topic Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:21:45 GMT

I am an ACADE 2010 user. I made a basic block to represent a small circuit board. I placed small circles on the edge of the block and inserted the terminal connection information on each connection point. I added the usual information (Tag, Family, etc). I saved it and inserted it into the drawing. I then connected wires to the connection points as normal. I used the auto wire number command. I get only 1 wire number for all of the wires. I try to manually edit a wire that does NOT show a wire number and discover that it has the same number as the number showing. I edit this number for the wire that has NO wire number showing, and it will change the wire number that shows. I checked other wires that do NOT show a wire number, and those are also the same showing number in the wire number editor. I disconnected all wires from the block in question, rerun the auto wire number command and they all get wire numbers. I reconnect the wires to the block in question, do an update to the wire numbers, and I am back to the original problem. I also placed the block on a blank sheet (new sheet with no history at all), connected wires to the connection points and did the auto wire number command and have the same results. I also did the same testing as used in the previous page, with the same results. I have even gone back into the block editor and looked for anything that would look like it is connecting all the points, but I don't see any.

So is their some kind of parameter that was set when I built the block that was set incorrectly? If so, where do I find it. This would come in handy for custom connectors to pass a wire number through, but very useless in this example.

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:40:04 GMT

I am having the exact same problem with a PLC module that I just made from the wizard. I removed 1 side of the rectangle surronding the terminals and the problem disappeared. when I put a new rectangle around it the problem reapperred. when I removed the rectangle the problem has now stayed.

Attached is the symbol.

Thanks for any help you might be able to supply

Dennis

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:01:00 GMT

aFTER RESHERCHING SOME MORE IN THIS FOURM I DISCOVERED THAT THE NAMING OF THE SYMBOL HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE OUTCOME. i CHANGED THE NAME TO BE HDV1_ IN FRONT OF THE NAME AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY

HOPE THIS HELPS

THANKS

DENNIS

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

PatMurnen_Adsk — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:48:50 GMT

It is best to follow the AcadE naming convention which can be found in the Help at Symbol Libraries > Library Symbol Naming Convention or on the wiki at http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/AutoCAD_Electrical/enu/2012/Help/0266-Symbol_L266/0269-Library_269/0270-Overview270

If a symbol is a PLC module you should start with PLCIO.

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:01:31 GMT

Thanks that solved the issue. it help with another issue of not having the plc inputs come up in the edit componet screen.

Thanks again for the help

Dennis

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:25:18 GMT

OK I looked at the standard, but I still don't understand how a name can cause this problem I am having. Yes my name is not up to convention, but there is really nothing that tells me how the convention really works. I design many custom blocks and give them all unconventional names. Yet only this block seems to be a problem. I prefer a more plain language neme so my custon library is easy to follow. So here is the name. "120V 24V POWER SUPPLY" What part of the name tells it to feed 1 wire number to all connections?

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

PatMurnen_Adsk — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:31:01 GMT

I had the same question myself but it will take some research and probably I will have to pass it along to a developer to see exactly what would cause this. The symbol name was a quick resolution.

One thing outside of this wire number issue, if you want to use the edit dialog specific to a PLC module, you will need to use the PLCIO prefix. And for other schematic symbols there will be some other functionality that may not work if the first 4 characters do not follow the naming convention, for example the Toggle NO/NC, which wouldn't apply to a power supply but may other apply to other symbols.

Once I have more information on why the name is affecting the wire numbering I will post something.

Regards,

Pat

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:36:11 GMT

I"m not sure what your symbol is for but I have learned that the naming is critical to get out of the symbol what you want.

Just remaining my symbol changed what the symbol does. It seems there are hidden (super secret) attributes in the naming.

By adding HDV1 in front of my symbol it changed from ALL terminals being common to each being individual

by adding PLCIO in front it changed the symbol to adding the PLC inputs to each individual input on the edit component screen.

that's my 2 cents worth

thanks

dennis

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

PatMurnen_Adsk — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:20:32 GMT

It looks to me that even if the symbol is not following the naming convention, you still need to watch out for the 3rd character. If it is a zero then AcadE does not change the wire number through it. It needs to be something other than a zero. If that does not solve the issue let me know and I will have to pass this on to someone who can look at it further.

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Icemanau — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:26:21 GMT

When I save a block, I let ACADE determine the first 4 or 5 characters. I then put my description after the '_'. This gives me the best of both methods.

I get the functionality of the first characters and my description.

Regards Brad

Re: Custom Block Symbol Problem

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:39:57 GMT

Cool Brad! Best of both worlds! Thanks!!!!!

Stan