AutoCAD Electrical 2025 - Changing the Linetype Properties of Selected Inserted Blocks

By Miles Nicholson

A client wanted the ability to change the linetype properties of selected blocks in a schematic to represent that this device or devices are external.

AutoCAD Electrical defaults to the SYMS layer for symbols and a linetype of CONTINUOUS.

In notepad, copy the text below and save the file as LTCHANGE.LSP in one of your support directories e.g. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025\Support.

(defun c:LtChange (/ lt fnd s i sn name blocks)
  (vl-load-com)
  (if (not acdoc)
    (setq acdoc (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object)))
  )
  (if (and (not (eq (setq lt (getstring "\n Specify lineType :")) ""))
           (setq fnd (tblsearch "LTYPE" lt))
           (setq s (ssget "_:L"))
      )
    (repeat (setq i (sslength s))
      (setq sn (ssname s (setq i (1- i))))
      (if (not (eq (cdr (assoc 0 (entget sn))) "INSERT"))
        (vla-put-linetype (vlax-ename->vla-object sn) lt)
        (if
          (not (member (setq name (cdr (assoc 2 (entget sn)))) blocks)
          )
           (progn
             (setq blocks (cons name blocks))
             (vlax-for each (vla-item (vla-get-blocks acdoc) name)
               (vla-put-linetype each lt)
             )
           )
        )
      )
    )
    (cond ((not lt) (princ "\n LineType is nil "))
          ((not fnd)
           (princ "\n Couldn't find the Linetype or not loaded ")
          )
          (t (princ "\n Nothing has been Selected"))
    )
  )
  (vla-regen acdoc AcallViewports)
  (princ)
)

Original source: www.autolisp.com

Type APPLOAD at the AutoCAD command line and add the LSP to the Start-Up > Contents

To initialise the command type LTCHANGE

Type the name of the layer you want e.g. HIDDEN2 (must be a loaded layer in LINETYPES and within the current drawing)

Pick the blocks you wish to change.