
AutoCAD Electrical is a software tool that is part of the AutoCAD suite, intended for electrical design and control systems. It is a database-driven version of AutoCAD, with tools designed to operate a database. The toolset is included as part of the standard AutoCAD subscription, but it must be installed separately. This article will explain how to open AutoCAD Electrical and access its features.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to open AutoCAD Electrical | From the Windows Start menu or Windows taskbar search, open Programs and Features. From the list of installed programs, double-click “AutoCAD Electrical.” |
| How to access the AutoCAD Electrical toolset | The Toolsets are included as part of the standard AutoCAD subscription, but they are still separate installations. Look for the item "AutoCAD - Including Specialized Toolsets" and select "View all included items". |
| How to access help | The Help system is available through context-sensitive links or by accessing it through the Help menu or icon. There is on-demand access from the F1 function key, ribbons, dialog boxes, and the command line. |
| How to work with projects | Use Project Manager to create, activate, copy, and delete a project, or modify information associated with a project. To open a project and make it active, select Open Project and browse to the project .wdp file. |
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What You'll Learn

Opening AutoCAD Electrical Toolset Help
The AutoCAD Electrical toolset is included as part of the standard AutoCAD subscription, but they are separate installations. You can access the downloads through the website manage.autodesk.com or accounts.autodesk.com.
To open AutoCAD Electrical Toolset Help, select the Help icon in the upper right. Then, select the drop-down arrow to display a menu of help options. From the menu bar, select Help > Electrical Help Topics to view the AutoCAD Electrical toolset Help home page. At the command prompt, press F1 to open the topic for the active tool.
The Help system is also available through context-sensitive links or by accessing it through the Help menu or icon. It offers on-demand access from the F1 function key, ribbons, dialog boxes, and the command line. You can also download and install a local version of the Help. To do this, select the drop-down arrow on the Help icon in the upper right and click "Download offline Help". To switch from using online Help to offline Help and back again, right-click the drawing area and choose Options from the context menu.
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Accessing AutoCAD Electrical Toolset
AutoCAD Electrical is a software included in the AutoCAD suite, intended for electrical design and creating, modifying, and documenting electrical control systems. The AutoCAD Electrical toolset is included as part of the standard AutoCAD subscription, but they are separate installations.
To access the AutoCAD Electrical toolset, you must first download and install the software. You can access the downloads through the website manage.autodesk.com. Sign in to your Autodesk account and look for the item "AutoCAD - Including Specialized Toolsets" and select "View all included items".
Once installed, you can open the AutoCAD Electrical toolset by following these steps:
- Select the Help icon in the upper right corner of the software.
- Click on the drop-down arrow to display a menu of help options.
- From the menu bar, select "Help Electrical Help Topics" to view the AutoCAD Electrical toolset Help home page.
- At the command prompt, press F1 to open the topic for the active tool.
Additionally, you can access offline Help by downloading and installing it. To do so, right-click the drawing area and choose Options from the context menu. Alternatively, you can enter options on the command line.
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Using the Help menu
The Help menu in AutoCAD Electrical provides users with comprehensive assistance and resources to facilitate their design process. By accessing the Help menu, users can navigate through various features and tools to enhance their understanding and utilisation of the software.
One of the key advantages of the Help menu is its on-demand accessibility. Users can conveniently access help information through multiple avenues, such as the F1 function key, ribbons, dialog boxes, and the command line. This ensures that assistance is readily available whenever users need clarification or guidance while working on their electrical design tasks.
The Help menu offers access to AutoCAD Help, which provides general support for the AutoCAD program. Additionally, users can avail themselves of the AutoCAD Electrical toolset Help, specifically tailored to the electrical design module. This toolset help includes learning resources, making it a valuable asset for users who are new to AutoCAD Electrical or seeking to expand their knowledge and skills.
To further aid users, the Help menu incorporates navigation tabs within each topic. These tabs link to related procedures, references, and concepts, enabling users to explore relevant information and gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Moreover, the Help menu also grants access to the Welcome Screen and other resources, ensuring that users can easily navigate to essential tools and information.
The AutoCAD Electrical Help system also includes context-sensitive links that provide targeted assistance based on the user's specific context or issue. This context-sensitive approach ensures that the help content is directly relevant to the user's current task or challenge, making it a dynamic and adaptive feature. Users can also utilise the Search function within the Help menu to find specific AutoCAD topics, enabling them to quickly locate the information they require.
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Opening a project
To open a project in AutoCAD Electrical, you need to first launch the Project Manager. To do this, click on the Project tab, then click on Project Tools Panel Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click at the bottom of the tree inside the Project Manager and select New Project. You can also click the arrow on the Project drop-down menu and select New Project.
Once you are in the Project Manager, you can select Open Project and browse for the project .wdp file. You will then be able to see a list of recently opened projects, with the last project you worked on at the top. If you want to open a project from this list, simply select it and it will open without needing to browse for it. The list of recent projects is saved in a text file called lastproj.fil in the user subdirectory.
To access this list in the Project Manager, click on the arrow on the Project Selection menu and select Recent. From the Recent Projects dialog box, select the project you want to open from the list. You can also click on Drawings to see a list of the drawings in the selected project. If you want to preview a drawing, simply double-click on the drawing name.
You can also open a drawing by clicking Pick Project, Open Drawing. This will activate the project and open the drawing.
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Creating a project
Step 1: Understand AutoCAD Electrical Projects
An AutoCAD Electrical Project is a collection of interconnected electrical drawings that reference the AutoCAD drawing file names within the set. It is important to note that only one project can be active at a time. The project file has a ".WDP" extension and contains all the settings related to your project setup, including the locations of electrical symbol libraries and display styles.
Step 2: Access AutoCAD Electrical
To create a project, you need to access AutoCAD Electrical. This may involve downloading and installing the software if you haven't already. Students and teachers can access a free educational version for up to two personal devices for three years through the Autodesk Education Community. For others, a subscription is required.
Step 3: Set Up Your Project Template
When setting up your first project, you will create a template that can be used as a starting point for future projects. This involves configuring various settings and options, such as the locations of electrical symbol libraries, component/wire tag formatting, cross-referencing formatting, and display styles. You can use the Project Manager tool to create sub-folders and enhance the layout of your project, making it easier to find specific drawings.
Step 4: Create a New Electrical Drawing
Within your project, you can create new electrical drawings. Start by opening your project using the .WDP file and accessing the Project Manager. Click on "New Drawing" and browse for the appropriate AutoCAD Electrical template. You can then add specific drawing properties, such as a description, project code, installation code, and sheet values.
Step 5: Save and Organise Your Project
Ensure that you save your project in a shared location so that all users can access it. You can also create sub-folders within the project to enhance its organisation and make it easier to find specific drawings or create reports.
By following these steps, you can effectively create and manage your projects in AutoCAD Electrical, utilising the software's capabilities to streamline your electrical design workflow.
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Frequently asked questions
You can access the AutoCAD Electrical toolset by downloading and installing it separately. Go to accounts.autodesk.com to sign in and download AutoCAD Electrical.
The AutoCAD Electrical toolset Help system can be accessed through the Help menu or icon. You can also access it by pressing F1 on your keyboard to access on-demand help.
To open a project, select "Open Project" and browse to the project .wdp file. You can also select another project to open from the list of recently opened projects.
To create a new project, launch the Project Manager by clicking the "Project" tab and then clicking "New Project". Enter a name for your new project.
The toolsets are included as part of the standard AutoCAD subscription. However, it is unclear if the educational version includes the toolsets. You can check under your Autodesk Account by looking for "AutoCAD - Including Specialized Toolsets".











































