What magic calls xdata to a footprint?

[AutoCAD_Oozer]

Hi, I am installing footprints on my drawing as such, they are blank footprints with no attribute data.

When they are entered, data is placed on it, i.e. Tag, rating.

How is this data called?

How does it choose what data is shown?

I am curious because the size (0.125) of the writing is small and I want it larger and manipulatable(?) so I imagine if I can find out how the xdata is called and where it is from I can set the size, width, and whatever else of the text one time and leave it alone.

[Icemanau]

There are a four files that ACADE merges with footprints if the footprints in question don't have any attributes.

Which file is used depends on the footprint.

These are the files as shown in the ACADE 2018 Help

• wd_ptag_addattr_comp.dwg. component footprints
• wd_ptag_addattr_trm.dwg. terminal footprints
• wd_ptag_addattr_wtrm.dwg. terminal with wire no. as terminal number
• wd_ptag_addattr_itemballoon.dwg. balloons

The other option is to add the appropriate attributes to each footprint as you make or find them.

Doing this allows you to set the size, height and location beforehand and makes it easier to edit/move them.

Regards Brad

[dougmcalexander]

Brad has advised you well. The footprint blocks supplied by Autodesk are passed along on an "as-is" basis from their respective manufacturers, with the exception of the terminal footprints, which require specific attributes in order to function with the Terminal Strip Editor.

When you wish to insert a footprint from the Schematic List, by selecting the component from the schematic list and clicking Insert, the software searches the footprint lookup database to see if the part number has a footprint associated with it. If a footprint association is found the software pops the footprint into view and allows you to position it where you wish. The software then searches the footprint for attributes where it can write the data it is copying from the schematic symbol. The P_TAG1 attribute is the minimum requirement, in order for the tag to be copied into the footprint as a visible entity. Such attributes as RATING1 and RATING2 might also be necessary, in order to display such things as fuse and circuit breaker ratings. The software will merge whichever blocks it needs, from the list Brad indicated, in order to accomplish the task of making the tag and ratings visible. Other data, such as manufacturer, catalog number, multiple catalog parts entries, description text, etc. is pushed into the footprint as extended entity data.

Xdata isn't visible, but unless you prefer to see the manufacturer and catalog number on the footprint that is no problem. But if you wish to see the manufacturer and catalog number on the footprint, add a MFG and CAT attribute to the footprint. If you wish to see the first of up to 99 multiple catalog parts, add attributes MFG01 and CAT01.

You can add attributes to a footprint block permanently by editing the block file for the footprint. Be sure to set the default text size and width factor for the attributes you add. Note that you will need to use the Update Block utility to update footprints that were inserted into your drawings before you added the attributes.

You also have the option to edit the blocks Brad mentioned and preset the text size and width factor
but bear in mind that the software merges those blocks in at the base point of the footprint blocks and you might soon get tired of moving them around after insertion anyway. Sure, you can use the Move/Show Attribute tool to move multiple attributes around simultaneously, and you can use the Change Attribute Size tool to change the size of all P_TAG1 attributes at once. But these tools should be considered for exceptions or one-off changes. If you find yourself using these tools often, consider adding the attributes to the blocks permanently.

The whole "merge-in" attribute block method really amounts to a stop-gap measure that the software resorts to when you haven't prepared the footprints ahead of time to include the attributes you wish to see, at the text size you prefer, and at the position you prefer. So why not edit the actual footprint blocks you are likely to use, like Brad recommended, and add/position/size the attributes to suit your needs?

[rhesusminus]

I want to answer also!!

The attributes the guys are taking about only gets inserted into the footrpint (if they don't already exist) if this checkbox is checked:

If you, for some reason, have data saved in Xdata and you want to display it in an attribute, you can use this tool:

This is ofcourse a tool you will use only now and then. It's always best to add whatever attributes you need to the footprint.

[jseefdrumr]

Holy crap it's like a nuclear bomb went off on this thread lol, all the big guns came out

[AutoCAD_Oozer]

Thanks for all the help. I really did not want to add attributes to every block seeing as how that might not be very productive.

I was hoping I could create a custom merge-in attribute (xdata thingy) or whatever so that I could leave the original ACADE merge-in attributes alone.

For instance if I want a custom component footprint file that displays attributes that I want with different font sizes or whatever (because I really don't like altering the original files if you know what I mean)

Could I create for instance "wd_ptag_addattr_comp_acme.dwg" or whatever and have ACADE call that instead?

[dougmcalexander]

What you seek might be possible with some customization. But this software is based upon the AutoCAD concept of blocks with preloaded attributes.  The stock schematic symbols are a finite group from ANSI, IEC, etc., so the developers preload them with attributes. Any custom symbols, or application-specific symbols beyond basic switches, lights, relays, etc. are not supplied because the developers would not be able guess how each of us might want to see such symbols.  So they gave us the Symbol Builder to help us make our own symbols, our way.  If you know how to build a block with vanilla AutoCAD, you can even make the blocks with it.  You just need to know which attributes a block needs and position them accordingly.  The Symbol Builder acts as a type of wizard to help with that, but after a while you learn what attributes are required and you can make the blocks yourself the vanilla AutoCAD way.  

Those of us who have used the software since the mid 1990s are accustomed to using our own footprints.  We simply add a P_TAG1 attribute using the ATTDEF command and edit the footprint lookup database to point at our blocks instead of the ones from Autodesk.  We position the attribute where we want it and we set the text size, width, visibility, etc.  If the footprint is a fuse or circuit breaker, we might add a RATING1 attribute.  We do this once and we are done. If you are happy with the footprint blocks supplied by Autodesk, you can just add the attributes to their blocks.  We never need to touch the blocks again, so as we continue to use the software our library of symbols matures right along with us.  When the software has to resort to using the attribute templates it just places them at the base point of the block, because it cannot know where you want to place it.

Know also that you can us the Project-wide utilities to make mass changes to attribute size, width, and font after you finish a drawing or project.  This is a quick way to just adjust the size of the attributes all at once.  That's why I never get to concerned about the default size of attributes in the blocks.