AutoCAD Electrical 2004 does have a feature that you might be able to use to
do this. You can insert single terminal symbols on the schematics, assign a
"multi-level" part number to the first terminal of each multi-level group,
and then let AE keep track of which levels have been used for each terminal
group, auto-assign the next level as each new terminal insertes.
The key is to use the combination of AcadE's "Catalog lookup/assignment" and
"Pin list" tracking. Refer to the on-line help, "Chapter 11 > Contact
Quantity / Pin-List Look-up > Pin List Database Table". Near the bottom of
the page there are two subsections, "Use of Type 4 Pin List Assignment -
Filtering for Special Contact Use" and "Use of Pin List Assignment for
Multi-Pole Terminal Block Units". This content is duplicated here:
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Use of Type 4 Pin List Assignment - Filtering for Special Contact Use
You can set up subcategories of type 4 pin combinations so that some will
apply to specific contact types and other pin combinations to other contact
types. Encode the Pin List entries with a "4" plus a character to provide
further filtering of what contacts are available for a given child contact.
At the contact end, make sure that an attribute PINLIST_TYPE (or Xdata of
the same name) carries a value of "4" plus a character to match up with the
coding in the pin list string.
For example, let's say that a given device has five N.O. contacts but they
are not all the same. Three of them are motor contacts and two are aux
control contacts. Two different schematic symbols are created, one to be
used to show the heavy-duty motor starter contacts and another symbol to be
used for aux contacts. Set up the motor starter contact symbol with attrib
PINLIST_TYPE with a value of "4C" and the aux contact symbol with
PINLIST_TYPE value "4A". Now, in the _PINLIST database table, encode the
part number's pin list information with type "4" entries but use "4A" and
"4C" to differentiate which contact pin combinations are for the auxiliary
contacts and which ones are for the starter contacts.
Ex: 4A,1L,2L;4A,1R,2R;4C,L1,T1;4C,L2,T2;4C,L3,T3
When either symbol is popped in and associated with the parent, AutoCAD
Electrical will see the symbol's PINLIST_TYPE value. AutoCAD Electrical will
filter out the contact combinations that "do not apply" to the inserted
contact type. So, popping in a N.O. auxiliary motor starter contact (preset
with PINLIST_TYPE attribute with a value of "4A") will trigger AutoCAD
Electrical to pick the next available "4A" pin list combination 1L/2L or
1R/2R. Popping in a N.O. main motor contact symbol (preset with PINLIST_TYPE
attribute with a value of "4C") will trigger AutoCAD Electrical to pick the
next available "4C" pin list combination (L1/T1, L2/T2, or L3/T3).
Use of Pin List Assignment for Multi-Pole Terminal Block Units
You can use a type "4" PINLIST assignment to enable AutoCAD Electrical to
track and control how many schematic terminal symbols can be tied to a given
terminal tag-ID (ex: a given terminal strip has a fixed number of
terminals). For example, let's say that you have a fixed, 6-pole terminal
strip unit with a mfg code of "AB" and catalog part number "1492-HJ86". The
pin markings on the terminal strip are identified as 1 through 6. Set up the
_PINLIST database with the AB and 1492-HJ86 combo defining a PINLIST of
4,1;4,2;4,3;4,4;4,5;4,6. Now, in the schematic, pop in the first terminal of
a 6-pole terminal strip, give it a Tag-ID of "TB-1" and do a catalog lookup.
Assign the "AB" part number "1492-HJ86". AutoCAD Electrical will find the
pin list info and apply it to this first peer terminal symbol as an
attribute value (it will prompt you if it is okay to add the PINLIST
attribute). Now, as you pop in additional terminals for this TB-1 terminal
strip, AutoCAD Electrical will track what the next available terminal number
is (based upon the 1st terminal's PINLIST data). When you try to insert the
7th terminal for TB-1, AutoCAD Electrical will alert you that there are no
more terminals available for this multi-pole terminal strip.
====================
If neither of the above fits your particular situation, there is a "Type 5"
pin list option that is briefly described here:
Let's say you have some kind of Wago multi-level quad terminal...
1. Apply a Wago part number to the first terminal of a group of four. Set up
your catalog number's matching PINLIST value to use "5" for the contact type
(see the on-line help for instructions on adding a part number and tying a
pin list to this part number). So, you might set up the PINLIST entry as
5,.1;5,.2;5,.3;5,.4
2. From AE's INS COMPONENT icon menu, pop in the first terminal. Type in a
terminal strip tag-ID of "T-1" and TERM number for this first instance of
this terminal group of, let's say, 12.1 for quad terminal group number 12
associated with terminal strip "T-1".
3. Then, later on, when you pop in another terminal (on this drawing or some
other in your project), the normal Ins/Edit Terminal dialog pops up. Select
terminal strip "T-1". In the "used" dialog pick an example of the main
terminal number you want to use, let's say you pick "12.1". AcadE should
scan your project and find all "T-1" terminals used so far. Then it looks
for "T-1" terminals that carry "type 5" PINLIST info (the main "parent" of
each multi-level group). Then it figures out all of the valid, full terminal
numbers that can be made up from each PINLIST info and the existing terminal
number on that terminal and compares these lists with the current terminal
number you've picked (or the number already on the terminal if you are
"EDITING" an existing terminal symbol). If it finds a match then it knows
that it has found the right multi-level "group" of terminals linked by the
Type 5 PINLIST info. AcadE assigns the next available, unused level on this
terminal. You can also hit the "pinlist" button and it will display all pins
available for this multi-level terminal and you can pick a different one
from the offered default. In this example, it would display terminal strip
T-1 terminal 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 as being available.