ACAD Elec 2008 GetStart PDF

AutoCAD Electrical 2008
Getting Started
Part No. 22505-050000-5000A January 30, 2007

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Contents
AutoCAD Electrical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Main Electrical toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Main Electrical 2 toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Panel Layout toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Conversion toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Conduit Marker toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Power Check toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Extra Libraries toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Chapter 2 Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Learning about Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Performing Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Working with Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Working with Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Ladder Style Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
v
Chapter 3 Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
About Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Inserting Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Trimming Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Chapter 4 Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

About Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Inserting Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Relocating Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Aligning Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Inserting Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Editing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Linking Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Editing Catalog Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Moving Between Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Swapping Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Creating Custom Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Adding Attribute Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Adding Wire Connection Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Saving Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Chapter 5 Circuitry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Moving an Existing Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Creating a New Motor Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Chapter 6 PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Inserting Ladders into Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Inserting PLC Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Using Multiple Insert Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Inserting Wire Numbers Based on PLC I/O Addresses . . . . . . . . . . 157
Resequencing Ladders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Chapter 7 Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

About Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Attaching Source Signal Arrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Attaching Destination Signal Arrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Inserting Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Working with Wire Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
vi | Contents
Chapter 8 Panel Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
About Panel Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Inserting Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Modifying Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Adding Nameplate Footprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Editing Terminal Strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Point-to-Point Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Chapter 9 Connector Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

About Connector Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Inserting Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Wiring Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Grouping Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Modifying Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Adding Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Adding Connector Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Chapter 10 Pneumatic, Hydraulic and P&ID Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Setting Up Hydraulic Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Creating Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Completing the Hydraulic Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Setting Up Your P&ID Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Creating Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Reports and Migrating AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Chapter 11 Generating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

Generating Bill of Material Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Inserting BOM Tables into Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Editing BOM Tables on Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Changing Formats of BOMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Chapter 12 Migrating AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

About Tagging and Linking Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Exploding Block and Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tagging Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Linking Schematic Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Adding Wire Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Contents | vii
Adding Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Tagging and Linking Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Updating Panel or Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
viii | Contents
AutoCAD Electrical
Environment
Part 1 of this manual provides information on AutoCAD® In this part

Electrical toolbars as well as information on how to set up a ■ Toolbar Commands in
AutoCAD Electrical
project. ■ Projects
1
2
Toolbar Commands in
AutoCAD Electrical 1
This chapter provides a list of the commands available on In this chapter
AutoCAD® Electrical toolbars, along with a brief description ■ Command Summary
of the function of each command and the associated
toolbutton.
3
Command Summary
The following is a list of the AutoCAD Electrical commands, a brief description
of each and the associated toolbutton.
NOTE This list does not contain AutoCAD® commands.
You can turn on the visibility of the toolbars from the Projects ➤ Toolbars
menu or by right-clicking a toolbar and selecting from the Electrical list. All
of the smaller toolbars not listed here are found on the Main Electrical or Main
Electrical 2 toolbars.
Main Electrical toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Component Inserts selected components from the icon

wd_insym_dlg menu onto the drawing.
Insert Component Inserts schematic symbols by choosing a

(Catalog List) catalog number or a component description
wd_inscat_s from a user-defined pick list. The data dis-
played in this pick list is stored in a database
in generic Access format. The file name is
wd_picklist.mdb and can be edited with Mi-
crosoft® Access or from Add/Edit/Delete along
the bottom of the pick list's dialog box. The
AutoCAD Electrical normal search path se-
quence is used to locate this file.
Insert Component This spreadsheet organizes the selected user-

(Equipment List) created equipment list and presents the list in
ace_bom2sch a pick list. As you pick an item from the pick
list, the appropriate schematic symbol is found
and inserted in the drawing at your pick point.
You can open a comma-delimited file, Mi-
crosoft® Excel spreadsheet, or Microsoft Access
database file for input.
4 | Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Component (Panel Lists panel components extracted from your

List) panel drawing, finds the appropriate schemat-
ace_pnl2sch ic symbol, and inserts the schematic compon-
ents at your pick point.
Insert Terminal (Panel Lists panel terminals extracted from your

List) panel drawing, finds the appropriate schemat-
ace_pnl2sch_trm ic symbol, and inserts the schematic terminals
at your pick point.
Swap/Update Block Use to update or change blocks in place. At-

wd_bswap_main tribute values are retained during the swap-
ping process. Wire connections are also
maintained even if the new symbol is slightly
wider or narrower than the original.
Copy Component Inserts a copy of an existing component into

wd_insym_same the drawing and updates the component tags.
Multiple Insert (Icon Inserts a series of similar components at fence

Menu) crossing points with underlying wires.
wd_insym_f
Multiple Insert (Pick Inserts a copy of the selected component

Master) multiple times at each wire crossing and fence
wd_insym_f line intersection point.
Link Components with Draws a smart dashed line between stacked

Dashed Line contacts of a multicontact component. When
wd_complink the dashed link line inserts, certain attributes
automatically flip to invisible. Use the Attribute
Hide command to turn the visibility of the se-
lected attributes back on.
Insert Reference Arrow - Draws a dashed line from a component to a

To “To” arrow symbol.
wd_reflink
Main Electrical toolbar | 5

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Reference Arrow - Draws a dashed line from a component to a

From “From” arrow symbol.
wd_reflink_d
Insert PLC (Parametric) Generates PLC I/O modules on demand, in a

wd_inplc variety of different graphical styles via a para-
metric generation technique. It is driven by a
database file (ace_plc.mdb) and a handful of
library symbol blocks.
Insert PLC (Full Units) Inserts PLC I/O modules that are fixed library
wd_insym_gomenu 33 symbol blocks.
Unity Pro Export to Imports Unity Pro hardware (.xsy) and I/O
Spreadsheet variable (.xsy) files into AutoCAD Electrical to
aceUnityProImportPLC reformat the data into a PLC import spread-
sheet. After the spreadsheet file is created use
the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility tool to
automatically create PLC style drawing files.
RSLogix 500 Export to Prepares RSLogix 500 exported data to be

Spreadsheet processed by the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O
wdio_rsl Utility.
Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Creates a set of PLC I/O drawings from

Utility spreadsheet data. A project's PLC I/O require-
wdio ments, in spreadsheet or database format, can
drive automatic generation of the I/O schem-
atic drawings. Your information can be read
directly in Excel format (“.XLS”), as a table in
an Access Database file (.MDB), or you can
save your information out to a comma-delim-
ited format (“CSV”) and then let AutoCAD
Electrical construct a set of PLC I/O wiring
diagrams directly from your data. Ladders and
modules insert automatically, breaking at the

Tooltip Description
Command
bottom of one ladder and continuing on the

next (or on to the next drawing).
PLC Database File Editor Creates and modifies PLC I/O module defini-
ace_plcedit tions. All editing and creation of PLC data is
stored within the PLC database file
(ACE_PLC.MDB).
Insert Connector Generates a connector symbol from user-

wd_p2p_connector_dlg defined parameters. The symbol is created on
the fly, and inserted as a block insert into your
active drawing file. Since these are created on
an as-needed based, it eliminates the need for
you to create and maintain a library of connect-
or symbols.
Insert Connector from Imports a connector wire list from another

List application, such as Autodesk® Inventor™
ace_connector_import Professional Cable & Harness.
NOTE If the AutoCAD Electrical drawing is

missing one end of the connector or if a con-
nection was not found, wiring information is
displayed next to the pin and the information
is written into a log file so you know AutoCAD
Electrical was unable to resolve the wire con-
nections in the drawing. The log file name is
{drawing filename.LOG} and is found in the
same folder as the drawing file.
Reverse Connector Reverses the orientation of the connector

wd_react_do_flip_con- about its horizontal or vertical axis. None of
nector the existing wire connections automatically
reroute to the reverse side of the connector
and you will have to resolve wiring using the
wire editing tools.

Tooltip Description
Command
Rotate Connector Rotates the connector about its insertion point

wd_react_do_rotate_con- in 90 degree increments. The wire connections
nector do not reroute with each rotation of the con-
nector. You must resolve wiring using the wire
editing tools.
Stretch Connector Increases or decreases the connector's overall

wd_re- shell length. You might do this to make room
act_do_stretch_connect- for new pins or to capture previously added
or pins that fell beyond the connector shell. You
identify which end of the connector is to be
altered and the measurement of displacement.
Split Connector Splits the parametric connector into two sep-

wd_react_do_split_con- arate block definitions (i.e. parent and a child
nector or a child and another child).
Add Connector Pins Adds pins to an existing connector.

add_connector_pins
Delete Connector Pins Removes a pin from an existing connector

wd_react_do_delpin_con- and, if the connector has a defined pin list,
nector frees this deleted pin to be re-inserted later
on this connector or on a related child of this
connector.
Move Connector Pin Moves connector pin associated to selected

wd_re- connector.
act_do_movepin_con-
nector
Swap Connector Pins Exchanges one set of connector pin numbers

wd_react_do_swap- for another on an existing connector or
pin_connector between connectors on the drawing.

Tooltip Description
Command
NOTE You cannot swap a combination con-

nector with a single plug or receptacle con-
nector. Additionally, you cannot use this tool
to swap pins from one side of a connector to
the other.
Insert Splice Inserts a splice symbol selected from the on-

wd_menu_load_schem; screen icon menu.
wd_insym_gomenu 48
Insert WBlocked Circuit Inserts WBlocked circuitry (external drawing

wd_ins_circ file) with automatic component tag update.
Insert Saved Circuit Inserts a user circuit selected from on-screen

wd_insym_gomenu 19 icon menu.
Copy Circuit Copies existing circuits and pastes the copied

wd_copy_circ circuit to a specified location. The components
are automatically retagged based on their new
line reference locations.
Move Circuit Moves the selected circuit to a specified loca-

wd_move_circ tion. The components are automatically re-
tagged based on their new line reference loc-
ations and cross-references are updated.
Save Circuit to Icon Saves windowed portions of circuitry for later

Menu reuse. Up to 24 circuits can be saved at any
wd_sav_usercirc one time in this scratch menu.
Edit Component Edits components, PLC modules, terminal,

wd_sym_edit wire numbers and signal arrows.
Add/Edit Internal Jumper Adds, changes, or deletes internal jumpers on

wd_jumper a selected component. When wire numbers

Tooltip Description
Command
are inserted, these internal jumpers are read

and wire numbers are assigned accordingly.
Fix/UnFix Component Toggles selected component tag between

Tag fixed and normal.
wd_fixed_comptag
Copy Catalog Assign- Inserts or edits catalog part numbers onto the
ment currently selected component or footprint.
wd_bomdata_same
Edit User Table Data Edits user-defined Xdata on component or

wd_user_ins_edit wire numbers and populates the User table in
project database file. You can add, edit, or re-
move free-form user data records attached to
the selected block insert.
Retag Components Retags components with contact updates. Run

wd_circa_retag this when something changes on your draw-
ing or project that affects the component tags.
This can include revising the ladder line refer-
ence numbers or changing the tag format.
Retag redoes each selected primary compon-
ent tag, and then updates the related second-
ary components. You can select to update a
single component, a group of components, a
drawing, drawings within your project, or the
entire project.
Find/Edit/Replace Com- Finds and replaces component and terminal

ponent Text text values or find and replace substrings
wd_fr within those values. You can do this on the
active drawing or across the project drawing
set.
Find/Replace Terminal Finds and replaces terminal number text values

Text or find and replace sub-strings within those
wd_term_fr values. You can do this on a selection from

Tooltip Description
Command
the active drawing, the entire active drawing,

or across the project drawing set.
Project-Wide Update/Re- Updates component tags, wire numbers, lad-

tag der references, and select drawing settings.
wd_bump
Scoot Scoots selected components along their con-

wd_scoot nected wires or scoots entire wires, including
components, along the bus. A rectangle indic-
ates the selected items.
Align Aligns selected components with a master

wd_align component. All connected wires are adjusted,
and wire numbers recentered if necessary. You
can align vertically or horizontally by flipping
the command by typing V or H at the com-
mand line.
Move Component Automatically moves the selected component

wd_movesym to a new position.
Reverse/Flip Component Reverses or flips selected component graphics

wd_react_do_re- and its associated attributes
verse_component
NOTE This tool only operates on a compon-
ent with 2-wire connections (ex: limit switch
contact symbol).
Stretch PLC Module Stretches or compresses the windowed portion

wd_strblk of PLC modules (or any block insert) while
maintaining all of the original block informa-
tion, including attributes.
Split PLC Module Splits selected PLC module into two separate
wd_splitblk block definitions (i.e. parent and a child or a
child and another child).

Tooltip Description
Command
Move/Show Attribute Moves the selected attributes to a picked

wd_attr_m point. The attributes remain tied to the block
inserts
Edit Selected Attribute Edits an attribute's text by picking right on the

wd_edattr attribute. A dialog box displays and you type
in a new attribute value. This utility also works
on invisible attributes. It finds and displays the
closest attribute to your pick point on a block
insert.
Hide Attribute (Single Hides selected attribute; to unhide pick on

Picks) block graphics and un-toggle attribute name
wd_attr_h in the list. Select the graphic of a target block
insert to display a listing of all attribute names
and values. You can switch attributes between
hidden and visible or you can edit individual
attribute values.
Add Attribute Adds a new attribute to an existing instance

wd_addattr of a block insert.
Squeeze Attribute/Text Compresses an attribute to make it fit into a

wd_tx_sqz tight spot (such as between closely spaced
components). Each click on the attribute dy-
namically changes the attribute's width factor
by 5%.
Stretch Attribute/Text Expands an attribute. Each click on the attrib-

wd_tx_stretch ute dynamically changes the attribute's width
factor by 5%.
Change Attribute Size Changes attribute text size when components

wd_attrsize or wire numbers have already been inserted
onto your drawings.

Tooltip Description
Command
Rotate Attribute Rotates the selected attribute text or MTEXT

wd_tx_rotate string 90 degrees from its current orientation.
After rotation, press M and [space] to flip into
the Move Attribute mode.
Change Attribute Justific- Changes the justification of wire number text,

ation component description text, or attributes.
wd_tx_chgjust
Change Attribute Layer Forces attribute text entities to a given layer.

wd_ch_attlay Select the target layer (type it in or select from
the list), press OK and then select the attrib-
utes to change to the target layer.
Toggle NO/NC Flips a contact from one state (open or closed)

wd_swap_nonc to the other. It looks at the picked contact,
reads its block name, and checks the 5th
character position for either 1 or 2. It then
substitutes 1 or 2 for the found character.
Delete Component Removes the selected component from the

wd_delsym drawing. If you erase a parent schematic
component, you have the option to search for
related child components, surf to them, and
delete them.
Insert Wire Inserts single line wire segments on a wire

wd_inwire layer (the wire layer does not have to be the
current layer).
Multiple Wire Bus Inserts vertical or horizontal bus wiring. Bus

wd_in3wire spacing defaults to the default ladder rung
spacing for horizontal bus. Multiple bus wiring
automatically breaks and reconnects to any
underlying components that it finds in its
path. If it crosses any existing wiring, wire-
crossing gaps automatically insert (if the
drawing is so configured).

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert 22.5 Degree Wire Inserts an angled (22.5 degree) line wire seg-
wd_in22wire ment on a wire layer (the wire layer does not
have to be the current layer).
Insert 45 Degree Wire Inserts an angled (45 degree) line wire seg-
wd_in45wire ments on a wire layer (the wire layer does not
Insert 67.5 Degree Wire Inserts an angled (67.5 degree) line wire seg-
wd_in67wire ments on a wire layer (the wire layer does not
Bend Wire Bends a wire in a right angle and makes 3

wd_bendwire right angle turns to avoid or add geometry.
When a wire is defined at a right angle you
can modify the wire and create a new right
angle bend while maintaining the original wire
connections to the components.
NOTE This tool terminates if the bend at-

tempts to connect two different wire networks
or if the bend bypasses more than a single
right angle turn.
Interconnect Compon- Inserts wires between aligned connection

ents points on a pair of selected components.
wd_inwire_connect
Insert Wire Gap Inserts a gap/loop at the point of two crossing

wd_wire_gap lines. Gaps are automatically inserted when a
new wire crosses another.
Flip Wire Gap Flips the gap to the other wire. AutoCAD
wd_flip_gap Electrical makes the gapped wire solid and
flips the gap/loop to the crossing wire(s).

Tooltip Description
Command
Delete Wire Gap Removes a gap/loop that is no longer needed

wd_rmv_un_gaps in an existing wire.
Check/Repair Gap Point- Verifies that the invisible Xdata pointers on

ers both sides of a wire gap/loop are valid. If not,
wd_gap_chk appropriate pointers are established.
Change/Convert Wire Changes between wire types and converts

Type lines to wires. Use the grid control to sort and
wd_wirlay select the wire types for easy modification.
Create/Edit Wire Type Creates and edits wire types. Use the grid
_WireTypeSel control to sort and select the wire types for
easy modification.
Stretch Wire Lengthens a wire until it meets another wire

wd_str_wire or an AutoCAD Electrical component.
Show Wires Highlights all wires and displays wire number

wd_audit_w_show to wire segment relationships.
Check/Trace Wire Helps troubleshoot problems with unconnec-

wd_aud_net_sstep ted or shorted wires and invalid wire crossing
gap pointers by single stepping through and
highlighting each connected wire of the selec-
ted wire network.
Edit Wire Sequence Predefines a wire network's connection se-

wd_wirseq_set quence, either in a single drawing or across
multiple drawing files.
Show Wire Sequence Shows the wire sequence defined using the
wd_wirseq_sho Define Wire Sequence tool. If the wire se-
quence crosses multiple drawings and you try
to view the sequence as an animation, a dialog

Tooltip Description
Command
box listing the off-drawing wire connection

information displays so that you can indicate
to go to the other drawings to continue
viewing the sequence.
Terminal: Show Intern- Shows the state of the invisible attribute values
al/External Connections for selected objects. The values are shown with
wd_wirseq_sho_term- red and green arrows.
desc
Terminal: Mark Internal Marks attributes with an 'I' for internal wiring.
Connections
wd_wirseq_i_termdesc
Terminal: Mark External Marks attributes with an 'E' for external wiring.
Connections
wd_wirseq_e_termdesc
Terminal: Erase Intern- Erases a terminal's internal (I) or external (E)

al/External Connections connection code. Select near a terminal's wire
wd_wirseq_blank_term- connection point to erase the connection
desc code.
Cable Markers Inserts cable markers onto the drawing. Cable

wd_insym_gomenu 30 markers carry a cable TAG value, just like any
parent/child device combination. They can
also carry a conductor color value (carried as
a RATING1 attribute value on the marker block
symbol).
Multiple Cable Markers Inserts all the markers for a particular cable.
wd_cblmrk_ins In addition, you can edit existing cable marker
sets, or even delete cable markers from this
dialog box.
Insert Dot Tee Markers Inserts a dot tee connection symbol at a

ace_insert_tee_dot manually drawn wire intersection. If present,
this replaces an existing angled wire connec-

Tooltip Description
Command
tion symbol with a dot connection symbol.

You cannot insert a tee connection symbol
into empty space. A valid line wire ending (not
crossing) at a tee intersection somewhere
along the length of another line wire is
needed. This means that it will not insert a tee
connection symbol at a 90-degree wire turn.
Insert Angled Tee Mark- Inserts an angled tee connection symbol at a

ers manually drawn wire intersection. You can't
ace_insert_iec_tee_sym- insert a tee connection symbol into empty
bol space. If present, this replaces an existing wire
connection dot with a tee connection symbol.
Toggle Angled Tee Toggles an existing angled tee connection

Markers symbol (or windowed symbols) through a
ace_toggle_iec_tee_con- total of 4 possible orientations. Right-click to
nector toggle through the various tee connection
orientations, and press ESC when the appro-
priate one displays. This replaces any dot tee
symbols with angled tee symbols, and then
toggles through the 4 possible orientations
for each.
Insert Ladder Inserts ladders of a set width and length onto

wd_ins_ladder the drawing. There is no limit to the number
of ladders that can be inserted into a drawing,
but ladders may not overlap each other. Mul-
tiple ladder fragments in the same vertical
column need to be vertically aligned along
their left-hand side.
NOTE These limitations do not apply when

X-Y Grid or X-Zone referencing is selected.
Revise Ladder Adjusts the line reference numbering along

wd_revise_ladder the side of the ladders; however it doesn't
change existing ladder rung spacing.

Tooltip Description
Command
Renumber Ladder Refer- Renumbers the ladder for the selected draw-
ence ings from the active project.
wd_ladr2_reseq
XY Grid Inserts the X-Y grid labels for drawings that

ace_cfg_XY_grid use X-Y Grid for the Format Referencing. You
can also change other settings from here (such
as origin) instead of going back into the
Drawing Properties dialog box. Your drawing
must be configured for X-Y Grids. Set the
Format Referencing in the Drawing Properties
dialog box to X-Y Grid.
X Zone Inserts the X grid labels for drawings that use

ace_cfg_X_zone X Zones for the Format Referencing. You can
also change other settings from here (such as
origin) instead of going back into the Drawing
Properties dialog box. Your drawing must be
configured for X Zones. Set the Format Refer-
encing in the Drawing Properties dialog box
to X Zones.
Add Rung Finds the nearest line reference location and

wd_ins_rung places a ladder rung at that reference position
(both bus wires must be visible on the screen
for this to work. If the new rung encounters a
schematic device floating in space, it tries to
break the wire across the device.
Trim Wire Removes a wire segment and dots as required.

wd_wtrim You can select a single wire or draw a fence
through multiple wires to trim.

Main Electrical 2 toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Wire Numbers Inserts or updates wire numbers associated

wd_ins_wn with wire line entities.
3 Phase Wire Numbers Inserts special wire numbering generally asso-

wd_3pwn ciated with 3-phase bus and motor circuits.
PLC I/O Wire Numbers Inserts wire numbers based on the I/O address
wd_plc_wn that each PLC connected wire touches. Wire
numbers go in as FIXED which means that
they will not change if a wire number re-tag
is run later on.
Wire Number Leader Repositions the wire number text with an at-
wd_wlead tached leader.
Wire Color/Gauge Labels Inserts wire color gauge labels with a leader
wd_wcolga on your drawing's wiring.
In-Line Wire Labels Inserts a reference-only in-line wire label.

wd_insym_gomenu 32
Copy Wire Number Inserts extra wire numbers anywhere on a wire

wd_copy_wn network. These copies follow the network's
main wire number attribute. If AutoCAD Elec-
trical modifies it, then any wire number copies
on the network also update. Extra wire num-
bers go on their own layer that is defined in
the Define Layers dialog box. If you assign a
color to this layer that is different than the
normal wire number and fixed wire number
layers, then it is easy to tell them apart from
the network's main wire number.
Main Electrical 2 toolbar | 19

Tooltip Description
Command
Copy Wire Number (In- Inserts extra wire numbers such that they ap-
Line) pear in-line with the wire rather than above
(c:wd_insymn_repeat or below the wire. These copies follow the
“HT0_WGENERIC”) network's main wire number attribute; if
AutoCAD Electrical modifies it then any wire
number copies on the network also update.
Extra wire numbers go on their own layer that
is defined in the Define Layers dialog box. If
you assign a color to this layer that is different
than the normal wire number and fixed wire
number layers, then it is easy to tell them apart
from the network's main wire number.
Adjust In-Line Wire/Label Adjusts the gap between the wire and the wire
Gap number text of wire numbers that are in-line
wd_adjust_wgap with the wire.
Move Wire Number Moves an existing wire number from one

wd_movewn segment of the network to another.
Edit Wire Number Allows manual edit of an existing wire number

wd_fixed_wn or insert of a new one if none exists.
Fix Wire Numbers Fixes all or many wire numbers on a drawing

wd_force_fix_wn at their current values. Fixing a wire number
means that the wire number tag is left un-
changed if later processed or reprocessed by
the automatic wire numbering utility.
Swap Wire Numbers Swaps wire numbers between two wire net-
wd_swapwn works.
Find/Replace Wire Num- Finds and replaces wire number text values or
bers substrings within those values. You can do this
wd_fr_wn on the active drawing or across the project
drawing set.

Tooltip Description
Command
Hide Wire Numbers Moves the wire number to a special hide layer
wd_wnum_hidelay so that the number is no longer visible on the
screen. The new hide layer is created from the
wire number layer name with a “_HIDE” suffix.
For example, if the wire number text layer is
called WIRENO then the hide layer name is
called “WIRENO_HIDE.” The layer is created
automatically when needed and you are asked
if you want to freeze this layer.
Unhide Wire Numbers Moves the wire number out of the hide layer
wd_wnum_unhidelay so that the number is visible on the screen.
Flip Wire Number Flips the wire number across its associated
wd_mirror_wn wire.
Toggle Wire Number In- Switches the wire number between above or
line below and in-line. If the selected wire number
wd_react_do_toggle_in- is in-line, it toggles to above or below based
line on the default Wire Number Placement setting
in the Drawing Properties dialog box. If it
starts as above or below, the selected wire
number toggles to in-line.
NOTE If there isn't room for a wire number

to become an in-line wire number, it remains
an above or below line wire number.
Source Signal Arrow Copies wire number from a source-arrowed

wd_ssig wire network to any/all associated destination-
arrowed wire network.

Tooltip Description
Command
Destination Signal Arrow Retrieves the wire number for a destination-

wd_dsig arrowed wire network from its associated
source-arrowed wire network.
NOTE A Destination signal arrow cannot be

tied to a wire network that carries a pre-as-
signed fixed wire number.
Update Signal Refer- Updates cross-reference information for two

ences types of cross-reference symbols. Wire number
wd_ref_sigs signal arrow symbols and standalone cross-
reference symbols.
Fan In/Out Source Inserts in-line source marker symbols and

wd_sfan changes the connected wire on the fan-in side
to be on a non-wire layer.
Fan In/Out Destination Changes the connected common wires on the

wd_dfan fan-out side to non-wire layer but leaves the
individual segments on the opposite side of
marker on the original wire layer.
Fan In/Out - Single Line Defines a special layer or set of layers for the
Layer wires going out of a Fan In/Out source marker
wd_faninoutlay and the wires coming into a destination
marker.
List Signal Code Follows a signal from a specific source or des-

wd_siga_listsig tination symbol and lists the signal code refer-
ences.
Show Signal Paths Displays signal source and destination paths

wd_showsigs on the active drawing.
Signal Error/List Report Displays sequence of the selected wire signal.

wd_sig_xrpt

Tooltip Description
Command
Wire Arrows for Refer- Inserts non intelligent, reference-only arrows.

ence Only
wd_insym_gomenu 26
Delete Wire Numbers Deletes selected wire numbers.

wd_del_wn
NOTE If you erase a wire number and select
right on an extra wire number copy, AutoCAD
Electrical erases just that copy but leaves the
network’s main wire number and any other
copies in place.
Symbol Builder Converts existing symbols or creates new,

wd_sym_build custom components on the fly. It works nicely
for quickly building power supplies, filters,
drives, controllers, and other custom devices
or for converting existing non-AutoCAD Elec-
trical symbols to make them “AutoCAD Elec-
trical smart.” Schematic symbols created or
converted using the Symbol Builder are fully
compatible with AutoCAD Electrical, break
wires upon insertion, and appear in the various
BOM, component, and wire connection re-
ports.
Icon Menu Wizard Launches the Icon Menu Wizard to easily

wd_wdmenu_wizard modify or expand an icon menu, or replace
an existing icon menu with your own custom
menu. You can change the default icon menu
using the Project Properties dialog box. The
default icon menu can also be redefined in
“wd.env.”
Merge Utility Copies database/folder data listed in the

acedbmerge Source into the Destination. A backup of the
destination database is created before mer-
ging, however backup files are not created
during panel content (folder) merges. The
backup database file is created in the same

Tooltip Description
Command
directory as the original file and is named the

same as the original, except that it has the
extension .bak. Each run of this utility with the
same destination database creates a new
backup file, which will not overwrite any exist-
ing backup files.
Associate Terminals Associates two or more terminal symbols to-

ace_term_assoc_term gether. Associating schematic terminals com-
bines the terminals into a single terminal block
property definition. The number of schematic
terminals that can be combined is limited to
the number of levels defined for the block
properties.
Break Apart Terminal As- Breaks one or more terminal symbols out of
sociations an existing association. Schematic terminals
ace_term_break_assoc are removed from any multi-tier relationship
and any schematic-panel relationships. Panel
terminals are removed from any schematic-
panel relationships.
Copy Terminal Block Copies terminal properties from one terminal

Properties symbol to another. If the application of the
ace_term_copy_proper- terminal properties reduces the number of
ties levels and the number of terminal symbols
exceeds the total allowed, an alert displays
and the properties are not copied.
Component Cross-Refer- Collects and annotates groups of components

ence that carry the same TAG text string value (such
wd_cross_ref as “101CR”). Components do not have to be
of the same family to be cross-referenced; they
just need to have the same
TAG1/TAG2/TAG_*/TAG attribute values.
Hide/Unhide Cross-Refer- Changes the visibility of cross-references. In

ence most cases the cross-referencing should be

Tooltip Description
Command
ace_xref_hide_unhide visible but there are times when you may not
want the cross-referencing displayed on parent
symbols.
Insert Stand-Alone Cross- Inserts standalone cross-reference symbol (not

Reference tied to a wire). You use standalone cross-refer-
wd_insym_gomenu 40 ence symbols just as you would wire
source/destination arrow symbols but without
the wires. Insert a source reference symbol,
and then tie one or more destination reference
symbols to it. These can be on the same
drawing or scattered across the project draw-
ing set.
Update Stand-Alone Updates cross-reference information for two

Cross-Reference types of cross-reference symbols: wire number
wd_ref_sa signal arrow symbols and standalone cross-
reference symbols. It can update your source
or destination signals singly, drawing-wide,
or project-wide.
Change Cross-Reference Converts a long string of relay coil or

to Multiple Line Text source/destination cross-reference text to a
wd_xref_c2mtx multiline text entity (MTEXT). The underlying
attribute value is maintained, but flipped to
visible. The MTEXT entity is created at the
same XY location as the underlying attribute.
The MTEXT entity updates, scoots, and be-
haves as if it is an attribute tied to the compon-
ent block.
Cross-Reference Check Displays all associated and parent components

wd_quick_ref to the selected component. A complete list of
components is extracted from the project
drawing set. The component's tag is read,
then all associated components are found and
listed in the dialog box. A bill of material check
can be performed to see if the item's descrip-

Tooltip Description
Command
tion indicates that the quantity of contacts

can be accommodated.
Child Location/Descrip- Updates child and panel components with

tion Update installation, location, and description values
wd_loc_child carried by the associated parent schematic
component.
Copy/Add Component Copies and/or adds cross-reference compon-

Override ent overrides from another symbol. You can
ace_xref_add define components to have different cross-
referencing styles. The settings specified using
this tool override the drawing properties.
Component overrides are copied when the
component is copied; similarly they are ap-
plied to multiple inserts of the same compon-
ent.
Remove Component Removes the component overrides so the

Override cross-referencing commands use the settings
ace_xref_rmv for the drawing or project.
Location Symbols Inserts location marks on symbols that are

wd_locsym identified with location code in text form.
Location Box Draws a dashed box around selected compon-

wd_loc_box ents. A description can be assigned to the box,
and components within the box can have their
location and installation code(s) changed.
Copy Installation/Loca- Performs mass copies of location, installation,

tion Code Values group, or mount codes to all of the compon-
wd_copyloc ents you select. You either type in the desired
code, pick from an on-line list, or pick a similar
master component.

Tooltip Description
Command
Surfer Moves from reference to reference across the

wd_surf project drawing set. A new window opens and
the original window closes when Surf is selec-
ted unless you hold the Shift key while running
the command.
Continue Surfer Continues a previous surf session from the

wd_cs point where you left off.
Previous Project Drawing Loads the drawing listed above the current
c:wd_proj_dprev drawing in the project explorer, and closes
the current drawing.
Next Project Drawing Loads the drawing listed below the current
wd_proj_dnext drawing in the project explorer, and closes
the current drawing.
Schematic Reports Selects schematic reports such as Bill of Mater-

ace_report_schem ial, Component lists, Wire From/To, PLC de-
scriptions.
Show Missing Catalog Displays components that do not carry a

Assignment catalog number assignment. The components
wd_show_no_bomdata are marked with diamond-shaped temporary
graphics.
Electrical Audit Displays a report of detected problems or po-

_auditcmd tential problems. You can save this file for ref-
erence or surf the file to view and correct the
errors.
Drawing Audit Displays a report of detected problems or po-

wd_aud tential problems. You can save this file for ref-
erence or surf the file to view and correct the
errors.

Tooltip Description
Command
Report Format File Setup Creates and maintains report formatting files.
ace_report_wizard
Automatic Report Selec- Defines a list of reports and their format files
tion to run automatically.
ace_report_auto
User Defined Attribute Creates an attribute text file (*.wda) of user-

List defined attributes defined on AutoCAD Elec-
ace_uda trical block files. The User Defined Attribute
List is used by report tools to determine which
additional attributes are listed in a report. The
list file name can be the same as the active
project or named Default to be used by the
entire system. The Default .wda file is saved in
the base project folder, while the <pro-
ject_name>.wda file is saved in the same folder
as the project definition file (*.wdp).
Autodesk Inventor Profes- Extracts wire list information into an XML ex-
sional Export port file to be used exclusively with Autodesk
ace_xml_export Inventor Professional Cable and Harness.
NOTE You must first configure wire number-

ing to be On per Wire Basis for export and set
up the appropriate variables before running
the report.
Unity Pro Export Creates the Unity Pro I/O variable file (.xsy) in
aceUnityProExportPLC the Unity Pro XML format. The XML file con-
tains the PLC I/O addresses and descriptions
for import into the Unity Pro software.
Export to Spreadsheet Exports the selected data category to a

wd_data_export comma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB
file format for editing.

Tooltip Description
Command
Update from Spread- Updates components, wire numbers, terminal

sheet text, and PLC I/O data from data imported
wd_data_importf from a spreadsheet.
Update from Project Updates project drawings; attribute text only,

Scratch Database from edits to the project's scratch database
wd_import_scratch_mdb file.
Insert Spreadsheet Data Inserts comma-delimited spreadsheet data into

to Table a drawing as a table.
wd_14_csv2tab
Drawing Properties Defines defaults for component and wire tag

wd_dwg_config formats, signal references, cross references,
and layers.
Rename Schematic Lay- Renames layers one by one, or multiple layers

ers at once by using the Find/Replace method. In
wd_edlay addition to renaming the layer, this also up-
dates the AutoCAD Electrical layer assignment
information carried on the drawing's WD_M
block. For example, if DEMO-WIRES is cur-
rently assigned as an AutoCAD Electrical wire
layer, and you rename it using this utility, the
new layer name is substituted for DEMO-
WIRES in the AutoCAD Electrical wire layer
name list.
Settings Compare Displays differences between drawing and

wd_compare_d_2_p project settings. Allows update.
Project Manager Lists the drawing files associated with each

wd_picprj open project. Use this to add new drawings,
reorder drawing files, and change project set-
tings. You cannot have two projects open in
the Project Manager with the same project
name.

Tooltip Description
Command
Copy Project Copies an existing project to a new name and

wd_cpyprj creates renamed copies of the drawing files.
Project-Wide Update/Re- Updates component tags, wire numbers, lad-

tag der references, and select drawing settings.
wd_bump
Project-Wide Utilities Updates wire numbers, component tags, and

wd_prj_run attribute text. Allows user-defined scripts to
be applied project-wide.
Mark/Verify Drawings Places an invisible mark on each component

wd_mark before sending the drawings to a client. When
the drawings are returned, a list is generated
that includes any components or wire num-
bers that have been modified, edited, or
copied.
NOTE This command writes information to

the project database file that is used to check
for deleted components. Your drawings must
be named and part of the active project to use
this command.
Language Conversion Translates component description text from

wd_blab one language to another. Description text and
switch position text is processed on schematic
and panel components.
Edit Language Database Opens the current language table for review
File and modification. The default table is
wd_blab_edit wd_lang1.mdb
Rebuild/Freshen Project Rebuilds or freshens the project temporary

Database database file for connections, cross-referen-
(c:wd_mdb_rebuildall cing, and reporting.
nil)

Panel Layout toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Footprint (Icon Inserts panel footprint selected from on-screen

Menu) icon menu. This icon menu can be modified,
wd_do_psym_in expanded, or replaced with your own custom
menu. You can change the default icon menu
using the Project Properties dialog box. Use
the Icon Menu Wizard to easily modify the
menu.
Insert Footprint (Schem- Inserts and annotates panel footprint by refer-

atic List) encing the project's schematic component
wd_plo list. This report provides error checking
between the schematics and the panel layout
drawings. The program looks at the selected
components, both schematic and panel, to
find a match in the project. For each schemat-
ic component selected, the routine tries to
find a matching panel component based on
tag, location, and installation information. If
a match is found, then it further compares
catalog information looking for any discrepan-
cies. The program looks at each selected panel
component looking for a matching schematic
component in the same way.
Insert Footprint (Manual) Inserts panel footprint using a generic shape

wd_psym_in_mfp or by converting an existing non intelligent
AutoCAD block.
Insert Footprint (Manu- Inserts and annotates panel footprint using

facturer Menu) manufacturer-specific icon menu. This can
ace_menu_pnl_vendor save a lot of time if you frequently use the
same vendor and panel components. You can
even apply this method to create client-specif-
ic menus making it easier to use the vendor
or components that each client prefers.
Panel Layout toolbar | 31

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Footprint (Catalog Inserts and annotates panel footprint from

List) user-defined list of components with catalog
wd_inscat_p assignments. The data displayed in this pick
list is stored in a database in generic Microsoft
Access format. The file name is wd_pick-
list.mdb and can be edited with Access or
from Add/Edit/Delete along the bottom of the
pick list's dialog box. The AutoCAD Electrical
normal search path sequence is used to locate
this file.
Insert Footprint (Equip- Inserts and annotates panel footprint from

ment List) user-defined list of equipment.
ace_bom2pnl
Terminal Strip Editor Displays terminal strips inside of the active

ace_tse project database. The combination of Func-
tion, Location, and Terminal Strip values make
a complete unique record for selection in the
Terminal Strip Selection dialog box.
Terminal Strip Table Controls the Tabular Terminal layout format

Generator automatically. This creates a new drawing file
ace_auto_tsg with each section break and automatically
adds them to the project listing. The terminal
strip's function (installation) code, location
code, and tag are written to the Page Descrip-
tion Field inside of the Project Listing (*.WDP).
Insert Terminal (Schem- Inserts and annotates panel terminals by refer-

atic List) encing the project's schematic terminal list.
wd_ptrm_lo This report provides error checking between
the schematic terminals and panel layout ter-
minals. The program looks at the selected
terminals, both schematic and panel, looking
for a match in the project. For each schematic
terminal selected, it tries to find a matching
panel terminal based on tag, location, and

Tooltip Description
Command
installation information. If a match is found,

then it compares catalog information, and
description information, looking for any dis-
crepancies. The program then looks at each
selected panel terminal looking for a matching
schematic terminal in the same way.
Insert Terminal (Manual) Inserts and annotates panel terminal footprint

wd_psyma_in_mfpt using a generic shape or by converting an
existing non intelligent AutoCAD block. Some
schematic components may not carry manu-
facturer/catalog information or have a part
number assigned that is not listed in the
footprint lookup file. In such a case, AutoCAD
Electrical cannot determine what footprint
block needs to be used so you have to select
to make catalog assignments, select or create
a footprint, or create a lookup entry on the
fly.
Copy Footprint Copies selected panel footprint on active

wd_psym_cped drawing. Use the Copy Footprint tool instead
of AutoCAD Copy when a panel component
footprint has a balloon or a nameplate associ-
ated to it. Since AutoCAD Electrical establishes
invisible Xdata pointers when these are tied
to a footprint, they are properly updated when
copied using this utility.
Edit Footprint Edits panel footprint or terminal. Converts se-

wd_psymed lected block if it is not AutoCAD Electrical
compatible. In some cases, a footprint update
may be required due to manufacturer, catalog
or assembly value changes. When asked
whether to manually force a footprint change,
click No to leave the existing footprint block
as is or click Yes to set up a footprint lookup
database file or manually draw a simple foot-
print representation.

Tooltip Description
Command
Make Xdata Visible Converts any piece of non-visible extended

wd_pnlsb_x2a entity data (Xdata) into a visible attribute tied
directly to the footprint block.
Insert Balloon Inserts item number balloon.

wd_balloon
Wire Annotation of Panel Annotates panel footprint symbols with wire

Footprint connection information extracted from selec-
wd_pnlw_s2p ted schematics.
Panel Reports Selects panel reports such as Bill of Material,

ace_report_panel Component lists, Nameplates.
Rebuild/Freshen Project Rebuilds or freshens the project temporary

Database database file for connections, cross-referen-
(c:wd_mdb_rebuildall cing, and reporting.
nil)
Insert Panel Assembly Inserts WBlocked panel footprint assembly.

wd_pins Use the Insert Panel Assembly utility instead
of the AutoCAD Insert/Explode command
when you want to insert a WBlocked group
of panel component footprints with balloons
or nameplates. Since AutoCAD Electrical estab-
lishes invisible Xdata pointers when these are
tied to a footprint, they are properly updated
when copied using this utility.
Copy Assembly Copies one or more selected panel footprints.

wd_pcopy
Copy Installation Code Copies Installation Code to one or more selec-

wd_pnl_copyinst ted panel footprints.

Tooltip Description
Command
Copy Location Code Copies Location Code to one or more selected

wd_pnl_copyloc panel footprints.
Copy Mount Code Copies Mount Code to one or more selected

wd_pnl_copymnt panel footprints.
Copy Group Code Copies Group Code to one or more selected

wd_pnl_copygrp panel footprints.
Resequence Item Num- Assigns or resequences item number assign-

bers ments on a drawing or project. This extracts
wd_edplay all panel components and nameplates and
resequences their item numbers starting at
the value you provide. Resequencing is based
on the main MFG/CAT/ASSYCODE value
combination. Additional multi-catalog num-
bers on a specific component are ignored.
Only the main part number combination is
used to group similar components together
under a common item number.
Footprint Database File Edits the catalog number and footprint block
Editor name lookup file. The footprint lookup data-
wd_fped base links a manufacturer's catalog part num-
bers to appropriate footprint block .dwg files.
This information is in a multitable Access
database file (footprint_lookup.mdb).
Schematic Database File Edits the records in the schematic_lookup.mdb

Editor file to use for mapping panel footprints and
ace_acced_schemat- terminal representations to the equivalent
ic_lookup schematic component block names.
Rename Panel Layers Renames panel-related layers and updates

wd_edplay panel drawing settings. The Panel Layer Re-
name utility makes it easy to rename layers

Tooltip Description
Command
one by one, or multiple layers at once by using

the Find/Replace method. In addition to re-
naming the layer, this also updates the Auto-
CAD Electrical layer assignment information
carried on the drawing's WD_M block. For
example, if DEMO-WIRES is currently assigned
as an AutoCAD Electrical wire layer, and you
rename it using this utility, the new layer name
is substituted for DEMO-WIRES in the Auto-
CAD Electrical wire layer name list.
Update Footprint Layers Updates selected footprint layer assignments

wd_padj_lay to match panel drawing settings layer assign-
ments.
Panel Configuration Sets panel footprint drawing defaults such as

wd_pnldwg_cfg text sizes and layer assignments. Configuration
settings are saved as attribute values on a non-
visible block named WD_PNLM (that inserts
at 0,0). If your current drawing does not have
this block present when any AutoCAD Electric-
al panel layout command is invoked, AutoCAD
Electrical pauses and asks you for permission
to insert this block.
Conversion toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Special Explode Explodes attributes and blocks to geometry

ace_migr_burst and text entities while maintaining the value
previously defined in the attributes. You can
take advantage of the tagging tools to modify
the text entities to attributes and the linking
tools to make various blocks.

Tooltip Description
Command
Block Replacement Performs drawing-wide and project-wide block

ace_migr_replace replacements using a user-defined spread-
sheet. This automatically maps the unconver-
ted drawing's non-AutoCAD Electrical block
inserts and attributes to appropriate AutoCAD
Electrical-smart component symbols drawn
from a symbol library.
Promis·e Conversion Converts drawing files from promis·e to

ace_p2ae AutoCAD Electrical. It examines the current
symbol attributes on the drawing and maps
them to the equivalent AutoCAD Electrical at-
tribute to make them AutoCAD Electrical-
smart.
Tag Schematic Compon- Makes selected text entities an attributed block

ent file with the TAG1 attribute visible. The tem-
ace_migr_tag1 plate block file (HDV1_CONVERT.DWG or
VDV1_CONVERT.DWG depending on the
drawing properties) contains attributes for a
schematic component.
Tag PLC Makes selected text entities an attributed PLC

ace_migr_plctag address associated to a PLC tag. The template
block file (PLCIO_ADDR_CONVERT.DWG,
PLCIO_CONVERT.DWG, PLCIO_V_ADDR_CON-
VERT.DWG, or PLCIO_V_CONVERT.DWG de-
pending on the drawing properties) contains
attributes found useful for PLC addressing.
After the addressing is defined on the block,
select a PLC Tag or place one into the symbol
definition for use with AutoCAD Electrical.
Tag Child Makes selected text entities an attributed block

ace_migr_tag2 file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The tem-
plate block file (HDV2_CONVERT.DWG or
Conversion toolbar | 37
Tooltip Description
Command
drawing properties) contains attributes used

for a child component.
Tag Child - N.O. Makes selected text entities an attributed block

ace_migr_tag2_no file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The tem-
plate block file (HDV21_CONVERT.DWG or
for a child normally open contact component.
Tag Child - N.C. Makes the selected text entities an attributed

ace_migr_tag2_nc block file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The
template block file (HDV22_CONVERT.DWG
or VDV22_CONVERT.DWG depending on the
for a child normally closed contact compon-
ent.
Tag Child - Form C Makes the selected text entities an attributed

Command block file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The
template block file (HDV23_CONVERT.DWG
or VDV23_CONVERT.DWG depending on the
for a child Form C contact component.
Tag Schematic Terminal Makes the selected text entities an attributed

- Terminal Number block file with the TAGSTRIP and TERM01 at-
ace_migr_tagstrip_t tribute visible. The template block file
(HT0T_CONVERT.DWG or VT0T_CON-
VERT.DWG depending on the drawing prop-
erties) contains attributes used for a terminal
block component containing a terminal
number.

- Wire Number block file with the TAGSTRIP and WIRENO at-
ace_migr_tagstrip_w tribute visible. The template block file
(HT0W_CONVERT.DWG or VT0W_CON-

Tooltip Description
Command

block component containing a wire number
as the terminal number.

- Wire Number Change block file with the TAGSTRIP and TERM01 at-
ace_migr_tagstrip_wchg tribute visible. The template block file
(HT1T_CONVERT.DWG or VT1T_CON-
block component that changes the wire
number. This creates a terminal number block
that has a different wire number for each wire
connected to it.
Link Descriptions Links simple text as Description 1-3 attributes

ace_migr_desc1 on an AutoCAD Electrical block file. You can
link them as description attributes to one or
more existing template block definitions.
During the conversion process, the text entity
is removed and replaced with the next avail-
able description attribute, up to 3.
Link Split Tag Links another string of text to a tag attribute,

ace_migr_split_tag creating a split tag. Create the device Tag us-
ing the TAG1, TAG, or P_TAG1 attributes, and
then use this tool to select the existing TAG
attribute on the drawing and link another
string of text, creating a split tag situation.
The first TAG becomes the Part1 of the split
tag while the linked portion becomes the Part2
of the split tag.
Link PLC Address Descrip- Links simple text to a PLC address attribute as
tions PLC I/O address description attributes. During
ace_migr_plclink_desc the conversion process, the text entity is re-
moved and replaced with the next available
PLC address description attribute, up to 5.
Tooltip Description
Command
Link Terminal Number Links simple text to a TAGSTRIP attribute as a

ace_migr_termtxt terminal number attribute on an AutoCAD
Electrical terminal block symbol. During the
conversion process, the text entity is removed
and replaced with the TERM01 or WIRENO
attribute.
Link Location Code Links simple text as Location attributes on an

ace_migr_loc AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity value
is used as the Location value for one or more
template block definitions. If only one tem-
plate block is selected for the link, the text
entity is removed and replaced with the Loca-
tion attribute.
Link Installation Code Links simple text as Installation attributes on

ace_migr_inst an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity
value is used as the Installation value for one
or more template block definitions. If only one
template block is selected for the link, the text
entity is removed and replaced with the Install-
ation attribute.
Link Manufacturer Links simple text as manufacturer attributes

ace_migr_mfg on an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity
value is used as the Manufacturer value for
one or more template block definitions. If only
one template block is selected for the link, the
text entity is removed and replaced with the
Manufacturer attribute.
Link Catalog Number Links simple text as Catalog Number attributes

ace_migr_cat on an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity
value is used as the Catalog Number value for
Catalog Number attribute.

Tooltip Description
Command
Link Rating Links simple text as Rating 1-12 attributes on

ace_migr_rating an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity
value is used as the rating value for one or
more template block definitions. If only one
entity is removed and replaced with the rating
attribute, up to 12.
Link User Links simple text (that is not an attribute

ace_migr_user definition or part of geometry) as User (01-99)
attributes on an AutoCAD Electrical block file.
The entity value is used as the user value for
user attribute, up to 99. Window selection is
allowed.
Show Links Selects the tagged template block file and

ace_migr_show_links displays everything (such as description, loca-
tion, manufacturer, and catalog number
codes) that has been linked to it.
Un Link Selects an existing linked attribute and unlinks

ace_migr_unlink the attribute from the symbol, changing the
attribute to AutoCAD text.
Add Wire Connections Adds wire connection attributes to the existing

ace_migr_wire_conn tagged block file. Select line endpoints or
geometry to add the appropriate wire connec-
tion attributes to. A new block definition is
created with the newly added wire connec-
tions. You can subsequently create a new
block file if the block is exploded.
Add Geometry Adds AutoCAD geometry to a template block

ace_migr_add_geom file to be created as part of a unique block in-
stance. It creates a new block definition with
Tooltip Description
Command
the newly added geometry. You can sub-

sequently create a new block file if the block
is exploded.
Tag Panel Component Makes selected text entities an attributed block

ace_migr_p_tag1 file with the P_TAG1 attribute visible. The
template block file (ACE_P_TAG1_CON-
VERT.DWG) contains attributes for a panel
component.
Tag Nameplate Makes selected text entities an attributed block

ace_migr_np file with the DESC1-3 attributes visible. The
template block file (ACE_NP_CONVERT.DWG)
contains attributes used in nameplate symbols.
If the description text strings were previously
defined as attributes on an AutoCAD Electrical
panel component block definition, the attrib-
ute values on the panel component are hidden
and the nameplate attributes DESC1-3 are
added and made visible.
Tag Panel Terminal - Makes selected text entities an attributed block

Terminal Number file with the TERM01 terminal number attrib-
ace_migr_fpt_t ute visible. The template block file (ACE_TER-
MT_CONVERT.DWG) contains attributes for
terminal numbers.
Tag Panel Terminal - Makes selected text entities an attributed block

Wire Number file with the WIRENO wire number attribute
ace_migr_fpt_w visible. The template block file (ACE_TER-
MW_CONVERT.DWG) contains attributes for
panel terminal symbols.
Link Description Links simple text as Description 1-3 attributes

ace_migr_desc1 on an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. You
can link them as description attributes to one
or more existing template block definitions.

Tooltip Description
Command
is removed and replaced with the next avail-

able description attribute, up to 3.
Link Split Tag Links another string of text to a tag attribute,

ace_migr_split_tag creating a split tag. Create the device Tag us-
ing the TAG1, TAG, or P_TAG1 attributes, and
then use this tool to select the existing TAG
attribute on the drawing and link another
string of text, creating a split tag situation.
The first TAG becomes the Part1 of the split
tag while the linked portion becomes the Part2
of the split tag.
Link Item Number Links simple text as an Item Number attribute

ace_migr_item on an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file.
is removed and replaced with the Item Num-
ber attribute (P_ITEM).
Link Location Code Links simple text as Location attributes on an

ace_migr_loc AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The entity
value is used as the Location value for one or
more template block definitions. If only one
entity is removed and replaced with the Loca-
tion attribute.
Link Installation Code Links simple text as Installation attributes on

ace_migr_inst an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The
entity value is used as the Installation value for
Installation attribute.
Link Manufacturer Links simple text as manufacturer attributes

ace_migr_mfg on an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The
entity value is used as the Manufacturer value
Tooltip Description
Command
for one or more template block definitions. If

only one template block is selected for the
link, the text entity is removed and replaced
with the Manufacturer attribute.
Link Catalog Number Links simple text as Catalog Number attributes

ace_migr_cat on an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The
entity value is used as the Catalog Number
value for one or more template block defini-
tions. If only one template block is selected
for the link, the text entity is removed and re-
placed with the Catalog Number attribute.
Link Rating Links simple text as Rating 1-12 attributes on

ace_migr_rating an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The
entity value is used as the rating value for one
or more template block definitions. If only one
entity is removed and replaced with the rating
attribute, up to 12.
Link User Links simple text (that is not an attribute

ace_migr_user definition or part of geometry) as User (01-99)
attributes on an AutoCAD Electrical block file.
The entity value is used as the user value for
user attribute, up to 99. Window selection is
allowed.
Show Links Selects the tagged template block file and

ace_migr_show_links displays everything (such as description, loca-
tion, manufacturer, and catalog number
codes) that has been linked to it.

Tooltip Description
Command
Un Link Selects an existing linked attribute and unlinks

ace_migr_unlink the attribute from the symbol, changing the
attribute to AutoCAD text.
Add Wire Connections Adds wire connection attributes to the existing

ace_migr_add_geom tagged block file. Select line endpoints or
geometry to add the appropriate wire connec-
tion attributes to. A new block definition is
created with the newly added wire connec-
tions. You can subsequently create a new
block file if the block is exploded.
Add Geometry Adds AutoCAD geometry to a template block

ace_migr_add_geom file to be created as part of a unique block in-
stance. It creates a new block definition with
the newly added geometry. You can sub-
sequently create a new block file if the block
is exploded.
Convert Ladder Converts the upper-most line reference num-

wd_dumb_ladder ber on a non-intelligent ladder to be AutoCAD
Electrical-aware.
Change/Convert Wire Changes wire types and converts lines to

Type wires. Use the grid control to sort and select
wd_wirlay the wire types for easy modification.
Convert Text to Wire Converts a text object to an AutoCAD Electric-

Numbers al compatible wire number.
wd_convert_wn
Convert Block to Source Replace a non-AutoCAD Electrical source arrow

Arrow with a smart AutoCAD Electrical source arrow
wd_convert_src and maps the information to the new Auto-
CAD Electrical source.
Tooltip Description
Command
Convert Block to Destin- Replaces a non-AutoCAD Electrical destination

ation Arrow arrow with a smart AutoCAD Electrical destin-
wd_convert_dest ation arrow.
Check/Repair Gap Point- Verifies that the invisible Xdata pointers on

ers both sides of a wire gap/loop are valid. If not,
wd_gap_chk appropriate pointers are established.
Stretch Wire Lengthens a wire until it meets another wire

wd_str_wire or an AutoCAD Electrical component.
Change Attribute Size Quickly changes attribute text size when

wd_attrsize components or wire numbers have already
been inserted onto your drawings.
Add Attribute Adds a new attribute to an existing instance

wd_addattr of a block insert.
Convert Text to Attrib- Converts a text object into an attribute defini-

ute Definition tion object. This is not an attribute associated
wd_tx2attr to an already-inserted block. This is an attrib-
ute definition possibly on a library symbol that
becomes an attribute when the symbol draw-
ing is inserted as a block into another drawing.
Xdata Editor Allows display and edit of an object's “1000”

wd_xdata type extended entity data (Xdata).
Convert to Schematic Takes non-AutoCAD Electrical blocks or

Component graphics representing a symbol and replaces
wd_convert it with an AutoCAD Electrical block and trans-
fers the attribute or text values to this new
AutoCAD Electrical block.

Tooltip Description
Command
Map Attributes from Old Reassigns attributes from a converted block

to New to those expected by AutoCAD Electrical. This
wd_convert_edit allows you to continue what you started with
Convert to Schematic Component. Use this if
you did not finish mapping values from your
non-AutoCAD Electrical block.
Swap/Update Block Lets you update or change blocks in place.

wd_bswap_main Attribute values are retained during the
swapping process. Wire connections are also
maintained even if the new symbol is slightly
wider or narrower than the original.
Conduit Marker toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Conduit Marker (Pick) Formats an inter-wiring list from a selection

wd_wway1_endconn of interconnected components. Inserts as a
conduit tag.
Conduit Marker Formats an inter-wiring list from a subset of a

(From/To List) component from/to report. Inserts as a con-
wd_wway1_fromto duit tag.
Edit Conduit Marker Edits conduit marker tag, descriptions, and

wd_wway2_edit wire assignments.
Conduit Marker Report Extracts conduit marker information into a

wd_wway2_rpt report. Extractable conduit marker symbols
are named “WWAY*.” A conduit can be rep-
resented by a line or a polyline and by itself
does not carry any intelligence. However, you
can insert a conduit marker symbol and asso-
Conduit Marker toolbar | 47

Tooltip Description
Command
ciate it to a conduit. The conduit marker

symbol then carries wire information intelli-
gence pulled from the AutoCAD Electrical
drawings.
Wire/Conduit Routing Reports a list of conduit tag assignments that

Report a given wire or cable passes through.
wd_wway2_seq_rpt
Extract Wire Data Extracts schematic wiring information prior to

wd_wway1_wd3 conduit assignment.
Power Check toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Add/Edit Power Marks a component with a power source and

Source/Load Levels load value. A related routine, when invoked,
wd_pow1_P_set then scans the wire interconnections and re-
ports if there is too much load on a given
power source
Mark Component To Marks a component with a PASSPWR flag. The

Pass Power PASSPWR flag instructs the Power Report to
wd_pow1_passpwr pass through the marked component when
calculating the load on a given source. If a
component carries the PASSPWR flag the
Power Report program will pass through the
component and continue looking for load
values on the network.
NOTE Certain components don't need a

PASSPWR flag (such as terminals and contacts)
since they are automatically passed through.

Tooltip Description
Command
Power Load Check Re- Scans the wire interconnections and reports
port if there is too much load on a given power
wd_pow1_check_pwr source.
Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Insert/Edit Panel Level Allows viewing, assigning, or editing 3-digit

Assignment level codes and 4-digit sequence codes on
wdlev_edseq panel footprint components. This coding,
when present, can influence the way that
AutoCAD Electrical calculates the wire connec-
tion from/to sequence. As it processes the
schematic component representations and
wiring, it checks for any coding found on the
panel footprint and panel terminal strip repres-
entations. If present, it adjusts the from/to se-
quencing accordingly.
Missing Level/Sequence Reports which component symbols do not

Assignments have leveling and sequencing information
ace_wdlev_blank already assigned to them. This is used as a
troubleshooting mechanism to aid in the as-
signment of leveling and sequencing informa-
tion to provide better wire routing capabilities.
Insert/Edit Boundary Box Allows viewing or editing 3-digit level codes

Assignment for boundary boxes. Devices placed within the
wdbox boundary box take on the boundary's level
codes. The dialog box lists the number of
device footprints found within the boundary
and the number of devices that currently do
not match the boundary default.
Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar | 49

Tooltip Description
Command
Remove Level/Sequen- Removes routing assignments found on com-

cing assignment ponents, boundary boxes, or terminals.
wd_wdlev_remove
Copy Level Assignments Allows defining or capturing a common set of

wdlev_copyseq level assignments for panel footprint compon-
ents and then copy these 3-digit level codes
to one or multiple footprints. This coding,
when present, influences the way that Auto-
CAD Electrical calculates the wire connection
from/to sequence. As it processes the schem-
atic component representations and wiring,
it checks for any coding found on the panel
footprint and panel terminal strip representa-
tions. When present, it adjusts the from/to
sequencing accordingly.
Show Terminal Strip Se- Displays terminal level/sequencing assign-

quencing Assignments ments.
wdlev_sholev
Show Footprint Sequen- Displays footprint level/sequencing assign-

cing Assignments ments through terminal strips.
wdlev_sho_AtoB
View/Edit Component Sequences component footprints sharing the

Sequence same level assignment.
wdlev_addseq
Show Footprint Compon- Displays footprint level/sequencing assign-

ent Sequence ments.
wdlev_shoseq
Freshen Wire Data Freshens wire connection table in project's

wd_pn- database.
lw_x_frm2all_&ts_rpt

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Terminal Strip Define a rectangle as a supplementary terminal

Representation strip to be used in the wiring routing informa-
wd_psyma_in_mfptstrip tion over large control system equipment.
Panel Terminal Strip Re- Allows for selection of a supplementary termin-

port al strip representation to display wiring inform-
wd_lev_ts_rpt ation inside of a report generator dialog, and
subsequently insert a terminal strip layout
drawing.
Panel Terminal Strip Swaps wire annotation text from one side of
Swap Wire Text the terminal strip to the other. The Internal
wdlev_ts_swaptx and External default definition applies when
the terminal strip is initially placed.
Extra Libraries toolbar
Tooltip Description
Command
Insert Pneumatic Com- Inserts Pneumatic components from an on-

ponents screen icon menu. This icon menu can be
(c:wd_loadmenu modified, expanded, or replaced with your
“ACE_PNEU_MENU.DAT”); own custom menu. You can change the de-
wd_insym_dlg fault icon menu using the Project Properties
dialog box. Use the Icon Menu Wizard to
easily modify the menu.
Insert Hydraulic Compon- Inserts hydraulic components from an on-

ent screen icon menu. This icon menu can be
(c:wd_loadmenu modified, expanded, or replaced with your
“ACE_HYD_MENU.DAT”); own custom menu. You can change the de-
wd_insym_dlg fault icon menu using the Project Properties
dialog box. Use the Icon Menu Wizard to
easily modify the menu.
Extra Libraries toolbar | 51

Tooltip Description
Command
Insert P&ID Component Inserts P&ID components from an on-screen

(c:wd_loadmenu icon menu. This icon menu can be modified,
“ACE_PID_MENU.DAT”); expanded, or replaced with your own custom
wd_insym_dlg menu. You can change the default icon menu
using the Project Properties dialog box. Use
the Icon Menu Wizard to easily modify the
menu.

Projects
2
AutoCAD® Electrical software extends the capabilities of In this chapter
AutoCAD® so that you can quickly build and manage an ■ Learning about Standards
■ Performing Exercises
electrical controls drawing set.
■ Working with Projects
This manual provides concepts and exercises to help you get ■ Working with Drawings
started with AutoCAD Electrical.
53
Learning about Standards
AutoCAD Electrical currently supports the following industry standards: JIC
(US), IEC (Europe), JIS (Japan), GB (China) and AS (Australia). Although
AutoCAD Electrical supports many standards, the Getting Started manual follows
the JIC standard and sample drawing set.
Since the workflow for both JIC and IEC are nearly identical, you can perform
the following exercises using the IEC demo drawing set, however your
components and wire numbering will display differently.
Performing Exercises
All of the AutoCAD commands and features are available while working on
AutoCAD Electrical drawings. All intelligence is carried directly on the drawing
using AutoCAD blocks with attributes and XDATA. AutoCAD Electrical does
not require any underlying database.
Backup exercise files are found at Program Files\Autodesk\Acade
<version>\Tutorial\Electrical\Aegs. If you make a mistake while working through
the exercises in this manual, simply browse to and copy the demo file(s) to
your project folder.
NOTE The exercises in this manual must be performed in order. It is advised to

turn off the AutoCAD DYN feature (found on the status bar) before starting the
exercises.
The Getting Started manual uses two manufacturers: Allen Bradley and Siemens.
You must install both manufacturers in order to have the same results that
are shown here. If you need to install content from these manufacturers, open
the Add or Remove Programs tool in your Control Panel, select AutoCAD
Electrical, and click Change/Remove. Click Add/Remove Features, click Next
on the first screen, and then select AB and Siemens on the Manufacturer
Contents Selection screen.
Prerequisites
It is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the AutoCAD interface
and tools. If you do not, review the AutoCAD online documentation.
54 | Chapter 2 Projects
It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of Microsoft®
Windows® 2000 or Windows® XP, and a working knowledge of electrical
design and schematic ladder wiring diagrams.
Help
The AutoCAD Electrical Help system provides detailed concepts, procedures,
and reference information about every product feature. To access the Help
system:
■ Select Help ➤ Electrical Help Topics from the standard toolbar.
■ Click the Help button or press F1 within a dialog box or at a command

prompt.
Be more productive with Autodesk® software. Get trained at an Autodesk

Authorized Training Center (ATC®) with hands-on, instructor-led classes to
help you get the most from your Autodesk products. Enhance your productivity
with proven training from over 1,400 ATC sites in more than 75 countries.
For more information about Autodesk Authorized Training Centers, contact
atc.program@autodesk.com or visit the online ATC locator at
www.autodesk.com/atc.
Working with Projects

AutoCAD Electrical is a project-based system. Each project is defined by an
ASCII text file with a .wdp extension. This project file contains a list of project
information, default project settings, drawing properties, and drawing file
names. You can have an unlimited number of projects; however, only one
project can be active at a time.
NOTE You must install the JIC symbol library for these exercises to function
properly.
Use the Project Manager to add new drawings, reorder drawing files, and
change project settings. You cannot have two projects open in the Project
Manager with the same project name. By default, the Project Manager is open
and docked on the left-hand side of your screen. You can dock the Project
Manager into a specific location on the screen or hide it until you want to use
the project tools. Right-click the properties icon to display options to move,
size, close, dock, hide, or set the transparency for the Project Manager.
Help | 55
Create an AutoCAD Electrical project
1 Click the Project Manager tool if the Project Manager is not already
displayed on your screen.
Projects ➤ Project ➤ Project Manager
2 In the Project Manager, click the New Project tool.
NOTE You can also use the Project Manager to open an existing project. In
the Project Manager, click the project selection arrow and select Open Project.
3 In the Create New Project dialog box, specify:

Name: AEGS
A name must be entered in order to define any of the project properties.
The .wdp extension is not required in the edit box.
4 Make sure wddemo.wdp is specified in the Copy Settings from Project
File edit box.
5 Click OK-Properties.
Your new project is added to the current projects list and automatically
becomes the active project.
The Project Properties dialog box displays, where you can modify your project
default settings. All information defined on these tabs are saved to the project
definition file as project defaults and settings.
Set project properties
1 In the Project Properties dialog box, click the Components tab.
2 In the Component Tag Format section, verify Line Reference is selected.

This creates unique reference-based tags when multiple components of
the same family are located at the same reference location. When
reference-based tagging is used, a suffix variable is required to keep
components of the same family type unique. For example, 3 pushbuttons
on line reference 101 could be labeled PB101, PB101A, and PB101B. Click
Suffix Setup to change the suffix variable.
3 Click the Wire Numbers tab.
4 In the Wire Number Format section, verify Line Reference is selected.

This creates unique reference-based wire number tags for multiple wire
networks beginning at the same reference location. When reference-based
numbering is used, a suffix variable is required to keep wires on the same
Working with Projects | 57

reference line or in the same reference zone unique. Click Suffix Setup
to change the suffix variable.
5 Review the various options on the different tabs of the Project Properties
dialog box.
NOTE In the Project Properties dialog box, icons indicate whether the settings
apply to project settings or drawing defaults. Settings that apply to project
settings have the project icon next to them and are saved inside the project
definition file (*.wdp). Settings that are saved in the project file as drawing
defaults have the drawing icon next to them. Drawing related data that
should be added to the project when running the Add Drawing command
is saved as Drawing Custom Properties.
6 Click OK.
Working with Drawings

A single project file can have drawings located in many different directories.
There is no limit to the number of drawings in a project. You can add drawings
to your project at any time. When you create a new drawing, it is automatically
added to the active project.
Many of the drawing settings used by AutoCAD Electrical are stored in a smart
block on the drawing named WD_M.dwg. Each AutoCAD Electrical drawing
should contain only one copy of the WD_M block. If multiple WD_M blocks
are present, the settings may not be stored and read consistently.
Create a new drawing
1 In the Project Manager, click the New Drawing tool.
2 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, specify:

Name: AEGS11
Description 1: Bill of Materials Report
3 Click Browse next to the Template edit box.

A set of templates (*.dwt files) installed with AutoCAD Electrical contain
settings for various kinds of drawings, such as acad.dwt and
ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt.
You can create your own templates, or use any drawing as a template.
You can save a drawing at any stage of completion as a template file.
When you use a drawing as a template, the settings in that drawing are
used in the new drawing. The changes you make to a drawing that is
based on a template do not affect the template file.
AutoCAD Electrical fully supports the use of AutoCAD template files. To
make an AutoCAD drawing compatible with AutoCAD Electrical, select
an AutoCAD Electrical command to modify the drawing.
4 In the Select template dialog box, select ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt, and

click Open.
5 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, click OK.
Working with Drawings | 59

NOTE You could click OK-Properties to display the Drawing Properties dialog
box. This dialog box has options similar to those found in the Project
Properties dialog box, but defines drawing-specific settings that are maintained
inside the drawing's WD_M block.
6 In the Project Manager, double-click the project name (AEGS) to display

the drawing files. AEGS11 should be the only file in the list.
Add drawings to the project
1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS, and select Add Drawings.
2 In the Select Files to Add dialog box, select drawings AEGS01.dwg to

AEGS10.dwg and click Add.
3 When asked whether to apply the project default values to the drawing
settings, click Yes.
The Project Manager lists the files under the AEGS folder. New drawings
that you add from this point on are added at the end of the drawing
order. You now have access to the files required for the exercises in this
book.
NOTE Two projects can reference the same drawing file; however this can
lead to conflicts if both projects try to modify the same drawing with a
project-wide tagging or cross-referencing function.
The drawing order in the Project Manager determines how AutoCAD

Electrical processes the drawings during project-wide operations such as
resequencing and wire numbering.
4 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Reorder
Drawings.
5 In the Reorder Drawings dialog box, select AEGS11.dwg and click Move
Down until the drawing is at the bottom of the list.
6 Click OK.
AEGS11.dwg is now at the bottom of the project drawing file list in the
Project Manager.
NOTE The active drawing displays in bold text in the project drawing list
allowing you to easily see which file you are working in.
You can add descriptions for each drawing to the project file. Drawing
descriptions are saved in the project file only and do not change the drawing
itself. You can reuse drawing descriptions in title block attributes and associate
them with AutoCAD Electrical reports.
Add the description of a drawing you add
1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS10.dwg, and select Properties ➤

Drawing Properties.
2 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Settings dialog box, Drawing File

section, specify:
Description 1: Connector Drawing
3 Click OK.
4 In the Project Manager, highlight AEGS10.dwg.

5 In the Project Manager, Details section, review the drawing descriptions.
The drawing details update when you highlight a drawing file and remain
visible until a new drawing file is selected. Displayed information includes
the status, file name, file location, file size, last saved date, and the name
of the last user who modified the file.
Use the Project Manager to easily preview drawings. Moving among drawings
using the up and down keys does not open the drawing. It changes the preview
or details display in the Project Manager.
View drawings in a project
1 In the Project Manager, highlight AEGS04.dwg.
2 In the Project Manager, Details section, click Preview.
3 Continue to click the drawing name you want to preview or use the up
and down arrow keys to scroll through the drawing files.
4 When you finish viewing the drawings, click Details to return to the
drawing details view.
If a project drawing is currently open and you want to move to the previous
or next drawing in the projects list, use the Previous Project Drawing and Next
Project Drawing tools. When you use these tools to move among drawings,
any unsaved changes to the current drawing are saved, the drawing is closed,
and the requested drawing is opened.
View project drawings when a drawing is open
1 In the Project Manager, double-click AEGS04.dwg.
2 To view the drawings, click Previous Project Drawing and Next
Project Drawing.
A new window opens and the original window closes when you click the
navigation tools unless you hold the Shift key while clicking the tools.

64
Ladder Style Diagrams
Part 2 of this manual provides information on setting up and In this part

working with ladder style diagrams. ■ Wires
■ Schematic Components
■ Circuitry
■ PLC
■ Wire Numbers
■ Panel Layouts
65
66
Wires
3
This chapter contains information about wires and how they In this chapter
are used in AutoCAD® Electrical. ■ About Wires
■ Inserting Wires
■ Trimming Wires
67
About Wires
AutoCAD Electrical treats AutoCAD® line entities as wires when the lines are
placed on an AutoCAD Electrical defined wire layer. The number of wire layers
available in AutoCAD Electrical is unlimited. These lines get tagged with wire
numbers and show up in various wire connection reports.
Two wire segments connect if the end of one wire segment touches or falls
within a small trap distance of any part of the other wire segment. This
connection can be at the end of the other wire or anywhere along the length
of the other wire.
AutoCAD Electrical considers a wire connected to a component if the wire
end falls within a trap distance from the wire connection-point attribute of a
component.
The wire layer for a new wire segment is determined by:
■ Wires that begin or end in space or begin and end at a component

connection point, are put on the current layer (if it's a wire layer), or on
the first wire layer AutoCAD Electrical finds in a layer name search.
■ Wires that begin at an existing wire are put on the same layer as the
beginning wire.
■ Wires that begin in space or at a component and end at an existing wire

take on the layer of the ending wire.
Inserting Wires
You can start or end a wire segment in empty space, from an existing wire
segment, or from an existing component. If you start from a component, the
wire segment snaps to the wire connection terminal closest to your pick point
on that symbol. If the wire segment ends at another wire segment, a DOT
(block name wddot.dwg) is applied if appropriate. If it ends at another
component, the segment connects to the wire connection terminal closest to
your pick point on that symbol.
NOTE When inserting wires, if a wire already occupies a wire connection point,
the new wire is drawn as an angled wire connection.
68 | Chapter 3 Wires
Insert wiring
1 In the Project Manager, Project Drawing List, double-click AEGS04.dwg.
2 Zoom in on the upper left corner of the drawing. Make sure the
hot and neutral vertical wires are displayed.
3 Click the Add Rung tool.

Wires ➤ Add Rung
4 Respond to the prompts as follows:

Add rung passing through this location or [wiretype (T)]:
Select a location between the two vertical bus wires beside line reference 403
(1)
Add rung passing through this location or [wiretype (T)]:
Select a location between the two vertical bus wires beside line reference 404,
underneath the newly created rung (2), press ENTER
Two horizontal wires are created automatically between the vertical bus
wires at the closest line reference location.
Create two vertical wires between two horizontal wires
1 Click the Insert Wire tool.

Wires ➤ Insert Wire

Specify wire start or [wiretype (T)/show connections (X)]:
Select the top wire at line reference 403(1)
Inserting Wires | 69
Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H=start
Horizontal/Continue]: Select the lower wire at line reference 404 (2)
The color of temporary graphics changes for a new wire when AutoCAD
Electrical can connect the wire to an existing wire.
Component wire connection points are displayed as green x’s at the wire
connections when you enter X + ENTER during wire insertion. If you pan
or zoom, you have to repeat the command in order to view the wire
connection points.
3 Insert another wire to the right of the new wire.
4 Press ENTER to exit the command.

The inserted wires resemble the following image.
Trimming Wires
After you insert wires, you may need to trim them. The Trim Wire tool removes
wire segments. You can trim single or multiple wires.
Trim a wire
1 Click the Trim Wire tool.

Wires ➤ Trim Wire

Fence/Crossing/Zext/<Select wire to TRIM>:
Specify the wire segment at line reference 404 between the two vertical wires
(1), right-click
70 | Chapter 3 Wires
Wire segments are trimmed back to a connecting dot, a component, or
completely if neither is encountered along the segment. Any connection
dots that are no longer needed are removed.
The trimmed wire resembles the following image.
Trimming Wires | 71
72
Schematic Components
4
This chapter contains information about schematic In this chapter
components in AutoCAD® Electrical and inserting them into ■ About Schematic
Components
drawings. ■ Inserting Components
■ Editing Components
■ Linking Components
■ Editing Catalog Information
■ Moving Between Symbols
■ Swapping Components
■ Creating Custom Symbols
73
About Schematic Components
An AutoCAD Electrical schematic component is an AutoCAD® block with
certain expected attributes. When inserting components, you can use AutoCAD
Electrical tools to break wires, assign unique component tags, cross reference
related components, and enter values for catalog information, component
descriptions, and location codes.
AutoCAD Electrical supplies a schematic symbol dialog box for finding and
inserting schematic components. It also triggers a number of additional
features, such as automatic wire breaks, component tagging, real-time
cross-referencing, and component annotation.
Inserting Components
AutoCAD Electrical employs a parent/child relationship for schematic
components. A relay coil with a certain number of contacts is represented by
the parent coil symbol and the child contact symbols. When the parent coil
symbol is inserted, it is assigned a unique component tag. When the child
contact symbols are inserted, the child is related to the parent and the parent
tag is assigned to the child symbol.
In this exercise, you insert components on the wires previously defined in
AEGS04.dwg.
Insert a parent component
1 Click the Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Insert Component
2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, click

Relays/ Contacts.
3 In the JIC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, click Relay Coil.

Specify insertion point:
74 | Chapter 4 Schematic Components

Position the component on the wire at line reference 403 near the neutral wire
and click (1)
TIP If the component misses the wire and it fails to break, click Cancel in the
Insert/Edit Component dialog box and press ENTER to repeat the command
and try again.
The coil symbol breaks the underlying ladder wire and reconnects if you
select directly on the wire or very near to it. If the component didn’t
insert in-line with the wire, you didn’t select close enough to the wire
for the symbol to sense that there was a nearby wire. Click Cancel on the
Insert/Edit Component dialog box. Right-click or press ENTER to repeat
the command and try again. Turning on Snap will help (0.125 is a good
setting to use).
This tool inserts components into alignment with underlying wires, it
does not align components side-to-side. If you want to insert components
in neat columns, you have 3 options: use AutoCAD Snap when inserting
components; use the Scoot command to stretch components and
connected wires in place; or use the Align Component tool.
5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify the Component Tag is

set to CR403.
AutoCAD Electrical automatically determines the unique tag name for
the new relay based on the line reference location that you inserted the
symbol on. “CR” indicates that it is a control relay and “403” indicates
that the symbol is on line reference 403. If you inserted this symbol on
line reference 404 then the tag name would be “CR404.”
You can assign a catalog number to the component that can be extracted
into reports. There are two pieces of BOM catalog information:
manufacturer code and catalog number. These values are carried as
invisible attributes on the symbol. You can type in values for each or
select the BOM information from an on-line catalog database file.
6 In the Catalog Data section, click Lookup.

There are three search criteria pull-down lists across the top of the Parts
Catalog dialog box. You can easily change the search criteria to get a
different set of valid catalog numbers. Each time you make a selection
from one of these lists, the catalog selection is filtered.
Inserting Components | 75
7 In the Parts catalog dialog box, select the following search criteria:
MANUFACTURER: AB
TYPE: TYPE P
8 Change the catalog assignment to 700-P200A1.
9 Click Catalog Check.
10 In the Bill Of Materials Check dialog box, review the BOM information
associated with the selected part number.
Click Close.
11 In the Parts catalog dialog box, click OK.

The selected manufacturer code and catalog number display in the
Insert/Edit Component dialog box. When you click OK on the dialog
box, the values will transfer to the symbol.

NOTE Sample catalog information is provided with AutoCAD Electrical in
Access Database format (.mdb). If your company uses its own internal coding
system instead of manufacturer catalog numbers, just substitute those
numbers into AutoCAD Electrical’s catalog database files. If you use your own
system and reference a vendor’s number, extra user fields are available in all
of the sample database files.
12 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Description section, specify:

Line 1: MASTER CONTROL
Line 2: RELAY
Up to 3 lines of description text can be entered as a description for
components. If the third description line is unavailable, the symbol does
not carry an attribute for a third line of description.
NOTE You can specify a description by entering text or by clicking Defaults

to select from a list of standard component descriptions.
13 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Location code section, click

Drawing.
AutoCAD Electrical does a quick read of the drawing file and returns a
list of all location codes used so far.
14 In the All Locations - Drawing dialog box, select MCAB5 and click OK.
NOTE You can also include an external “LOC” location list in the project
“LOC” list to help with consistency. To use this feature, create a file called
default.loc and put it in an AutoCAD Electrical search directory. The format
for this text file is each location on its own line in the file with no leading
spaces. You can also create a project-specific file by naming it the same as
your project but with a.loc extension.
15 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, the pin values are inserted
based on the selected catalog number:
Pins: 1: K1
Pins: 2: K2
16 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK.
Any values entered here are saved as attribute values on the symbol itself.
Relocating Components
You might need to scoot the component if it was not inserted in the correct
location. Use the Scoot tool to select a component or wire number and slide
it back and forth along the wire while keeping everything connected. You can
select a wire or a whole rung of circuitry and scoot it to a new position. If
there are any parent components among the scooted items, you will be asked
if you want to retag the scooted components.
The Scoot tool works on wire numbers, components, terminals, PLC I/O
modules, jogs in dashed link lines, signal arrows, wires, and wires with
wire-crossing loops.

Scoot a component
1 Click the Scoot tool.

Components ➤ Scoot

Select component, wire, or wire number for SCOOT:
Select the component that was just inserted at line reference 403
The cursor changes to a box.
Select component, wire, or wire number for SCOOT: to:
Move the cursor to the right and click, right-click to exit the command
The component moves to its new location.
You can use the Scoot tool to grab a component or a wire number and
slide it back and forth along a wire. You can grab a wire or a whole rung
of circuitry and scoot it to a new position, while keeping everything
connected.
The steps to insert a parent component and a child component are the same,
except when you annotate the symbol.
Insert a child component

Relocating Components | 79
Relays/ Contacts.
3 In the JIC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, click Relay NO Contact.

Position the cursor on the wire at line reference 404 near the hot wire and click
(1)
The Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box displays. Notice that

AutoCAD Electrical did not automatically assign a tag name for the relay
contact; there is just a generic “CR” in the edit box. You must determine
the relay contact tag name. A relay contact is a child component that
must link to a parent relay coil on a drawing in the active project. The
child gets the same name that is found on the parent relay coil.
You can assign the tag name by clicking Parent/Sibling and picking the
parent in the drawing or by clicking List: Drawing or Project to select
from a list of components with the same family name.
5 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, Component Tag section,

click Drawing.
6 In the Active Drawing list for FAMILY=”CR” dialog box, select:

MCAB5 CR403 MASTER CONTROL RELAY

7 Click OK.
The parent’s values are immediately transferred to the contact. It is
cross-referenced in real-time. This means that the coil is annotated with
the line reference number of the new child contact and the child contact
gets annotated with the line reference location of the parent coil.
8 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, verify the following

options are specified:
Component Tag: CR403
Description: Line 1: MASTER CONTROL
Description: Line 2: RELAY
Cross-reference: 403
Location code: MCAB5
Pins: Pin 1: A1X
Pins: Pin 2: A1Y
Relocating Components | 81
9 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, click OK.
The child component is inserted:
Aligning Components
Align the normally open relay with an existing component. After you insert
a component, you can align or edit it as necessary.
Align a component
1 Expand the Scoot tool, and then click the Align tool.
Components ➤ Align

Pick component to align with (Horizontal/<Vertical>):

Select the normally open limit switch component near the hot wire at line
reference 406 (1)
A dashed line is displayed.
Select objects:
Select the previously inserted child contact component near the hot wire at line
reference 404 (2), right-click
The aligned component is placed.
Inserting Components
Now you need to insert a system reset push button, pilot light, and an
emergency stop push button to make up the circuit.
Insert a system reset button


Push Buttons.
3 In the JIC: Push Buttons dialog box, click Push Button NO.

Position the push button on the wire at line reference 403 near the hot wire
and click (1)
5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify the following:
Component Tag: PB403
AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigned the tag name based on the
line reference.
6 In the Descriptions section, specify:

Line 1: SYSTEM
Line 2: RESET
7 In the Location code section, click Drawing.
8 In the All Locations - Drawing dialog box, select OPSTA3 and click OK.
Insert a pilot light


Pilot Lights.
3 In the JIC: Pilot Lights dialog box, click Green Press to Test.

Position the pilot light on the wire at line reference 404 near the neutral wire
and click (2)

TIP Having Snap turned on makes positioning the pilot light easier.
5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify:

Component Tag: LT404

Line 1: CONVEYOR
Line 2: ON
Insert a push button for emergency stop


Push Buttons.
3 In the JIC: Push Buttons dialog box, click Mushroom Head NC.

Position the push button on the middle of the wire at line reference 403 and
click (3)
Component Tag: PB403A
AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigned the tag name based on the
line reference. It added the “A” suffix since this is your second push
button on this line reference.

Line 1: EMERGENCY STOP

Your finished schematic should resemble the following:
Editing Components
You can go back to a component at any time and make changes. You can
change description, tag, catalog number, location code, terminal numbers,
and rating values using the Edit Component tool.
Insert a child contact
1 Zoom in on the blank ladder rung at line reference 410.
2 Press F9 to turn SNAP on.


Selector Switches.
5 In the JIC: Selector Switches dialog box, click 2nd+ NC Contact.

Position the selector switch at line reference 410 near the left side of the ladder
and click (1)
Insert a pilot light


Pilot Lights.
3 In the JIC: Pilot Lights dialog box, click Blue Press to Test.

Position the pilot light at line reference 410 near the neutral wire but exactly
in line with the selector switch and click (2)
Editing Components | 87
Component Tag: LT410

Line 1: MAINT
Line 2: MODE
Edit a child contact
1 Press F9 to turn SNAP off.
2 Click the Edit Component tool.

Components ➤ Edit Component
NOTE You can also right-click on a component and select Edit Component
from the context menu.

Select component/cable/location box to EDIT:
Select the selector switch on line reference 410

click Parent/Sibling.

Select component:
Select the bottom sibling contact (3) of the existing switch on line reference 408
AutoCAD Electrical reads the sibling contact and transfers the appropriate
annotation to your new switch contact.
Editing Components | 89
The sibling contact information is displayed on the drawing.
Linking Components
In this exercise, you link the selector switch you just inserted to the existing
RAM MODE selector switch residing on line reference 406 through 408 using
dashed link lines.
Connect components using wires


Specify wire start or [wireType/X=show connections]:
Click the wire connection point on the right-hand side of the switch contact (1)
Specify wire end or [Continue]:
Drag the wire to the right and click the wire connection point on the left-hand
side of the blue pilot light (2)
Specify wire start or [Scoot/wireType/X=show connections]:

Click the left-hand side of the switch contact
Drag the wire to the left and click the left-hand vertical bus wire
The wire automatically ends on the bus and inserts a wire connection
dot.
3 Repeat the process to connect the right-hand side of the blue pilot light
to the vertical bus wire.
4 Right-click and select Enter to finish creating the wire connections.
If you lay a wire over the top of a series of components, AutoCAD

Electrical automatically breaks and reconnects to the underlying wire
connection points.
Link components
1 Expand the Dashed Link Lines tool, and then click the Link
Components with Dashed Line tool.
Components ➤ Link ➤ Link Components with Dashed Line

Component to link from:
Click the contact of the switch on line reference 408 (6)
Linking Components | 91
Component to link to:
Click anywhere on your new switch contact (7), right-click
The contact’s annotation is changed to invisible and a dashed link line

is drawn from the bottom of the upper contact to the top of your new
contact.
Your finished schematic should resemble the following:
NOTE The Scoot command is fully compatible with dashed line links. Scooting
one contact left or right causes both links to automatically update. You can
even scoot the horizontal “jog” in the dashed link line up or down.
Editing Catalog Information

Sample catalog information is supplied with AutoCAD Electrical. The
information is held in tables in an Access Database file (.mdb) that is populated
with sample vendor data.
You can use sort criteria in the catalog lookup to selectively display catalog
numbers for a component type.
Filter catalog data
1 Right-click on LT410 and select Edit Component.
2 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Catalog Data section, click

Lookup.

3 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, select:
Manufacturer: AB
Type: 30.5mm
Voltage: 120VAC XFMR
4 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-PT16E.
Add a catalog entry
1 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, click Add.
Editing Catalog Information | 93

The entries are prefilled with the information for the currently assigned
catalog part number. This makes it easy to add a new entry with similar
information.
2 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, specify:

Catalog: BOG-123B
Manufacturer: BOGUS
The catalog lookup works most efficiently when field values that are
meant to be the same are exactly the same in both spelling and
capitalization. The list box beside each field helps you maintain
consistency as you add new catalog items.
3 Click List next to the Description field.

AutoCAD Electrical does a quick scan of the existing catalog file. It collects
and displays a list of all of the different description field values found in
the catalog.
4 In the Field Description existing values dialog box, select BLUE PILOT
LIGHT - PRESS TO TEST, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.

5 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, click List next to the Type, Voltage
and Miscellaneous fields and select the values shown below if not already
selected.
AutoCAD Electrical provides 3 blank user fields for your own internal
use. Each can be a maximum of 24 characters wide and are extracted into
BOM reports along with all of the other fields.
NOTE You can add catalog entries with a subassembly. To link a subassembly
with the main, the catalog part numbers should share the same codes. In the
Edit Catalog Record dialog box, select As main->sub, enter the ASSYCODE,
and click OK. The ASSYCODE needs to be unique since it links the main
catalog item with subassembly items. To add the subassembly item, in the
Add Catalog Record dialog box, create a new catalog entry, select As sub,
enter an ASSEMBLYLIST code, and click OK.
6 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, click OK.

As the new entry is being added to the file, the Part Catalog dialog box
displays.
Editing Catalog Information | 95

7 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, select the BOG-123B catalog entry and
click OK.
Moving Between Symbols

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Surf utility to quickly move from component
reference to reference across the project drawing set.
1 Zoom on the upper left-hand portion of the first ladder column.
2 Click the Surfer tool.

Projects ➤ Surfer
3 Click anywhere on relay coil CR407.

All instances of CR407 appear in the Surf dialog box.
4 Select the reference on sheet 6.
5 Click Go To.
The instance of CR407 on sheet 6 is surfed to and displayed in the drawing

next to the Surf dialog box.
Moving Between Symbols | 97

6 Select the reference on sheet 9.
7 Click Go To.
You can edit or delete the component using options in the Surf dialog
box.
8 Double-click the first entry in the Surf dialog box to return to the original
AEGS04.dwg drawing.
9 Click Close.
NOTE Drawing files are saved while surfing if AutoCAD Electrical senses that
a change has been made to the drawing.
Swapping Components
You can use the Swap Block tool to swap one component for another (such
as swapping a proximity switch with a limit switch) in a single drawing or
project-wide.
Swap switches while keeping wire connections
1 Zoom in on the limit switch on line reference 406.

2 Expand the Insert Component tool, and then click the Swap/Update
Block tool.
Components ➤ Component Miscellaneous ➤ Swap/Update Block
3 In the Swap Block/ Update Block/ Library Swap dialog box, specify:
Option A: Swap a Block - drawing wide
Pick new block from icon menu
Retain old block scale
Auto retag if parent swap causes FAMILY change
Attribute Mapping: Use Same Attribute Names (default)
Click OK.

Miscellaneous Switches.
5 In the JIC: Other Switch Types dialog box, click Proximity Switch
NO.

Select component type to swap out: Select the limit switch, LS406
The limit switch symbol disappears and the proximity switch symbol
inserts. All existing text annotation transfers to the new symbols and the
wires reconnect.
Swapping Components | 99
Creating Custom Symbols
You can use the Symbol Builder to easily create an AutoCAD Electrical symbol.
This utility builds a smart schematic symbol by either adding AutoCAD
Electrical attributes to the symbol's geometry or by converting text entities to
AutoCAD Electrical attributes. You can also use AutoCAD attribute definition
and editing commands to do the same thing. This tool just makes the task
easier by letting you quickly pick and place attributes. It tracks what attributes
are present and checks your work to make sure that any required attributes
are not omitted.
NOTE If at any time you exit out of the Symbol Builder, restart it and select any
graphics and attributes you’ve added so far. You can then start from where you
left off.
Create a parent schematic symbol
1 Open AEGS03.dwg.
2 Expand the Miscellaneous tool, and then click the Symbol Builder
tool.
Components ➤ Symbol Library ➤ Symbol Builder
3 At the command prompt press ENTER.
4 In the Symbol Builder: Choose symbol category dialog box, Schematic

Symbol section, click Parent.
5 In the Symbol Builder - Schematic Parent or Stand-alone symbol dialog

box, click Rectangle.

6 Draw a rectangle anywhere on the drawing.
TIP It may be easiest to draw it in the white space on the left-hand side of
the drawing.
Creating Custom Symbols | 101

Adding Attribute Symbols
In this example, we add 5 attributes: TAG1, DESC1, LOC, INST and FAMILY.
However you are not limited to these 5 attributes and you can include your
own user-defined attributes on the AutoCAD Electrical block files.
NOTE The TAG1 attribute is the only one required for a parent schematic symbol
and indicates to AutoCAD Electrical that the symbol should be treated as a parent.
Add attributes

box, click Standard.
Use this option to assign attributes to the rectangle as well as set the
height and justification for each attribute. The Component type:
Schematic Parent or Stand-alone dialog box displays listing the AutoCAD
Electrical attributes that you can insert and define as part of the symbol.
Once an attribute is inserted on the symbol it is disabled in the Missing
Attributes list. AutoCAD Electrical allows only one insertion of each
attribute.
NOTE You cannot create a symbol using the Symbol Builder until the
minimum attribute requirements are met. In most cases this means the TAG1
or TAG2 attribute.

2 In the Component type: Schematic Parent or Stand-alone dialog box,
specify:
TAG1
Height: 0.125
Justify: Center
Click Insert Attribute.
3 Insert the attribute above the rectangle.

The TAG1 default code dialog box displays. The default code is the %F
value of the tag format (such as “CR,” “PB,” or “LT”).
4 In the TAG1 default code dialog box, enter PS and click OK.
Notice that the Component type: Schematic Parent or Stand-alone dialog
box redisplays. The TAG1 option is now grayed out since that attribute
has been placed for the parent symbol. Continue placing the rest of the
attributes.
5 In the Component type: Schematic Parent or Stand-alone dialog box,

specify:
DESC1
Height: 0.125
Adding Attribute Symbols | 103

Justify: Center
Click Insert Attribute.
6 Insert the attribute below TAG1.
NOTE You do not have to insert the MFG, CAT or ASSYCODE attributes at
this time since they are automatically added through the Symbol Builder’s
WBLOCK option and set to invisible by default.
7 Insert the LOC, INST, and FAMILY attributes (in order) as indicated below:
LOC
Height: 0.0625
Justify: Center
Insert the attribute above TAG1.
INST
Height: 0.0625
Justify: Center
Insert the attribute above LOC.
FAMILY
Insert the attribute anywhere.

Once you place the FAMILY attribute, the FAMILY code dialog box
displays. The Family value generally matches the TAG1 %F value. This
value is only used when naming the block.
8 In the FAMILY code dialog box, click OK.

Notice that the FAMILY and TAG1%F default codes display in the
Component type: Schematic Parent or Stand-alone dialog box above the
Insert Attribute button. These values should both be PS.
9 Click Back to Main Menu.
Adding Wire Connection Points

If a component’s X?TERMxx (for example, "X2TERM01") wire connection-point
attribute lies within the small trap distance of the end of a wire, then AutoCAD
Electrical interprets the component connected to the wire. The only time the
trap distance changes is when you change the Feature Scale Multiplier in the
Drawing (or Project) Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box.
NOTE Components with closely spaced wire connection points may not be
processed properly if the connection points fall within the AutoCAD Electrical trap
distance of one another.
Insert connection points

box, click Wire Connection.
You can define wire connection points and terminal text for the library
symbol. The Terminal style/configuration dialog box displays.
Adding Wire Connection Points | 105

2 In the Terminal style/configuration dialog box, select Terminal Style 1 =
Screw.
This terminal style inserts both the graphic to represent the screw and
the wire connection points. You now have to determine which direction
the wire attaches to the component.
3 Click the button with the wire coming in from both the top
and the left.
4 Insert the terminal in the upper left-hand corner as shown.
NOTE Always use AutoCAD Snap to insert the wire connection point.

5 In the TERM01 --> X?TERM01 wire connection point dialog box, click
OK.
NOTE If the TERM01 text is not where you want it, click Move and select
the new location for the text before you click OK.
6 In the Pin number default value dialog box, enter L and click OK.
7 Insert the rest of the terminals as follows:

TERM02
Wire connection configuration:

Insertion Point: in the upper right-hand corner
Pin Number Value: N
TERM03

Insertion Point: below TERM02
Pin Number Value: GND
TERM04

Insertion Point: in the lower right-hand corner
Pin Number Value: -
Adding Wire Connection Points | 107

TERM05

Insertion Point: to the left of TERM04
Pin Number Value: -
TERM06

Pin Number Value: +
TERM07

Pin Number Value: +
8 In the Terminal style/configuration dialog box, click Back to Main Menu.

Your drawing should look like the following.

Saving Symbols
You have two options for saving the symbol: WBlock or Block. WBlock creates
the symbol file to be inserted while Block creates the symbol for this drawing
file only.
NOTE If WBlock and Block are disabled you have not satisfied the requirement of
the TAG1 attribute on the block. If this is the case, go back and make sure you
inserted the TAG1 attribute.
Save and insert the symbol onto a drawing

box, click WBlock.
AutoCAD Electrical provides a default name for the new symbol. Avoid
changing the first 4 characters of the file name and limit the total length
to 32 characters.
2 Enter a file name or accept the default and click Save.
3 In the Block insertion base point dialog box, click OK.
4 Specify the insertion point. Pick the point in-line with the top terminals
so that it is easy to later place on a wire.
5 When asked to insert an instance of this block now, click OK.
6 Place the symbol on the empty wire on the left-hand side of the drawing.
Saving Symbols | 109

The wire breaks, the component tag inserts, and the wires connect to the
symbol.
NOTE New symbols you create can also be inserted with the AutoCAD
Electrical Insert Component command. You can add your new symbol to the
icon menu or you can select it from the Type it or Browse dialog file selection
options in the icon menu.

Circuitry
5
This chapter provides information about working with In this chapter
collections of interconnected components, or circuits. Circuits ■ Moving an Existing Circuit
■ Creating a New Motor
can be simple or complex, single or multiple, and with or
Circuit
without interconnecting wiring. Reusing circuits can both ■ Saving and Inserting
Standard Circuits
speed up drawing creation and reduce errors.
■ Inserting Saved Circuits
Using WBlock
111
Moving an Existing Circuit
When you move a circuit, most of the parent components contained in the
circuit automatically retag since the drawing is set up for reference-based
component tagging and, in the process of moving the circuit, you are changing
the reference locations of the moved components. Related child components
update to match the new parent tags, including references on other drawings
in the project.
NOTE Tagging updates vary depending on your default tagging configurations.
Move the location of a circuit
1 Open AEGS02.dwg.
2 Zoom in on the lower left corner of the drawing. Make sure the
3-phase motor circuit at line reference 215 is visible.
This circuit has component tags “FU215” on the 3-pole fuse, “215CBL”
on the multi-conductor cable, “DS215” on the disconnect switch, and
“MOT216” on the motor.
3 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Move Circuit
tool.
Components ➤ Move Circuit

Select Objects:
Window around the circuit on line reference 215 to capture the connection wire
and dots that tie in to the vertical bus, right-click
112 | Chapter 5 Circuitry

Press F9 to turn SNAP on.
Specify base point or displacement:
Select a base point and then select a point on line reference 214
The circuitry is moved, the affected components are retagged, and
cross-references are updated based on the new line reference. Each of the
listed parent component tags decrement by one. For example, fuse FU215
became FU 214.
5 In the Update Related Components dialog box, click Yes-Update.
Related child references on the active drawing update to match the newly
retagged parent components.
6 In the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.

Related child components and panel layout references on other drawings
that need to match the parent components on the moved circuit update.
7 If asked to save the drawing, click OK.
Moving an Existing Circuit | 113

9 Select FU214 on the drawing.

The Surf dialog box displays 3 references on sheet 2 and 1 reference on
sheet 9.
10 Double-click the reference on Sheet 9.

Surfer goes to the panel layout drawing and zooms on the physical
representation of this 3-pole fuse. Notice that the physical representation
of the fuse block tag updated because the circuit was moved.
11 Double-click the first entry in the dialog box to return to the original
AEGS02.dwg drawing.
12 Click Close.
Moving the motor circuit up one line reference spacing opened up a bit more
room for a new circuit to be added below it. The next step is to extend the
3-phase bus down to line reference 218 and over to the right to begin building
a new motor circuit.
Extending the 3-phase bus

Wires ➤ Trim Wire

Left-click the bottom ends of the 3 dangling wires, right-click
You can insert vertical or horizontal 3-phase wiring. Three-phase wiring

automatically breaks and reconnects to any underlying components that

it finds in its path. If it crosses any existing wiring, wire-crossing gaps are
inserted.
3 Expand the Insert Wire tool, and then click the Multiple Wire Bus
tool.
Wires ➤ Multiple Wire Bus
4 In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, select:

Horizontal Spacing: 0.5
Vertical Spacing: 0.5
Starting at: Another Bus (Multiple Wires)
Number of Wires: 3
5 Click OK.

Select existing wire to begin multi-phase bus connection:
Select the bottom corner of the left-most vertical bus on line reference 214 as
shown
Select existing wire to begin multi-phase bus connection: to:

Pull your cursor down to line reference 218 and over to the right
Moving an Existing Circuit | 115

Temporary graphics show the proposed routing of the extended bus.
7 To maintain the same phase sequence on the new horizontal portion of

the bus, enter F to flip the phase order of the 90-degree turn. Move your
cursor slightly to force the display to update.
8 Click to create the wires.
9 Right-click to exit the command.

The 3-phase bus and wire connection dot symbols are inserted on the
drawing.

Creating a New Motor Circuit
You will now construct a new motor circuit on the extended 3-phase bus. It
is similar to the previous one, except it wires directly from the overloads to
the motor through a fusible disconnect switch.
Copy the circuit
1 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Copy Circuit
tool.
Components ➤ Copy Circuit

Select objects:
Window around the 3-pole fuse on line reference 214 from left to right,
right-click
<Base point or displacement>/Multiple: Select a base point
Specify second point of displacement:
Select a point on line reference 217 directly below the selected 3-pole fuse
The circuitry is copied and the components are retagged based upon their
new line reference locations.
Creating a New Motor Circuit | 117

NOTE If the circuit you are copying contains any fixed wire numbers or
component tags, you are prompted to specify how to handle them.
3 Repeat steps 1-2 for the 3-pole motor contactor on line reference 214.
The parent fuse and its two child fuses automatically retag based on the
line reference insertion point, becoming FU217. The 3-pole motor
contactor/ overload is blanked out to a generic M tag since all 3 poles are
child references. The motor starter contacts retag when they are tied to
a new parent motor starter coil symbol.

Insert multi-level terminals


Terminals/Connectors.
3 In the JIC: Terminals and Connectors dialog box, click Round with
Terminal Number.

Position the terminal on the wire at line reference 217 in line with the terminals
in the circuit at line reference 215 and click
The wire is broken and reconnected, and the terminal is inserted. The
Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box displays, where you can annotate
the terminal properties and associations.
5 In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Project List section, select
Tag Strip TB.
Selecting from the Project List assigns the Location code (MCAB5), the
Tag Strip value (TB) and the Number (10) to the terminal.

6 Click Details >>.
7 In the Catalog Data section, click Catalog Lookup.
8 On the Parts Catalog dialog box, select:

Manufacturer: SIEMENS
Type: MULTI-LEVEL
Rating: 20 AMPS
9 Select part 8WA1 011-3JF16 and click OK.

The Manufacturer and Catalog information for the selected part displays
in the Catalog Data section of the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog
box.
10 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click OK-Repeat.

Position the terminal on the wire below and in-line with the terminal on line
reference 217 and click

Modify multi-level terminal associations
1 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Modify

Properties/Associations section, click Add/Modify.
2 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Select Association section,

expand the active project node. The active node is bold in the list and in
this case is MCAB5-TB (11).
The terminal block quantity displays at the end of the node string in
parenthesis (). This terminal strip contains 11 terminal blocks.
3 Select the terminal block node you inserted on line reference 217 (10, ,
(3)).

The terminal numbers defined on the block are listed, separated by
commas. The number of levels defined in the block properties displays
at the end of the node string in parenthesis. For example, 1,21,GND (3).
If a level is not represented on the schematic, it is represented by empty
space: 1, , GND (3). If a terminal has been assigned to the level, but the
terminal doesn’t have a number assignment, they are represented by ‘???’:
1,???,GND (3).
NOTE The grid to the right populates with the definition for the selected
terminal: Level 1 has Label = TOP, Number = 10, Reference = 2,217.
4 Select Level 2 in the grid and click Associate.
Once you click Associate, the middle level updates with the terminal
number in the grid in the Active Association section of the dialog box.
5 Click OK.
The level assignments display in the Properties/Associations section of
the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. Notice that the terminal is
3 levels and levels 1 and 2 have now been assigned.

6 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click OK-Repeat.

Position the terminal on the last wire below and in-line with the terminal on
line reference 217 and click

9 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Select Association section,

expand the active project node.
10 Select the terminal block node you inserted on line reference 217 (10,11,
(3)). Notice that the node properties updated to reflect that levels 1 and
2 are assigned and that level 3 is still blank/available.
11 Select Level 3 in the grid and click Associate.

Once you click Associate, the bottom level updates with the terminal
number in the grid in the Active Association section of the dialog box.
You can rearrange the levels by selecting a level and clicking Move Up
or Move Down.
12 Click OK.
The level assignments display in the Properties/Associations section of
the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. Notice that levels 1, 2, and
3 have now been assigned.

13 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click OK.
Insert 3-pole fusible disconnect switch


Fuses/Circuit Breakers/Transformers.

3 In the JIC: Fuses, Circuit Breakers and Transformers dialog box,
click Circuit Breakers/Disconnects.
4 In the JIC: Disconnecting Means dialog box, click 3 Pole Fused

Disconnect.

Position the fuse on the wire at line reference 217 near the end of the wire and
click
6 When prompted to build up or down, click Down.

The wire is broken and reconnected, and the other 2 fuses are inserted.
Each fuse finds and connects to the underlying wire. The Insert/Edit
dialog box is displayed, where you can annotate the first pole of the
3-pole fuse.
Insert a 3-phase motor


Motor Control.
3 In the JIC: Motor Control dialog box, click 3 Phase Motor.

Position the motor at the end of the center phase of the 3-phase bus and click

Notice that the top and bottom phase wires do not automatically connect.

Wires ➤ Trim Wire

Select the upper and lower wire segments extending off the disconnect, right-click


Specify wire start or [wireType/ X=show connections]:

Select a point on the motor symbol near its 11 o’clock position
Move the cursor up and over to the left and select the wire connection point on
the right-hand end of the upper disconnect switch
A wire is drawn at an upward angle and connects to the disconnect switch.
10 Repeat this process starting at the 7 o’clock position on the motor symbol
and ending on the bottom disconnect switch.
11 Repeat this process starting at the 5 o’clock position on the motor symbol
and pull down past the bottom pole, left-click.
12 Pull the wire to the left and down, then left-click to insert the wire and
press ESC to exit the command.
13 Click the Copy Component tool.

Components ➤ Copy Component

Select component to copy:
Select the ground symbol from the circuit on line reference 214
Specify insertion point: Select the end of the motor ground wire
Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits

AutoCAD®Electrical makes saving and inserting pre-drawn circuits easy and
convenient. You can save and insert from a user circuits page on the Insert
Component icon menu or you can use the normal AutoCAD® WBlock
command to save selected circuitry to disk and an Insert Circuit command to
insert WBlocked circuits into the active drawing.
Save your circuit for use in the future
1 Zoom around the circuit so that it fills your screen.
2 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Save Circuit to
Icon Menu tool.
Components ➤ Save Circuit to Icon Menu
3 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click Add ➤ New circuit.
4 On the Create New Circuit dialog box, specify:

Name: Motor Circ - Fusible DS
Image file: Active and Create PNG from current screen image
File name: UserCirc1
Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits | 129

5 Click OK.

Base point:
Select the left-most wire connection point where the circuit ties into the left-hand
vertical bus wire
Select objects:
Window around the circuit from left to right to capture all of the components
and wiring, but exclude the vertical bus, press ENTER

7 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click OK.
The circuit is saved to your AutoCAD Electrical user folder and can be
quickly accessed from the Insert Component icon menu or from the
Insert Saved Circuit tool.
The new motor has a 3-pole motor contactor child reference but there isn’t a
parent motor starter relay coil to operate it. The motor start coil circuit needs
to be added on a control schematic in the project drawing set and linked back
to the new motor circuit.
Insert motor start coil circuit to control schematic
1 Open AEGS04.dwg.
2 Zoom on the upper-right hand ladder column so the full circuit on line
reference 422-423 is displayed.
3 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Save Circuit to
Icon Menu tool.
Components ➤ Save Circuit to Icon Menu
4 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click Add ➤ New circuit.
5 On the Create New Circuit dialog box, specify:

Name: Motor starter circ
Image file: Active and Create PNG from current screen image
File name: UserCirc2
Click OK.

Base point: Select the left-most wire connection point at line reference 422
Select objects:

Window around the circuit from left to right to capture all of the components
and wiring, but exclude the vertical bus, press ENTER
7 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click OK.
Insert a circuit you saved for re-use
1 Pan to display the blank area between line references 426 - 432.
2 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Insert Saved
Circuit tool.
Components ➤ Insert Saved Circuit
3 In the JIC: Saved User Circuits dialog box, select the Motor starter circ
button.
4 In the Circuit Scale dialog box, click OK.

Place the circuit insertion point on the vertical bus wire at line reference 427,
and left-click to insert the circuit.
The circuit inserts and updates. Tags automatically update to reflect the
new line reference number, and parent/child relationships defined inside
of the circuit update accordingly.
6 Right-click the M427 coil symbol and select Edit Component.

7 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, specify:
Description Line 2: MOTOR NO. 2
Click OK.
8 In the Update Related Components dialog box, click Yes-Update.
Linking the parent coil to the child contactor
1 Open AEGS02.dwg and zoom on the untagged 3-pole motor

contact/overloads on line reference 217.
2 Right-click the “M” contact and select Edit Component.

The Insert/Edit Child Component is displayed. You must enter the exact
parent coil tag into the Component Tag box to establish the link between
the parent and the child contacts. Currently the Component Tag is M.

click Project.
4 In the Complete Project list for Family=”M” dialog box, select M427
HYDRAULIC MOTOR NO 2 and click OK.
The tag M427 is now displayed in the Component Tag edit box. Notice
that the description, cross-reference, and location code boxes have also
updated.

6 In the Update linked components dialog box, click OK.

The components are now linked. If you go back to drawing AEGS04.dwg
and look at the motor starter coil, it shows references to these 3 child
contacts (plus one seal contact around PB427).
Using the icon menu to add a motor
1 Reopen drawing AEGS04.dwg and zoom to the blank area at line references
430-431.
2 Repeat the steps for inserting the saved Motor starter circ circuit.
4 Insert the circuit at line reference 430.
5 Right-click the M430 coil symbol, and select Edit Component.

Description Line 2: MOTOR NO. 3
Click OK.
7 In the Update related components dialog box, click Yes-Update.
8 Open drawing AEGS02.dwg and zoom to the blank area at line references
204-206.
9 Repeat the steps for inserting a saved circuit, but this time insert the
Motor Circ - Fusible DS circuit.

Position the motor circuit so that the insertion point lands on the left-hand
vertical bus at line reference 204, and left-click to insert the circuit.

Notice that the fuse, disconnect, and motor automatically retag based
on their reference locations.
12 Right-click the M child motor contact symbol, and select Edit Component.

click Project.
14 In the Complete Project list for Family=”M” dialog box, select M430
HYDRAULIC MOTOR NO. 3 and click OK.
The tag M430 is now displayed in the Component Tag edit box. Notice
that the description, cross-reference, and location code boxes have also
updated.
16 In the Update linked components dialog box, click OK.
You can now renumber your terminals manually or project-wide.
Renumber terminals
1 Click Components ➤ Terminals ➤ Terminal Strip Utilities ➤ Terminal

Renumber (Project-wide).
2 On the Project-wide Schematic Terminal Renumber dialog box, select:

Include Installation/Location in terminal strip Tag-ID match
Starting Terminal Number = 1
3 In the Tag-ID section, click Drawing.

4 On the Terminal Tag-ID List dialog box, select Tag-ID = TB and click OK.
5 On the Project-wide Schematic Terminal Renumber dialog box, click OK.
6 On the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, click Do All and click OK.
You can modify an existing terminal to make it a multi-level terminal block

and then associate terminals to the master terminal block.
Modify terminal properties
1 Right-click terminal 4 on line reference 207 and select Edit Component.
2 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Catalog Data section,

delete the Manufacturer and Catalog information.
3 In the Modify Properties/Associations section, click Block Properties.
4 On the Terminal Block Properties dialog box, specify:

Levels: 3
Level 1
Level Description: Top
Wires Per Connection: 2
PinL: 1
PinR: 2
Level 2
Level Description: Middle
PinL: 3
PinR: 4
Level 3
Level Description: Bottom
PinL: 5
PinR: 6

Click OK.
Notice on the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,
Properties/Associations section that the block now has 3 levels and
terminal 4 is assigned to the top level of the block.

6 On the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.
8 Click Components ➤ Terminals ➤ Associate Terminals.

Select “Master” terminal: Select terminal 4 on line reference 207
Pick terminal: Select terminal 5
Pick terminal: Select terminal 6, right-click
NOTE The command prompt area indicates that the terminal was added as
level 02 or level 03 once you pick the terminal.
10 Right-click terminal 6 and select Edit Component.

On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Properties/Associations
section, all three levels have been assigned. You can now move a terminal
to another level using the Add/Modify Association dialog box.


12 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Active Association section,
highlight level 3 in the grid and click Move Up.
The grid updates to reflect the move. Notice that terminal 6 is now
assigned to level 2.
13 Click OK.
15 If asked to update related components, click Yes-Update.
Add wire tee markers to your circuits
1 Pan your view so the circuit on line reference 204 is visible.
2 Expand the Wire Tee Markers tool, and then click the Insert Dot
Tee Markers tool.

Select the connection points at the vertical 3-phase bus for each wire
4 Insert dot tee markers for the circuit on line reference 217.

Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock
Another method for saving and inserting circuits is to use the AutoCAD WBlock
command to save the circuit to disk. A separate Insert Circuit command is
used to browse to a selected saved circuit and insert it into the active drawing.
This method allows unlimited circuits to be constructed and saved to disk.
They can be arranged into a set of shared subfolders for easy browsing and
retrieval using the Insert Circuit command.
Saving a circuit using WBlock
1 Pan to display the 3-phase motor circuit at line references 207 - 209.
2 Enter wblock at the command line and press ENTER.
3 In the Write Block dialog box, click Pick point.

Specify insertion base point:
Select the intersection of the left vertical bus with the upper horizontal wire at
line reference 207
5 In the Write Block dialog box, click Select objects.

Select objects: Window from left to right around the full circuit, right-click

7 In the Write Block dialog box, enter a name for the saved circuit. Take
note of the location where the drawing file is being saved.
8 Click OK.
Inserting a WBlocked circuit
1 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Insert WBlocked
Circuit tool.
Components ➤ Insert WBlocked Circuit
2 In the Insert Wblocked Circuit dialog box, browse to the folder containing
the circuit you just saved.
3 Select the WBlocked motor circuit, and click Open.
4 In the Circuit Scale dialog box, select:

Move all lines to wire layers
Keep all source arrows
Update circuit’s text layers as required
Click OK.

Specify insertion point: Select any blank spot on your drawing
The parent component tags that are not set to Fixed automatically retag
based on the insertion point, similar to the behavior when inserting a
circuit using the icon menu method.
6 Delete the circuit.
Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock | 141

142
PLC
6
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) modules are built In this chapter
dynamically when selected from the menu. From a small set ■ Inserting Ladders into
Drawings
of library symbols, hundreds of PLC modules can be built on
■ Inserting PLC Modules
request. This method allows the module to conform to the ■ Using Multiple Insert
Component
underlying ladder rung spacing, so you can add spacers and
■ Annotating PLC I/O
Descriptions
break the module at insertion time.
■ Inserting Wire Numbers
Based on PLC I/O
Addresses
■ Resequencing Ladders
143
Inserting Ladders into Drawings
You can insert a ladder into a drawing at any time. A drawing may have
multiple ladders, as well as single-phase and three-phase ladders. The ladders
can have different parameters, such as rung spacing, number of rungs, and
ladder width.
Insert a single-phase ladder
1 Open AEGS05.dwg.
2 Click the Insert Ladder tool.

Wires ➤ Ladders ➤ Insert Ladder
3 In the Insert Ladder dialog box, specify:

Width: 9.000
Spacing: 1.0000
1st Reference: 519
Index: 1
Rungs: 18
Phase: 1 Phase
Draw Rungs: Yes
Skip: 0
You do not need to specify the Length since it is automatically calculated
once the 1st Reference, Index and Rungs are specified.
NOTE Reference 519 represents Page 5, Reference 19.
4 Click OK.

Specify start position of first rung or [wiretype (T)]:
Enter 16, 21, press ENTER
NOTE You can also specify the start position of the first rung by left-clicking
a location on the drawing with your mouse.
A single phase ladder is inserted in the drawing.
144 | Chapter 6 PLC

Inserting PLC Modules
AutoCAD®Electrical generates any of hundreds of different PLC I/O modules
on demand, in a variety of different graphical styles, all without a single,
complete I/O module library symbol resident on the system. Modules adapt
to the underlying ladder rung spacing, whatever that value might be. They
can be stretched or broken into two or more pieces at insertion time.
To insert a PLC module, you select the module and pick a location. AutoCAD
Electrical builds and inserts the module, using a small set of library symbols.
Insert a PLC module
1 Click the Insert PLC (Parametric) tool.

Components ➤ Insert PLC Modules ➤ Insert PLC (Parametric)
2 In the PLC Parametric Selection dialog box, select:

Manufacturer: Allen-Bradley
Inserting PLC Modules | 145

Series: 1746
Type: Discrete Input
Part Number: 1746-IA16
Graphics Style: 2, Vertical Module
3 Click OK.

Specify PLC module insert point or [Z=zoom, P=pan]:
Pick a point on wire line reference 520 closer to the right side, ensure the X is
near the horizontal wire, click
146 | Chapter 6 PLC

5 In the Module Layout dialog box, verify the default settings:
Spacing: 1.0000
I/O Points: Insert all
Click OK.
AutoCAD Electrical reads the vertical rung spacing of your ladder and
calculates how long the module is going to be. It multiplies the rung
spacing by the number of wire connections specified by the module you
selected.
Temporary graphics display a representation of the module (with the
spacing defined) to help position the module on the ladder.
6 In the I/O Point dialog box, specify:

Rack Number: 1
Slot Number: 1
NOTE Specify the values by either entering text into the edit boxes or by
clicking the arrows.
7 Click OK.
Inserting PLC Modules | 147

8 In the I/O Address dialog box, specify:
Beginning address: I:11/00
NOTE You can also select the beginning address from the Quick picks list.
9 Click OK.
10 In the I/O Addressing dialog box, click Decimal.

The PLC module is inserted into your drawing with incremental address
numbers already annotated as the module goes in, it breaks and
reconnects to underlying wires.
You can break an I/O module into as many pieces as you want at insertion
time. This is great for high-density modules that won’t fit into a single
ladder column. Use the Allow spacers/breakers option in the Module
Layout dialog box at insertion time to do this.
You can also add extra space between adjacent I/O points using the Stretch
Block tool. This feature lets you leave extra room when you know ahead
of time that certain I/O point will have additional components wired
tied to a single I/O point after a PLC module is inserted.
NOTE This can be used on any block, not just a PLC module.
148 | Chapter 6 PLC

Remove ladder rungs

Wires ➤ Trim Wire

Select the ladder rung at line reference 519, right-click
The ladder rung is removed from your drawing.
Using Multiple Insert Component

You can insert components into wires that are tied to the PLC module. Use
the Multiple Insert Component tool to insert a string of normally open limit
switches.
Insert a limit switch
1 Click the Multiple Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Multiple Insert ➤ Multiple Insert (Icon Menu)

Limit Switches.
3 In the JIC: Limit Switches dialog box, select Limit Switch, NO.
Using Multiple Insert Component | 149

Component Fence, From Point:
Select above the wire at line reference 520 (1)
Component Fence, From Point: to:
Drag below the wire at line reference 522, click the point (2), right-click
5 In the Keep dialog box, select:

Keep this one
Show edit dialog after each
Click OK

Component Tag: LS520
Description: Line 1: PALLET ENTERING
Description: Line 2: STATION
Location code: MACHINE
Click OK.
NOTE In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Component Tag section,

you can use the Use PLC Address button to add the I/O Address as the
component tag.

Keep this one
Click OK

Description: Line 1: PALLET INSIDE
150 | Chapter 6 PLC

Click OK.

Keep this one
Click OK

Description: Line 1: PALLET LEAVING
Click OK.
The normally open limit switches are inserted into the drawing.
Insert terminals
1 Click the Multiple Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Multiple ➤ Insert Multiple Insert (Icon Menu)

Terminals/Connectors.
3 In the JIC: Terminals and Connectors dialog box, click Round with
Terminal Number.

Component Fence, From Point: Select above wire at line reference 520 (1)
Component Fence, From Point: to:
Select below wire at line reference 535 (2), left click to end command, right-click
to add terminal
5 In the Keep dialog box, select Keep this one.

Click OK.
6 In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Terminal section, specify:

Location: MCAB5
Tag Strip: TS1
Number: 1
152 | Chapter 6 PLC

7 Click OK.

Keep all, don’t ask
Clear Show edit dialog after each
Click OK
The terminals are automatically added to your drawing.

Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions
You can add description text to a PLC module using the Edit Component tool.
You can make changes to the descriptions at any time. However, you must
edit each split PLC piece separately.
Add description text


Select component/cable/location box to EDIT:
Select anywhere on the top portion of the PLC module
154 | Chapter 6 PLC

The Edit PLC Module dialog box displays.
This dialog box provides spaces for you to enter description text for each
I/O point. Assume that the descriptions already assigned to the connected
limit switches are similar to what you want to use for the PLC I/O point
descriptions.
3 In the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click Wired Devices.

AutoCAD Electrical immediately follows each I/O point’s connected wire
backwards. If it finds a connected component, the component description
text is retrieved. Each description is displayed in a dialog list.
4 For the first I/O address (I:11/00), select the first description (PALLET
ENTERING STATION) in the extracted device list.
The Confirmation dialog box displays.
Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions | 155

5 Make sure the correct description is specified and click OK.
6 Click Next to highlight I/O address 1:11/01 in the Addressing list.

The corresponding device description highlights automatically.
7 Select the highlighted description, PALLET INSIDE STATION, and click

OK.
8 Repeat this process for the remaining I/O point.
NOTE Alternately you can use Pick to capture existing description text from
a connected device. To do so, in the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click Pick
and then select the component whose text you want to copy. AutoCAD
Electrical reads the existing DESC text values on the component and transfers
a copy to the DESC boxes in the Edit PLC Module dialog box.
9 In the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click OK.

Your descriptions appear on the module.
NOTE If your PLC description is not where you want it, use the Scoot tool
to scoot the description to a new location.
156 | Chapter 6 PLC

Inserting Wire Numbers Based on PLC I/O
Addresses
You can insert wire numbers based on the I/O address that each PLC connected
wire touches. The wire numbers insert with your specified format as fixed wire
numbers, so they will not change if a wire number re-tag is run later on.
NOTE If you want PLC I/O based wire numbering to be the automatic default for
a drawing, set this up in the Drawing Properties dialog box. Select the Use I/O
Wire Numbers toggle.
Insert PLC I/O wire numbers
1 Expand the Insert Wire Numbers tool, and then click the PLC I/O
Wire Numbers tool.
Wires ➤ Wire Numbers Miscellaneous ➤ PLC I/O Wire Numbers
The PLC I/O Wire Numbers dialog box displays.
The default format is %N, the address number. The wire number will be
the same as its connected I/O address number.
2 Click I:%n to change the wire number format.

This adds an ‘I’ prefix to each wire number that ties to the input module.
3 Click OK.

Select I/O module to process: Select anywhere on the PLC module
Select objects: Select all of the connected wires to process, right-click
Inserting Wire Numbers Based on PLC I/O Addresses | 157

The wire numbers are inserted with the specified format. If some of the
I/O points short-circuit to other I/O points, the last point wire number
prevails for that common wire network.
158 | Chapter 6 PLC

Resequencing Ladders
AutoCAD Electrical drawings can be easily renumbered and retagged with a
minimum of manual clean up. You can resequence line reference numbers,
component tags, and wire numbers. This is useful when a drawing has been
copied from a previous project and the line reference numbers and tagging
format of the drawing do not conform to the project requirements.
Resequence ladder line reference numbers
1 Expand the Insert Ladder tool, and then click the Revise Ladder
tool.
Wires ➤ Ladders ➤ Revise Ladders
The Modify Line Reference Numbers dialog box displays a list of ladders
in the drawing.
2 Change the beginning line reference numbers for each ladder. Change
the first ladder to 101 (column 1, line 01) and the second ladder to 201
(column 2, line 01).
3 Click OK.
The reference numbers update along each ladder.
Resequencing Ladders | 159

160
Wire Numbers
7
This chapter provides information about working with wire In this chapter
numbers in drawings and across projects. ■ About Wire Numbers
■ Attaching Source Signal
Arrows
■ Attaching Destination
Signal Arrows
■ Inserting Wire Numbers
■ Working with Wire Layers
161
About Wire Numbers
Wire numbers can be assigned to any and all existing wires on an individual
selection, an entire drawing, selected drawings in a project, or an entire project.
AutoCAD® Electrical assigns a unique wire number to each wire network. A

wire network consists of one or more wires that are electrically connected.
Attaching Source Signal Arrows

AutoCAD Electrical uses a named source/destination concept. You identify a
wire network to be the source, insert a source arrow on that network, and
assigning a source code name to it. On the wire network that is to be a
continuation of the same wire number (whether on the same drawing or a
different drawing in the project) you insert a destination arrow and give it the
same code name that you gave to its source. AutoCAD Electrical then
reprocesses your drawing set for wire numbering update, it matches source
code names with destination names and copies source wire numbers over to
the destination wire networks.
You can attach a source signal to a wire segment of a wire network. This enables
the wire number assigned to the network to jump and continue to another
network on the current drawing or on one or more drawings in the project.
The source and destination are also helpful with the Wire From/To reports
and connection information.
Attach a source signal arrow
1 Open AEGS03.dwg.
2 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click the
Source Signal Arrow tool.
Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Source Signal Arrow

Select wire end for Source:
Select the end of the hot wire on the schematic on the right side of the drawing
at line reference 332 (1)
162 | Chapter 7 Wire Numbers

4 In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, specify:
Code: 24 VDC
Signal Arrow Style: 1
AutoCAD Electrical allows one description line on a source arrow. This

description can then be carried over to the associated destination arrow.
You can define some default description lines to make them easier to
enter without typing them in each time. AutoCAD Electrical looks for a
file called WDSRCDST.WDD. This file is a simple text file with each line
Attaching Source Signal Arrows | 163

being read as a separate description. If this file exists, the Defaults button
is available on the Signal - Source Code and Insert Destination Code
dialog boxes.
5 Click OK.
6 In the Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialog box, click No.
NOTE Click No to insert the signal arrows on the next drawing. Click OK to
insert the signal arrows on the current drawing.
7 Click the Next Project Drawing tool to access AEGS04.dwg.

Now you are ready to insert a destination signal arrow.
Attaching Destination Signal Arrows

After the source signal arrow is attached to a wire in the drawing, you can
attach a destination signal to a wire segment of a wire network. This enables
the wire number assigned to another source wire network to carry over to the
current network automatically.
Attach a destination signal
Destination Signal Arrow tool.
Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Destination Signal Arrow

Select wire end for Destination:
Select the top of the hot wire on the schematic on the left side of the drawing
at line reference 402 (2)

3 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, click Project.
4 In the Signal codes -- Project-wide Source dialog box, select the following:
5 Click OK.
6 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, verify:

Code: 24 VDC
Click OK + Update Source.
Attaching Destination Signal Arrows | 165

The cross-references for your signal insert into the drawing above the hot
wire.
Attach source and destination signals to the neutral wires.
1 Click the Previous Project Drawing button to return to AEGS03.dwg.
Source Signal Arrow tool.
Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Source Signal Arrow

Select wire end for Source:
Select the bottom of the neutral wire at line reference 332 (3)

4 In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, specify:
Code: 24 VDC NEUTRAL
Click OK.
5 In the Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialog box, click No.
NOTE Click No to insert the signal arrows on the next drawing. Click OK to
insert the signal arrows on the current drawing.
6 Click the Next Project Drawing tool to open AEGS04.dwg.
Destination Signal Arrow tool.
Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Destination Signal Arrow

Select wire end for Destination:
Select the top of the neutral wire at line reference 402 (4)
9 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, click Project.
10 In the Signal codes -- Project-wide Source dialog box, select the following:
Attaching Destination Signal Arrows | 167

11 Click OK.
12 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, verify:

Code: 24 VDC NEUTRAL
Click OK + Update Source.
NOTE If asked to change the destination wire layer, click Yes.
The cross-references for your signal insert into the drawing above the
neutral wire.
Show Signal Paths tool.
Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Show Signal Paths

Temporary graphics illustrate the flow of the signals on your drawings.
NOTE There is no limit to the number of source and destination links you
can set up. One source network can jump to multiple destinations on one or
many drawings. A wire can carry both a destination signal and a source signal
pointing to the next daisy-chained destination.
Inserting Wire Numbers

You can process and tag wires with sequential wire numbers or with wire
numbers based upon the line reference location start of the wire network.
When wire numbers are automatically inserted into a drawing, the numbers
are not duplicated if they are defined on another network.
AutoCAD Electrical works from left to right, top to bottom as it processes wire
networks by default. You can change the direction of wire numbering using
the Project Properties ➤ Wire Numbers dialog box (in the Project Manager,
right-click the project name, and select Properties. In the Project Properties
dialog box, click the Wire Numbers tab).
Inserting Wire Numbers | 169

Insert wire numbers automatically
1 With AEGS04.dwg open as the active drawing, zoom the top portion of
the wire network on the left side of the drawing.
2 Click the Insert Wire Numbers tool.

Wires ➤ Insert Wire Numbers
3 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Pick Individual Wires.

Select objects:
Select the wire segment between the two push buttons on line reference 403 (1),
right-click
The wire number is placed.
Add wire numbers to the entire drawing

2 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Drawing-wide.

Wire numbers are assigned to each segment in your drawing.

Add wire numbers project-wide

2 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Project-wide.
3 In the Wire Tagging (Project-wide) dialog box, verify:

Wire tag mode: Reference-based tags
To do: Tag/retag all
Freshen database (for Signals)
4 Click OK.
5 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, Project Drawing List section,
press SHIFT as you select AEGS03.dwg and AEGSO04.dwg. Click Process.
6 Verify AEGS03.dwg and AEGSO04.dwgare listed as the drawings to process

and click OK.

Wire numbers are processed for the selected drawings.
You can use the Delete Wire Numbers tool to select a wire number or to pick
on any wire of the network.
Inserting Wire Numbers | 171

Delete a wire number
1 Click the Delete Wire Number tool.

Wires ➤ Delete Wire Number
2 Respond the prompts as follows:

Select objects: Enter all, press ENTER
The wires in the network change to dashed lines, representing the wires
from which the wire numbers will be erased.
3 Press ENTER again to erase the wire numbers.
Working with Wire Layers

When a wire is inserted, the wire ends up on the first valid wire layer as defined
in the Drawing Properties dialog box. It may be more appropriate for some
wires to be placed on different wire layers. You can use the AutoCAD
PROPERTIES command to move a wire to the correct layer or you can use the
Wire Layer utility.
Change wire layer assignments
1 Expand the Insert Wires tool, and then click the Change/Convert
Wire Type tool.
Wires ➤ Change/Convert Wire Type
The Change/Convert Wire Type dialog box lists all of the valid wire layers
that are defined for the active drawing. The the wire layer name and the
wire properties like color, size, and user defined properties are listed in
the grid. A number in the Used column indicates the number of wires
on the drawing. A “0” in the Used column indicates that the layer name
exists in the drawing but it is not currently being used.
2 Select RED_18AWG.
The wire type highlights in blue in the dialog box indicating that this is
the wire type that will be changed.

3 Click OK.

Select Objects:
Window from left to right around the wires as shown and press ENTER
Before you press ENTER, the wires display as dashed lines to indicate that
they have been selected; once you press ENTER the lines display in red
indicating that they have been moved to the RED_18AWG wire layer.
5 Repeat to move any other wiring onto another wire layer.
Working with Wire Layers | 173

174
Panel Layouts
8
This chapter provides information about working with tools In this chapter
that insert footprint components into panel layouts in ■ About Panel Layouts
■ Inserting Panel
AutoCAD® Electrical.
Components
■ Modifying Attributes
■ Adding Nameplate
Footprints
■ Editing Terminal Strips
175
About Panel Layouts
AutoCAD Electrical provides tools to create intelligent panel layout drawings.
You can drive layouts from information on the AutoCAD Electrical schematic
drawings or you can construct them independently of the schematics.
AutoCAD Electrical places no special naming or attribute requirements on
mechanical footprint symbols. You can use footprint symbols supplied by
vendors in AutoCAD® format with AutoCAD Electrical.
Inserting Panel Components

Using the AutoCAD Electrical Panel Layout tools, you can select from a list of
schematic components and then place the footprint component directly into
a panel layout. The footprint remains linked to the original schematic
components, so you can perform bidirectional updating between schematic
components and the associated footprint blocks.
For this chapter, use the Panel Layout tools:
Select schematic component footprints
1 Open AEGS08.dwg.
2 Expand the Insert Component Footprint tool, and then click the
Insert Footprint (Schematic List) tool.
Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Schematic List)
3 In the Schematic Component List -- Panel Layout Insert dialog box, verify:
Extract component list for: Project
Location Codes to extract: All
176 | Chapter 8 Panel Layouts

4 Click OK.
5 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select AEGS04.dwg and click
Process.
6 Verify that AEGS04.dwg is listed in the Drawing to Process section and

click OK.
7 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, click Mark

Existing. An x marks the footprints that are already placed in the project.
You cannot insert the same component multiple times. If you select an
item with an x, the Insert button is disabled.
NOTE An o next to a component in the list indicates that a panel component

with a matching component tag was found, but the catalog information does
not match.
Inserting Panel Components | 177

8 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, Display section,
select Hide Existing.
The schematic component footprints not yet inserted into the panel
layout are displayed.

Now you can begin to manually insert schematic component footprints
on the panel layout.
Insert the system reset footprint manually
1 In the Schematics Components (active project) dialog box, select PB403

OPSTA3 SYSTEM RESET.

2 Click Manual.
NOTE The Manual button is used when schematic component footprints do

not have a manufacturer and catalog number defined
The next step is to make a catalog assignment for the automatic footprint.
3 In the Footprint dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog lookup.
NOTE Use Choice B to enter a graphic without selecting a catalog number.

MANUFACTURER: AB
TYPE: 30.5mm FLUSH
STYLE: *ALL*
5 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-A2A 1 NO 1 NC BLACK PUSH

BUTTON - MOMENTARY, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.

6 In the Footprint dialog box, Choice A section, verify:
Manufacturer: AB
Catalog: 800T-A2A
Click OK.

Select Location for PB403: Select to the left of PB414A (1)
Select Location for PB403: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:
Right-click to place the push button

The component may already have an Item Number assigned. If AutoCAD
Electrical finds a panel component with the same catalog information,
it automatically assigns the same item number to this new component.
If no item number is assigned and you think a matching component was
already inserted, use one of the Find buttons to look through the drawing
or project. If no matching component is found, click Next to assign an
item number to this footprint. This button updates each time you insert
a footprint and assign an item number. This item or detail number is
used for BOM and component reporting and can be referenced by optional
balloon labels tied to the footprint.

NOTE The Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog box displays each
time you insert a panel footprint. Information from the schematic
representation is automatically carried over to the panel footprint
representation.
8 In the Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.

The Schematics Component (active project) dialog box redisplays. You
can continue inserting components from the project’s schematic list.
Insert the emergency stop footprint manually
1 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, select: PB403A

OPSTA3 EMERGENCY STOP.

2 Click Manual.

Manufacturer: AB
Type: 30.5mm
Style: Red
5 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-D6A 1NO-1NC PUSH

BUTTON-MUSHROOM, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.

Manufacturer: AB
Catalog: 800T-D6A
Click OK.

Select Location for PB403A: Select to the left of Conveyor Motor Start (2)
Select Location for PB403A: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:

Right-click to place the push button
Insert the light footprint manually
1 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, select LT404

OPTSTA3 CONVEYOR ON.

2 Click Manual.

MANUFACTURER: AB
TYPE: 30.5mm
VOLTAGE: *ALL*
5 Change the catalog assignment to 800H-QRT24G PLASTIC LENS

24VAC/VDC FULL VOLT GREEN PILOT and click OK.
NOTE To easily sort the Catalog list, select Show list sorted by catalog part
number in the Parts catalog dialog box.

Manufacturer: AB
Catalog: 800H-QRT24G
Click OK.
7 Respond to the prompts:

Select Location for LT404:
Select to the left of the Conveyor Running light (3)
Select Location for LT404: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:
Right-click to place the pilot light

In the Schematics Components (active project) dialog box, notice the
master control relay still needs to be placed.
9 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, click Close.
NOTE You can modify a footprint at any time using the Edit Footprint tool.
Since there is bidirectional update capabilities between the schematics and
the panel layout drawings, you may introduce some inconsistencies between
the two during edit. If this happens, AutoCAD Electrical alerts you to first
check other drawings and then update any affected drawings.
10 In the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.
Modifying Attributes
You can align the inserted schematic component footprints with existing
footprints. Temporary lines indicate the direction in which the alignment is
being defined as you select components for the alignment.

Align footprints vertically

Select component to align with (Horizontal/<Vertical>):
Enter V, press ENTER
Select the power on button on the top, left of the layout (1)
Select objects:
Select the three components that were just inserted (2-4), right-click
The components are aligned vertically.
Align footprints horizontally

Modifying Attributes | 189

Enter H, press ENTER
Select the conveyor running button (1)
Select objects: Select LT404 (2), right-click
3 Follow steps 1 and 2 to align the remaining footprints horizontally.
Move an attribute
1 Expand the Edit Attributes tool, and then click the Move/Show
Attributes tool.
Components ➤ Attributes ➤ Move/Show Attributes

Select attribute to Move or pick on block graphics for list
(W=Window move): Select tag LT404 (1)
Select object: Right-click to select
Base point: Select the base point (2), drag to the new location, right-click
The attribute is placed.
3 Repeat for PB403 and PB403A, then right-click to exit the command.
Very little of the information held on panel footprints is visible since only
specific attributes are used when assigning catalog information. If an attribute

is not found, the information is saved as standard AutoCAD extended entity
data (Xdata).
AutoCAD Electrical provides a way to change the extended entity data
manually into visible attributes tied to an inserted footprint block.
Change Xdata to attributes
1 Expand the Edit Footprint tool, and then click the Make Xdata
Visible tool.
Panel Layout ➤ Make Xdata Visible

Select footprint: Select LT404
The Select XData to Change to a Block Attribute dialog box displays. All
Xdata related to LT 404 are shown.
3 Select DESC1 and click Insert.

Specify location for attribute (DESC1):
Select the location for the attribute
The attribute is displayed on the drawing and the dialog box reopens.
5 Select DESC2 and click Insert.

Specify location for attribute (DESC2):
Select the location for the attribute
Modifying Attributes | 191

7 Click Done.
Adding Nameplate Footprints

At this point, you can add nameplates to the panel layout. Nameplates are
associated with existing component footprints. Nameplates can be inserted
from the main panel icon menu or from a vendor menu.
Insert an automotive type nameplate
Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) tool.
Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Icon Menu)
2 In the Insert Footprint: Panel Layout Symbols dialog box, click

Nameplates.
3 In the Panel: Nameplates dialog box, click Nameplate, Catalog

Lookup.
4 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog Lookup.

MANUFACTURER: AB
TYPE: 800T Automotive
COLOR_AND_: *ALL*
6 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-X701 Red Blank Name Plate and
click OK.
7 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, verify:

Manufacturer: AB
Catalog: 800T-X701
Click OK.

Select objects: Select PB403 (1), right-click to the place the nameplate
As you select each footprint to insert, the nameplate block inserts and
the Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box displays where you
can annotate the nameplate and assign a BOM item number if needed.
9 In the Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.
NOTE The data on the nameplate is linked by a tag name to the footprint and to
the schematic component of the same name. Changing the tag name of any of
these 3 representations triggers a prompt for permission to update the other
related instances.
Insert a half round nameplate
Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) tool.
Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Icon Menu)
2 In the Insert Footprint: Panel Layout Symbols dialog box, click

Nameplates.
3 In the Panel: Nameplates dialog box, click Nameplate, Catalog

Lookup.
Adding Nameplate Footprints | 193

4 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog Lookup.

MANUFACTURER: AB
TYPE: 800T Half Round
COLOR_AND_: *ALL*
6 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-X59E Gray Custom Text Name

Plate and click OK.
7 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, verify:

Manufacturer: AB
Catalog: 800T-X59E
Click OK.

Select objects: Select PB403A (2), right-click to place the nameplate

9 In the Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.
The nameplate is inserted.
Editing Terminal Strips

Terminal blocks are used to connect devices that require quick disconnect or
disassembly during product shipment, while at other times they can be used
to distribute power to other devices. The Terminal Strip Editor easily and
quickly defines the locations for these connected devices during the system
design process. Terminal strip editing is primarily used towards the end of the
control system design cycle to expedite the labeling, numbering, and
rearranging of terminals on a terminal strip.
Editing Terminal Strips | 195

Copy and paste terminal properties
1 Open AEGS09.dwg.
The terminal strip you will be editing, “TB”, is already placed on the
drawing. Zoom in on terminal strip “TB” to see what the terminal strip
currently looks like.
2 On the Panel layout toolbar, click the Terminal Strip Editor tool.
Panel Layout ➤ Terminal Strip Editor
3 On the Terminal Strip Selection dialog box, select Terminal Strip “TB”
and click Edit.
4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, Terminal Strip tab, select terminal
1 in the grid.

5 In the Terminal section, click the Move Terminal button.
6 In the Move Terminal dialog box, click Pick Above. In the Terminal Strip
Editor grid, select terminal 4.
NOTE You can also use the Move Up tool to move terminal 1 to the top of
the grid.
Click Done.
7 Select terminal 4 in the grid.
8 In the Properties section, click the Copy Terminal Block Properties

button.
Notice that when you click Copy Terminal Block Properties, terminals 5
and 6 also highlight. This is because terminals 4, 5, and 6 are associated
together so if you copy the properties from one of these terminals, you
will also copy the properties from the associated terminals. The Copy
Terminal Block Properties tool then copies the properties from the
terminals to one or many terminals within the same terminal strip.
9 Select terminal 7 and 10 in the grid by holding down the CTRL key while
you select the terminals.

10 In the Properties section, click the Paste Terminal Block Properties
button.
The properties you copied from terminal 4 are pasted to terminals 7 and
10. Notice that both terminals are now 3-tiered terminals with level 1
assigned for both.
Associate terminals
1 Select terminals 8 and 9 in the grid.
2 In the Multi-Level section, click the Associate button.
3 On the Associate Terminals dialog box, select terminal 7, , (3) and click
Associate.

Click OK.
4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, select terminals 11 and 12 in

the grid.
5 In the Multi-Level section, click the Associate button.
6 On the Associate Terminals dialog box, select terminal 10, , (3) and click
Associate.
Click OK.
Insert spare terminals and accessories

2 In the Spare section, click the Insert Spare Terminal button.
3 On the Insert Spare Terminal dialog box, specify:

Number: SPARE
Quantity: 1
NOTE You can also assign catalog information for the spare terminal from
the Insert Spare Terminal dialog box by clicking Catalog Lookup. You can
then select the part from the Parts Catalog dialog box if needed.
Click Insert Above.

Now you will insert accessories (end barriers) into the terminal strip - one
at the top and one at the bottom of the terminal strip.
5 In the Spare section, click the Insert Accessory button.
6 On the Insert Accessory dialog box, specify:

Number: EB1
Quantity: 1
NOTE You can also assign catalog information for the accessory from the
Insert Accessory dialog box by clicking Catalog Lookup. You can then select
the part from the Parts Catalog dialog box if needed.
Click Insert Above.

8 In the Spare section, click the Insert Accessory button.
9 On the Insert Accessory dialog box, specify:

Number: EB2
Quantity: 1
Click Insert Below.
Insert the terminal strip into the drawing
1 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, click the Layout Preview tab.
2 Select Graphical Terminal Strip as the terminal type to insert into the
drawing.
3 Click Rebuild.

4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, click OK.
5 On the Terminal Strip Selection dialog box, click OK.

Point-to-Point
Diagramming
Part 3 of this manual provides information on creating In this part

point-to-point diagrams using connector tools. You can also ■ Connector Diagramming
■ Pneumatic, Hydraulic and
create drawings for hydraulic, pnuematic, and P&ID style
P&ID Diagrams
diagrams.
203
204
Connector Diagramming
9
This chapter contains information about creating connectors In this chapter
and how to modify them to create connector diagrams. ■ About Connector
Diagramming
■ Inserting Connectors
■ Wiring Connectors
■ Modifying Connectors
205
About Connector Diagramming
The connector wiring tools help you more easily create and work with
point-to-point style wiring schematics (as opposed to ladder-style schematics).
Though you may find some of these tools useful for ladder-style schematics,
they are tuned to work well with drawings that are heavy on point-to-point
connector diagrams. Instead of creating and maintaining a large library of
schematic connector symbols, each symbol is generated parametrically, on
the fly, per user input and at user-defined orientation. A connector toolbar
contains tools for creating and editing connectors.
Inserting Connectors
The Insert Connector tool generates a connector symbol from user-defined
parameters. The symbol is created on the fly and inserted as a block insert
into your active drawing file. Since these are created on an as needed basis, it
eliminates the need for you to create and maintain a library of connector
symbols.
Change drawing properties
1 Open AEGS10.dwg.
2 Click the Drawing Properties tool.

Projects ➤ Drawing Properties
3 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Components dialog box, select Sequential.
4 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Wire Numbers dialog box, New Wire

Number Placement section, select In-Line.
5 Click OK.
Add connectors to the drawing
1 Click the Insert Connector tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Insert Connector
2 In the Insert Connector dialog box, specify:
206 | Chapter 9 Connector Diagramming

Pin Spacing: 1.0
Pin Count: 15
Fixed Spacing
Pin List: 1
Insert All
3 Click the Flip button to flip the connector about its long axis. The
preview should look like the following.
4 Click Insert.
A preview outline of the connector displays for placement on the drawing.
It shows rounded corners for the plug side of the connector. An “x”
indicates the insertion point of the connector. An arrow indicates the
plug side wire connection direction for plug/receptacle or plug-only
connector inserts or shows the wire connection direction for a
receptacle-only connector insert.
NOTE Prior to committing the connector outline to the drawing, you can
press TAB on your keyboard to flip the connector through 4 different
orientations or press the V key to toggle between vertical and horizontal
orientations
Inserting Connectors | 207

Specify insertion point or [Z=zoom, P=pan, X=wire crossing,
V=horizontal/vertical, TAB=flip]:
Select to place the connector in the middle of the right-hand border of Black
Box 1
The connector was automatically assigned a component tag of PJ1.


Pin Spacing: 0.75
Pin Count: 4
Fixed Spacing
Pin List: A
Insert All
8 Click the Flip button to flip the connector. The preview should
look like the following.

9 Click Insert.

Select to place the connector in the middle of the left-hand border of Black Box
2
The connector was automatically assigned a component tag of PJ2.
11 Repeat steps 6 - 10 to place connectors on Black Box 3 and Black Box 4.

The connectors are assigned tags PJ3 and PJ4 respectively.
Inserting Connectors | 209

Wiring Connectors
Black Box 1 is associated to a larger component such as a power box. Black
Box 2 - Black Box 4 are smaller components that are part of the power box.
The components need to be wired together. The easiest way to do this is to
use the Insert Wire and Multiple Wire Bus tools.
Wire the connectors together


Click on PJ1 at pin 1 on Black Box 1
Specify wire end or [Continue]: Click on PJ2 at pin A on Black Box 2

3 Repeat to connect PJ1 (Pin 2) to PJ3 (Pin A) and PJ1 (Pin 3) to PJ4 (Pin
A). Right-click to exit the command.
Notice that the Insert Wire tool drew the wire between the connectors
while avoiding any existing geometry on the screen.
tool.
5 In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, specify:

Horizontal Spacing: 0.75
Vertical Spacing: 0.50
Starting at: Component (Multiple Wires)
Wiring Connectors | 211

6 Click OK.

Window select starting wire connection points:
Select pins 5-7 on Black Box 1 (1) and right-click
to (T= wiretype) (Continue/Flip):
Drag the wires to the right past the 3 wires you just inserted, enter C and press
ENTER (to continue and lock the drag)
to Point (Continue/Flip):
Drag the wires up towards PJ2 on Black Box 2, enter C and press ENTER (to
continue and lock the drag)
to (Continue/Flip):
Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ2 (2)

tool.
9 In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, click OK to use the previous settings.

Select pins 9-11 on Black Box 1 and right-click
Drag the wires to the right, enter C, and press ENTER (to continue and lock the
drag)
Drag the wires up towards PJ3 on Black Box 3, enter C, and press ENTER (to
to (Continue/Flip):
Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ3
Wiring Connectors | 213

tool.
12 In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, click OK to use the previous settings.

Select pins 13-15 on Black Box 1 and press ENTER
Drag the wires to the right, enter C, and press ENTER (to continue and lock the
drag) before you cross the wire connection to pin A
Drag the wires down towards PJ4 on Black Box 4, press C, and press ENTER (to
to (Continue/Flip):
Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ4

Grouping Wires
Now that you’ve wired the connectors together, you need to insert in-line
connectors to group the wires.
Insert in-line connectors


Pin Spacing: 1.0
Pin Count: 3
At Wire Crossing
Pin List: 1
Insert All
3 Click Details.
4 In the Type section, clear the Add Divider Line box.
5 In the Display section, set Plug to Right and Pins to Both Sides.
6 In the Size section, set the Plug to 0.325.
Grouping Wires | 215

7 Click Insert.

Select to place the connector on the wires connected to PJ1, Pins 1-3


Pin Spacing: 1.0
Pin Count: 9
At Wire Crossing
Pin List: 1
Allow Spacers/Breaks
11 Click Insert.

Select to place the connector starting on the line at PJ1, Pin 5
Notice how the connector expands when you cross the wires.
13 In the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box, click Insert Next Connection.
The dialog box displays which connector pin has been inserted so far.
Keep clicking Insert Next Connection until you place 6 of the 9
connections.
14 When the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box says “Inserted So Far: 6
of 9,” click Break Symbol Now.

Select to place the connector starting on the line at PJ1, Pin 13
16 In the Connector Layout dialog box, select Insert All.
17 Click OK.
Grouping Wires | 217

NOTE Another method is to insert the entire connector and then use the
Split Connector tool to break the existing connector.
18 Expand the Dashed Link Lines tool, and then click the Link
Components with Dashed Line tool.
Components ➤ Link ➤ Link Components with Dashed Line

Component to link from: Select the bottom portion of PJ6 (1)
component to link to: Select the top portion of PJ6 (2), right-click

Modifying Connectors
The Insert Connector toolbar has tools for modifying connectors and connector
pins. You can reverse a connector about its horizontal or vertical axis, rotate
a connector about its insertion point at increments of 90 degrees, increase or
decrease the connector's overall length or width, and split the connector into
two separate block definitions. You can also add, remove, or move the pins
found inside of the connector.
Stretch existing connectors
1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Stretch
Connector tool.
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Stretch Connector

Specify which end of connector to stretch: Select the bottom of PJ1
Specify second point of displacement:
Pull the connector down towards the bottom of Black Box 1
Modifying Connectors | 219

3 Repeat for PJ6, pulling the bottom of the connector down so that it is
even with PJ1.
Add connector pins
1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Add
Connector Pins tool.
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Add Connector Pins

Select connector: Select PJ1
Specify where to insert new pin or [Reset]<16>:
Select 4 spaces down from pin 15 on PJ1, right-click and select Enter
The next available pin number (16) inserts at the selected point.

3 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Add
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Add Connector Pins

Select connector: Select PJ6
Specify where to insert new pin or [Reset]<10>:
Select the new pin 16 on PJ1 to insert pin 10 in-line with it, right-click and
select Enter
NOTE You can delete pins using the Delete Connector Pins tool. Select the
pin you want to delete and it is automatically removed from the connector.
Modify connector pins
1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Move
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Move Connector Pins

Select connector pin to move: Select pin 16 on PJ1
Specify new location for pin 16: Select 2 spaces up on PJ1
Select connector pin to move: Select pin 10 on PJ6
Specify new location for pin 10:
Select pin 16 on PJ1 to move pin 10 in-line with it, right-click
3 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Swap
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Swap Connector Pins

Select connector pin: Select pin 16 on PJ1
Select connector pin: swap with: Select pin 12 on PJ1, right-click
5 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Reverse
Connector tool.
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Reverse Connector

Select connector to reverse: Select the top in-line connector, right-click


Pin Spacing: 1.0
Pin Count: 2
Fixed Spacing
Pin List: 1
Insert All
9 Click Details.
10 In the Type section, select Add Divider Line.
11 In the Display section, set Pins to Plug Side.
12 Click Insert.

Select to place the connector on the top of Black Box 1
14 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the Rotate
Connector tool.
Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Rotate Connector

Select connector to Rotate or [Hold]:
Select the new connector, right-click and select Enter

Adding Wire Numbers
Wire numbers are blocks or attributes inserted on a line wire entity. AutoCAD®
Electrical assigns each wire number type to its own layer. You can assign a
different color to each of these layers so you can easily tell them apart. The
wire number placement is set to in-line as defined in the Drawing Properties
➤ Wire Numbers dialog box.
Insert wire numbers

2 In the Wire Tagging dialog box, specify:

Wire Tag Mode: Sequential
Start: 100
3 Click Drawing-Wide.
The wire numbers are automatically inserted into the drawing starting
with number 100.
4 Click the Move Wire Number tool.

Wires ➤ Move Wire Number

Specify new Wire Number location (select on wire):
Select each wire closest to Black Box 1, right-click
NOTE You can align the wire numbers using the Align tool.

Adding Connector Descriptions
AutoCAD Electrical supports 2 lines of description text on each connector:
one for the plug and one for the receptacle side of the connector.
Add descriptions
1 Right-click connector PJ1 and select Edit Component.
2 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Pins section, click List.
3 In the Connector Pin Numbers In Use dialog box, connector pin grid,
click in the Description column for Pin 1.
4 In the Pin Descriptions section, enter POWER B2 for the Receptacle.

Click in the Description column again for Pin 1 to assign the description.
5 In the connector pin grid, click in the Description column for Pin 2.

Adding Connector Descriptions | 225

7 In the connector pin grid, click in the Description column for Pin 3.

9 Click OK.
11 Repeat to add the description POWER IN for Pins A on Black Box 2, Black
Box 3 and Black Box 4.
Your finished point-to-point diagram should look similar to the following.

Pneumatic, Hydraulic
and P&ID Diagrams 10
This chapter goes through the steps for creating Piping & In this chapter
Instrumentation (P&ID) and Hydraulic drawings but the same ■ Setting Up Hydraulic
Drawings
workflow can be applied for Pnuematics. Once your drawing
■ Inserting Hydraulic
® Schematic Symbols
is created, you can use the regular tools in the AutoCAD
■ Creating Pipes
Electrical software to modify your drawing.
■ Completing the Hydraulic
Drawing
■ Setting Up Your P&ID
Drawing
■ Inserting P&ID Schematic
Symbols
■ Creating Pipes
227
Setting Up Hydraulic Drawings
Use the Project Manager to manage your hydraulic drawings. From here you
can create a new drawing and modify any drawing properties.
1 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Properties.
2 In the Project Properties ➤ Project Settings dialog box, click Default to

switch on all paths for pneumatic, hydraulic and P&ID schematic libraries.
3 Click OK.
4 In the Project Manager, click the Create New Drawing tool.

Name: AEGS12
Template: Mouse over the edit box to verify AutoCAD_Electrical.dwt is specified
Description 1: Hydraulic Example
Click OK.
NOTE You can also Click OK-Properties to proceed to Drawing Properties

dialog box if you want to set the component, wire number, cross-reference,
style and drawing format settings.
6 Select Tools ➤ Drafting Settings.
228 | Chapter 10 Pneumatic, Hydraulic and P&ID Diagrams

7 In the Drafting Settings ➤ Snap and Grid dialog box, turn on Snap and
Grid and set the size of both to 0.125.
8 Click OK.

10 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box, Scale section,

make sure that the feature scale multiplier is set to 1.0 inch.
11 Click OK.
NOTE For metric unit, the following settings are recommended so that the
wire connection points will be placed on the grids for easier drafting. Grid
and Snap Size = 2.5mm; Feature scale multiplier =20 (scale factor = 20)
12 Select Projects ➤ Toolbars ➤ Extra Libraries.
NOTE You can also turn on the toolbar by right-clicking on any toolbar and
selecting ACE: Extra Libraries.
This toolbar has tools for inserting Pneumatic, Hydraulic and P&ID
components.
Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols

The hydraulic symbol library in AutoCAD® Electrical includes filters, valves,
cylinders, pressure switches, motors, pumps, meters, restrictors, quick
disconnects, flow arrows and more. The hydraulic symbol library consists of
all the hydraulic symbols and is found at \Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\Acade
{version}\Libs\hyd_iso125.
Insert hydraulic symbols
1 Click the Insert Hydraulic Component tool.
Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols | 229

2 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, select the check
box for Vertical.
3 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, click the

General Valves icon.
4 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Shut Off Valve
Open.

Select to place the valve in the upper left corner of your drawing

Component Tag: VAL2
Click OK.
7 Repeat steps 1 - 3.
8 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Checkvalve Flow

Left.

Select to place the check valve below the shut off valve
12 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, click

Motors & Pumps.
13 In the Hydraulic: Motors and Pumps dialog box, click Fixed

Displacement.

14 In the Hydraulic: Fixed Displacement dialog box, click
Uni-Directional Pump.

Specify insertion point: Select to place the pump below the check valve

Component Tag: Hydraulic Oil Pump
Click OK.
17 Insert another Shut Off Valve Open below the Hydraulic Oil Pump.
19 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, click Filters.
20 In the Hydraulic: Filters dialog box, click Filter.

Specify insertion point: Select to place the filter below the shut off valve

Component Tag: FI2
Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols | 231

Description: Line 1: Filter
Click OK.

Miscellaneous.
25 In the Hydraulic: Miscellaneous dialog box, click Reservoir.

Specify insertion point: Select to place the reservoir below the filter

Creating Pipes
In the AutoCAD Electrical application, we use different types of wires to
represent the type of running pipes that allows water or oil flows from one
instrument to another. Let's start by setting up the type of wires for pipe runs.
Insert wires as pipes
1 Expand the Insert Wire tool, and then click the Create/Edit Wire
Type tool.
Wires ➤ Create/Edit Wire Type
2 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, specify:

Wire Color: RED
Size: 20
The Layer Name is automatically created. The name RED_20 is assigned
to the wire layer you are creating.
3 Click Color.
4 In the Select Color dialog box, select red and click OK.
5 Click Linetype.
6 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Continuous and click OK.

Wire Color: GREEN
Size: 10
Color: Green
Linetype: Hidden2
8 Select RED_20 in the grid and click Mark Selected as Default.
Creating Pipes | 233

9 Click OK.


Enter X and press ENTER

Select the bottom of the shut off valve
Specify wire end or [Scoot/T=wiretype, X=show connections]:
Select the top of the check valve
12 Continue inserting wires connecting the components together. Right-click

to exit the command.
Your drawing should look like the following.

NOTE You can also insert the vertical or horizontal pipes first and then insert
the components onto the pipe, one at a time.
14 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, select the check
box for Vertical.

Pressure Relief Valves.
16 In the Hydraulic: Pressure Relief Valves dialog box, click N.C.

Pressure Relief Valve with Preset -1.

Specify insertion point: Select to place the valve to the right of the pump

Component Tag: VAL4
Description: Line 1: Pressure Relief
Click OK.


Enter X, press ENTER
Press SHIFT + right-click and select Midpoint from the menu, then select the
midpoint on the pipe between the pump and the shut off valve above it
Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H =start
Horizontal/Continue):
Drag the pipe to the right so that it is directly above the pressure relief valve,
drag the pipe down and click the top connection point on the pressure relief
valve
You now need to insert a pipe that connects the end of the valve back
to the pump.

TIP Make sure that Snap is turned off and that the Wire Layer is set to
GREEN_10.

Select the bottom connection point on the pressure relief valve
Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H =start
Horizontal/Continue):
Drag the pipe down and to the left, click the connection point at the bottom of
the pump, right-click
Completing the Hydraulic Drawing

The rest of the hydraulic drawing consists of inserting a Pressure Gauge and
Check Valve at the left side of the pump and then inserting devices (Cylinder;
Restrictors; Filter; Check valve and 2-ways valve) along the top of the drawing.
NOTE During insertion, clear the Vertical option in the Insert Component: Hydraulic
Symbols dialog box.
Insert components

Meters.
3 In the Hydraulic: Meters dialog box, click Pressure Gauge.

Select to place the pressure gauge to the far left (and slightly above) of the pump

Component Tag: MTR1
Description: Line 1: Pressure Gauge
Click OK.

General Valves.
8 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Shut Off Valve
Open.

Select to place the valve to the right of the pressure gauge
Completing the Hydraulic Drawing | 239

11 Set the wire layer to RED_20.


Select the right connection point on the pressure gauge
Drag the pipe to the right and click the left connection point on the valve
Specify wire start or [Scoot/wireType/X=show connections]:
Select the right connection point on the valve
Drag the pipe to the right and click the vertical pipe, right-click

15 Insert and place the devices listed below as shown in the following
illustration. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK after each
insertion.
NOTE You can also insert the vertical or horizontal pipes first and then insert
the components onto the pipe, one by one.
Icon Symbol to Insert
2 Way Valves ➤ Solenoid Spring Return -1

(insert as Vertical symbol)
General Valves ➤ Checkvalve Flow Left (insert as a Vertical symbol)

Filters ➤ Filter (insert as a Vertical symbol)
Restrictors ➤ Restrictor with Variable Output Flow
Restrictors ➤ By-Pass Flow Regulator with Variable Output Flow
Cylinders ➤ Single Acting Single Ended Piston Rod
TIP Align the components horizontally and vertically using the Align tool to
make inserting the pipes easier.

17 Connect the pipes from one control device to another as illustrated.

General Valves.
20 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Checkvalve Flow

Left.

Specify insertion point: Select to place the valve below the restrictor


24 Connect the pipes as shown.

The hydraulic schematic diagram is complete.
If you want to create a pneumatic drawing, use the Insert Pneumatic
Components tool on the Extra Libraries toolbar. Refer to the pneumatic
demo drawing file (Demo03.dwg) in the "Extra Library Demo" project.
Setting Up Your P&ID Drawing

Use the Project Manager to manage your P&ID drawings. From here you can
create a new drawing and modify any drawing properties.
1 In the Project Manager, click the Create New Drawing tool.

Name: AEGS13
Setting Up Your P&ID Drawing | 245

Template: Mouse over the edit box to verify AutoCAD_Electrical.dwt is
specified
Description 1: P&ID Example
Click OK.
NOTE You can also Click OK-Properties to proceed to Drawing Properties

dialog box if you want to set the component, wire number, cross-reference,
style and drawing format settings.
3 Select Tools ➤ Drafting Settings.
4 In the Drafting Settings ➤ Snap and Grid dialog box, turn on Snap and
Grid and set the size of both to 0.125.
5 Click OK.

7 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box, Scale section,

make sure that the feature scale multiplier is set to 1.0 inch.
8 Click OK.
NOTE For metric unit, the following settings are recommended so that the
wire connection points will be placed on the grids for easier drafting. Grid
and Snap Size = 2.5mm; Feature scale multiplier =20 (scale factor = 20)
Set up wire layers
Type tool.
2 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click in the Wire Type #2 row
and specify:
Wire Color: RED
Size: 25

The Layer Name is automatically created. The name RED_25 is assigned
to the wire layer you are creating.
3 Click Color.
4 In the Select Color dialog box, select red and click OK.
5 Click Linetype.
6 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Continuous and click OK.
7 Click Lineweight.
8 In the Select Lineweight dialog box, select 0.30 and click OK.
For this example, you need to create three more wire types (two yellow
wire layers and one green wire layer) using the Create/Edit Wire Type
dialog box.

Wire Type #3
Wire Color: YELLOW
Size: 15
Color: Yellow
Linetype: Continuous
Lineweight: default
Wire Type #4
Wire Color: YELLOW
Size: 10
Color: Yellow
Wire Type #5
Wire Color: GREEN
Size: 10
Color: Green
Setting Up Your P&ID Drawing | 247

NOTE For pipe runs in P&ID drawings, you must include the different
linetypes from the acade.lin file. You can set up the wire types for pipes at
the beginning of the drawing or before creating the pipes.
10 To set the Linetype for the GREEN_10 wire layer, click Linetype.
11 In the Select Linetype dialog box, click Load.
12 In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, click File.
13 In the Select Linetype File dialog box, select acade.lin and click Open.
NOTE The default location for the acade.lin file is \Documents and
Settings\{username}\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical
{version}\{release number}\{country code}\Support.
14 In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, select Pneumatic Signal and
click OK.

15 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Pneumatic Signal and click OK.
16 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click OK.
Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols

The P&ID symbol library in AutoCAD electrical includes equipment, tanks,
nozzles, pumps, fittings, valves, actuators, logic functions, instrumentation,
flow, and flow arrows. The P&ID symbol library consists of all the piping and
instrumentation symbols and is found at \Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\Acade
{version}\Libs\Pid.
Insert P&ID Symbols
1 Click the Insert P&ID Component tool.
2 In the Insert Component: Piping and Instrumentation Symbols

dialog box, click Equipment.
3 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Ball Mill.

Select to place the ball mill in the upper left corner of your drawing
Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols | 249

Component Tag: C-100
Description: Line 1: BALL MILL
Click OK.
6 Follow steps 1-2 above.
7 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Conveyors.
8 In the PID: Conveyors dialog box, click Conveyor 1.

Select to place the conveyor to the right and diagonally below the ball mill

Component Tag: N-100
Description: Line 1: CONVEYOR
Click OK.
11 Follow steps 1-2 above.
12 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Mixer 2.

Select to place the mixer to the right and diagonally below the conveyor

Component Tag: A-100
Description: Line 1: MIXER
Click OK.
16 Insert and place the devices listed below as shown in the following
illustration. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK after each
insertion.
Valves ➤ Gate Valve

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clear the Component
Tag
Equipment ➤ Dryer
Component Tag = C-200; Description Line 1 = DRYER
Instrumentation ➤ Discrete Instruments ➤ Field Mounted

Component Tag = TE 201
Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols | 251

TIP Align the components horizontally and vertically using the Align tool to
make inserting the pipes easier.
Creating Pipes
In AutoCAD Electrical, we use different types of wires to represent the type of
running pipes that allow water or oil flows from one instrument to another.
Insert wires as pipes
1 In the AutoCAD Layers toolbar, change the wire layer to RED_25.

3 Connect the pipes as shown. Right-click to exit the command.

4 In the AutoCAD Layers toolbar, change the wire layer to POS and the
linetype to HIDDEN2.


Select the bottom of the discrete instrument
Drag the wire down a few spaces, press ENTER

8 In the Insert Component: Piping and Instrumentation Symbols
dialog box, click Flow Arrows.
9 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Flow Arrow Down.

Select to place the flow arrow at the bottom of the new wire
The P&ID diagram is complete.

If you want to see how to expand the P&ID drawing, refer to the P&ID demo
drawing file (Demo01.dwg) in the "Extra Library Demo" project.

Reports and Migrating
AutoCAD Data
Part 4 of this manual includes information on generating In this part

reports and migrating AutoCAD® data to make it AutoCAD® ■ Generating Reports
■ Migrating AutoCAD Data
Electrical-smart.
255
256
Generating Reports
11
AutoCAD®Electrical provides a number of reports as well as In this chapter
great flexibility in each report format. This chapter provides ■ Generating Bill of Material
Reports
information about generating a report and then using various ■ Inserting BOM Tables into
Drawings
methods to manipulate the report format in AutoCAD
■ Editing BOM Tables on
Electrical. Drawings
■ Changing Formats of BOMs
■ Exporting BOMs to
Spreadsheets
257
Generating Bill of Material Reports
Using AutoCAD Electrical, you can perform a project-wide extract of all BOM
data found on your project drawing set. The data is extracted from the project
database, matched with standard entries in the catalog database, and then
additional fields are pulled from the catalog files. You can format this data
into various report configurations and output to report files, export to a
spreadsheet or database program, or place in an AutoCAD Electrical drawing.
Generate a bill of material (BOM) report
1 Open AEGS11.dwg.
2 Click the Schematic Reports tool.

Projects ➤ Reports ➤ Schematic Reports
3 In the Schematic Reports dialog box, select:

Report Name: Bill of Material
Bill of Material: Project
Verify that the following options are specified:
Include options: All the above
Display option: Normal Tallied Format
Installation Codes to extract: All
Location Codes to extract: All
Click OK.
4 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select AEGS03.DWG, and

click Process.
5 Verify that AEGS03.DWG is displayed in the Drawings to Process section

of the dialog box and click OK.
The generated report is displayed in the Report Generator dialog box.
258 | Chapter 11 Generating Reports

6 In the Report Generator dialog box, select:
Header: Time/Date
Header: Column Labels
Add blanks between entries
Inserting BOM Tables into Drawings

Insert a BOM into the drawing in tabular format
1 With the BOM report displayed in the dialog box, click Put on Drawing.
2 In the Table Generation Setup dialog box, select:

Column Labels: Include column labels
Title: Include time/date
Column Width: Calculate automatically
Borders: All Borders
Click OK.
NOTE The extents of the BOM table are displayed in temporary graphics.
Press Z to zoom down, or R to flip into real-time pan and zoom mode, if
necessary.
3 The table outline moves with your cursor. Position the table, and then
click to place the table. The BOM table is built where you placed it.
Inserting BOM Tables into Drawings | 259

4 In the Report Generator, click Close.
Editing BOM Tables on Drawings

You can use the Edit Component tool together with the Report Generator’s
Edit Mode to modify a report that has already been placed on a drawing.
Edit the BOM report

2 Select the report on the drawing.

The report is displayed using the current report settings.
3 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Edit Mode.
4 In the Edit Report dialog box, select FU307.
5 Click Move Up.

The lines that make up a single BOM entry are kept together and moved
up one space in the report dialog box.
Editing BOM Tables on Drawings | 261

NOTE You can also edit report data, delete BOM entries and add new catalog
items to the report.
6 Click OK - Return to Report.
7 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Put on Drawing.

The report on the drawing updates to reflect the changes you made.
8 In the Table Generation Setup dialog box, click OK.
9 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Close.

Changing Formats of BOMs
Each AutoCAD Electrical report is customizable, from which data fields are
reported and the order in which they appear to the justification of any column
and the column labels.
Remove the TAGS columns from the BOM
1 Erase the table, or UNDO, and rerun the BOM extract for AEGS03.DWG.
2 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Change Report Format.

In the Bill of Materials Data Fields to Report dialog box, Fields to report
section, the fields that format the BOM are displayed.
3 Select TAGS in the Fields to report list.
4 Click <<Remove.
The TAGS field is moved out of Fields to report and into Available fields.
NOTE You can also select a field in the Available fields list to add it to the
report or rearrange columns using the Move Up and Move Down buttons.
Clicking Ok-Save As saves these settings to a file for later use.
5 Click OK.
Changing Formats of BOMs | 263

NOTE This new format becomes the default the next time you extract a BOM
report.
The BOM data in the Report Generator dialog box is reformatted and
displayed.
6 Scroll down the report to verify that the component tags column is
removed.
7 Insert the new version of the BOM table into the drawing.
Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets

You can move your BOM to a spreadsheet, database, or any other application
that can read data in a comma-delimited or Microsoft®Access format.
Export the BOM to a Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet
1 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Save to File.
2 In the Save Report to File dialog box, select Excel spreadsheet format (.xls)
and click OK.
3 In the Select file for report dialog box, enter an output file name or click
OK to accept the default name BOM.xls. Click Save.
4 In the Optional Script File dialog box, click Close - No Script.
5 In Microsoft Excel, click File ➤ Open.
6 Browse to the location where you saved the spreadsheet (the default is
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\My Documents) and select the
spreadsheet.
7 Click Open.

Your BOM data is displayed in spreadsheet format. You can slide the column
borders to expose the full column of text for each field. The first six columns
of the spreadsheet are shown above. The first column is the tallied quantity,
followed by subassembly quantity, catalog number, and manufacturer code.
The remaining fields are those extracted from the mfg/cat combo query on
the external catalog look-up file.
Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets | 265

266
Migrating AutoCAD Data
12
This chapter describes using the tagging and linking tools in In this chapter
AutoCAD® Electrical to convert non blocked geometry and ■ About Tagging and Linking
Tools
text to a fully functional AutoCAD Electrical-aware block ■ Exploding Block and
Attributes
insert.
■ Tagging Schematic
Components
■ Linking Schematic
Attributes
■ Adding Wire Connections
■ Adding Geometry
■ Tagging and Linking Panel
Components
■ Updating Panel or
Schematic Components
267
About Tagging and Linking Tools
AutoCAD Electrical has tagging and linking tools that enable non blocked
geometry to be made aware of AutoCAD Electrical. The existing geometry
stays in place and is unblocked, but key text entities are converted to attributes
with user picks and are linked into a generic, non graphical block insert. Wire
connection attributes can also be merged into this generic block insert. The
process to convert it from dumb text, circle, and line entities takes only
moments to complete and the result appears as a fully functional AutoCAD
Electrical-aware block insert.
Exploding Block and Attributes

The Special Explode tool in AutoCAD Electrical explodes attributes and blocks
to geometry and text entities while maintaining the value previously defined
in the attributes. You can take advantage of the tagging tools to modify the
text entities to attributes and the linking tools to make various blocks.
Explode AutoCAD® blocks
1 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name (AEGS), and select
Add Drawings.
2 In the Select Files to Add dialog box, double-click the CONVERT subfolder.
3 Select files Convert-01.dwg through Convert-04.dwg and click Add.
4 When asked to apply the project defaults to the drawing settings, click
Yes.
5 Open Convert-03.dwg.
6 Zoom in on the components in the upper left-hand corner of the

drawing.
268 | Chapter 12 Migrating AutoCAD Data

7 Select Projects ➤ Toolbars ➤ Conversion Tools from the menu.
NOTE Only a portion of the conversion tools are shown here. The others are
not used in this manual; refer to the Help for information on how to use
them.
Use the Special Explode tool to explode attributes and blocks to geometry
and text entities while maintaining the value previously defined in the
attributes. You can take advantage of the tagging tools to modify the text
entities to attributes and the linking tools to make various blocks.
8 Click the Special Explode tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Special Explode

Select objects:
Select push button lights A - D (including all graphics and text) on lines 401 -
407 (use either single picks or window-select), right-click
Exploding Block and Attributes | 269

The blocks explode into separate text entities and geometry.
Tagging Schematic Components

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Tagging tools to convert text entities into an
attributed block. Through the insertion of a template block, you have control
over which attributes are inserted and visible. All necessary attribute definitions
are automatically placed. During the tagging process, the text entity is removed
and replaced with a template block file that contains multiple attributes used
in AutoCAD Electrical.
Tagging Results:
■ The selected text entities are replaced with a template block file.
■ The TAG attribute takes on the value of the converted text.
■ The TAG attribute is set to fixed.
■ The TAG attribute takes on the same ACAD properties as the tagged text.

Tag schematic components
1 Click the Tag Schematic Component tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tool ➤ Tag Schematic ➤ Tag Schematic
Component

Select objects: Select 9PB, 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB, right-click
NOTE You may have to right-click several times to exit the command.
The text changes color to indicate that it has been tagged. The color of
the TAG attribute is by layer. The attribute is the same layer as defined
on the WD_M block. You can now link the descriptions and wire numbers.
3 Click the Schematic Report tool.

4 In the Schematic Report dialog box, specify:

Report Name: Component
Active Drawing
Click OK.
5 If asked to save the drawing, click Yes.

In the Report Generator dialog box, notice that 9PB-12PB are listed in
the TAGNAME column of the report
Linking Schematic Attributes

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Linking tools to associate non blocked text to
previously placed template blocks. Through the modification of a template
block, you have control over which attributes are inserted and visible. All
necessary attribute definitions are placed using the properties of the existing
text entities, such as justification, height, and location. If multiple template
block files are selected, the value of the text is added to the previously defined
template block attributes as hidden attributes and the text is not removed.
Linking Schematic Attributes | 271

Linking Results:
■ The selected text entities are replaced with an AutoCAD Electrical attribute.
■ Colors change to visually distinguish what has been already converted as

defined in the WD_M block.
■ Temporary lines display the link.

The Link Descriptions tool links simple text as Description 1-3 attributes
on an AutoCAD Electrical block file. You can link them as description
attributes to one or more existing template block definitions. During the
conversion process, the text entity is removed and replaced with the next
available description attribute, up to 3.
Link descriptions
1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the Link
Descriptions tool.
Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Link Description

Select objects: Select 9PB, right-click
Select text to fill in next available DESC attribute:
Select LIGHT A, right-click
Select LIGHT B, right-click
Select LIGHT C, right-click
Select LIGHT D, right-click

Colors change to visually distinguish what has been converted and
temporary lines display the link.
3 Click the Schematic Report tool.

4 In the Schematic Report dialog box, specify:

Report Name: Component
Active Drawing
Click OK.
5 If asked to QSave the drawing, click Yes.

In the Report Generator dialog box, notice that 9PB-12PB are still listed
in the TAGNAME column of the report.
6 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Change Report Format.
7 In the Component Data Fields to Report dialog box, select Desc1 from
the Available Fields list.
Desc1 moves into the Fields to report list. These are the fields that will
display in the Component report.
Linking Schematic Attributes | 273

8 Click OK.
The Report Generator dialog box now lists the TAGNAME and DESC1
values from the active drawing.
Adding Wire Connections

Wire connection attributes can also be merged into the new generic block
insert. AutoCAD Electrical’s Add Wire Connections tool adds wire connection
attributes to the existing tagged block file. Select line endpoints or geometry
to add the appropriate wire connection attributes to. A new block definition
is created with the newly added wire connections. You can subsequently create
a new block file if the block is exploded.
Wire Connection Results:
■ Visual indicators (x) appear where the wire connection attributes have
already been applied.
■ Wire connection attributes, terminal attributes, and terminal description

attributes are added.
■ The block definition is automatically modified during the attribute addition

process.

■ Terminal attribute colors change to visually distinguish what has been
already converted as defined in the WD_M block.
Convert device pins to wire connection attributes
1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the Add Wire
Connections tool.
Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Add Wire
Connections

Select block TAG or PLC Address: Select 9PB
Select end of wire (P=Pick Location): Enter P and press ENTER
Select location (W=Wire):
Press SHIFT + right-click to select Endpoint from the Snap options, select the
end point of the first wire on line 401
In the Wire Direction dialog box, select from left.
Select TERM01 text object: Select 22 (underneath 9PB TAG)
NOTE Visual indicators (x) appear where the wire connection attributes have
been applied.
Select location (W=Wire):

Press SHIFT + right-click to select Endpoint from the Snap options, select the
end point of the second wire on line 401
In the Wire Direction dialog box, select from right.
Select TERM02 text object: Select 55 (underneath line 401), right-click
You should be back at the prompt to Select block TAG or PLC Address.
3 Repeat for 10PB - 12PB.
Adding Wire Connections | 275

Pause the mouse over 9PB - 12 PB. The text, wire connection attributes,
and description text should all highlight. We still must convert the wire
number text and add the geometry to our block.
Type tool.
5 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, select Make all Lines Valid Wires
and click OK.
6 Click the Convert Text to Wire Numbers tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Convert Drawing ➤ Convert Text to
Wire Numbers

Select LINE near wire number text:
Select the left endpoint of the wire with the text 13 above it (line 401)
Select existing wire number text to convert: Select text 13
8 While you are still in the command, repeat for text 14 - 16 on lines 403
- 407.

Adding Geometry
The Add Geometry tool in AutoCAD Electrical adds AutoCAD geometry to a
template block file to be created as part of a unique block instance. It creates
a new block definition with the newly added geometry. You can subsequently
create a new block file if the block is exploded.
Add Geometry Results:
■ TAG1, TAG2, PLC TAG, and TAGSTRIP attributes are defined and selected
first.
■ The block definition is automatically modified.
■ The geometry's color changes by layer to visually distinguish what has

been already converted as defined in the WD_M block.
Add geometry to the block
1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the Add Geometry
tool.
Projects ➤ conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Add Geometry

Select block for additional geometry: Select 9PB
Select objects: Select the graphics for the push button, right-click
Specify insertion point: Select the middle of the push button

The geometry is associated to the template block files. Check that
everything has been tied to the block by mousing-over 9PB. The text,
wire connection attributes, description text and geometry highlights.
Adding Geometry | 277

3 Repeat steps 1 -2 for 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB.
Your blocks are now AutoCAD Electrical-smart.
Tagging and Linking Panel Components

The AutoCAD Electrical Tagging and Linking tools work on panel components
the same way they work on schematic components.
Tag and link panel components
1 Open Convert-04.dwg.
2 Zoom in on the components in the middle of the drawing.
3 Click the Special Explode tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Special Explode

Select objects:

Select push button lights A - D (including all graphics and text) (use either
single picks or window-select), right-click
The blocks explode into separate text entities and geometry.

The Tag Panel Component tool makes selected text entities an attributed
block file with the P_TAG1 attribute visible. The template block file
(ACE_P_TAG1_CONVERT.DWG) contains attributes for a panel
component.
5 Click the Tag Panel Component tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Tag Panel ➤ Tag Panel Component

Select objects: Select 9PB, 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB, right-click
The text changes color to indicate that it has been tagged. The color of
the PTAG attribute is by layer. The attribute is the same layer as defined
on the WD_M block.
7 Expand the Link Panel tool, and then click the Link Descriptions
tool.
Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Panel ➤ Link Description

Select LIGHT A, right-click
Tagging and Linking Panel Components | 279

Updating Panel or Schematic Components
Once a panel component has a component tag assigned, it is automatically
linked to the related schematic component. Updates to either the schematic
or panel component prompt an update to the related component.
Surf to the related schematic component

Projects ➤ Surfer

Select tag for “Surfer” trace (or <Enter> to type it): Select 9PB
3 In the Surf dialog box, double-click the component marked with type
“p.”

Surfer goes to the schematic drawing and zooms on the schematic
component.
5 In the Surf dialog box, click Edit.
6 In the Component Insert/Edit dialog box, change the description to

LIGHT 1 and click OK.
The Update Other Drawings dialog box displays. This dialog alerts that
other drawings in the project set may include child components or related
panel components.
8 In the Update Other Drawings dialog box, click OK.

Projects ➤ Surfer

Select tag for “Surfer” trace (or <Enter> to type it): Select 9PB
11 In the Surf dialog box, double-click the component marked with type
“#.”
Updating Panel or Schematic Components | 281

Surfer goes to the panel layout drawing and zooms on the physical
representation of the push button. Notice that the description for 9PB
updated to reflect the change you made to the schematic component.
12 In the Surf dialog box, click Close.

Index
A command summary 4
Component Data Fields to Report dialog
add connector pins 220 box 273
add geometry 277 component fence 150
Add Rung tool 69 component tag 75
align components 82 components 74, 79, 82, 98, 128, 271
All Locations-Drawing dialog box 77, 84 aligning 82
attributes 102–105, 190, 272, 274, 279 child 79
add 102 copy 128
DESC1 103 parent 74
FAMILY 105 scooting 79
INST 104 swap 98
link panel descriptions 279 tag 271
link schematics 272 conduit marker toolbar 47
LOC 104 Connector Layout dialog box 217
move 190 connector pin descriptions 225
TAG1 102 connector pins 220–222
wire connections 274 add 220
AutoCAD Electrical Help 55 move 221
swap 222
connectors 206–207, 218–219, 222–223,
B 225
bill of material reports 258 insertion 206
Bill of Materials Data Fields to Report pin descriptions 225
dialog box 263 placement 207
reverse 222
rotate 223
C split 218
stretch 219
catalog assignments 93, 180 conversion toolbar 36, 269
add 93 convert text to wire numbers 276
catalog lookup 94 Create New Drawing dialog box 59, 228,
catalog numbers 75 245
Change/Convert Wire Type dialog Create New Project dialog box 56
box 172 Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box 233,
circuits 112, 117, 129, 131–132, 141 246, 276
copy 117 Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog
insert saved circuits 132 box 216
insert WBlocked circuits 141
move 112
save 129
save to icon menu 131
283 | Index
D Schematic Reports 258
Select Template 59
dashed link lines 90–91, 218 Sheet 4-Insert Destination
destination signals 164 Code 165, 167
dialog boxes 59, 76–77, 81, 84–86, 88, Signal Codes-Proj-wide Source 165
100, 106, 115, 144–145, 147–148, Signal-Source Code 163
150–153, 155, 157, 159, 163–165, Source/Destination Signal
167, 170–172, 176–177, 183, 185, Arrows 164, 167
206, 208, 211, 213–217, 228, Surf 280
233, 245, 258–259, 261, 263–264, Symbol Builder 100
273, 280 Table Generation Setup 259
All Locations-Drawing 77, 84–86 Terminal style/configuration 106
Bill of Materials Data Fields to Terminals 152
Report 263 Wire Tagging 170
Change/Convert Wire Type 172 Wire Tagging (Project-wide) 171
Component Data Fields to dot tee markers 139
Report 273 drafting settings 229, 246
Connector Layout 217 drawing details 62
Create New Drawing 228, 245 drawing properties 61
Create/Edit Wire Type 233 drawings 60–62
Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks 216 add 60
Edit PLC Module 155 descriptions 61
Edit Report 261 in projects 60
I/O Address 148 next 62
I/O Point 147 previous 62
Insert Connector 206, 208, 215–216 reorder 60
Insert New Ladder 144 viewing within projects 62
Insert/Edit Child Component 88
Insert/Edit Component 77
Insert/Edit Contact 81
E
Keep 150–153 edit components 88
Modify Line Reference Numbers 159 Edit PLC Module dialog box 155
Module Layout 147 Edit Report dialog box 261
Multiple Wire Bus 115, 211, 213– exercises 54
214 explode blocks 268
Panel Layout-Component extra libraries toolbar 51, 229
Insert/Edit 183, 185
Parts Catalog 76
PLC I/O Module F
Selection/Insert 145
PLC I/O Wire Numbers 157 Footprint dialog box 180
Report Generator 258 footprints 183, 189
Save Report to File 264 aligning 189
Schematic Component List - Panel manual insertion 183
Layout Insert 176
Schematic Components 177
284 | Index
H ladders, single-phase 144
linking tools 268
Help systems, AutoCAD Electrical 55 Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box 248
hydraulic symbols 229–232, 236, 239,
241–243
by-pass flow regulator 242
M
checkvalve flow left 230, 241, 243 main electrical 2 toolbar 19
filters 231, 242 main electrical toolbar 4
fixed displacement pump 230 minals 121, 135
general valves 230, 239, 243 multi-level 121
insertion 229 renumber 135
meters 239 Modify Line Reference Numbers dialog
motors and pumps 230 box 159
pressure gauge 239 Module Layout dialog box 147
pressure relief valves 236 move connector pins 221
reservoir 232 multi-level terminals 119–120
restrictor with variable output multiple wire bus 115
flow 242 Multiple Wire Bus dialog box 115, 211,
shut off valve open 230, 239 213–214
single ended piston rod 242
solenoid spring return 241
uni-directional pump 231 N
name plates 189, 192–193
I insertion 192–193
New Drawing tool 59
I/O Address dialog box 148 New Project tool 56
I/O Point dialog box 147
Insert Connector dialog box 206, 208,
215–216, 223 P
Insert New Ladder dialog box 144
Insert Pneumatic Component tool 245 P&ID drawing 245
Insert Wire tool 69 p&id symbols 249–251, 254
Insert/Edit Child Component dialog ball mill 249
box 88 conveyor 250
Insert/Edit Component dialog box 77 dryer 251
Insert/Edit Contact dialog box 81 equipment 249
item numbers 182 field mounted instruments 251
flow arrow down 254
flow arrows 254
K gate valve 251
mixer2 250
Keep dialog box 150–153 panel layout toolbar 31, 176
Panel Layout-Component Insert/Edit
L dialog box 183, 185
panel level/sequencing toolbar 49
ladder rungs, removing 149 parent/child relationships 74, 80, 133
285 | Index
Parts Catalog dialog box 76, 93 green press to test pilot lights 84
pin descriptions 225 limit switch buttons 149
pipes 233, 252 miscellaneous switches 99
piping & instrumentation 245 motor controls 127
PLC I/O Module Selection/Insert dialog normally open limit switches 149
box 145 normally open push buttons 83
PLC I/O point descriptions 155 normally open relays 80
PLC I/O Wire Numbers dialog box 157 pilot lights 84, 87
PLC modules 145 proximity switches 99
point-to-point tools 206 push buttons 83, 85
power check toolbar 48 relays buttons 74, 80
prerequisites for exercises 54 selector switches 87
Project Manager 55–56 standard coils 74
project properties 57 terms and connectors 151
Project Properties dialog box 58 scooting components 79
projects 56 Select Color dialog box 233, 247
Select Linetype dialog box 233, 247
Select Linetypes File dialog box 248
R Select Lineweight dialog box 247
reference-based tags 57 Select Template dialog boxes 59
renumber terminals 135 Sheet 4-Insert Destination Code dialog
reorder drawings 60 box 165, 167
Report Generator dialog box 258 Signal Codes-Proj-wide Source dialog
reports 258, 260, 263–264 box 165
change format 263 Signal-Source Code dialog box 163
edit 260 signals 162, 164, 168
export to spreadsheet 264 destination 164
reverse connectors 222 show 168
rotate connectors 223 source 162
Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialog
box 164, 167
S stretch connectors 219
surf components 280
Save Report to File dialog box 264 Surf dialog box 280
schematic bill of material reports 258 surf symbols 96
schematic component 74 swap components 98
Schematic Component List - Panel Layout swap connector pins 222
Insert dialog box 176 symbol builder 100
Schematic Components dialog box 177
Schematic Report dialog box 271, 273
Schematic Reports dialog box 258 T
schematic symbols 74, 80, 83–85, 87,
99, 119, 125–127, 149, 151 Table Generation Setup dialog box 259
3 phase motors 127 tag panel components 278
3 pole fused disconnects 126 tag schematic components 271
blue press to test pilot lights 87 tagging tools 268
fuse/circuit breakers 119, 125 templates 59
286 | Index
terminal strips 195 W
Terminal style/configuration dialog
box 106 WBlock 109, 129, 140
terminal styles 106 WD_M block 59
terminals 121, 135–136 wire connection points 70, 105
associations 121, 136 wire connections 275
multi-level 136 add 275
properties 136 wire layers 68, 172
renumber 135 wire numbers 170–171, 224, 276
Terminals dialog box 152 automatic 170
terms and connectors 151 convert text 276
toolbar 4, 19, 31, 36, 47–49, 51 move 224
conduit marker 47 projects 171
conversion 36 Wire Tagging (Project-wide) dialog
extra libraries 51 box 171
main electrical 4 Wire Tagging dialog box 170, 224
main electrical 2 19 wires 68–70, 114–115
panel layout 31 multiple wire bus 115
panel level/sequencing 49 single-phase 69
power check 48 trimming 70, 114
Trim Wire tool 70
X
xdata 191
287 | Index

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AutoCAD Electrical 2008

Part No. 22505-050000-5000A January 30, 2007

Third Party Software Credits and Attributions

AutoCAD Electrical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Ladder Style Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Chapter 4 Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Chapter 5 Circuitry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Chapter 6 PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Chapter 7 Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Point-to-Point Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

Chapter 9 Connector Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Chapter 10 Pneumatic, Hydraulic and P&ID Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Reports and Migrating AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

Chapter 11 Generating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

Chapter 12 Migrating AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

Part 1 of this manual provides information on AutoCAD® In this part

of the function of each command and the associated

NOTE This list does not contain AutoCAD® commands.

Main Electrical toolbar

Insert Component Inserts selected components from the icon

Insert Component Inserts schematic symbols by choosing a

Insert Component This spreadsheet organizes the selected user-

4 | Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical

Insert Component (Panel Lists panel components extracted from your

Insert Terminal (Panel Lists panel terminals extracted from your

Swap/Update Block Use to update or change blocks in place. At-

Copy Component Inserts a copy of an existing component into

Multiple Insert (Icon Inserts a series of similar components at fence

Multiple Insert (Pick Inserts a copy of the selected component

Link Components with Draws a smart dashed line between stacked

Insert Reference Arrow - Draws a dashed line from a component to a

Main Electrical toolbar | 5

Insert Reference Arrow - Draws a dashed line from a component to a

Insert PLC (Parametric) Generates PLC I/O modules on demand, in a

RSLogix 500 Export to Prepares RSLogix 500 exported data to be

Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Creates a set of PLC I/O drawings from

6 | Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical

bottom of one ladder and continuing on the

Insert Connector Generates a connector symbol from user-

Insert Connector from Imports a connector wire list from another

NOTE If the AutoCAD Electrical drawing is

Reverse Connector Reverses the orientation of the connector

Main Electrical toolbar | 7

Rotate Connector Rotates the connector about its insertion point

Stretch Connector Increases or decreases the connector's overall

Split Connector Splits the parametric connector into two sep-

Add Connector Pins Adds pins to an existing connector.

Delete Connector Pins Removes a pin from an existing connector

Move Connector Pin Moves connector pin associated to selected

Swap Connector Pins Exchanges one set of connector pin numbers

8 | Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands in AutoCAD Electrical

NOTE You cannot swap a combination con-

Insert Splice Inserts a splice symbol selected from the on-

Insert WBlocked Circuit Inserts WBlocked circuitry (external drawing

Insert Saved Circuit Inserts a user circuit selected from on-screen

Copy Circuit Copies existing circuits and pastes the copied

Move Circuit Moves the selected circuit to a specified loca-

Save Circuit to Icon Saves windowed portions of circuitry for later

Edit Component Edits components, PLC modules, terminal,

Add/Edit Internal Jumper Adds, changes, or deletes internal jumpers on

Main Electrical toolbar | 9

are inserted, these internal jumpers are read