AutoCAD Electrical 2023 – Making a Complex Linetype e.g. Harness Representation

By Miles Nicholson

With any version of AutoCAD, you can create your own complex line types. In this example, we are creating a line type that we can represent a cable within a cable harness diagram.

Draw your objects you wish to repeat:

In this case, simply 2 lines.

Select Express Tools ribbon > Tools pane > dropdown arrow >

You can either create a new shp file or point to an existing one. It must however be within one of the support paths defined in Options.

Don’t be concerned about the message, as it will add the new shape to the existing file and NOT overwrite it.

Enter the name of the shape: e.g.             CABLE

Enter the resolution (defaults to 128)

Define the base point:

Select the objects that represent the shape.

We now have to insert the shape into the drawing.

At the Command line, type: SHAPE

Enter the name of the shape: e.g.             CABLE

Specify the insertion point, height & rotation.

Select Express Tools ribbon > Tools pane >dropdown arrow >

You can either create a new lin file or point to an existing one. It must however be within one of the support paths defined in Options.

Don’t be concerned about the message, as it will add the new shape to the existing file and NOT overwrite it.

Enter the line type name: e.g.     CABLE

Enter the line type description: e.g.          CABLE ===========      (The “=” is just a representation of the cable)

Select the start point:

Select the end point:

Select the inserted shape image:

The new line type has been created!