diff --git a/examples/demo02.yml b/examples/demo02.yml
index 00ee5546..600b1359 100644
--- a/examples/demo02.yml
+++ b/examples/demo02.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,6 @@ templates: # defining templates to be used later on
     gauge: 0.14 mm2
     colors: [BK, RD, YE, GN]
 
-ferrules:
-  ferrule_crimp:
-    type: Crimp ferrule
-    subtype: 0.25 mm²
-
 connectors:
   X1:
     <<: *molex_f # copying items from the template
@@ -27,6 +22,11 @@ connectors:
   X4:
     <<: *molex_f
     pinout: [GND, +12V, MISO, MOSI, SCK]
+  ferrule_crimp:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
+    type: Crimp ferrule
+    subtype: 0.25 mm²
 
 cables:
   W1:
diff --git a/examples/ex04.yml b/examples/ex04.yml
index b9eb7079..3fe5beda 100644
--- a/examples/ex04.yml
+++ b/examples/ex04.yml
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
-# connectors:
-#   X1:
-#     type: D-Sub
-#     subtype: female
-#     pincount: 4
-#   X2:
-#     type: Molex KK 254
-#     subtype: female
-#     pincount: 3
-
 cables:
   W1:
     gauge: 0.25 mm2
@@ -17,8 +7,10 @@ cables:
     wirecount: 6
     category: bundle
 
-ferrules:
+connectors:
   ferrule_crimp:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
     type: Crimp ferrule
     show_name: false
     show_pincount: false
diff --git a/src/wireviz/DataClasses.py b/src/wireviz/DataClasses.py
index 44694174..0e82492f 100644
--- a/src/wireviz/DataClasses.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/DataClasses.py
@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ class Connector:
     show_name: bool = True
     show_pincount: bool = True
     hide_disconnected_pins: bool = False
+    autogenerate: bool = False
+    loops: List[Any] = field(default_factory=list)
 
     def __post_init__(self):
         self.ports_left = False
         self.ports_right = False
-        self.loops = []
         self.visible_pins = {}
 
         if self.pincount is None:
@@ -54,11 +55,12 @@ def __post_init__(self):
         if len(self.pinnumbers) != len(set(self.pinnumbers)):
             raise Exception('Pin numbers are not unique')
 
-    def loop(self, from_pin, to_pin):
-        self.loops.append((from_pin, to_pin))
-        if self.hide_disconnected_pins:
-            self.visible_pins[from_pin] = True
-            self.visible_pins[to_pin] = True
+        for loop in self.loops:
+            # TODO: check that pins to connect actually exist
+            # TODO: allow using pin labels in addition to pin numbers, just like when defining regular connections
+            # TODO: include properties of wire used to create the loop
+            if len(loop) != 2:
+                raise Exception('Loops must be between exactly two pins!')
 
     def activate_pin(self, pin):
         self.visible_pins[pin] = True
diff --git a/src/wireviz/Harness.py b/src/wireviz/Harness.py
index bcc3d28c..a5e5d6ee 100644
--- a/src/wireviz/Harness.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/Harness.py
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ def add_connector(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
     def add_cable(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
         self.cables[name] = Cable(name, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def loop(self, connector_name, from_pin, to_pin):
-        self.connectors[connector_name].loop(from_pin, to_pin)
-
     def connect(self, from_name, from_pin, via_name, via_pin, to_name, to_pin):
 
         for (name, pin) in zip([from_name, to_name], [from_pin, to_pin]): # check from and to connectors
@@ -46,7 +43,6 @@ def connect(self, from_name, from_pin, via_name, via_pin, to_name, to_pin):
                             from_pin = pin
                         if name == to_name:
                             to_pin = pin
-                        # TODO: what happens with loops?
                 if not pin in connector.pinnumbers:
                     raise Exception(f'{name}:{pin} not found.')
 
diff --git a/src/wireviz/wireviz.py b/src/wireviz/wireviz.py
index 465b3899..672dbdd4 100755
--- a/src/wireviz/wireviz.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/wireviz.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 
 from wireviz.Harness import Harness
+from wireviz.wv_helper import expand
 
 
 def parse(yaml_input, file_out=None, generate_bom=False, return_types: (None, str, Tuple[str]) = None):
@@ -31,40 +32,6 @@ def parse(yaml_input, file_out=None, generate_bom=False, return_types: (None, st
 
     yaml_data = yaml.safe_load(yaml_input)
 
-    def expand(yaml_data):
-        # yaml_data can be:
-        # - a singleton (normally str or int)
-        # - a list of str or int
-        # if str is of the format '#-#', it is treated as a range (inclusive) and expanded
-        output = []
-        if not isinstance(yaml_data, list):
-            yaml_data = [yaml_data]
-        for e in yaml_data:
-            e = str(e)
-            if '-' in e:  # list of pins
-                a, b = tuple(map(int, e.split('-')))
-                if a < b:
-                    for x in range(a, b + 1):
-                        output.append(x)
-                elif a > b:
-                    for x in range(a, b - 1, -1):
-                        output.append(x)
-                elif a == b:
-                    output.append(a)
-            else:
-                try:
-                    x = int(e)
-                except Exception:
-                    x = e
-                output.append(x)
-        return output
-
-    def check_designators(what, where):
-        for i, x in enumerate(what):
-            if x not in yaml_data[where[i]]:
-                return False
-        return True
-
     harness = Harness()
 
     # add items
@@ -74,11 +41,12 @@ def check_designators(what, where):
         if sec in yaml_data and type(yaml_data[sec]) == ty:
             if len(yaml_data[sec]) > 0:
                 if ty == dict:
-                    for key, o in yaml_data[sec].items():
+                    for key, attribs in yaml_data[sec].items():
                         if sec == 'connectors':
-                            harness.add_connector(name=key, **o)
+                            if not attribs.get('autogenerate', False):
+                                harness.add_connector(name=key, **attribs)
                         elif sec == 'cables':
-                            harness.add_cable(name=key, **o)
+                            harness.add_cable(name=key, **attribs)
                         elif sec == 'ferrules':
                             pass
             else:
@@ -90,108 +58,117 @@ def check_designators(what, where):
                 yaml_data[sec] = []
 
     # add connections
-    ferrule_counter = 0
-    for connections in yaml_data['connections']:
-        if len(connections) == 3:  # format: connector -- cable -- connector
-
-            for connection in connections:
-                if len(list(connection.keys())) != 1:  # check that each entry in con has only one key, which is the designator
-                    raise Exception('Too many keys')
-
-            from_name = list(connections[0].keys())[0]
-            via_name = list(connections[1].keys())[0]
-            to_name = list(connections[2].keys())[0]
-
-            if not check_designators([from_name, via_name, to_name], ('connectors', 'cables', 'connectors')):
-                print([from_name, via_name, to_name])
-                raise Exception('Bad connection definition (3)')
-
-            from_pins = expand(connections[0][from_name])
-            via_pins = expand(connections[1][via_name])
-            to_pins = expand(connections[2][to_name])
-
-            if len(from_pins) != len(via_pins) or len(via_pins) != len(to_pins):
-                raise Exception('List length mismatch')
-
-            for (from_pin, via_pin, to_pin) in zip(from_pins, via_pins, to_pins):
-                harness.connect(from_name, from_pin, via_name, via_pin, to_name, to_pin)
-
-        elif len(connections) == 2:
-
-            for connection in connections:
-                if type(connection) is dict:
-                    if len(list(connection.keys())) != 1:  # check that each entry in con has only one key, which is the designator
-                        raise Exception('Too many keys')
-
-            # hack to make the format for ferrules compatible with the formats for connectors and cables
-            if type(connections[0]) == str:
-                name = connections[0]
-                connections[0] = {}
-                connections[0][name] = name
-            if type(connections[1]) == str:
-                name = connections[1]
-                connections[1] = {}
-                connections[1][name] = name
-
-            from_name = list(connections[0].keys())[0]
-            to_name = list(connections[1].keys())[0]
-
-            con_cbl = check_designators([from_name, to_name], ('connectors', 'cables'))
-            cbl_con = check_designators([from_name, to_name], ('cables', 'connectors'))
-            con_con = check_designators([from_name, to_name], ('connectors', 'connectors'))
-
-            fer_cbl = check_designators([from_name, to_name], ('ferrules', 'cables'))
-            cbl_fer = check_designators([from_name, to_name], ('cables', 'ferrules'))
-
-            if not con_cbl and not cbl_con and not con_con and not fer_cbl and not cbl_fer:
-                raise Exception('Wrong designators')
-
-            from_pins = expand(connections[0][from_name])
-            to_pins = expand(connections[1][to_name])
-
-            if con_cbl or cbl_con or con_con:
-                if len(from_pins) != len(to_pins):
-                    raise Exception('List length mismatch')
-
-            if con_cbl or cbl_con:
-                for (from_pin, to_pin) in zip(from_pins, to_pins):
-                    if con_cbl:
-                        harness.connect(from_name, from_pin, to_name, to_pin, None, None)
-                    else:  # cbl_con
-                        harness.connect(None, None, from_name, from_pin, to_name, to_pin)
-            elif con_con:
-                cocon_coname = list(connections[0].keys())[0]
-                from_pins = expand(connections[0][from_name])
-                to_pins = expand(connections[1][to_name])
-
-                for (from_pin, to_pin) in zip(from_pins, to_pins):
-                    harness.loop(cocon_coname, from_pin, to_pin)
-            if fer_cbl or cbl_fer:
-                from_pins = expand(connections[0][from_name])
-                to_pins = expand(connections[1][to_name])
-
-                if fer_cbl:
-                    ferrule_name = from_name
-                    cable_name = to_name
-                    cable_pins = to_pins
-                else:
-                    ferrule_name = to_name
-                    cable_name = from_name
-                    cable_pins = from_pins
-
-                ferrule_params = yaml_data['ferrules'][ferrule_name]
-                for cable_pin in cable_pins:
-                    ferrule_counter = ferrule_counter + 1
-                    ferrule_id = f'_F{ferrule_counter}'
-                    harness.add_connector(ferrule_id, category='ferrule', **ferrule_params)
-
-                    if fer_cbl:
-                        harness.connect(ferrule_id, 1, cable_name, cable_pin, None, None)
-                    else:
-                        harness.connect(None, None, cable_name, cable_pin, ferrule_id, 1)
 
+    def check_designators(what, where): # helper function
+        for i, x in enumerate(what):
+            if x not in yaml_data[where[i]]:
+                return False
+        return True
+
+    autogenerated_ids = {}
+    for connection in yaml_data['connections']:
+        # find first component (potentially nested inside list or dict)
+        first_item = connection[0]
+        if isinstance(first_item, list):
+            first_item = first_item[0]
+        elif isinstance(first_item, dict):
+            first_item = list(first_item.keys())[0]
+        elif isinstance(first_item, str):
+            pass
+
+        # check which section the first item belongs to
+        alternating_sections = ['connectors','cables']
+        for index, section in enumerate(alternating_sections):
+            if first_item in yaml_data[section]:
+                expected_index = index
+                break
         else:
-            raise Exception('Wrong number of connection parameters')
+            raise Exception('First item not found anywhere.')
+        expected_index = 1 - expected_index  # flip once since it is flipped back at the *beginning* of every loop
+
+        # check that all iterable items (lists and dicts) are the same length
+        # and that they are alternating between connectors and cables/bundles, starting with either
+        itemcount = None
+        for item in connection:
+            expected_index = 1 - expected_index  # make sure items alternate between connectors and cables
+            expected_section = alternating_sections[expected_index]
+            if isinstance(item, list):
+                itemcount_new = len(item)
+                for subitem in item:
+                    if not subitem in yaml_data[expected_section]:
+                        raise Exception(f'{subitem} is not in {expected_section}')
+            elif isinstance(item, dict):
+                if len(item.keys()) != 1:
+                    raise Exception('Dicts may contain only one key here!')
+                itemcount_new = len(expand(list(item.values())[0]))
+                subitem = list(item.keys())[0]
+                if not subitem in yaml_data[expected_section]:
+                    raise Exception(f'{subitem} is not in {expected_section}')
+            elif isinstance(item, str):
+                if not item in yaml_data[expected_section]:
+                    raise Exception(f'{item} is not in {expected_section}')
+                continue
+            if itemcount is not None and itemcount_new != itemcount:
+                raise Exception('All lists and dict lists must be the same length!')
+            itemcount = itemcount_new
+        if itemcount is None:
+            raise Exception('No item revealed the number of connections to make!')
+
+        # populate connection list
+        connection_list = []
+        for i, item in enumerate(connection):
+            if isinstance(item, str):  # one single-pin component was specified
+                sublist = []
+                for i in range(1, itemcount + 1):
+                    if yaml_data['connectors'][item].get('autogenerate'):
+                        autogenerated_ids[item] = autogenerated_ids.get(item, 0) + 1
+                        new_id = f'_{item}_{autogenerated_ids[item]}'
+                        harness.add_connector(new_id, **yaml_data['connectors'][item])
+                        sublist.append([new_id, 1])
+                    else:
+                        sublist.append([item, 1])
+                connection_list.append(sublist)
+            elif isinstance(item, list):  # a list of single-pin components were specified
+                sublist = []
+                for subitem in item:
+                    if yaml_data['connectors'][subitem].get('autogenerate'):
+                        autogenerated_ids[subitem] = autogenerated_ids.get(subitem, 0) + 1
+                        new_id = f'_{subitem}_{autogenerated_ids[subitem]}'
+                        harness.add_connector(new_id, **yaml_data['connectors'][subitem])
+                        sublist.append([new_id, 1])
+                    else:
+                        sublist.append([subitem, 1])
+                connection_list.append(sublist)
+            elif isinstance(item, dict):  # a component with multiple pins was specified
+                sublist = []
+                id = list(item.keys())[0]
+                pins = expand(list(item.values())[0])
+                for pin in pins:
+                    sublist.append([id, pin])
+                connection_list.append(sublist)
+            else:
+                raise Exception('Unexpected item in connection list')
+
+        # actually connect components using connection list
+        for i, item in enumerate(connection_list):
+            id = item[0][0]  # TODO: make more elegant/robust/pythonic
+            if id in harness.cables:
+                for j, con in enumerate(item):
+                    if i == 0:  # list started with a cable, no connector to join on left side
+                        from_name = None
+                        from_pin  = None
+                    else:
+                        from_name = connection_list[i-1][j][0]
+                        from_pin  = connection_list[i-1][j][1]
+                    via_name  = item[j][0]
+                    via_pin   = item[j][1]
+                    if i == len(connection_list) - 1:  # list ends with a cable, no connector to join on right side
+                        to_name   = None
+                        to_pin    = None
+                    else:
+                        to_name   = connection_list[i+1][j][0]
+                        to_pin    = connection_list[i+1][j][1]
+                    harness.connect(from_name, from_pin, via_name, via_pin, to_name, to_pin)
 
     if file_out is not None:
         harness.output(filename=file_out, fmt=('png', 'svg'), gen_bom=generate_bom, view=False)
diff --git a/src/wireviz/wv_helper.py b/src/wireviz/wv_helper.py
index 83ee46ee..9c19a5e4 100644
--- a/src/wireviz/wv_helper.py
+++ b/src/wireviz/wv_helper.py
@@ -59,6 +59,35 @@ def nested_html_table(rows):
     return html
 
 
+def expand(yaml_data):
+    # yaml_data can be:
+    # - a singleton (normally str or int)
+    # - a list of str or int
+    # if str is of the format '#-#', it is treated as a range (inclusive) and expanded
+    output = []
+    if not isinstance(yaml_data, list):
+        yaml_data = [yaml_data]
+    for e in yaml_data:
+        e = str(e)
+        if '-' in e:  # list of pins
+            a, b = tuple(map(int, e.split('-')))
+            if a < b:
+                for x in range(a, b + 1):
+                    output.append(x)
+            elif a > b:
+                for x in range(a, b - 1, -1):
+                    output.append(x)
+            elif a == b:
+                output.append(a)
+        else:
+            try:
+                x = int(e)
+            except Exception:
+                x = e
+            output.append(x)
+    return output
+
+
 def int2tuple(inp):
     if isinstance(inp, tuple):
         output = inp
diff --git a/tutorial/readme.md b/tutorial/readme.md
index c46011c2..b82d7cb9 100644
--- a/tutorial/readme.md
+++ b/tutorial/readme.md
@@ -203,9 +203,9 @@ connectors:
     pinout: [+12V, GND, GND, +5V]
     type: Molex 8981
     subtype: female
-
-ferrules: # ferrules
   F1:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 0.5 mm²
     color: OG # optional color
@@ -253,9 +253,9 @@ connectors:
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 1.0 mm²
     color: YE
-
-ferrules: # ferrules
   F_05:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 0.5 mm²
     color: OG # optional color
diff --git a/tutorial/tutorial05.yml b/tutorial/tutorial05.yml
index e238f309..dda905ed 100644
--- a/tutorial/tutorial05.yml
+++ b/tutorial/tutorial05.yml
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ connectors:
     pinout: [+12V, GND, GND, +5V]
     type: Molex 8981
     subtype: female
-
-ferrules: # ferrules
   F1:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 0.5 mm²
     color: OG # optional color
diff --git a/tutorial/tutorial06.yml b/tutorial/tutorial06.yml
index f69499c3..bcf9c8c4 100644
--- a/tutorial/tutorial06.yml
+++ b/tutorial/tutorial06.yml
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ connectors:
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 1.0 mm²
     color: YE
-
-ferrules: # ferrules
   F_05:
+    category: ferrule
+    autogenerate: true
     type: Ferrule, crimp
     subtype: 0.5 mm²
     color: OG # optional color