Hi Doug,
Thanks for that info, I hadn't tried that I just went straight in and created a matching catalog entry.
However using your method still has the vanishing terminal number issue.
Rock and a Hard place comes to mind
Regards
David
I don't want to confuse you about the terminal numbers. They get assigned when you assign the MFG and CAT using Lookup. If you manually type in the MFG and CAT Acad/E doesn't run the extra portion of its code that looks at the pin list database and extracts the terminal/pin assignments. Manually typing in MFG and CAT is not a recommended work flow at all. But some people use it as a shortcut for a quick BOM. Using Lookup to assign the MFG and CAT runs the extra code that checks the pin list database for terminal assignments.
Hi Doug,
I understand what you mean but for me when I enter a manufacturer and component (without clicking lookup) clicking OK makes the terminal information disappear. (ACAD 2011 64)
I have tried this in one of your cableproj2 project drawings and get the same result The -1PR4B block had a manufacturer and catalog enty followed by OK only (no lookup) The -1PR5B block is the same block with no manufacturer or catalog entry, It's the catalog entry that causes the problem an entry in catalog alone will cause the problem.
Manufacturer alone gives no problem.
Regards
David
Still nothing on a fix for this? I'm getting tired of re-entering terminal numbers...
This has turned into a source of frustration for some of our engineers. We have created symbols, generated pin lists, and found that nothing gets populated when we bring our symbols in. While we understand that AutoCAD is supposed to be able to handle dvices other than relays, it is not very evident how this is done.
Thanks,
Mike Coleman
I have tested this issue with versions 2008-2010 and I definitely noted a different behavior with version 2011. With versions 2008-2010 if I type in a new MFG and CAT value that matches a listing in the pin list database, the pin assignments are updated. If no match is found the pin assignments remain unchanged, even if they are no longer correct.
It seems that version 2011 is attempting to ensure that the pin assignments are accurate according to the specific manufacturer and part number assigned. If you change to a new MFG and CAT that has no pin assignments in the pin list database, the pin assignments are blanked out to avoid possible confusion. It is easier to spot when a pin assignment is blank than when it is incorrect. So I'm not sure this is a regression issue. Perhaps the developers intentionally changed the behavior in version 2011 to ensure that the pin assignments are accurate according to the manufacturer's data for the particular part number. It may be inconvenient for users who choose to pre-load their pin assignments in the TERMxx attributes of their symbols, because they will be blanked out when the MFG value is changed to anything other than the previously assigned MFG value. But if a valid MFG is re-entered, and the CAT value is still valid, the pin assignment returns from the pin list database.
Having just gone through researching this topic, I can now add an answer.
From earlier posts, it became evident that a part must exist in the pinlist database before using the look-up button. There is nothing wrong, here. Having found that your symbol looses it's pin information, you need to add the device to the pin list database. This is easily done from the Schematic ribbon, other tools, edit pin list database. Pick the manufacturer of your part, then add, or copy//add your part. Do notice that # and * are wildcards that can be used. If what you are entering is not a relay, then the pin numbers are nothing more than an ordered list that is entered into the coilpins field of the database. If you are entiring relay information, then the pinlist field uses a format of contact type, contact in, contact out;.... Contact type definitions are:
1 - Normally Open
2 - Normally Closed
Would liike to impress on AutoDesk that failure to find information on a part should result in a dialog box asking to keep information, add existing information to the pinlist database, or erase information.
Hope this helps,
Mike Coleman
Hi Mike,
I like others ! have contributed to this thread and keep an eye on it - waiting patiently for a solution.
re your comments I have a question, this relates to non catalog parts often with more than two termianls.
As I previously posted, I do not have to click the lookup button for the terminal information to be removed, as long as I put an entry in the catalog field and click OK the terminal data is removed, do you exprience the same problem?
I understand your pin list database and lookup buton comments but that is not the whole issue - at least not for me I do not click 'LOOKUP'
ACADE 2011 x64
Hi Doug,
When is a bug a feature, if this is an intentional behavior in my opinion it is regression.
If this is an improvement then it needs a way to counteract the DRACONIAN terminal information removal or this thread would exist!
Cheers
David
David, I'm not sure it was intentional, but with previous versions it was possible to change a part number and be left with incorrect pin assignments, based upon the previous part number. Most people who purchase software like this are seeking to automate and reduce human intervention/error. One of the improvements in the past few releases was the ability to type in the MFG and CAT and AutoCAD Electrical would check the pin list database for the correct pin assignments based upon the new part number. So as long as the user enters a MFG and CAT combination correctly the pin assignments are located and loaded into the coil. The action of version 2011 blanks out the pin assignments if the MFG and CAT combination is entered incorrectly or does not match any entries in the pin list database. I would rather see the pins go blank than remain as potentially incorrect. It's easier for me to notice blanks than to notice A1 and A2, when it should be K1 and K2.
This new functionality, intentional or not, works perfectly for those who prefer automation. Users who prefer to type in their coil and contact pin assignments one at a time may find this annoying, but why manually type them in each time anyway? Why not rely on the automation to save time and reduce human error?
As long as there is an entry in the pin list database for all part numbers you might use, the new functionality works perfectly, steps up the automation, and reduces human error, even if it is coincidental.
This video illustrates how AutoCAD Electrical version 2011 will blank out the pin assignments of a component if no pin list is found in the database that matches a new part number assignment. To view the video download and unzip. It is in Windows Media Video format.
Notice that I'm not even using Lookup. Simply by changing the MFG value from AB to SQD the combination is changed enough to prevent a match and AutoCAD Electrical blanks out the pin assignments, instead of leaving the component with potentially incorrect pin assignments. As soon as I type AB into the MFG value again, the program checks the pin list database for a match and, finding one, it fills in the coil pin assignments with the correct values. Furthermore, it loads the NO/NC Setup field with the correct child contact pin list for later assignment to the child contacts.
Note: I am working on a new add-in that automates the replacement of the child contact pins when a parent coil is assigned a new part number that results in a new child contact pin list. Once available there will be a sample video on my web site. With this tool, after a new part number is assigned to a parent coil, the child contacts are automatically updated according to the new pin list, so the user doesn't need to surf to each child contact and manually update the pin assignments..
I have used the hotfix which came out for 2010.
Heres the link:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=13345272&linkID=9240738
Hope this helps