Overview of project and drawing properties

Libraries

To modify existing input fields in the tree structure, double-click the folder (for example, Schematic Libraries) and highlight the path to change. Then browse to the path of the schematic or base footprint symbol library to use for the project. You can also include a series of paths for AutoCAD Electrical to search in order. You can include electrical, pneumatic, or other schematic libraries in the path.

Note: The symbol search path includes the User and Project folders (and potentially the AutoCAD search paths) before the paths listed here. In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Settings to view the active search path for the project.

Icon Menu File

To use an icon menu for the project that is different from the default, enter the file name. This menu reference is saved in the project's .wdp file.

Note: You can only specify one search path for the icon menu.

Add

Adds a new entry into the libraries tree structure.

Browse

Browses for a folder to select a symbol library or icon menu from.

Remove

Removes the selected path from the libraries tree structure.

Move Up

Moves the selected path up one spot in the libraries tree structure.

Move Down

Moves the selected path down one spot in the libraries tree structure.

Default

Brings the default paths from the environment file (WD.ENV) into the list box tree view for all search paths found underneath the highlighted folder.

Use component-specific tables

Searches for the component name as the catalog table. If the component table is not found, the family name table is searched. If neither table is found, use the Catalog Lookup File dialog box to create a component or family table or select a different table.

Other File

Defines a secondary catalog lookup file.

Always use MISC_CAT table

Searches only the MISC_CAT table. You can search other component tables if the catalog number is not found in the MISC_CAT table.

Use MISC_CAT table only if component-specific table does not exist

Uses the MISC_CAT table if the component or family tables are not found in the catalog database.

Real-time error checking

Performs real-time error checking on the project to determine if duplications of wire numbers or component tags occur in the project.

An error log file is created for every project regardless whether you chose to display the real-time warning dialog box or not. The real-time warning is saved in the log file named "<project_name>_error.log"and is saved in the User subdirectory. If a log file exists, the new content is added to the same file. A blank line separates one error record from another.

Tag/Wire Number Sort Order

Sets the default wire numbering and component tag sort order for the project.

Electrical Code Standard

Sets the Electrical code standard used by Circuit Builder. A three character suffix code is saved to the.wdp project file. The suffix is used when searching for a specific table in ace_electrical_standards.mdb.

Circuit Builder searches for a table using the following sequence:

1. Tables with the three character Electrical Code Standard suffix.
2. Tables without a suffix.
3. Tables with an "NEC" suffix.

Tag Format

Specifies the way new component tags are created. The tag consists of a minimum of two pieces of information: a family code and an alphanumeric reference number (for example, "CR" and "100" to yield a tag like CR100 or 100CR). Optionally, a component tag might contain a sheet number or some user-specified separators. If your format includes the sheet number %S parameter or the drawing number %D parameter, enter the values in the edit boxes in the Drawing Properties Drawing Settings dialog box.

Note: AutoCAD Electrical provides a predefined format for you to use or you can enter your own format using replaceable parameters.

Note: The %N parameter is mandatory in any component tag format you define.

Search for PLC I/O address on insert

Searches for a connected PLC I/O module's I/O point. If found, the I/O address value is substituted for the "%N" part of the default component tag.

Note: This setting is saved in the MISC_FLAGS attribute on the WD_M block of the drawing.

Sequential

Enter the beginning sequential number for the drawing. Sequential tags can continue uninterrupted from one drawing to the next if you assign the same beginning sequential number to every drawing in your project. As you insert components on any drawing of the project set, AutoCAD Electrical starts with the value you set and works its way up until it finds the next unused sequential number tag for the target component family.

Note: If you finish a drawing and move to the next, but return to the first drawing to add another component and sequential tag, a gap appears in the numbering sequence for that drawing. Use the AutoCAD Electrical Project-wide Update/Retag tool to retag the whole drawing set.

Line Reference

Set up the unique format tag suffix list. Use this list to create unique reference-based tags when multiple components of the same family are located at the same reference location. (For example, three push buttons on the same line reference "101" could be labeled PB101, PB101A, and PB101B -- AutoCAD Electrical does this using a suffix list of " ", "A", "B", and so on).

Note: The component tag suffix is automatically added to the end of the tag. You can force AutoCAD Electrical to insert the suffix character somewhere within the tag format. Use the Suffix position parameter, %X, in the component tag format (for example, %N%X - %F).

Suffix Setup

Displays the suffix list. The individual items in the suffix list are given in the row of edit boxes across the top of the dialog box. List suffix characters for duplicate family components on the same line reference or in the same zone (to keep tags unique). The suffix is added to the end of the component tag. To add it to the inside of the tag, use "%X" in the Tag Format. Example:

%N-%F or %N-%F%X = suffix at the end (such as 101-CRA)

%N%X-%F = add to number, before family code (such as 101A-CR)

Select from the default lists or manually enter your own suffix list in the row of edit boxes.

Combined Installation/Location tag mode

Uses the combined installation/location tag for interpreting component tag names. For example, -100CR relay contact marked with location code PNL1 is interpreted as being associated with a different relay coil than relay contact -100CR marked with location code PNL2. If this setting is not selected, both contacts are associated with the same parent relay coil, -100CR.

Suppress dash when first character of tag

Suppresses any single-dash character prefix in an IEC tag that does not have a leading Installation/Location prefix. (For example, "-K101" dash is suppressed to "K101" but "+LOC1-K101" remains unchanged.)

When switched OFF, it automatically adds a single dash character to an IEC tag that does not already have a single leading dash prefix. It also does not have a leading Installation/Location prefix. (For example, tag "K101" becomes "-K101" but "+LOC1-K101" remains unchanged._

Note: This suppression takes place automatically in reports; and takes place graphically only when a component is inserted, edited, or retagged.

Format Installation/Location into tag

Specifies to exclude the Installation and Location code values as part of the tag when displaying. For example, if it is not on, a tag might show up as K16 in the Surf dialog box, but if selected the tag might show up +AAA-K16 (where AAA is the location).

Suppress Installation/Location in tag when match drawing default

Suppresses Location and Installation values on components if they match the drawing default values.

Note: Update cross-reference text using the AutoCAD Electrical Cross-reference command.

Suppress Installation/Location in tag on reports

Specifies to exclude Installation and Location values as part of the tag when displayed in reports.

Upon insert: automatic fill Installation/Location with drawing default or last used

Fills the Installation and Location edit boxes on the Insert/Edit component dialog box. The attributes on the block with drawing default or last used values (if no drawing default).If not selected, these edit boxes and attributes are not filled in and are assumed.

Description text upper case

Forces description text to upper case.

Item Numbering

Launches the Item Numbering Setup dialog box. The dialog box contains options for project or drawing wide item numbering, and per-part number or per-component item numbering.

Format

Specifies the way new wire number tags are created. The wire number tag format must include the %N parameter that is the base sequential or reference-based value from the selection described. If your format includes the sheet number %S parameter or the drawing number %D parameter, enter the values in the edit boxes in the Drawing Properties Drawing Settings dialog box.

Note: For reference-based wire number tagging, individual items in the suffix list are applied to the wire tags to keep multiple wires in the same reference location unique. These items are added to the end of the tag, but you can force AutoCAD Electrical to insert the suffix character somewhere within the tag format. Use the Suffix position parameter, %X, in the component tag format (for example, %X%N).

Note: AutoCAD Electrical provides a predefined format for you to use or you can enter your own format using replaceable parameters.

Search for PLC I/O address on insert

Specifies to use PLC I/O address values for wires that connect to an addressed I/O point. This setting overrides both Sequential and Reference-based tagging. New wires or wire renumbering on the current drawing show PLC I/O address-based wire numbers automatically.

Note: Like component tags, AutoCAD Electrical uses the concept of a wire tag format string with replaceable parameters. The %N parameter must always be part of the wire format string. A typical format string can be just this %N parameter.

Sequential

Enter the starting sequential number (alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric) for the drawing. If you enter the same starting sequential number for every drawing of your wiring diagram set, AutoCAD Electrical confirms at insertion time that a new sequential wire number tag is not repeated on any other drawing.

If you set DEMO1 to 100 and DEMO2 to 200, the wire numbers on DEMO1 start at 100 and wire numbers on DEMO2 start at 200. If DEMO1 has more than 100 wire numbers it starts using wire number 200 and above. DEMO2 would begin its wire numbers where DEMO1 left off (making sure that duplicate wire numbers are not assigned).

Increment

The default is "1". Setting it to "2" with a starting sequential of "1" would yield wire numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and so on.

Line Reference

Sets the wire number tag suffix. This list is used to create unique reference-based wire number tags for multiple wire networks. It begins at the same reference location (such as wire network beginning at a location per line reference number, X-Y grid reference, or X-Zone reference).

Suffix Setup

Displays a suffix list. List suffix characters for wire numbers beginning on the same line reference or in the same zone (to keep wire numbers unique). Select one of the four predefined suffix lists or enter your own custom suffix list.

Based on Wire Layer

Assigns a different wire number format based on the wire layer.

Layer Setup

Overrides the default wire number format by using layer defined formats. Change the wire layer name, wire number format, starting wire sequence, and wire number suffix.

Based on Terminal Symbol Location

Specifies to use a wire number terminal on a wire network as the line reference value for calculating a reference-based wire number. For example, a wire network starts at line reference 100 and drops down and over on line reference 103. If a schematic terminal symbol carries the WIRENO attribute located on line reference 103, and this option is enabled, AutoCAD Electrical calculates a reference-based wire number using 103 instead of 100. If multiple wire number terminals exist on this network, the line reference value of the upper left-most terminal is used.

Hidden on Wire Network with Terminal Displaying Wire Number

Specifies to hide the wire number automatically for a wire network that has a wire number-type terminal.

On per Wire Basis

Specifies to assign a wire number for each wire rather than the default one wire number per wire network.

Exclude

If using sequential wire numbers, specifies the wire number ranges to exclude. (applied to the %N part of the wire number tag format)

Syntax is <starting>-<ending> to show range (for example 1000-1499). Multiple ranges are allowed and must be separated with a comma or semi-colon (for example, 1000-1099;2500-2599;). You can also use 2;4;6 or 2,4,6 for values not in a range.

Above Wire

Places the wire number above the physical wire.

In-Line

Places the wire number in line with the wire.

Gap Setup

Defines spacing between the wire number and the wire itself.

Below Wire

Places the wire number below the physical wire.

Centered

Specifies to insert the wire number tags in the center of each wire segment.

Offset

Specifies to insert the wire number tags the specified offset distance.

Offset Distance

Specifies a fixed, user-defined offset distance from the left or top of the first wire segment found on the wire network.

Leaders

(This option is unavailable for in-line wire numbers) AutoCAD Electrical places wire numbers on leaders when it determines that the wire number text bumps into something (it does not check if the leader itself overlays another object). Select the method for inserting new wire numbers as leaders: As Required, Always, or Never.

Note: This change does not affect wire numbers that are already present on the drawing.

Real-time signal and contact cross-referencing between drawings

Automatically updates relay and wire source and destination symbols cross-referencing across multiple drawings.

Note: If this option is not selected, you are prompted to authorize the update. The target drawing is automatically opened and updated. You then return to the active drawing. Any unauthorized update is queued up in a Project Task List. To update the pending updates, click Project Task List on the Project Manager.

Peer to Peer

Cross-references related components while using pneumatic features. Example: schematic - pneumatic.

Suppress Installation/Location codes when matching the drawing defaults

Suppresses IEC prefixes.

Note: Run the Component Cross-reference command to update any existing cross-referencing text.

Text Format

Displays cross-referencing as text with any string as a separator between references on the same attribute.

Graphical Format

Displays cross-referencing using the AutoCAD Electrical graphical font or using contact mapping edit boxes while displaying each reference on a new line.

Table Format

Displays cross-referencing in a table object, that automatically gets updated in real time, so you can define the columns to display.

Setup

Displays a dialog box for setting the display defaults for each component cross-reference display format.

Vertical/Horizontal

Specifies whether to create ladders horizontally or vertically.

Spacing

Specifies the spacing between each rung.

Default: insert new ladders without references

Sets the default for the Insert Ladder command. New ladders you insert do not have line reference numbering, by default.

Width

Specifies the width of the ladder.

Multi-wire Spacing

Specifies the spacing between each rung in multi-wire phases.

X-Y Grid

All referencing is tied to an X-Y grid system of numbers and letters along the left-hand side and top of the drawing. Set the vertical and horizontal index numbers and letters of your drawing, spacing, and origin in the X-Y grid setup dialog box.

Tip: Use negative spacing values for Horizontal or Vertical to change the origin of the X-Y grid system to be other than the upper left-hand corner of the drawing.

X Zones

Like X-Y Grid, but there is not a Y-axis. Set the horizontal labels, spacing, and origin on the X Zones setup dialog box.

Tip: Use a negative zone spacing value if you want the zone reference origin to be at the right side of the drawing.

Reference Numbers

Each ladder column has a column of assigned reference numbers.

Setup

Specifies how to display reference numbers -number only, numbers in a hexagon, the sheet and number values, and so on.

Feature Scale Multiplier

Sets the scale factor used when inserting new components or wire numbers on the drawing. To insert everything 25% bigger than normal, change the edit box value from 1.00 to 1.25. This change does not affect components and wire numbers that are already present on the drawing.

inch/inch scaled to mm/mm full size

Select inch if your drawing is to use library symbols from the JIC1/JIC125 libraries or mm full size for the metric scaled symbol libraries. It adjusts the wire connection trap distance that determines whether closely spaced wire ends connector not.

Project

Specifies the project that the drawing is found in.

Note: If the drawing is not in any of the currently open projects, "Drawing not in open project" displays instead of the project name. If the drawing is in an open project but it cannot be edited, "Project not available for edit" displays instead of the project name. This alert displays when a project file is read only, locked by someone else, not checked out in Vault, or the folder where the project is located is read only. When the project is not open or available for edit, you are unable to assign a description for the drawing.

Description 1-3

Specifies up to three lines of description text for the drawing file. The description displays in title block updates and custom drawing properties. The values are saved in the project .wdp file. Select from a list of predefined descriptions from the active project by clicking the arrow or select a description from the drawing by clicking Pick.

For Reference Only

Indicates that the drawing is not included in tagging, cross-referencing, and reporting functions. If selected, the drawing is included in project-wide plotting and title block operations. This setting is saved in the project .wdp file.

Project Code

Specifies a project code for the WD_M block definition. This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %P.

Installation Code

Specifies the installation code for the WD_M block definition. This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %I.

Location Code

Specifies the location code for the WD_M block definition. This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %L.

Drawing

Displays a list of Installation or Location codes from the active drawing.

Project

Displays a list of previously defined Installation or Location codes in the active project or from the Default.INST or Default.LOC file.

Sheet

Specifies the sheet number value for the drawing settings. This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %S.

Drawing

Specifies the drawing number value for the drawing settings. This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %D.

Section

Specifies the section value for the drawing file saved in the project definition file (.wdp). This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %A.

Sub-Section

Specifies the subsection value for the drawing file saved in the project definition file (.wdp). This value can be used as the replaceable parameter %B.

Format

Specifies the way new wire number tags are created. The wire number tag format must include the %N parameter that is the base sequential or reference-based value per the selection above. If your format includes the sheet number %S parameter or the drawing number %D parameter, enter the values in the edit boxes in the Drawing Properties Drawing Settings dialog box.

Note: For reference-based wire number tagging, individual items in the suffix list are applied to the wire tags to keep multiple wires in the same reference location unique. These values are added to the end of the tag, but you can force AutoCAD Electrical to insert the suffix character somewhere within the tag format. Use the Suffix position parameter, %X, in the component tag format (for example, %X%N).

Search for PLC I/O address on insert

Specifies to use PLC I/O address values for wires that connect to an addressed I/O point. This setting overrides both Sequential and Reference-based tagging. New wires or wire renumbering on the current drawing shows PLC I/O address-based wire numbers automatically.

Note: Like component tags, AutoCAD Electrical uses the concept of a wire tag format string with replaceable parameters. The %N parameter must always be part of the wire format string. A typical format string can be just this %N parameter.

Sequential

Enter the starting sequential number (alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric) for the drawing. If you enter the same starting sequential number for every drawing of your wiring diagram set, AutoCAD Electrical confirms at insertion time that a new sequential wire number tag is not repeated on any other drawing.

If you set DEMO1 to 100 and DEMO2 to 200, the wire numbers on DEMO1 start at 100 and wire numbers on DEMO2 start at 200. If DEMO1 has more than 100 wire numbers it starts using wire number 200 and above. DEMO2 would begin its wire numbers where DEMO1 left off (making sure that duplicate wire numbers are not assigned).

Increment

The default is "1." Setting it to "2" with a starting sequential of "1" would yield wire numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and so on.

Line Reference

Sets the wire number tag suffix. This list is used to create unique reference-based wire number tags for multiple wire networks beginning at the same reference location (such as wire network beginning at a location per line reference number, X-Y grid reference, or X-Zone reference).

Suffix Setup

Displays a suffix list. List suffix characters for wire numbers beginning on the same line reference or in the same zone (to keep wire numbers unique). Select one of the four predefined suffix lists or enter your own custom suffix list.

Above Wire

Places the wire number above the physical wire.

In-Line

Places the wire number inline with the wire.

Gap Setup

Defines spacing between the inline wire number and the wire itself.

Below Wire

Places the wire number below the physical wire.

Offset

Specifies to insert the wire number tags the specified offset distance.

Centered

Specifies to insert the wire number tags in the center of each wire segment.

Offset Distance

Specifies a fixed, user-defined offset distance from the left or top of the first wire segment found on the wire network.

Leaders

(This option is unavailable for in-line wire numbers.) AutoCAD Electrical places wire numbers on leaders when it determines that the wire number text bumps into something. It does not check if the leader itself overlays another object. Select the method for inserting new wire numbers as leaders: As Required, Always, or Never.

Note: This change does not affect wire numbers that are already present on the drawing.

Text Format

Displays cross-referencing as text with any string as a separator between references on the same attribute.

Graphical Format

Displays cross-referencing using the AutoCAD Electrical graphical font or using contact mapping edit boxes while displaying each reference on a new line.

Table Format

Displays cross-referencing in a table object, that automatically gets updated in real time. You can define the columns to display.

Setup

Displays a dialog box for setting the display defaults for each component cross-reference display format.

Vertical/Horizontal

Specifies whether to create ladders horizontally or vertically.

Spacing

Specifies the spacing between each ladder rung.

Default: insert new ladders without references

Sets the default for the Insert Ladder command. New ladders you insert do not have line reference numbering, by default.

Width

Specifies the width of the ladder.

Multi-wire Spacing

Specifies the spacing between each wire in multi-wire phases.

X-Y Grid

All referencing is tied to an X-Y grid system of numbers and letters along the left-hand side and top of the drawing. Set the vertical and horizontal index numbers and letters, spacing, and origin in the X-Y grid setup dialog box.

Tip: Use negative spacing values for Horizontal or Vertical if you want to change the origin of the X-Y grid system to be other than the upper left-hand corner of the drawing.

X Zones

Like X-Y Grid, but there is not a Y-axis. Set the horizontal labels, spacing, and origin on the X Zones setup dialog box.

Tip: Use a negative zone spacing value if you want the zone reference origin to be at the right side of the drawing.

Reference Numbers

Each ladder column has a column of assigned reference numbers.

Setup

Specifies how to display ladder line reference numbers - number only, numbers in a hexagon, the sheet and number values, and so on.

Feature Scale Multiplier

Sets the scale factor used when inserting new components or wire numbers on the drawing. To insert everything 25% bigger than normal, change the edit box value from 1.00 to 1.25. This change does not affect components and wire numbers that are already present on the drawing.

inch/inch scaled to mm/mm full size

Select inch if your drawing is to use library symbols from the JIC1/JIC125 libraries or mm full size for the metric scaled symbol libraries. It adjusts the wire connection trap distance that determines whether closely spaced wire ends connector not.

Sort Order

Sets the default wire numbering sort order for the active drawing. You can set sorting on a per-drawing basis and override the project-wide default setting defined in Properties Wire Numbers dialog box. For example, you can set the wire numbers to go in a reverse order from the I/O point on a PLC I/O drawing, but have the wire numbers going from left to right for non-PLC I/O drawings.

Define

Defines and manages wire and component layers.

Note: No matter what layer is current, wires always go to a wire layer and components to component layers.