topic Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 18:30:38 GMT

Hello, I've created a library of custom symbols. All work like they're supposed to and AutoCAD Electrical treats them like components I can edit. I started to create custom Terminal blocks (I select "Horizontal Terminal" in Symbol builder). When I insert them after creating them, they work fine. However, if I save that terminal as it's own file and try to import it in a new drawing (like I would with any other component) it doesn't see it as a symbol, but instead as a block. I can't use the Edit Component function like I would with other custom (or standard) symbols. The only difference in my creation of this block is that I chose "Horizontal Terminal" instead of "Horizontal Parent" or "Child". I tried recreating them from scratch but no success. Is this a common issue?

Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

dougmcalexander — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 20:37:01 GMT

AutoCAD blocks with the correct filename, attributes, attribute values, and attribute placement are usable by AutoCAD Electrical as symbols. Symbol Builder is an assistant for creating symbols, but as long as the block/file name is proper, and the proper attributes, attribute values, and attribute placement exist in a block, AutoCAD Electrical can use it as a symbol.

Be aware that terminal block symbols have a different file naming scheme, compared to other symbols. Most schematic components are named something like HCR1 for Horizontally-wired Control Relay Parent (indicated by 1). VCB1 would be a Vertically-wired circuit breaker. PLC modules begin with PLCIO.

Terminal block symbols begin with HT or VT. HT0001.dwg would indicate a terminal symbol for horizontally-oriented wiring, no wire number change, and style 01 (square). VT1002.dwg would be a terminal for vertcally-oriented wiring, forcing a wire number change (the 1 after the T), and using style 02 (round). HT0W05.dwg would be a terminal for horizontally-oriented wiring, no wire number change, identified by the wire number (W), and style 05 (triangle).

Be sure that you have named your terminals correctly, and that they contain the proper attributes. Insert one of the terminal symbols supplied by Autodesk and explode it, using AutoCAD Explode. Compare the attributes, their default values, and their placement to the block you made.

Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

rhesusminus — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:49:19 GMT

When you say "save them as their own file"... is the terminal "exploded" within this file?

Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:12:42 GMT

@rhesusminus wrote:
When you say "save them as their own file"... is the terminal "exploded" within this file?

Yes.

Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

rhesusminus — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:33:34 GMT

2 years later... 😄
Can you post your terminal here so that we can have a look?

Re: Custom terminals not recognized by Edit Component

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:35:03 GMT

Hey rhesusminus,

So basically, I have to make drawings according to something called BSI (symbols used in British rail systems, also used worldwide for rail systems).

I was eventually able to create terminals, HOWEVER, the best course was to create terminals categorized as"Generic devices" instead of terminals, because the big issue is that they have an odd way of assigning pins to terminals, which after 2 years of trying to do with ACADE, was unable to. See the image below (feel free to roll your eyes), how terminal G054 has pins 1054,2054,3054 & 4054. If I treat the terminals as generic devices and make one level the "parent" and the second / third / fourth level a "child", then it fixes most of my problems. It's working, however, it'd be sort of nice to use the terminal strip editor.

The other problem with this type of terminal, is that I have to limit the amount of wires going to the same pin to a maximum of 2. I had issue with this with the IEC or JIC symbols.

I'd love to eventually work with AutoCAD to somehow create a library / standard for this because right now most people use microstation, which is fine for a lot of things, not so good for wiring diagrams IMO.