Catalog data table updates

[jcataneseMBXMN]

Do any of the big manufacturers (ie: Allen Bradley, Siemens) provide catalog data table files ready to add to existing catalog tables or do I have to create the entries manually? The default catalog tables are not up to date.

[arshdeepsingh404 · Accepted solution]

Yes, AutoCAD has AutoCAD Electrical Content Packs, but only Schneider Electric and Siemens AG.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/5bsvdCgIqZvZR1bgkyQCJJ.html

[jcataneseMBXMN]

Thanks, arshdeepsingh404.

I followed the link and, unfortunately, they are release specific. I am running 2025 and there are none available yet.

 Regards, jc

[james_moore]

Just speaking from my own experience, the companies I've worked for had to add most of the parts we use ourselves.

You pretty much have to take what Autodesk supplies as a starting point with functional examples to help you define your database.  Also the product will perform much faster with a stripped-down database, so it helps to start by making your own copies of default_cat and footprint_lookup database files and ensuring the parts you will reference exist, then removing data you will never use from the tables.

If your installation will need to use one of the user fields to store custom part (or kit) numbers, you address that need as well at this point.  It takes some thoughtful management to configure and maintain the data, especially if it's to be shared among many users.  ACAD-E is built to optionally add or edit part data on the fly as it's being used.  It's critical to get all your users on the same page as to what the data looks like, to prevent getting a haywired mess of things to navigate.

[arshdeepsingh404]

Well said @james_moore 

This is what I have seen most of the customers to use. The default catalogs and content packages have thousands and thousands of parts that you will probably never use, Most people would take that as a starting point, thin it to their interest and actively add the new parts to it.

The idea of public catalogs (user sharing catalogs with other users) have been brought up few times but the biggest challenge with that who will guarantee the quality of these catalogs.

It mostly lives at a company level where you define a standard for a catalog entry, required descriptions and ratings, etc. and multiple employees will contribute to it.

@jcataneseMBXMN 

This thread might be of interest to you. Similar discussion and some resources to this post.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-electrical-forum/where-am-i-supposed-to-find-allen-bradley-co...

I would assume the 2025 content packages would be available soon, I was looking at pervious release dates and they seem to random from April to October.

[rhesusminus]

Just for the fun of it, are the components you're looking for available here? 

https://dataportal.eplan.com/parts/list

And yes. It is the manufacturers themselves that add the data to that portal.

[jaya_priya_ramasamy]

Hi @jcataneseMBXMN ,

The content packs under 2024 release in the below link are already part of 2025 release.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/5bsvdCgIqZvZR1bgkyQCJJ.html

Regards,
Jaya Priya Ramasamy
Senior QA Analyst
www.autodesk.com

[james_moore]

I just took a 2-minute look.  It's a pretty good collection, most of the parts we use are represented.  None of our transformers are though (Sola-HD, Acme, Dongan) nor our light curtains or gate switches, our Hoffman enclosures, our air conditioners...

Tell us again how Eplan updates these libraries, just for our information.  Thanks!

[james_moore]

So if the manufacturers don't participate in the Eplan content management system, what do you do to add custom content?

[rhesusminus]

THEN you'll just create it yourself, it's a breeze.

OR... Contact the manufacturer and ask them to join the data portal 

[rhesusminus]

Hoffman/nvent have all their stuff available for download at their own web page. In both 2D and 3D. Some manufacturers do it like this:

https://www.nvent.com/en-us/hoffman/library-eplan

[james_moore]

I do this now; update our library of parts from the Hoffman, or whatever other company website.  Most offer compatible downloads these days.  I simply download the dwg/dxf/iges, clean it up and add wd_ptag attributes, and try to anticipate attribute positions, sizes and visibility settings.

Thanks for the info., not trying to knock eplan, but we're pretty satisfied with our custom ACADE setup here.  I still have the same old argument for you Trond, that we don't want to relearn an environment when we have control over the one we have.  I do respect that you've run both systems and you appreciate eplan more for your engineering needs.

[rhesusminus]

I completely understand James.

However, I'm expecting more from a company of Autodesk's size. They should be able to have Hoffman have downloadable enclosures that are compatible with AcadE... IMHO...

That is my grief with Autodesk.

[james_moore]

They do include a lot of Hoffman enclosures, but they mostly don’t include attributes.  I’m not a big fan of the ACADE system’s method of adding attributes during the insert on footprints.  So we customize everything, using the ACADE library drawings when they exist and modifying to suit us.

[rhesusminus]

Yet, it's still an issue. Please vote: Schneider Electric Library - Autodesk Community

I agree with you on the attribute thing. If a customer wants something this way, and another customer wants it that way, you have to keep multiple versions. This is solved SO much better elsewhere 😉