Wires terminating on Created Symbols

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am having an issue when using wire terminations on symbols I create in Symbol builder.

It seems autocad electrical is turning all wires connected to a symbol into the same wire. 

Please see powerpoint with my issue.

I saw this post from the past:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-electrical-general/wire-networks-and-created-symbol-issues/m-p...

But don't understand enough here to fix it. 

Apreciate help with this. Thanks. 

[dougmcalexander]

Be sure that the attributes are named correctly and that they are unique.  If you made the block by copyn attributes around the block, you must rename the attributes to TERM01, TERM02, etc., and you have to also rename the X?TERM01, X?TERM02, etc. to match.  Th question mark is 1 for wire from right, 2 for wire from top, 4 for wire from left, and 8 for wire from bottom.  It would help if you post the block so we can take a look inside. 

[testsubject]

My first guess would be that the X#Term## attributes have the same TERM## value on each side. For the type of symbol you are drawing, you want each termination to have a unique TERM## value.

For example, all the terminations on the left could be

X4TERM01

X4TERM02

X4TERM03

etc..

and on the right they could be

X1TERM21

X1TERM22

X1TERM23

etc.

[testsubject]

Got in just ahead of me Doug!

[dougmcalexander]

Hi Bob!  I've been busy and not very active on the forum of late.  I guess we were on the same wavelength at the same time though.  I hope all is well.

[Anonymous]

They are unique terminals.  Please see the .dwg file with the symbol inside.  I am having the same issue with many other symbols.  Thanks. 

[dougmcalexander]

It appears that what you posted is a drawing and not just a block.  I see drawing properties inside, as in a wd_m block.  So I guess you did post a drawing and not just a block.  Okay so the Drawing Properties are set to Line Reference based, so you need a ladder in order for wire numbers to be assigned.  I will test your block with my drawing.

[Anonymous]

Doug Can I take a screenshot of the drawing properties of the tabs you need to take a look at? Which tabs do you need to see? Thanks..

[dougmcalexander]

The block isn't named properly.  I see that you are using SR for the tag letters.  So the block name could be HSR1.  When you click to Lookup a part number, the software will search for a table named SR. not because of the tag letters but because of the block name (a.k.a. filename without .dwg suffix).  The software will offer to create a table for the category SR.  This will work and will be able to migrate to a new version of AutoCAD Electrical in the future.  I work on so many databases that customers send me with abnormal table names that were a result of improperly named symbol blocks.  It is a good idea to get some classroom training before you get too far into this and have much rework in the future.

[dougmcalexander]

I have attached your block with a proper block name that works. I verified the wire number is different on each side.  

The first letter, "H", means that the wires are connected horizontally.  The SR is for the letters you chose for Safety Relay.  There can only be 2 letters in the block name for the component category.  These 2 letters tell the software which table in the catalog database to open for a part number Lookup.  If no table is found, the software will offer to create one.  Choose the letters SR for the table name.  Do not create the table directly with MS Access.  The software knows how to properly format the tables. I fix broken databases that no longer migrate forward and they often contain errors the are a result of users editing the format of the tables directly with MS Access.  The software expects a specific format.  It is best the let it handle the table names.

Hint: You can set your project properties to use the MISC_CAT table if no component-specific table is found. This avoids the possibility of a bogus table being created when a symbol block wasn't named properly.

The "1" in the 4th character of the symbol block name means that the component is a parent or stand-alone device with no children.  If it is a child, the 4th character is a 2.  A child would be something like a relay contact that is normally open,  It has to be associated to a parent.

Hint: If you have a block like a power supply, tagged as PWS, the block name can only be HPW1 or VPW1.  The 4th character has to be reserved to indicate parent or child.

[Anonymous]

Doug could you please take a loot at the other block's I created and let me know if there is any issue with them as well?

HLT1_UPA : Grace Ligh  
HXF2_PH3 : 3 PH Line Reactor
HPW1_3PH_001 : 3PH POWER SUPPLY
HPW1_3PH_002
VPW1_3PH_001
VPW1_3PH_002
HPW1_PLC_HMI_001 : Power Supply for 24VDC 1756, 1769, and PV+
GRACE: Graceport Receptacle with Ethernet
HXF1T13: Modified from IEEE to NFPA library
VXF1T13: Modified from IEE to NFPA library
1492-XIM2024-16RF: 16 Point relay output module
PF525: Powerflex 525 Drive
K300: Kinetix 300 and 500 Symbol

[Anonymous]

What is the class-room training that your recommend? I actually would like to do classroom training that goes above the basic stuff of drawing schematics. 

[dougmcalexander · Accepted solution]

The blocks listed below will have issues, due to the filename.  There is a drives table (DR) so the Powerflex should be named something like HDR1_PF525.dwg if the wires are connected horizontally.  Use a "V" for the first letter of components that are wired vertically.  If you have mostly horizontal wire connections but a few vertical as well, use "H" for the first letter.  The underscore precedes an optional "unique identifier", in case there could be more than one variation of this device.

GRACE: Graceport Receptacle with Ethernet  

This could be named HC01_ENET because the table for connectors is C0, and that is the letter C and number zero.

1492-XIM2024-16RF: 16 Point relay output module  

PLC module filenames/block names are an exception and must begin with PLCIO, so they go to the proper table for part numbers and also it triggers a different version of the Insert/Edit Component dialog that allows for addressing, function text, etc.  I prefer PLCIO_ followed by module number.

PF525: Powerflex 525 Drive  (HDR1_PF525.dwg as explained in fist paragraph)

K300: Kinetix 300 and 500 Symbol (same rule as with the Powerflex, something like HDR1_K300)

[dougmcalexander]

I fly almost anywhere in the world and conduct on site training and implementation support.  I teach IEC and NFPA standards.  I also offer a phone support program with an option that allows you to learn via GoToMeeting or something similar.  Contact me directly if interested.  My web site also includes a Tips and Tricks page.  Go to: www.ecadconsultant.com

[Anonymous]

Doug thank you very much for your response.

I have pretty much completed my project, but one everything was already wired, I ran into major issues trying to fix the cross-references and wire numbers. I now understand why.

Is my best bet, to change these block names to what you suggest, then delete the current blocks out of my drawings, and then insert the new correct block names?

Thanks in advance!

[dougmcalexander]

Yes, replace the misnamed blocks, especially if you plan to extract a wire from/to list and bill of materials (a.k.a. BOM, Material List, Parts List, etc.).  Once the blocks are named correctly and inserted into the drawings, Lookup should open the correct table for part number assignment.  You might need to add the part number data as a new record, if it isn't already in the table.  

Note: After you delete the old blocks from the drawings, Purge the drawing of all unused blocks.  The best/safest way to do this is with a tool on the Project>Project Tools>Utilities menu.  (See attached screen capture)  If you aren't careful when using the plain AutoCAD Purge command you can accidentally lose layers, text styles, and other things you might need in the future.  The Project Tools Utility can safely purge unused blocks drawing-wide or project-wide. One of the handouts I give my class atendees is a type of checklist to go through before releasing a project.  Using this Purge utility is one of those steps.

[Anonymous]

Issue is resolved after changing block names.  I will look into training.  Thanks.