution |
How to Run the Script in ActCAD 2027
Launch your ActCAD 2027 workspace.
Type
APPLOADin the command line and press Enter.Browse to select your saved
IMPORTPOINTS.LSPfile and click Load.Type
IMPORTPOINTSinto the command line to execute the importer.
Pro Tip from the Workshop: To avoid reloading the script every time you start a new drawing, add
IMPORTPOINTS.LSPto your Startup Suite (the briefcase icon inside theAPPLOADwindow).
Upgrade Your Engineering Workstations with ActCAD 2027
Tired of rigid, expensive software subscriptions that expire when you stop paying monthly fees? ActCAD 2027 delivers 100% native DWG/DXF compatibility, rich LISP/VBA API support, and multi-threaded engine performance—all under a flexible perpetual (lifetime) commercial license.
Download ActCAD 2027 14-day free trial: Test all LISP automation features on your actual field files with zero obligation.
Official Polish Distribution (actcad.pl): Polish engineering firms looking for local B2B technical support and 23% VAT invoices can visit our official Polish distributor hub.
Legacy TrueCAD upgrades (truecad.pl): Looking to trade in or update older JTS TrueCAD licenses to ActCAD 2027? Visit our dedicated Polish migration portal for special upgrade terms.