MA4194: Block Party: Symbol Builder

BacktoClasses
ClassType:Lecture
Track:Manufacturing
ClassLength:1Hour
ClassDate:12/02/2010
ClassStartTime:9:30AM
ClassEndTime:10:30AM

SpeakerManagementwilldotheirbesttolimitchangesbutreservestherighttochangeclassdatesand
timesasneededtoaccommodatetheAU2010classschedule.

ClassDescription
Whileitishelpfultofollowanindustrystandard,therearealwaysadditionalcomponentsthatare
specifictoyourcompany.Therefore,itmakesthemostsensetoaddthesecomponentstothe
AutoCADElectricallibraryforquickreuse.Thisprocesscanhaveabitofalearningcurveandcanget
disorganizedveryquickly.Inthisclass,Iwillsharesometimesavingtipsforbuildingcomponentsand
givesuggestionsforhowtoorganizethedatathatmakesthemostsenseforyou.
Symbol Builder Block Party

WhileAutoCADElectricalhas5differentstandardswitharobustarrayofsymbolsavailable,itis
inevitablethateachcompanyhastheirownstandardcomponentsorthatyouwillneedtobeableto
abletocreateyourowncustomcomponents.

Create a Custom Symbols Location

Whenmakingcustomcomponentsitmakessensetokeepthemseparatefromtheexistinglibrary.This
willallowforaneasiertransitionwhenmovingtoanewversionormovingtoanewsystem.Itwillalso
allowyoutodoacompletereinstallwithoutthedangerofanyfilesbeingoverwritten.
Todothis,firstlocatethewd.envfile.Thedefaultinstallationofwd.envisintheMyDocuments/AcadE
2011/Aedatafolderbutthismayhavebeenchangedduringinstallation.Toensureoftheaccurate
locationofthewd.env,rightclicktheprojectintheProjectManagerandselectSettings.Thethirdline
inthiswindowwilltellyouthelocationofthewd.env.

Youcanusethebuttonatthebottomtoactuallyfinetheenvironmentfile.SelecttheintheOptional
.envfileassignmentdialog,andthenrightclickandEditthedefaultWd.envfile.

Locatethesectionentitled*SymbolInsertionandLibraryPaths
Addapathtothefollowinglistingenvironmentsettings.Remembertoremovethestarsfromthefront
ofthelineinordertomakethemactive.
WD_LIB,C:\Custom;%SL_DIR%/jic125;%SL_DIR%/jic125/1,schematic,1line,andpneumatic/
pid/hydraulicdefaultpaths
To enhance the search path for schematic components
WD_PNL,C:\Custom;%SL_DIR%/panel,panellayoutsymbollibrarybasefolder
To enhance the search path for panel components
WD_INSCOMPDLGC:\Custom,tooverridestartingpathforINSSCHEMCOMPbrowsebutton
To override the starting path for Browse button in the Icon Menu
WD_INSFPDLG,C:\Custom,tooverridestartingpathforINSPNLCOMPbrowsebutton
To override the starting path for Browse button in the Panel Menu
WD_INSCKTDLG,C:\Custom,tooverridestartingpathforINSCKTfileselectiondialog
To override the starting path for insert circuit command
WD_WBLOCKDLG,C:\Custom,tooverridestartingsubdirforBlackBoxBldrWBlockoption
To override the starting folder for the Symbol Builder and the Wblock option
WD_USERCKTDIR,C:\Custom,defaultfolderfor"USERCKTS"
To change the default folder for the User Circuits
SaveandClosethewd.env.
Closeallthedialogboxes,andtheprogramandreopentheprogramforthenewwd.envtobereadas
thedefault.
Itisnecessarytoupdateeachprojectinorderforchangestotakeeffect.Thisisbecauseeachproject
filecontainsthepathsfromthewd.envfromthetimeofcreationorlastupdated.Rightclickanactive
projectandselectProperties.Expandthefoursectionstoseetheoldpaths,selecteachsectionand
selectDefault.

Sowhygothroughallthat?Wellonereasonistohavethedefaultsaveandsearchlocationforyour
customschematiccomponents,panelandcircuitstobeinaseparatelocation.

Create Custom Components

Tocreateacustomcomponentitmakessensetoconsiderafewthingsbeforeyoucreateyour
component.
WhattypeofcomponentwillImake?Parent,Child,Terminal,etc.
Whatorientation?HorizontalorVertical
Wherewillthewireconnecttothecomponent?
Whatgeometrywillbeshowing?
WhichattributeswillIinclude?
YoucandrawthegeometryusingAutoCADtoolsorinsertablockfromyouroldstandardandexplodeit.
Youcaneveninsertandexplodeablockthatissimilartotheoneyouarecreatingandmakechangesto
thegeometry.Thiswayworksreallywellbecausemanyoftheattributesarealreadycreatedandinthe
rightplace.
General Instructions
1. Tostarttheprocess,drawthegeometryyouwilluseinoneofyour
currentprojectsdrawings.Thiswayyoucangagethesizeofthe
geometrysothatitwillfitinwithyourotherstandards.
2. StarttheSymbolBuildercommand.FoundontheSchematic
Tab>OtherToolsPanel.
3. ChooseSelectObjectsandselectthe
geometryyouhavedrawn.Youcan
drawthegeometrywhileintheSymbol
BuilderEditorbutitismoredifficultto
gagethesize.
4. ChoosePickPointandpickthe
insertionpointoftheblock.Thiswill
bethehandleyouwillusetoplacethe
block,soIusuallyselectalocation
betweentwoconnectionpointsif
possible,sothatyoucandropitona
wire.
5. ChoosetheSymbolstyle,whetherthis
blockwillbeaparent,child,
orientation(horizontalorvertical),panel,panelfootprintorterminalblock.
SelecttheTypefromalistoffamilynames.TheSymbolandTypewilldeterminewhich
template.Thetemplatewillhelpyoudeterminewhichattributesarenecessaryforthatfamily
class.SeeTemplatessectionofthisdocumentforinstructions
ofhowtomakenewfamilyTypesandTemplates.
6. SelectOktoentertheSymbolbuilder/BlockEditorenvironment.
YoushouldseetheXYUCSsymbolattheinsertionpointofyour
symbol.Ifitisnotshown,typeUCSICON,On.Note:Ifyoudidnot
determineyourinsertionpointinthebeginning,itisbesttomove
yourgeometryaroundthe0,0oftheUCSnow.
7. AddingRequiredattributes.Therequiredattributesareavailable
intheSymbolBuilderAttributeEditorPalette.Youcanenter
defaultvaluesherelikeTagprefixandfamilynameeitherbefore
theyareusedorevenaftertheyhavebeenplaced.Tip:Youmay
alsowanttoenteryourcompanysstandardManufactureror
Catalognumberforthiscomponent.Besuretoaddyourcatalog
numbertoyourCatalogdatabaseaswell.
Useshifttoselectalloftherequiredtags,thendraganddropthem
ontoyourgeometry.Itwillplacetheminagroupingfromthe
template.UseAutoCADmoveandgripstoplacetheattributesas
necessary.YoucanusethePropertiesbuttonabovetherequired
attributesinthepaletteorusethestandardAutoCADPropertiesdialogboxtodetermine,sizeand
visibilityofattributes.
Editingtheseattributesevenafteryouhaveplacedthemwillupdatewhatisalreadyplacedinthe
graphicswindow.
8. AddOptionalAttributes,Positionsandratingsasabove.Thesewillvarydependinguponwhich
templatewasselected.

Note:YoumustenteraTAGValueandaFamilyValue.Butforallotherattributes,enterdefault
valuesonlyifyouaresettingastandardandarenotgoingtobechangingthevaluesonplacement.
Ifthevaluemayvary,youruntheriskofforgettingtochangeitwhennecessary.

9. WireConnections.Placewireconnectionsasdesired.Theorientationisveryimportantwhen
placingthese.Thiswilldeterminehowwiresattachtotheconnectionpoints.UsetheOtheroption
toplacewithasymboland/orplaceseveralatonetime.Youcandeterminethetextvaluesand
justificationwhileinthedialogbox,butyoucanalsoadjustbothaftertheyhavebeenplacedinthe
drawing.Remembertomoveattributesoutofthewayofwhereyouintendtoconnectwirestothe
device.
10. EnterthePinnumbersanddescriptionsif
desired.
11. AddDashedLinkconnectionpoints.Ifyou
planonattachingthissymboltoanother
symbolviatheDashedLinkLinetool,you
needtodeterminetheconnectionpoint.

12. CloseBlockEditorandyoushouldseethefollowingdialog.

13. DoublecheckyourSymbolname:andbesurethedesiredfamilyTypeisselected.
14. Enterauniqueidentifier.ThiswillautomaticallyupdatetheSymbolnameandthescreencapture
imagenameforyour,justpickinoneofthosespaces.
Naming Convention Notes
Theprefixforthesymbolisdeterminedautomaticallybythefollowing.
1
st
CharacterHorizontalorVertical
2
nd
and3
rd
CharacterFamilyName,willhelpwiththecataloglookup.
4
th
Character2forChildand1forParentandeverythingelse.
5
th
CharacterThischaracterisonlyusedifyouusedtheContactattributeforyourblockand
enteredastate.1fornormallyopenand2fornormallyclosed.
Therestisyourdescriptiveblockname.

15. SelectoKandanswerYestoinsertingtheblockintoyourdrawing.
Add to Icon Menu Wizard
1. SelecttheIconMenuWizard.SelecttheSchematics.datfileandOk.
2. OnthetoprightselectAdd>Component

3. Enterthenameasyouwouldliketoseeitinthemenu.
4. ToenterthenameoftheimagefileusethePick<optionandselecttheblockonthescreen.
Thisimagewasmadewhenyouwerecreatingtheblock.Ifyoudontliketheimage,selectthe
CreatePNGfromcurrentscreenimageandthezoom<command.Adjustthescreensoonlythe
blockisshowingandEnter.Youwillbepromptedtooverwritetheimagefilewhenyouclosethe
dialog.
5. Toenterthenameoftheblockfile,usethePick<optionandselecttheblockonthescreen.
6. SelectOktocompletethedialog.
7. SelectOKintheIconMenuWizardtoSaveyourwork.
Create a custom Sub Menu

1. Createtextorasymbolthatrepresentsthismenuon
yourcurrentdrawing.
2. SelecttheIconMenuWizard.SelecttheSchematics
.datfileandOk.
3. Fromthetoprightcorner,selectAdd>NewSubmenu
4. EnterthenameoftheSubMenu
5. CopyandPastethenameintotheimagenameandtheMenuTitle
6. CreateanimagefileforyoursubmenubyselectingtheCreatePNGfromcurrentscreenimage
optionandZoom<Zoomintothetextorgeometrythatrepresentsyourmenu.
7. SelectOktocompletethedialog
8. RightCopyorCutandPasteBlocksinthemenuintoyourcustomSubMenu.I
recommendthatifyouaregoingtoputthestandardcomponentsinyour
menu,thatyoudontcut,butrathercopyandpastethem.
9. SelectOkintheIconMenuWizardtosaveyourwork

Organizing Your Blocks

TeamOrganizationTechnique
Inalargeteamitispossibletohaveeveryonecreatingcustomcomponents.Irecommendedthatyou
createtemplatessothatastandardisbeingfollowed.
YoucancreateCompanyMenusthatallsharefromandalsoSubMenusforeachIndividualUsers.
CreateamenutocollectyourUserSubMenus
AndcreateadditionalmenusforeachusersBob,John,
Sharon,etc.
Alluserscanpickthrougheachotherssubmenusand
evencopyandpasteintotheirownsubmenus.
Create an Audit Process
Afterawhileyouwillfindthatyouwillhavealotofcommonblocksthatyoucancombine.Onewayto
dothisistohaveaCommitteethatmeetsonceamonthtodiscusswhichblockswillbepromotedtothe
mainCompaniesstandardsorifthereisabettersolutionforthatcomponent.
HerearesomeconsiderationsfortheAuditingProcess
Doestheblockconformtocompanystandards.
Aretheattributestherightsizearetheuserattributesincluded,isthereabetteroption,etc.
Whichcatalogitemisbeingselectedforaparticularoperation.
TopromoteanitemsimplecutandpasteitintothenewmenuintheIconMenuWizard.Besureto
notifytheuserwheretofindthepromotedblock.
Catalog List
WhenmanypeoplehavemanychoicesasiswithAutoCADElectricalyouwillgetpeopleusingvarious
differentcatalogitemsforaparticularcomponent.Thiscanbearealnightmareoryourpurchasing
department.Itishelpfultostandardizecompanywideonaparticulardeviceforagivenfunction.The
committeecanhelpdeterminewhatthatshouldbe.
TheCatalognumbercanthenbeaddedtotheblockasthedefaultvalueoryoucancreateaCatalogList.
ThislistwilltellyouforexamplethatforEmergencyStopweusethissymbolandthismanufacturerand
catalognumber.

Use Existing Block Libraries to Make custom components

Ifyoufindablockthatisclosetowhatyouwant,youcaninsertitintoyourdrawing.UseAutoCAD
Explodetoexplodetheblockandmakeyouradjustments.ThenusetheSymbolBuildertooltocreate
yourblockaswithanewone.
Selectalltheobjectsincludingtheexistingattributes.Theattributeswillbealreadydoneandreadyto
goonceyouareintheSymbolBuilder/BlockEditormode.
Besuretoselecttherightfamilyname,etc.
MakeanyfinaladjustmentsandExittheblockeditorfollowingthestepsasoutlinedpreviouslygiving
yourfileanewname.
AddtotheIconMenuWizard
Modify Existing Components

Tomodifyanexistingcomponent,thereareacoupleofwaystoproceed.
1. Writedownthenameoftheblockandfollowthestepsaboveasifyouarecreatinganew
block.Remembertoenterthecorrecttemplateandinsertionpoint,etc.Enterthesamename
asbeforetoensurethatyouwilloverwritetheexistingblockandimagewiththesamename.
2. Browsetoyourblockslocationontheharddriveandopentheblock,makeanyadjustments
there.
Important!Forbothoftheseoptions,itisnecessarytouseSwap/UpdateBlock,OptionB,updatea
blockeitheronthecurrentdrawingoracrossanyprojectsthatareusingthatexistingblock.Thiswill
updatethedefinitionthatislocaltothosedrawings.
TheIconMenuwillnotneedtobeupdateforthisoptionunlessthescreencapturelookssodifferent
thatyouwillnotrecognizeit.ItwillpullintherightblockaslongasyoudidtheSwap/Updateblockto
updatethelocaldefinitions

Symbol Builder Templates

ThetemplatesthatareprovidedinAutoCADElectricaldeterminewhichattributesandtheirsuggested
arrangementinthesymbolsbeingbuilt.
Theyarefoundinthedefaultlibrary,ieJIC125andnamed
ATforattributetemplate
HPHorizontalparent,VPforVerticalParent,HCorVCforHorizontalor
verticalChild.Thereare4foreachfamilyname.
XXaccordingtoFamilynameie,PB,LS,CR.
Familynamesaredeterminedinyourcataloginthe
_Family_Descriptionstable.
Toaddafamilyname,openthe
_FAMILY_DESCRIPTIONStableinyourcatalogusing
Microsoftaccess.Addanewfamilyvalueand
descripton.IntheimagetotherightIhaveaddedPI.
Thencreatetemplatesforeachoftheabovetypesof
blocks.Itishelpfultoopenexistingonesthatare
similarandSaveasthenewappropriatenames.
Thereshouldbe4templateswhenyouaredone.
Inmyexampletheywillbe
AT_HC_PI.dwg
AT_HP_PI.dwg
AT_VC_PI.dwg
AT_VP_PI.dwg