Cross-Reference Table Data Fields to Display Dialog Box - Is it posible to update Data Fields?

[Dragan_Ristic2]

Hi all, i am trying to create cross reference table with additional information from device like function of the contact of device. Is it possible to change Data fields so we can get other information from device contact descriptions for example?

I want to get function of device contacts as shown below.

For now all i can get is contact numbers and reference drawing.

[rhesusminus]

No. Not out-of-the-box. You can always do some custom programming to do this.

[vladop]

Hi,

there is one way but it is a bit difficult to explain and you have to be careful about a few things.

Ако имаш додатна питања може и на срБском 😀.

The TYPE column in Cross-Reference Table is associated with ace_xref blocks in the Symbol Library.

                

To find path to your Symbol Library go to

ACEPROJECTPROPS -> PROJECT SETTINGS TAB -> Schematic Libraries.

Open that folder and you will find "ace_xref....dwg" files.

EDITING MAPPING FILE

You can edit the mapping file in two ways, using the dialog box:

or by editing _XREF_GRAPHICS table in default_cat.mdb:

If you want to use dialog box there are several ways to open it.

Оne way is as follows:

• type ACEPROJECTPROPS
• open CROSS-REFERENCES TAB
• select "Table Format" at the bottom of the tab
• select "Setup" button
• select "Symbol Mapping"
• select "Edit..." button

     

How it works

Contact block name in column SYMBOL is mapped to a drawing named in column GRAPHIC,

e.g.   "*23*" is mapped to "ace_xref_formc":

This means that if the name of the block in the drawing matches the pattern "*23*" (e.g. "VCR23" or "VCR23R") than in its XREF table "ace_xref_formc.dwg" is used:

First column in the table "SEARCHORDER" arranges the order of the records so that certain wildcard patterns are used before others. For example, the contact symbol HCR217F.dwg matches two different SYMBOL values, “*217F*” and “*21*”. Since “*217F*” has a lower SEARCHORDER value, its GRAPHIC symbol is used in the cross-reference table.

Help page about Mapping table, for more information:

AutoCAD Electrical 2025 Help | Edit Dialog Box (Cross-Reference Symbol Mapping Table) | Autodesk

The procedure would be to create your own "ace_xref_.. .dwg" files in Symbol Library that will contain text describing the function of the contact, and then to assign them to the corresponding block in the mapping table.

Things to watch out for

1) Letter case should be the same in "ace_xref_.. .dwg" and in the GRAPHIC column e.g. if file name is "ace_xref_formC.dwg" you should not use "ace_xref_formc.dwg" in mapping table.

2) After modifying the ace_xref_.. .dwg file in the Symbol Library, it is not enough just to update the cross-reference in the working drawing. You need to first purge the "ace_xref_.." block in the working drawing if it exists, otherwise the working drawing will still use the old "ace_xref_.." block definition.

First use ACE_XREF_HIDE_UNHIDE to hide all XREF tables that contain the "ace_xref_.." block.

Than using PURGE command remove the definition of the "ace_xref_.." block in the working file.

Then use ACE_XREF_HIDE_UNHIDE again to display the XREF tables.

3) You can scale "ace_xref_.." block in XREF table cell.

Select cell(s) and modify "Block scale" property:

Regards,

Vladimir

[Dragan_Ristic2]

Thank You for detailed answer but that is not what i had in mind. Here are more Screenshots of what i want.

I want to somehow add information from Description 2 of contact into table reference as that is what my client wants.

Screen shot number 3 is what i get and what i would want (Most important this FUNCTION).

[rhesusminus]

My answer above still stands.

[vladop]

Description is defined on parent and forwarded to all contacts. Why would that description be repeated in the xref table for each contact. The description from the parent can be added to the table title using %D1, %D2 and %D3.

[rhesusminus]

The descriptions will only be synchronized with the children if they are the same.

You can perfectly well give the children different descriptions, and they'll keep them even after modifying the descriptions of the parent symbol.

[Dragan_Ristic2 · Accepted solution]

My problem has been resolved by help from SDS software, where you can create Table as Footprint (using existing one you want to present) and by adding attributes we can get all info we need. 

[alex.perezMSQ4H]

Hello, good morning,
Is there a way to automatically set the scale through some configuration? Or is it always done manually, meaning if I update the cross-references again, it deletes the scale?

[rhesusminus]

The scale is not configurable. So yes, an update will mess up your custom scale.

[alex.perezMSQ4H]

I was afraid of that, thank you very much