AutoCAD Electrical 2005 and PLCs

[brstilson]

I wondering about AcadE 2005 and PLCs and modules that do not appear on the list that come with Acad. I know that the ability to create new PLC modules wasn't included until version 2008, but, since my company does not like to spend money on computers (whose does, really?), and I cannot convince them of any cost benefit to upgrading (they're not going to put up thousands of dollars for software just so I can draw new PLC modules), I'm stuck with 2005 for the meantime.

At any rate, I was wondering if there is any workaround for this lack of ability in 2005. I find it hard to believe that Autodesk meant for us to be stuck with whatever they happened to list, which, while quite extensive, doesn't cover everything out in the field that existed in 2005. For example, I need to use a 1762-L40AWA on a project, but AcadE only comes with the Micrologix 1000 series modules, no 1200s, no 1500s. Up to this point I've made do with creating custom "dumb" blocks using the Blackbox builder, but it's still a bit cumbersome since they are not PLC blocks that are dynamically created. The actual PLC blocks are far easier and faster to work with.

I'm just curious as to what other users of 2005 did before 2008 or still do in the case of those like me who haven't upgraded. Am I stuck just creating blind, fixed blocks that have no advanced PLC attributes? Is there a place where I can download additional PLC blocks for 2005? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I don't actually have access to AcadE 2005 so I am
going from memory. I believe if you look at the Help topics in the PLC chapter
there should be some topics on the plc .dat files format and how to modify
existing ones and create new ones. You can add/modify the
PLC modules but the data is not held in one database as it is in more
recent AcadE version, and there is not a PLC database file editor.

Pat Murnen

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<brstilson> wrote in message
href="news:6053865@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6053865@discussion.autodesk.com...

I
wondering about AcadE 2005 and PLCs and modules that do not appear on the list
that come with Acad. I know that the ability to create new PLC modules wasn't
included until version 2008, but, since my company does not like to spend
money on computers (whose does, really?), and I cannot convince them of any
cost benefit to upgrading (they're not going to put up thousands of dollars
for software just so I can draw new PLC modules), I'm stuck with 2005 for the
meantime. At any rate, I was wondering if there is any workaround for this
lack of ability in 2005. I find it hard to believe that Autodesk meant for us
to be stuck with whatever they happened to list, which, while quite extensive,
doesn't cover everything out in the field that existed in 2005. For example, I
need to use a 1762-L40AWA on a project, but AcadE only comes with the
Micrologix 1000 series modules, no 1200s, no 1500s. Up to this point I've made
do with creating custom "dumb" blocks using the Blackbox builder, but it's
still a bit cumbersome since they are not PLC blocks that are dynamically
created. The actual PLC blocks are far easier and faster to work with. I'm
just curious as to what other users of 2005 did before 2008 or still do in the
case of those like me who haven't upgraded. Am I stuck just creating blind,
fixed blocks that have no advanced PLC attributes? Is there a place where I
can download additional PLC blocks for 2005? Thanks in
advance.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure that PLC Database File
Editor was introduced in AutoCAD Electrical 2005.  Try typing
ace_plcedit at the command line and see if the editor pops up.

Hope this helps.

Mike

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"brstilson" wrote in message
href="news:6053865@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6053865@discussion.autodesk.com...

I
wondering about AcadE 2005 and PLCs and modules that do not appear on the list
that come with Acad. I know that the ability to create new PLC modules wasn't
included until version 2008, but, since my company does not like to spend
money on computers (whose does, really?), and I cannot convince them of any
cost benefit to upgrading (they're not going to put up thousands of dollars
for software just so I can draw new PLC modules), I'm stuck with 2005 for the
meantime. At any rate, I was wondering if there is any workaround for this
lack of ability in 2005. I find it hard to believe that Autodesk meant for us
to be stuck with whatever they happened to list, which, while quite extensive,
doesn't cover everything out in the field that existed in 2005. For example, I
need to use a 1762-L40AWA on a project, but AcadE only comes with the
Micrologix 1000 series modules, no 1200s, no 1500s. Up to this point I've made
do with creating custom "dumb" blocks using the Blackbox builder, but it's
still a bit cumbersome since they are not PLC blocks that are dynamically
created. The actual PLC blocks are far easier and faster to work with. I'm
just curious as to what other users of 2005 did before 2008 or still do in the
case of those like me who haven't upgraded. Am I stuck just creating blind,
fixed blocks that have no advanced PLC attributes? Is there a place where I
can download additional PLC blocks for 2005? Thanks in
advance.