AutoCAD Electrical uses stock AutoCAD blocks and attributes in its library symbols. The symbols can be any size and width. You do not have to edit an external support file or database to register a symbol for use in an AutoCAD Electrical wiring diagram drawing.

Note: You can also use the Symbol Builder tool, but the quickest way to create a symbol might be to start with an existing AutoCAD Electrical compatible symbol. Start with a copy of a similar type and then modify to suit. Avoid deleting the existing attribute definitions. Reposition and edit their default values as required.

Open a new drawing using the appropriate symbol name.
Insert an exploded copy of an existing AutoCAD Electrical symbol that somewhat resembles what you need in the new symbol. Consider the number of wire connection points, rating attributes, and whether your new symbol is a parent symbol (attribute TAG1) or a child symbol (attribute TAG2).
Clean up the graphics. Keep everything on layer 0.
Reuse attribute definitions from the exploded symbol. Reposition them as required. Make sure that you keep terminal pin number text paired with its wire connection attribute (the last two digits of each attribute name must match, "X4TERM01" wire connection point attribute matched with "TERM01" terminal pin number text attribute).
Use DDEDIT to change the TAG1 or TAG2 and the FAMILY attribute values to the family code. Insert any pre-defined terminal pin, description, or catalog number attribute values.
Delete unneeded attribute definitions and graphics.
Save your work to the jic1, jic125, or user subdirectory (right-click a project name inside the Project Manager and select Settings to find the full path). To test it, call up a new or existing AutoCAD Electrical drawing. Try to insert your new symbol into an existing piece of wire. You can manually enter the file name of the new symbol using Type it on the main icon menu page.

Tips and Hints

Pigtails

Avoid putting wire pigtails on your new symbols. Pigtails can defeat the AutoCAD Electrical SCOOT command and automatic wire numbering when two symbols with pigtails bump up against each other. A wire connection pigtail is mandatory when you insert a short pigtail at a wire connection point that has no other visible symbol geometry nearby since AutoCAD Electrical must see something tangible on a symbol at a wire connection point.

Symbol origin

The AutoCAD Electrical library symbols generally have their origin points centered between the first (or only) pair of wire connection point attributes. Though it is not mandatory, it helps AutoCAD Electrical determine the correct orientation for alignment with an underlying wire at insertion time.

Symbol width

There are no restrictions. Every symbol can have a different width. At insertion time the width of the symbol is determined by reading the locations of its wire connection attributes (attributes with name X?TERMn).

Wire connection points

A symbol can have hundreds of connection points and a terminal pin number attribute tied to each (use suffix codes beginning with "01" and ending with "ZZ").

Component description text

You can insert three lines of description text up to 60 characters long. The attribute names are DESC1, DESC2, and DESC3 and generally appear on both parent/stand-alone and child contact symbols. You can insert additional DESCn attributes on your symbol and edit them with any attribute editing tool, but AutoCAD Electrical does not process them.

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