Making Simple and Complex Linetypes in AutoCAD PDF

24/03/2019 Making simple and complex linetypes in AutoCAD
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Making simple and complex linetypes in AutoCAD
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AutoCAD has its own library of linetypes which is quite

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su cient for most of the common drawings. Still, if you
need any special kind of linetype you can make it right
inside AutoCAD without using complex methods.
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In this article, I will explain all about AutoCAD linetypes,
following are the topics which I will discuss here.
 How to import x,y,z coordi
from excel to AutoCAD
Making linetype containing text and symbols
Making linetypes with complex shapes
 How to add material to fac
Modifying linetype le
solid in AutoCAD
Importing and exporting linetypes
 How to make custom hatc
Making Linetype with text and in AutoCAD
symbol  learn AutoCAD basics in 1
Let’s assume that we want a custom linetype containing make your rst drawing
repeating patterns of text and symbol as shown in the

 Making simple and compl
image below.
linetypes in AutoCAD

https://thesourcecad.com/custom-linetypes-autocad/ 1/18
Image 1

In this case, the arrows are used from the character map
and A letter is Mtext. Let’s start by making this linetype
pattern.
Type MTEXT and press enter, now make a box to start

writing your Mtext. To add the symbol in this Mtext box
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you need to select Other option from Symbol tool of Insert
panel on the Text Editor tab as shown in the image below.
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solid in AutoCAD

in AutoCAD
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make your rst drawing
Image 2  Making simple and compl

Now select the Arial font in the character map window
and scroll down the list of symbols till you see solid

arrows. Select the left pointing arrow then click on the

Select button then click the Copy button and close the
character map.
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Image 3
Now right click in the text box and select Paste from the
contextual menu, you can also use Ctrl + V to paste the Recent Blog Posts
character. Now type A and repeat the process of adding
the left pointing arrow symbol. After adding text and  How to import x,y,z coordi
symbol make two lines of equal length as shown in the from excel to AutoCAD
image 1.
Our segment of linetype is ready and we can convert it solid in AutoCAD
into a linetype. For this, we will use MKLTYPE express
tool.  How to make custom hatc
in AutoCAD
But before using this tool explode the text and arrow
symbol. Select the text as well as arrow symbols then  learn AutoCAD basics in 1
type X and press enter. By doing so we can convert a make your rst drawing
Mtext into simple Text or single line text. MKLTYPE

doesn’t recognize Mtext hence we need to convert Mtext
into text using explode command before using the
command.

Now type MKLTYPE and press enter, Select linetype le

window will show up. Specify a location where you want
to save this custom linetype and give it a name. In my
case, I amHome Free Tutorials
selecting desktop All Courses
as the location and namingBlog
it LOGIN
as Sample_Ltype. The linetype will be saved with .lin le

extension.
Now the command line will prompt you to specify the

name of linetype. I will use ATEXT as the name of linetype.
Press enter and it will prompt you for a description, add
the description which you want or press enter to skip this.
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Image 4 Commands eBook
Now the command line will prompt you to specify the Email address*
starting point of the line de nition. Select the leftmost

point on this linetype segment and press enter. Again Subscribe
command line will prompt you for the endpoint of the
linetype segment. Click on the rightmost point of the
linetype segment and press enter.
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Now the command line will prompt you to select the
objects. Make a window to select the text, symbol and the  How to import x,y,z coordi
lines in the selection window and press enter. Finally, the from excel to AutoCAD
command line will prompt that the ATEXT linetype is now
created and loaded as shown in the image below.
solid in AutoCAD

in AutoCAD
Image 5

So, now our custom linetype is ready for use, let’s use it in
a simple drawing. I will make a circle and a rectangle as
shown in the image below and then change its linetype
from the properties palette.
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Image 6
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After changing the linetype of the rectangle as well as the
circle this is how my drawing looked like.
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solid in AutoCAD

in AutoCAD
Image 7  learn AutoCAD basics in 1

Just like any normal linetype, you can change the scale of
this linetype too.  Making simple and compl
Making linetypes with complex
shapes 
In this case, I will show you method of making a linetype

with complex shape containing arc as well as line as
shown in the image below.
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Commands eBook
Image 8
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Now, in this case, we are using arc which MKLTYPE
command won’t recognize and hence we need to convert
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this complete linetype segment into a “shape” which
MKLTYPE command recognizes.
To make the Shape le type MKSHAPE and press enter,

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select shape window will show up. Specify the location
where you want to save the shape le and give it a name. I
am saving it on the desktop with name Complex_Shape.
The shape will be saved with SHP extension.

Now command line will prompt you to specify the name of
solid in AutoCAD
the Shape le. In this case, I am using CLT as the name of
the shape, after typing the name press enter.  How to make custom hatc
in AutoCAD
Image 9
On the next prompt, it will prompt for a resolution value,
simply press enter to accept the default value. Now click
on the midpoint of the left line to specify the base point
then select the complete drawing and press enter.

Image 10
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The CLT Shape le is now created and it can be used for You will also get our Auto
making our linetype. Commands eBook
Type SHAPE and press enter, command line will prompt Email address*
you to enter the name of shape which you want to insert,

type CLT and press enter again. The cursor will now have Subscribe
the shape, click on the midpoint of left line again as
marked in the red circle in the image above. This will
overlap the shape on existing geometry.
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On the next prompts of height and rotation angle simply
press enter to accept the defaut values and exit the  How to import x,y,z coordi
command. Now we have the shape clearly overlapping the from excel to AutoCAD
existing drawing.
To start making linetype from this shape you need to start solid in AutoCAD
with MKLTYPE command. Type MKLTYPE and press enter.
Now Specify a location where you want to save this
in AutoCAD
linetype and give it a name. I am using the desktop as the
location and “Complex line” as the name.
Now the command line will prompt you for the name of
linetype, type CLINE, and press enter. Press enter again on
the next prompt to skip adding any description. Now
command line will prompt you to add starting point, click
on the midpoint of the left line as shown in the red circle

in the image below and second point right opposite as

shown with the green circle.
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Image 11 Commands eBook
Now click on the shape to select it and press enter. The Email address*
new linetype with CLINE name is now added and loaded in
the drawing. Subscribe
After applying the new linetype on a circle and a line it

looked like this on my drawing.
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solid in AutoCAD

in AutoCAD

Image 12 make your rst drawing
If the steps are not clear in the article then I suggest you  Making simple and compl
check this video, it explains everything about making linetypes in AutoCAD
simple and complex linetypes.

How to make custom linetypes in AutoCAD -
Understanding and Modifying

linetype les Join 35K Subscrib
So far we have made linetypes using MKLTYPE express Commands eBook
tool which generates .lin linetype le automatically. But,
you can make this .lin linetype le yourself and a single Email address*
.lin le can contain multiple linetypes too.

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In this example, I will explain all the components of
linetype le with the help of a simple linetype which I
created using MKLTYPE command. This is the linetype
which I made. Recent Blog Posts

Image 13
When you open the .lin le of this linetype it will look like
solid in AutoCAD
this.

in AutoCAD



Image 14
All the characters of this le have a speci c meaning.

Let’s discuss all the components
Home Free Tutorialsof thisAll
linetype
Coursesle, they
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are marked with numbers and I am explaining these

numbers here.

1. The new linetype starts with * sign followed with the

name of linetype. In this case, the name of linetype
is ATEXT
2. This is the description of the linetype that shows up
on Linetype window, this is added after putting a Join 35K Subscrib
comma next to the linetype name. You will also get our Auto
3. The A character here indicates that the construction Commands eBook
of linetype starts from this point.
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4. 1 here indicates the length of the dashed line, this
value can be anything and it will indicate the length
of the dash. Subscribe
5. -.25 is the gap length, any value followed by the

negative sign indicates the gap length of linetype.
6. The value inside square bracket is for the text. In
this case, A is the text in Standard text style and y=.1
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is the offset value of text along the Y-axis (explained

in the video) S=.2 is the scale of text.
7. Again -.4 is the gap length after the text.
8. 1 again here indicates the length of dash line and
then the whole pattern repeats itself. solid in AutoCAD
Here the length of the rst segment is 1 then .25 gap then
“A” text in standard text style then a gap of 0.4 and again
in AutoCAD
segment length of 1 and then pattern repeats.

Image 15  Making simple and compl

You can copy paste same set of codes inside a single .lin
le to create multiple linetypes with different text or

segment lengths. One such example is this le which has

three different lientypes with slightly different types of
lientypes as shown in the image below.
Image 16
In the example shown above, we have three different

linetypes with ATEXT, BTEXT, and CTEXT as names of
linetypes and slightly different properties. Join 35K Subscrib
Importing and exporting Commands eBook
linetypes Email address*
There is no single command in AutoCAD with which you

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can export or import linetypes. Actually, you need to use a
combination of different techniques to import linetypes of
different types from one drawing to other.
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Importing simple linetypes
Let’s start with the most basic linetypes that contain  How to import x,y,z coordi
simple text and lines and which can be made using from excel to AutoCAD
MKLTYPE command.
When you make the linetype using MKLTYPE command solid in AutoCAD
AutoCAD creates a .lin le which contains the data

required to create the linetype. To insert this linetype type
in AutoCAD
LT and press enter. Linetype manager window will open
up, click on Load button and then click on File button in
the next window as shown in the image below and select
the .lin le and click OK.

Image 17
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The Load linetype window will open up with a list of You will also get our Auto
Commands eBook
linetypes available in your selected .lin le. Select all the
linetypes that you want to load from this list and click OK.
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You will notice that the linetypes will be loaded in the

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Linetype manager and now you can use them in your
drawing. Simply click OK to close the linetype manager.
Note: If you are getting an error like “bad de nition Recent Blog Posts
on line XX” then open the .lin le using notepad
and check the name of text style which looks like
the style name marked in the red box in the image
below.
solid in AutoCAD

Image 18 in AutoCAD
If your current drawing does not contain that text
style of the same name then rst create the text  learn AutoCAD basics in 1
style with the same name and then import the make your rst drawing
linetype.
Importing linetype containing Shape


Things are little different when your linetype contains

shapes. In case of simple linetype containing text all you
need to worry about is the text style which should be
available in the drawing where you are importing the
linetype. But for linetype containing shapes you also need
to ensure that
 shapes are available in the drawing where
you are importing those linetypes.
To import the shapes you need to convert them into SHX

or Shape les which can be done using COMPILE
command.
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You need to ensure that you already have the .lin le and You will also get our Auto
the corresponding .shp le. Once you have these les, Commands eBook
open the drawing where you want to import that linetype
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and type COMPILE and press enter. Select shape window
will open up, select the .shp le and click on Open.
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solid in AutoCAD

Image 19
in AutoCAD
AutoCAD will automatically create the SHX le from that
.shp le in the same location where your .shp le is saved.
Now type LOAD and press enter, select the SHX le
created in the example above and click on Open.
The shape is now loaded in the current drawing. Type
SHAPE and press enter, command line will now prompt
you to type the name of the Shape. Type CLT and press 
enter (this is shape le we created in the second linetype

example above and I am using this linetype here), the
shape will now follow your cursor. Click at a point in the
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and press Tutorials
enter All Courses
twice to accept the defaultBlog LOGIN
value.

This step of inserting shape in the drawing may seem
unnecessary but it is quite important as AutoCAD will now
recognize the shape le used in the linetype once you
insert it in the drawing. You can delete the shape le after
it is inserted once in your drawing.
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After adding the shape le and loading the shape in your You will also get our Auto
drawing you are all set to import the linetype le now. Commands eBook
Type LT and press enter, select Load button then click on
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File button and load the .lin le which contains shape
de ned linetype.
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The linetype will be added and now you can use this
linetype in your current drawing. All of these methods of
modifying .lin le and more has been explained in this
video. Recent Blog Posts

How to make custom linetypes in AutoC…
AutoC…

solid in AutoCAD

in AutoCAD

Conclusion
The method of making linetypes and working with them
may not be very straightforward involving lots of different
steps still its pretty easy once you get a hang of it.

I hope this article helped you in understanding the

nuances of making, modifying and importing/exporting
different type of linetypes. If you have any question
related to Home Free Tutorials
this article let me know in the All Courses
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and don’t forget to share this article.

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About the Author: Jaiprakash Pandey
I am a mechanical engineer and I have
worked with Design, Manufacturing and
Training industries but now SourceCAD
solid in AutoCAD
is my full-time work and I use it to train students all
over the world. I also train corporate clients and help  How to make custom hatc
them develop the skill set of their workforce. I am in AutoCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Certi ed Professional and an
Autodesk expert elite member. I am a regular  learn AutoCAD basics in 1
contributor of AUGI World magazine and apart from make your rst drawing
SourceCAD I also develop AutoCAD video courses

for Pluralsight and other E-Learning businesses.

13 Comments
Dezignext Technologies February 28, 2019 at 7:06 am - Reply

ANother great tutorial worth referencing too.

Nitin December 21, 2018 at 6:27 pm - Reply
Best,need full for everyone beginners
abed November 8, 2018 at 1:21 am - Reply
how to solve text oriantation in linetype

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Commands eBook
Felix October 7, 2018 at 1:56 pm - Reply
Email address*
thank you sir
Where can I download the AutoCAD 2016 Subscribe
kamal de silva October 4, 2018 at 10:29 am - Reply
Thank you very much. sir Recent Blog Posts

john simon September 25, 2018 at 12:26 pm - Reply from excel to AutoCAD
Very good. I like your website.

solid in AutoCAD
Hugh Grace September 16, 2018 at 11:39 am - Reply
Thank you very much. A very helpful article.
in AutoCAD

Md.Anwarul islam (tuhin) September 15, 2018 at 5:46 pm -
Reply make your rst drawing
wow! it’s so helpful bro.

tnx
Paragkumar Soni September 15, 2018 at 4:46 pm - Reply


Hello,
Could you please guide me how to make GAD of
assembly.
Like ball valve and actuator assembly along with
pneumatic acuator

Our’s is a trading business and we assemble

valves and actuators now some clients are
asking for the generalise assembly drawing,
I can creat part drawing but not aware of

creating assembly drawing. Join 35K Subscrib
Please guide me or advise some books Commands eBook
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Sudhi September 15, 2018 at 10:02 am - Reply
Helpful…Thank you!!! Subscribe
Samila September 14, 2018 at 5:30 pm - Reply
Thank you very much. sir Recent Blog Posts

The Hawk September 14, 2018 at 4:38 pm - Reply
This is great!
solid in AutoCAD
Emma September 14, 2018 at 3:09 pm - Reply

Really interesting article Jaiprakash – I had no
in AutoCAD
idea how creative you could be with linetypes! I
look forward to putting your tips into practice!
Thanks.

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24/03/2019 Making simple and complex linetypes in AutoCAD

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

Join 35K Subscrib

AutoCAD has its own library of linetypes which is quite

Recent Blog Posts

symbol  learn AutoCAD basics in 1

repeating patterns of text and symbol as shown in the

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

Type MTEXT and press enter, now make a box to start

Recent Blog Posts

 How to import x,y,z coordi

 How to add material to fac

 How to make custom hatc

 learn AutoCAD basics in 1

Image 2  Making simple and compl

arrows. Select the left pointing arrow then click on the

Join 35K Subscrib

Mtext into simple Text or single line text. MKLTYPE

Now type MKLTYPE and press enter, Select linetype le

as Sample_Ltype. The linetype will be saved with .lin le

Now the command line will prompt you to specify the

starting point of the line de nition. Select the leftmost

 How to make custom hatc

 learn AutoCAD basics in 1

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

Join 35K Subscrib

Recent Blog Posts

 How to import x,y,z coordi

 How to add material to fac

 How to make custom hatc

Image 7  learn AutoCAD basics in 1

In this case, I will show you method of making a linetype

Join 35K Subscrib

To make the Shape le type MKSHAPE and press enter,

 How to add material to fac

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

you to enter the name of shape which you want to insert,

in the image below and second point right opposite as

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

Join 35K Subscrib

After applying the new linetype on a circle and a line it

Recent Blog Posts

 How to import x,y,z coordi

 How to add material to fac

 How to make custom hatc

 learn AutoCAD basics in 1

How to make custom linetypes in AutoCAD -

Home Free Tutorials All Courses Blog LOGIN

Understanding and Modifying

.lin le can contain multiple linetypes too.

 How to import x,y,z coordi

 How to make custom hatc

 learn AutoCAD basics in 1

 Making simple and compl

All the characters of this le have a speci c meaning.

are marked with numbers and I am explaining these

1. The new linetype starts with * sign followed with the

5. -.25 is the gap length, any value followed by the

is the offset value of text along the Y-axis (explained

 learn AutoCAD basics in 1

Image 15  Making simple and compl

segment lengths. One such example is this le which has

In the example shown above, we have three different