How to use a part as a subassembly in different catalog groups (tables)

[Anonymous]

We are just starting with ACADE2009.
In our case, we have the same connector used with operator panel (OUI), PLC module and power supply (PS).

Now, in the default_cat.mdb all those devices are spread between different tables:
connector - is in the CO table
PLC - is in the PLCIO table
power supply - is in the PW table

... etc

It appears that ACADE does not find a subassembly part if it is not located in the main part table.
In other words,
- if I move the connector record into the PLCIO table, then I can see on the BOM report that connector is being included as a subassembly of the PLC
- if connector remains as a record in the CO table, then BOM report does not show it as a subassembly even so ASSEMBLYLIST field has a reference to the PLC assembly

Thank you

[Anonymous]

We are just starting with ACADE2009.
In our case, we have the same connector used with operator panel (OUI), PLC module and power supply (PS).

Now, in the default_cat.mdb all those devices are spread between different tables:
connector - is in the CO table
PLC - is in the PLCIO table
power supply - is in the PW table

... etc

It appears that ACADE does not find a subassembly part if it is not located in the main part table.
In other words,
- if I move the connector record into the PLCIO table, then I can see on the BOM report that connector is being included as a subassembly of the PLC
- if connector remains as a record in the CO table, then BOM report does not show it as a subassembly even so ASSEMBLYLIST field has a reference to the PLC assembly

Thank you

[dougmcalexander]

You could use the Multiple Catalog option instead of Assembly Code. The Multiple Catalog method allows up to 99 subassembly parts to be nested with a "master part". You can perform a lookup from the Multiple Catalog dialog and switch tables to select parts from a different category. As a bonus, version 2009 offers the option to assign a separate Item number to Multiple Catalog entries. There is an option to engage this mode under Project Properties and the Components tab. Look for the button at the bottom labeled Item Numbering.

[dougmcalexander]

You could use the Multiple Catalog option instead of Assembly Code. The Multiple Catalog method allows up to 99 subassembly parts to be nested with a "master part". You can perform a lookup from the Multiple Catalog dialog and switch tables to select parts from a different category. As a bonus, version 2009 offers the option to assign a separate Item number to Multiple Catalog entries. There is an option to engage this mode under Project Properties and the Components tab. Look for the button at the bottom labeled Item Numbering.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!
It looks like we can get everything done using this technique. However, the assy/subassy arrangement leaves the notion as it have not been completed in the ACADE. With this said, I am too novice to the product, of course, to make a judgment on this. There are pros and cons of having assemblies configured on the catalog level vs the drawing level.

Thank you again!
Boris

[Anonymous]

Thank you!
It looks like we can get everything done using this technique. However, the assy/subassy arrangement leaves the notion as it have not been completed in the ACADE. With this said, I am too novice to the product, of course, to make a judgment on this. There are pros and cons of having assemblies configured on the catalog level vs the drawing level.

Thank you again!
Boris

[dougmcalexander]

It is really not a problem with AutoCAD Electrical. I work with other ECAD programs and they all have strengths and weakenesses. However AutoCAD Electrical may seem complex at times because it provides so much flexibility. It gives you various ways of accomplishing your task, depending upon your situation. To me the Multiple Catalog is the most flexible option. The Assembly Code method is more structured and can accomadate situations that do not require flexibility.

I have an advanced method of using the Multiple Catalog feature that I sometimes cover in custom training. I basically assign the subassembly parts to the footprints using the MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 etc. attribute method. I only release Panel BOM reports, so my footprints carry the subassembly data and it is added to the final BOM for me from the footprint data extracted by the Panel BOM. I only need to assign the master symbol a part number in the schematic. This "master" part number is listed in the footprint_lookup database and references the footprint with the MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 etc. attributes added. You can insert these using the Symbol Builder.

Note: The MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 attributes, etc. up to MFG99, CAT99, ASSYCODE99, CNT99, UM99 attributes are the equivalent of the Multiple Catalog method. It just saves time to pre-load the data via attributes in the footprint symbol if it is always the same group of subassembly parts. The Multiple Catalog method loads the data into xdata while the footprint method uses attributes, but both yield the same result in the BOM. Edited by: dougmcalexander on Mar 12, 2009 3:05 AM

[dougmcalexander]

It is really not a problem with AutoCAD Electrical. I work with other ECAD programs and they all have strengths and weakenesses. However AutoCAD Electrical may seem complex at times because it provides so much flexibility. It gives you various ways of accomplishing your task, depending upon your situation. To me the Multiple Catalog is the most flexible option. The Assembly Code method is more structured and can accomadate situations that do not require flexibility.

I have an advanced method of using the Multiple Catalog feature that I sometimes cover in custom training. I basically assign the subassembly parts to the footprints using the MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 etc. attribute method. I only release Panel BOM reports, so my footprints carry the subassembly data and it is added to the final BOM for me from the footprint data extracted by the Panel BOM. I only need to assign the master symbol a part number in the schematic. This "master" part number is listed in the footprint_lookup database and references the footprint with the MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 etc. attributes added. You can insert these using the Symbol Builder.

Note: The MFG01, CAT01, ASSYCODE01, CNT01, UM01, MFG02, CAT02, ASSYCODE02, CNT02, UM02 attributes, etc. up to MFG99, CAT99, ASSYCODE99, CNT99, UM99 attributes are the equivalent of the Multiple Catalog method. It just saves time to pre-load the data via attributes in the footprint symbol if it is always the same group of subassembly parts. The Multiple Catalog method loads the data into xdata while the footprint method uses attributes, but both yield the same result in the BOM. Edited by: dougmcalexander on Mar 12, 2009 3:05 AM