How to Export Wire Labels from AutoCAD Electrical to Brady
The definitive engineering workflow to extract Wire From/To connection reports in AutoCAD Electrical, map conductor layer sizes to Brady catalog SKUs (B-427 Self-Lam & B-342 Heat Shrink), and calculate quantized roll packaging with waste margins.
Step-by-Step: AutoCAD Electrical to Brady BOM Pipeline
Open Schematic Report Generator
In AutoCAD Electrical, navigate to the Reports tab in the ribbon bar and click Schematic Reports (Command: AEREPORT). Select Wire From/To from the report categories.
Configure Columns & Project Scope
Set the processing scope to Project so all sub-drawings and panel layouts are indexed. Click Change Report Format to include the following essential columns:
WIRE NUMBER(Unique schematic tag)WIRE LAYER / SIZE(e.g., 14 AWG BLK, 18 AWG BLU/WHT)FROM COMPONENT TAG & PIN(Source termination)TO COMPONENT TAG & PIN(Destination termination)
Export to Comma-Delimited CSV or Excel
Click Save to File, choose Comma Delimited (.csv) or Spreadsheet format (.xls), and save to your project directory.
Import into BradyBNumbers BOM Builder
Copy the rows from your spreadsheet and paste them directly into BradyBNumbers BOM Builder. The tool will automatically:
AutoCAD Electrical Wire Layer to Brady SKU Quick Mapping
| CAD Conductor Size | Outer Diameter (MTW) | B-427 Self-Lam SKU | B-342 Heat Shrink SKU | Matching Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 AWG (Control / I/O) | 0.080 in (2.03 mm) | M21-750-427 (1.00" H) | M21-094-C-342 (3/32") | R4300 / R6600 |
| 14 AWG (Relay / Power) | 0.133 in (3.38 mm) | M21-1000-427 (1.50" H) | M21-187-C-342 (3/16") | R4300 / R6600 |
| 10 AWG (Motor Lead) | 0.185 in (4.70 mm) | M21-1000-427 (1.50" H) | M21-250-C-342 (1/4") | R4300 / R6600 |
| 4 AWG (Main Feeder) | 0.380 in (9.65 mm) | THT-27-427-1-2S (4.00" H) | M21-500-C-342 (1/2") | R4300 / R6600 |
AutoCAD Electrical Wire Marking FAQs
What is the fastest way to export wire marker data from AutoCAD Electrical?
Use the AutoCAD Electrical Report Generator: Navigate to the "Reports" tab > select "Schematic Reports" > click "Wire From/To". Under "Report Options", select your project drawing set, customize columns to include Wire Number, Wire Gauge/Color, Component Tag 1, and Component Tag 2, then click "Save to File" and select "Comma Delimited (.csv)" or "Spreadsheet format (.xls)".
How do I map AutoCAD Electrical wire gauges to Brady part numbers?
AutoCAD Electrical records conductor gauges in the "WIRE GAUGE / LAYER" attribute (e.g. 14 AWG, 10 AWG, 18 AWG). In BradyBNumbers, 14 AWG maps to B-427 1.50" height (M21-1000-427) or B-342 3/16" heat-shrink (M21-187-C-342). You can paste your raw AutoCAD Electrical report directly into our BOM Builder to automatically resolve all SKUs.
Should I calculate 1x or 2x label quantities for AutoCAD Electrical wire lists?
Under UL 508A and NFPA 79 Section 13.2, each conductor must be marked at both source and destination termination points. Because each row in an AutoCAD Electrical Wire From/To report represents one physical wire conductor, you must multiply the net conductor count by 2x, then add a 10% shop waste margin to determine the total required labels.
Can AutoCAD Electrical wire schedules be imported into Brady Workstation?
Yes. In Brady Workstation "Custom Designer" or "Text Labels", click "Advanced Import" > "Excel / CSV Import", then select the exported AutoCAD Electrical spreadsheet. Map the "Wire Tag" column to the printable text field and set serialization parameters.