43-Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management
EPLAN Training
Creating an Identifier ....................................................................................3
Creating an Identifier when Inserting New Pages, Device Tags, and

Macros ...........................................................................................................5
2.1
Create identifiers during page processing.................................................5
2.2
Create identifiers during DT processing....................................................9
2.3
Create identifiers during macro processing.............................................14
Editing an Identifier ....................................................................................18

3.1
Move identifier.........................................................................................18
3.2
Rename identifiers ..................................................................................20
3.3
Rename sub-identifier.............................................................................22
3.4
Merge identifiers .....................................................................................23
Sorting Identifiers .......................................................................................25
Finding and Replacing Identifiers .............................................................26
Checking Identifiers....................................................................................28
6.1
Check usage ...........................................................................................28
6.2
Check syntax ..........................................................................................28
Updating Identifiers ....................................................................................31
Deleting Identifiers......................................................................................33
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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Creating an Identifier
Precondition:
You have opened a project in which identifier blocks are used, for instance "Higherlevel function" and "Mounting location".
Project data > Structure identifier management
In the Identifiers dialog, new structure identifiers can be created for each identifier
block, whereby the positioning depends on the current selection in the table: New
structure identifiers are sorted above the currently selected identifier.
Note:
The project setting Conversion to uppercase (under Options > Settings >
Projects > "Project name" > Devices > General) is used here.
1. In the Identifier dialog, select the tab of the identifier block that you want to
edit.
2. Click
(New).
A new line is created above the current cursor position in the table, which is
empty except for the entry "No" in the Usage column. (If there is still another
empty identifier in the table, then the Status column will show a yellow
warning triangle and the Message description field will show the explanation
of this symbol).
3. Enter the designation of the new structure identifier into the Designation field.
If you enter a designation which already exists, then the Status will show a
yellow warning triangle and the Message description field will show the
explanation of this symbol.
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4. Enter an additional description into the Description box.
5. Proceed analogously for all other structure identifiers to be created.
6. Use the buttons on the toolbar to copy, add, delete, or move structure
identifiers.
7. Click [Apply].
8. Answer the confirmation prompt to update the project.
If you confirm your entries with [OK] (instead of with [Apply], the Identifiers dialog
will close after you have responded to the confirmation prompt.
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Creating an Identifier when Inserting New

Pages, Device Tags, and Macros
If new structure identifiers are added by creating new pages or devices or due to the
addition of pages and macros to the project, you can access the identifier data of the
selected identifier blocks in the Place identifiers dialog. In this dialog, existing
structure identifiers are grayed out and cannot be edited. All new structure identifiers
are added into the table corresponding to the identifier settings (option Enter new
identifiers in alphabetical order or Add new identifiers to the end) and are
colored differently from the existing identifiers. In addition to the search function, only
the positioning buttons
(Move down),
(Move up),
(Move to the beginning),
and
(Move to the end) are available here; these functions are identical to those in
the Identifiers dialog.
Note:
The project setting Conversion to uppercase (under Options > Settings >
Projects > "Project name" > Devices > General) is used when creating new
identifiers.
2.1
Create identifiers during page processing
When creating a new page or when renaming / moving an existing page, you can
specify a new structure identifier which does not yet exist in the database. In this
case, the Place identifiers dialog is opened, enabling the sorting of the structure
identifier into the list of existing structure identifiers. How the new structural identifier
is sorted in the list by default (alphabetically or at the end of the list) depends on the
identifier settings which have been made. Existing structure identifiers cannot be
changed here.
Preconditions:
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In the settings, the Use Place identifiers dialog check box (Options > Settings
> User > Display > Identifier) is selected.

You have opened a project in which identifier blocks are used, for instance
"Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".

1. Select the menu item Page > New.
The New page dialog is opened.
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2. If you would like to obtain an overview of the existing structure identifiers, click
[...] next to the Full page name box.
3. In the Full page name dialog, click [...] next to the corresponding box for the
identifier block.
The <Identifier block> dialog lists all existing structure identifiers. The
display shows the contents of both Designation and Description.
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4. Click [Cancel] to close the list.
5. In the Page name dialog, enter a new structure identifier into one of the fields
for the identifier block (e.g. for higher-level function or mounting location).
6. Click [OK].
The Page name dialog is closed. In the New page dialog, the full page
name is correspondingly updated.
7. In the New page dialog, click [Apply].
8. Edit the position of the new structure identifier in the Place identifiers dialog
by using the buttons.
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9. In the Description box enter a descriptive text for the new structure identifier.
10. Click [OK].
11. Proceed analogously for all of the other pages to be generated in the New
page dialog.
12. Click [OK].
2.2
Create identifiers during DT processing
When creating a new device, cable, etc. or when renaming / moving an existing one,
you can provide a new structure identifier which does not yet exist in the database. In
this case, the Place identifiers dialog is opened, enabling the sorting of the identifier
into the list of existing structure identifiers. How the new structural identifier is sorted
in the list by default (alphabetically or at the end of the list) depends on the identifier
settings which have been made. Existing structure identifiers cannot be changed
here.
Preconditions:
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You have opened a schematic page.
1. Select the menu item Insert > Symbol.
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2. Select the desired symbol in the Symbol selection dialog.
3. Click [OK].
4. Position the symbol using the mouse.
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5. In the Full DT box of the component-specific Properties <...> dialog, click [...].
The Full DT dialog is opened.
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6. If you would like to obtain an overview of the existing structure identifiers, click
[...] next to the appropriate field for the identifier block.
The <Identifier block> dialog lists all existing structure identifiers.
7. Click [Cancel].
8. In the Full DT dialog, enter a new structure identifier into one of the fields for
the identifier block (e.g. for "higher-level function" or "mounting location").
9. Click [OK].
10. In the component-specific Properties dialog, click [OK].
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12. In the Description box enter a descriptive text for the new structure identifier.
13. Click [OK].
2.3
Create identifiers during macro processing
When adding macros with devices with identifier blocks you can also enter a new
structure identifier which does not yet exist in the database. In this case, the Place
identifiers dialog is opened, enabling the sorting of the structure identifier into the list
of existing structure identifiers. How the new structural identifier is sorted in the list by
default (alphabetically or at the end of the list) depends on the identifier settings
which have been made. Existing structure identifiers cannot be changed here.
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1. Select the menu item Page > Page macro > Insert.
2. In the Select macro dialog, select the macro to be inserted.
3. Click on [Open].
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4. In the Adjust page structure dialog, specify the handling of page
designations for the target macro.
5. If you would like to obtain an overview of the existing identifiers, click [...] next
to the respective block for the target identifier block.
The <Identifier block> dialog lists all the existing identifiers.
6. Click [Cancel].
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7. In the Adjust page structure dialog, enter a new structure identifier into one
of the boxes for the target identifier block (e.g. for "Higher-level function" or
"Mounting location").
8. Click [OK].
10. In the Description field, enter a descriptive text for the new identifier.
11. Click [OK].
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Editing an Identifier
Different options for editing structure identifiers are available. These can be activated
either through the popup menu or by using the buttons.
3.1
Move identifier
Moving of structure identifiers is necessary if the order of identifiers in the page

navigator is to be changed. The order of pages in the page navigator is oriented to
the order in the Position column.
Precondition:
You have opened a project which uses structure identifiers, for instance "Higher-level
function" and "Mounting location" in the project structure.
1. In the Identifier dialog select the tab of the identifier block you want to edit.
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2. Select the structure identifier to be moved in the table. Multiple selection is
possible here.
3. Click one of the buttons
(Move Down) or
(Move Up).
The selected lines are moved one position down / up.
4. Or click one of the buttons
(Move to top) or
(Move to end).
The selected lines are moved to the top / to the end of the table.
5. Click [Apply].
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6. Answer the prompt.
Note:
Movement is also possible by holding the left mouse button down; here, however, the
entire line and not just a single column must be selected. The selected structure
identifiers can then be dragged over several lines into a new position. A moving
rectangle, which hangs on the mouse pointer, indicates that this function is active. A
red line indicates the two other structure identifiers between which the line will be
inserted as soon as the mouse button is release.
3.2
Rename identifiers
This editing function makes it possible to change an existing structure identifier

without changing its position in the order of structure identifiers.
Precondition:
You have opened a project in which identifier blocks are used in the project structure,
for instance "Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".
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edit.
2. Click in the Designation field of the structure identifier you want to rename.
3. Enter the new designation.
4. Click [Apply].
Using this function, not just the pages but also the structure identifiers are changed in
the devices. Any existing formatting (e.g. a line break) remains unchanged.
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3.3
Rename sub-identifier
EPLAN allows you to divide structure identifiers into main identifiers and subidentifiers, for instance "HLFUNCTION1" (main identifier) and "HLFUNCTION1.UA1"
(sub-identifier). If a main identifier that contains sub-identifiers is to be renamed, a
question is displayed as to whether all sub-identifiers should also be changed. If you
click [Yes], the main identifier and all sub-identifiers are renamed; if [No], the
renaming of sub-identifiers is canceled but the main identifier is still renamed.
Preconditions:
You have opened a project in which identifier blocks are used in the project
structure, for instance "Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".

In your project there is at least one main identifier with a sub-identifier.

edit.
2. Click in the Designation field of the main identifier you want to rename.
3. Enter the new designation.
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4. Click [Apply].
5. Answer the question regarding the renaming of sub-identifiers.
Example:
In the project, the identifier block "Higher-level function" is used. The structure
identifier INST1 assigned to the identifier block has the sub-identifiers HLF1.1 and
HLF1.2.
The structure identifier HLF1 is now renamed to HLF3. If the question regarding the
renaming of sub-identifiers is answered with [Yes], then EPLAN changes HLF1.1
and HLF1.2 to HLF3.1 and HLF3.2. For [No], only the main identifier is changed, but
not the sub-identifiers. In this case, then, after the action is complete the identifiers
HLF3, HLF1.1, and HLF1.2 exist.
3.4
Merge identifiers
If the designation of an existing structure identifier in the same identifier block is

entered when renaming a structure identifier, the Status column of the structure
identifier affected will automatically show a yellow warning triangle, and the detailed
information will appear in the Message description field. If you ignore this, that is,
you enter the structure identifier into the database with [Apply] or [OK], then the
renamed structure identifier will take on all the properties of the existing identifier of
the same name. If they exist, sublevel functions and mounting locations will be
moved into the target identifier.
Precondition:
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edit.
2. Click in the Designation field of the structure identifier you want to rename.
3. Enter the designation of an existing structure identifier.

Status and Message description are automatically updated.
4. Click [Apply].
Note:
If pages with the same name result from the merging of structure identifiers, then the
process is canceled with an appropriate message.
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Sorting Identifiers
The structure identifiers in the respective tabs can be sorted using the [Sort] editing
function. The default setting when the structure identifier management is called up is
sorting by position.
Precondition:
1. In the Identifier dialog, select the tab of the identifier block whose structure
identifiers you want to sort.
2. Select [Sort] > Alphanumeric ascending or [Sort] > Alphanumeric

descending, to sort the structure identifiers in alphanumeric order, either
ascending or descending.
The lines in the table will be sorted.
3. Select [Sort] > By position, to again show the structure identifiers in the order
in which they were ordered in the original database.
4. Click [Apply].
The new sort order is written to the database when the structure identifiers are
updated; until that time this is only a temporary order.
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Finding and Replacing Identifiers
The "search and replace" functionality in structure identifier management makes it

possible to search through the table of structure identifiers for existing data and then
to replace it if needed.
Precondition:
You have selected a project in which identifier blocks are used in the project
structure, for instance "Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".
1. Click [Extras] > Find in the Identifiers dialog.
2. In the Replace dialog, enter the search terms and replacement text.
3. Select the Match case check box if upper and lower case should be taken into
account during the search and replace.
4. Use the buttons to execute the search and replace.
5. If an illegal character is found (configuration under Options > Settings >

Projects > "Project name" > Devices > DT syntax checking), then decide
in the DT syntax checking dialog how the corresponding structure identifier
should be handled.
6. Click [Apply].
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Notes:
Searching is always performed only in one column and always downwards, and
replacement is limited to Designation and Description.

The default value in the Find what field is the character string of the field
currently selected or, in the case of a multiple selection, the content of the field
last selected.
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Checking Identifiers
6.1
Check usage
The option of usage checking checks whether the currently displayed structure
identifiers are actually used in the project and, if so, how often.
Precondition:
1. In the Identifier dialog, select [Extras] > Check usage.
The Usage column is filled with the number of times each structure
identifier appears in the schematic, or with the text "No" if the identifier is not
(or is no longer) used in the schematic. If the structure identifier is not used,
but a sub-identifier exists, then the entry "*" is displayed.
2. Edit the structure identifiers as usual.
Since the values in the Usage column are not stored, there is always a "?" value in
the column when structure identifier management is opened, until you call up the
command (or call it up again).
Note:
During this check, graphical pages are also processed to which a structure identifier
has been assigned, or on which objects with structure identifiers are located.
6.2
Check syntax
The structure identifiers used are subject to a suppressible test for legal characters.
Precondition:
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Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Devices > DT syntax check
1. In the DT syntax checkdialog, select the Enable check check box, if the
syntax of device tags is to checked during entry.
2. In the group boxes Identifier blocks, Device tags, and Count numbers,
specify the scope of the test for the components of the DT.
3. Click [OK].
4. Select the menu item Project data > Structure identifier management.
5. Edit the structure identifiers as usual.
6. Click [Apply] or [OK].

If an illegal character is found, the DT syntax check dialog is opened with
the corresponding character highlighted.
7. Click [Settings] to view the settings for the DT syntax check and to change
them if necessary.
8. Click [Ignore] if the entry error was intentional but should be retained as an
exception.
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9. Or click [Cancel] to edit the designation of the structure identifier again.
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Updating Identifiers
Use this option to update all structure identifiers in the project.
Warning:
Updating of structure identifiers via [OK] or [Apply] is a process which cannot be
undone.
Preconditions:

You have created a new structure identifier, changed a structure identifier, or
changed the position of structure identifiers in the Identifiers dialog. (This is

shown in the title bar of the dialog with an * character appended to the name
of the project.)
1. Click [OK] or [Apply] in the Identifiers dialog.
Depending on your answer to the prompt, the project is updated. If you started the
update with [Apply], the Identifiers dialog stays open and you can continue to edit
structure identifiers. If you started the process with [OK], structure identifier
management is closed.
When updating the data, the device tags in the schematic and the page data is
updated. A changed sort order for structure identifiers is also written back to the
project and can have far-ranging effects on the order of pages and connections.
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Placeholders for device tags in automatically generated pages, such as the table of
contents, terminal plan, and so on, will be adjusted only after the corresponding
update of report pages.
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Deleting Identifiers
Note:
The deletion of structure identifiers is only possible if they are no longer used as page
identifiers or on devices. (Such identifiers show the value "No" in the Usage column
of the Identifiers dialog once you have selected [Extras] > Check usage).
Precondition:
1. In the Identifier dialog, select [Extras] > Check usage.
The table is updated, meaning that the "?" characters in the Usage column
are replaced with the current values.
2. Select the identifiers to be deleted in the table ("No" entry in the Usage
column).
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3. Click
(Delete).
The lines are deleted and all lines under them move up one position.
4. Click [Apply].
Notes:
Alternatively to this procedure, you can also remove structure identifiers no
longer in use from the database globally with [Extras] > Clean up all.
If you attempt to delete a structure identifier that is still in use in the schematic, a
message appears to that effect and the action is canceled.

If a page or a device is deleted whose structure identifiers are not used in any
other place in the project, then this identifier is still not removed from the
database. Deletion of structure identifiers is only possible in structure identifier
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management.
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43-Structure Identifier Management

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Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management

Creating an Identifier ....................................................................................3

Creating an Identifier when Inserting New Pages, Device Tags, and

Create identifiers during page processing.................................................5

Create identifiers during DT processing....................................................9

Create identifiers during macro processing.............................................14

Editing an Identifier ....................................................................................18

Rename identifiers ..................................................................................20

Merge identifiers .....................................................................................23

Sorting Identifiers .......................................................................................25

Finding and Replacing Identifiers .............................................................26

Check usage ...........................................................................................28

Check syntax ..........................................................................................28

Updating Identifiers ....................................................................................31

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management

5. Proceed analogously for all other structure identifiers to be created.

8. Answer the confirmation prompt to update the project.

Structure Identifier Management

Creating an Identifier when Inserting New

Create identifiers during page processing

Structure Identifier Management

> User > Display > Identifier) is selected.

"Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".

Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management

7. In the New page dialog, click [Apply].

Structure Identifier Management

10. Click [OK].

12. Click [OK].

Create identifiers during DT processing

Structure Identifier Management

> User > Display > Identifier) is selected.

"Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".

1. Select the menu item Insert > Symbol.

Structure Identifier Management

4. Position the symbol using the mouse.

Structure Identifier Management

The Full DT dialog is opened.

Structure Identifier Management

10. In the component-specific Properties dialog, click [OK].

Structure Identifier Management

13. Click [OK].

Create identifiers during macro processing

Structure Identifier Management

> User > Display > Identifier) is selected.

"Higher-level function" and "Mounting location".

2. In the Select macro dialog, select the macro to be inserted.

Structure Identifier Management

Structure Identifier Management

11. Click [OK].

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

Structure Identifier Management

Moving of structure identifiers is necessary if the order of identifiers in the page

Structure Identifier Management

3. Click one of the buttons

The selected lines are moved one position down / up.

4. Or click one of the buttons

Structure Identifier Management

This editing function makes it possible to change an existing structure identifier

Structure Identifier Management