Electrical tools
Cable RunEstimator.
Open a DXF of your cable route layout, tick the tray and conduit layers, and route cables between tagged equipment. You get the shortest path, real alternatives, and order lengths with allowances, built into a cable schedule ready for Excel.
Tatva Logix / Engineering Tools
Cable Run Estimator
Loaded with a sample plant drawing so you can see how it works. Open your own ASCII DXF to start. For DWG, save as DXF first (AutoCAD SAVEAS → DXF, or the free ODA File Converter). Drawings are processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Drawing
Read from the file's INSUNITS where set.
Conduit & tray layers
Tick every layer that carries cable routes: conduit, tray, ladder, trench or duct.
Network
Line ends closer than this are joined.
Allowances
Cable route
Route options
Length build-up
Cable schedule
Batch from cable list
One cable per line: tag, from, to, cable type. Rows pasted from Excel (tab separated) work too, for example from the AutoCAD Electrical Cable From/To report. From and To must match a block tag or text in the drawing. Each cable takes its shortest route.
Guide: preparing the drawing in AutoCAD
Route layers
One centreline per tray, on its own layer
Draw conduit, tray and ladder runs as LINE, PLINE, ARC or 3DPOLY on layers such as E-TRAY. Keep walls, grids and dimensions off them.
Branches
End each branch on the main run
Snap to Endpoint or Nearest. There is no need to BREAK the main run, because the tool splits it at the joint.
Equipment
Tagged blocks, base point at cable entry
P_TAG1 and TAG1 attributes are read automatically. The lead-in is measured from the block insertion point to the nearest route.
Heights
3D rises count, flat plans use allowances
Risers drawn with Z values are measured. On a 2D plan, set the vertical allowances at each end.
Export
Bind XREFs, WBLOCK the route plan, SAVEAS DXF
XREFs and proxy objects are not read. Run EXPORTTOAUTOCAD on Plant 3D or MEP trays first.
Check
One network, short lead-ins
Separate networks should read 1. A red dot mid-tray is a gap. A lead-in over 15 m usually means a missing layer.
Geometric shortest path plus the allowances entered above. Tray fill, segregation and hazardous-area rules are not checked. Verify the route and lengths before procurement.