Hi Guys! I am partially responsible for the change. I informed Autodesk that they were still using the DIN designations that fed into the IEC but were eventually replaced by 61346-2.
The truth is that it is easier to leave the DIN designations and use the wd_fam.dat method to modify to meet 61346-2. The reason is because 61346-2 consolidated the categories based upon physical properties, which places things like heaters and lamps into the same category. This consolidation can present a problem for tag conversions though. It is easy to convert the many to the few, but hard to convert the few to the many. For example, it is easy to convert JIC to IEC since tags like PB, TS, SS, or LS all become an S in DIN and IEC. Fortunately when we use the AcadE library swap and a subsequent project-wide retag to go from IEC to JIC the default tag in the JIC symbol takes care of converting the S back to the appropriate JIC equivalent. I've used this many times the other way where the customer wants DIN/IEC symbols but doesn't mind keeping the tag the same. For example a machine designed and built in the U.S. to JIC standards could be shipped to Europe with familiar symbol shapes but retain the JIC tags since that is how the device is physically labeled in the panel. That is why I am glad that the library swap feature doesn't automatically retag, but allows me to decide to retag or not. I think AcadE is the best in its class when it comes to symbol conversions from one standard to another.
Tip: I renamed the IEC2 and IEC4 folders to DIN2 and DIN4 and I still use those if I need the old tags. But officially Autodesk is providing us with the most up-to-date tags in version 2010. Incidentally you can use either E or P for a lamp. The P is generic for a signal device, while the E indicates that it converts electrical current into heat and/or light. I guess I would think of E for a light bulb in a building while a P would be an indicator lamp on a control panel.
I personally prefer the old DIN designations but the IEC did not consult me (tongue in cheek).
The wd_fam.dat file is a simple text file that you create and place inside the project folder. The syntax is as follows:
old,new
For example what if you wanted to use JIC symbols but with IEC tags. Create a wd_fam.dat file that looks something like the following and AcadE will override the default tag designation in the symbol's TAG1 attribute:
CR,K
SS,S
TS,S
LS,S
PB,S
LT,P (or E if you prefer)
etc.
Edited by: dougmcalexander on May 22, 2009 4:11 AM
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