How to Generate Custom Linetypes with AutoCAD MKLTYPE
MKLTYPE is an AutoCAD Express Tool that creates a LIN definition from selected geometry and text. It is useful when a user understands the desired visual pattern but does not want to write every descriptor manually.
The command is a fast starting point, not a substitute for understanding LIN syntax. Generated definitions should be reviewed, renamed, tested, and stored in a controlled library.
What Is the MKLTYPE Express Tool?
MKLTYPE asks for a target LIN file, a name, description, start and end points, and the objects that form one repeated cycle. It writes a definition and normally loads it into the drawing for immediate testing.
MKLTYPE vs. Manual LIN Coding
Advantages of MKLTYPE
The tool is visual, quick, and useful for learning how drawn distances become pattern values. It also reduces transcription errors in a first prototype.
Situations Where Manual Coding Is Better
Manual editing is better when exact company values are already known, when a complex descriptor needs careful U/R/A logic, or when the command is unavailable on the user’s product or platform.
Check Whether Express Tools Are Available
AutoCAD Version Requirements
Confirm that the installed AutoCAD product includes Express Tools and that MKLTYPE is recognized at the command line. Product packaging and feature availability can differ by release.
AutoCAD LT and Platform Limitations
Do not build a company workflow that assumes MKLTYPE exists everywhere. AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD for Mac, or another DWG product may require manual LIN editing or a different tool. Keep the resulting LIN file portable even when the creation command is not.
Prepare the Source Geometry
Draw One Complete Pattern
Draw exactly one repeat cycle: the initial dash, spaces, any text or shape, and the final spacing. Extra geometry can become part of the generated definition.
Set the Correct Object Sizes
The source geometry establishes pattern distances. Draw it at a known size in the intended unit system, then document whether the generated definition is metric or imperial.
Add Text or Shapes
Use a controlled non-annotative text style for text components. For a custom graphic, create and compile the SHX shape first with the workflow in the SHP/SHX guide.
Remove Unnecessary Geometry
Delete construction lines, duplicate objects, dimensions, and temporary markers. Keep only the elements required to define the repeat cycle.
Start the MKLTYPE Command
Run MKLTYPE. If the command is unknown, verify Express Tools installation and workspace access. Avoid downloading an unrelated routine with the same name without reviewing its source and compatibility.
Select or Create the LIN File
Add the Definition to an Existing File
You can append to a controlled custom library, but create a backup first and use a unique name. Do not append experimental definitions to Autodesk’s default libraries.
Create a Separate Custom LIN File
For testing, create a new file such as cadlt_mkltype_tests.lin. Move approved definitions into the managed company library only after code and plotting review.
Define the Linetype Information
Enter the Linetype Name
Use a unique name with a company or project prefix. The name becomes the identifier in the DWG and should match the organization’s naming standard.
Enter the Description
Write a short useful description and, if desired, a symbolic preview. The preview does not control the generated geometry.
Choose a Starting Point
Pick the beginning of the complete repeat cycle. The relationship between this point and the selected objects affects generated spacing and component offsets.
Choose an Ending Point
Pick the end of one cycle. The distance between start and end becomes the repeat length, so do not include part of a second cycle.
Select the Objects Used in the Pattern
Select only the geometry, text, or shape that belongs to the cycle. Follow command-line prompts carefully; the order and supported object types influence what can be converted.
Load and Test the Generated Linetype
Test the Pattern Length
Draw a line several cycles long and compare the repeat distance with the source geometry. If the cycle is too long, inspect the selected endpoints and generated gap values.
Test Text and Shape Position
Confirm that the component is centered and does not overlap adjacent dashes. The generated X/Y values may need manual refinement.
Test Different Drawing Directions
Draw reversed, vertical, and diagonal lines. Text created with relative rotation may be unreadable in the opposite direction and may need U=.
Edit the LIN Code Generated by MKLTYPE
Adjust Dash and Gap Lengths
Open the LIN file in a plain-text editor and round overly precise values where the standard allows. Maintain the total cycle intentionally rather than changing several distances randomly.
Correct Text Rotation
Review whether the generated descriptor uses relative, upright, or absolute rotation. Use the text-orientation guide and the complex-code reference before changing the parameter.
Correct Symbol Scale and Position
Adjust S, X, and Y in small increments. If offsets become extreme, improve the source shape origin rather than hiding a poor definition with complicated code.
MKLTYPE Limitations
Unsupported Geometry
Not every AutoCAD object can be converted into a LIN component. Simplify source geometry and use lines, supported text, or prepared SHX shapes.
Complex Patterns That Require Manual Editing
Precise utility standards, multiple component types, and carefully controlled orientation usually require direct code review after generation.
External SHX Dependencies
A generated definition that references a custom shape still depends on the compiled SHX file. Include it in support paths and transmittal packages.
Common MKLTYPE Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Command not found | Express Tools unavailable. | Use manual LIN coding or an approved product-specific alternative. |
| Cycle is too long | Incorrect start/end points or extra geometry. | Recreate one clean cycle. |
| Text is reversed | Relative rotation follows line direction. | Review R versus U. |
| Shape is missing | SHX dependency unavailable. | Add the correct support path and package the file. |
| Definition will not load | Generated or edited syntax is invalid. | Use the LIN error guide. |