Cut list from Excel
A signed-in project can import the part list from Excel (.xlsx, .xls), CSV or a tab-separated file, so you do not retype the cutting list.
Columns the importer reads
The header row is recognized by name. Width, Height and Quantity are enough. Name, Thickness, Material, Grain and Edge Banding are optional. A missing quantity becomes 1.
Separators can be a comma, a semicolon or a tab. In an inch project a width can be a fraction such as 12 3/8 or 12-3/8. On a linear cut, Height can be empty: Width is the length.
| Name | Width | Height | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door | 600 | 800 | 4 |
| Shelf | 560 | 300 | 4 |
From file to plan
Imported, that file is the plywood nesting job: 8 parts on 1 sheet at 12.9% waste.
Layout produced by CutGrid’s optimizer for this example. Coloured blocks are parts, dashed areas are offcuts, and the outer band is trim.
- Door
- Shelf
Optional columns
Material puts parts on separate stock: each material is laid out on its own sheets. Grain takes horizontal, vertical, h or v, and a part with a grain value is never rotated. Edge Banding lists the banded edges, such as top,bottom or left,right, and the banding thickness is subtracted from those edges.
Import and export are different
Importing a file is available in a signed-in project. Exporting the finished plan to Excel starts on Starter. PDF cut diagrams are on every plan, with a watermark on Free. DXF export is on Expert.
Common mistakes
Title rows and merged cells
The importer looks for one header row. A title above it, merged cells or a total row at the bottom can stop it. Keep one header row and one row per part size.
Units in the cells
Write 600, not 600 mm. The unit belongs to the project, not to the file.
Decimal commas in a comma-separated file
In a comma-separated file, 12,5 splits into two columns. Use a semicolon or tab separator, or a decimal point.
Questions
- Which file types can I import?
- .xlsx, .xls, .csv and tab-separated text.
- What happens to a missing quantity?
- It becomes 1.
- Can I export my plan back to Excel?
- Yes, on Starter and above.