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Use point-to-point wiring tools

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Point-to-Point Style Schematic

Ladder Style Schematic

In addition to the tools specifically related to connectors, you can utilize other AutoCAD Electrical tools for editing your point-to-point wiring diagrams.

Edit Pin Numbers	Use the Edit Component tool to edit the pin assignments on the parametrically generated connectors.
Connector Dash Link Lines	Use the Link Components (Dashed Line) tool to insert dash linked lines between parent and split-off child parametric connector symbols.
Scoot Connector	Use the Scoot tool to reposition the parametric connector along the same direction as the connected wiring.
Scoot Wire	Use the Scoot tool to move wires attached to pins on the connectors. The wire scoots and the connector pin along with it while the overall connector shell stays fixed.
Insert Wires	Use the Insert Wires tool to route single-wire connections. Use the Multiple Wire Bus tool, Component mode, to insert and route multiple wires in one tool. Note A wire connection point should only have up to three wire connections tied to it. Adding more wires to a single point prevents the angled wire connection to tie uniquely to the wire connection point.

Procedures

Insert connectors

Use this tool to insert a parametrically generated connector symbols.

Click Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Connector drop-downInsert Connector.
In the Insert connector dialog box, specify the pin spacing and pin count.
(Optional) For pin count, click Pick and draw a fence showing the length of the appropriate connector.
Specify whether to build the connector using fixed pin spacing or to have it compress or expand to match the pins up with underlying wire crossings.
Specify whether to insert the entire connector all at once or to insert it manually, pin by pin, with an option to insert spacers or to break the connector into 2 or more pieces.
Click the Rotate or Flip buttons to change the display of the connector symbol.
The preview image updates to reflect your changes to the connector display options.
(Optional) Click Details for more options to define settings for the size, shape, and display of the parametrically built connector symbols.
Click Insert.
A preview outline of the connector displays for placement on the drawing. It shows rounded corners for the plug side of the connector. An 'x' indicates the insertion point of the connector and the arrow indicates the plug side wire connection direction.
Specify the insertion point on the drawing or enter Z (zoom), P (pan), X, V, or Tab at the command prompt to change the connector orientation before insertion. Review the sections below to see how Tab, V key, or X key changes your connector orientation.
If you selected to allow spacers/breaks, in the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box, click Break Symbol Now to break the connector and display the Connector Layout dialog box for defining how you want the rest of the pins inserted on the drawing.

Reverse connector using the Tab key

Prior to committing the connector outline to the drawing, you can press Tab to reverse the connector either about its long axis or end for end. If the connector is vertical, a series of TAB keystrokes cycles the image through these four orientations:


Start point	TAB 1	TAB 2	TAB 3

Rotate connector using the V key

Press "V" at the command prompt to switch between vertical and horizontal orientations. Based on where the outline is in the flip process, the Tab keystroke reverses the connector either about its long axis or end for end. When in its horizontal orientation, a series of Tabs cycles the image through these four orientations


Start point	TAB 1	TAB 2	TAB 3

Switch layout using the X key

Press "X" at the command prompt to toggle between "Fixed Spacing" and "At Wire Crossings." Press the X key, and then move the connector preview over the wires so the connector stretches to align each pin with the underlying wire spacing. The connector stretches only to meet the underlying spacing when the first pin lands on a wire. If the size of the connector exceeds the total number of wires underlying the connector, the remaining pins follow the specified fixed spacing value.

Rotate connectors

Rotates a connector image in 90 degree increments.

Existing wire connections do not reroute with each rotation of the connector. Use the wire editing tools to resolve wiring.

Note

This command differs from the standard ROTATE command in that it renames the wire connection attributes to maintain full compatibility with the Insert Wire command, and it can hold the terminal pin text and tag-ID attributes in their current orientation.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downRotate Connector.
Specify whether to hold the current attribute orientation.
If you select Yes (default), the attribute text orientation does not rotate as the connector rotates.
Select the connector to rotate.
The connector automatically rotates 90 degrees.
Keep clicking the connector until the appropriate position is reached.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Example: Hold attribute orientation = yes


Original	First Rotate	Second Rotate	Third Rotate

Example: Hold attribute orientation = no


Original	First Rotate	Second Rotate	Third Rotate

Reverse connectors

Reverses the connector image about its long axis.

Existing wire connections do not automatically reroute to the reverse side of the connector. Use the wire editing tools to resolve wiring.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downReverse Connector.
Select the connector to reverse.
The connector automatically reverses depending on its original orientation.
Note
For a single receptacle connector with no rounded corners, the appearance of the graphics appears unchanged, but the wire connection attributes actually move to the other side of the connector.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Stretch connectors

You can increase or decrease the overall shell length of the connector. Identify which end of the connector to alter and the measurement of displacement.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downStretch Connector.
Specify the end of the connector to stretch.
Specify where you want the connector to end (second point of displacement). Either drag your mouse to the appropriate location or enter coordinates.
Note
You can press TAB during the stretch to change the visibility of the connector attributes. See the Tips and Hints below for more information.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Tips and Hints

Stretch Connector does not support window selection.
Turn Snap ON.
The stretch begins at the end of the connector. There is not a first point of displacement.
If the stretched connector end runs over the top of the connector's tag-ID attribute (attribute name TAG1 or TAG2), then this attribute along with attributes INST, LOC, DESC1, DESC2, and DESC3 relocate with the stretch. Pressing TAB during the stretch changes the visibility of these attributes. If turned ON, the attributes display as temporary graphics that move with the stretch cursor; if turned OFF, the temporary graphics are not visible.
Avoid stretching one end of a connector all the way to the other end of the connector.

Split connector

Use this tool to split the parametric connector into two separate block definitions (for example, parent and a child or a child and another child).

You specify:

Origin point for the new block
Break type
Layer for the child block
Whether to reposition the child block

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downSplit Connector.
Select the connector block to split.
Specify the split point (i.e. pick between two sets of pins).
(Optional) Define the origin point for the new block. The default is preset to be in-line with the first set of pins on the split-off piece. If you do not want to accept the default, you can enter the coordinates or click Pick Point, and then select the origin point on the drawing.
(Optional) Set the break type: no lines, straight lines, jagged lines, or draw it. The default is set to jagged lines.
(Optional) Select to reposition the child block to move it as part of this command.
Click OK.
To reposition the child block, select a point on the screen to place the block.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Add pins to a connector

Adds connector pins to an existing connector.

To make room for the new pins:

Stretch Connector - stretch the connector shell
Move Connector Pin - move existing pins
Scoot - scoot wires with attached pins

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downAdd Connector Pins.
Select the connector.
Specify where to insert the next available pin number (displayed on the command line) or press R+space to manually define the new starting pin number.
The next available pin numbering is based on the existing pins and an optional pin list associated to the selected connector. The PINLIST values defined on the parent symbol are queried in the project database to determine the next available pin number on the connector component. This checks across the entire project to find the pin numbers used on both parent and any child connector symbols. If a PINLIST value is not defined, then the next available sequential pin number (based on existing pins) is used. Pin assignments can be numbers or letters or combinations of both.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Tips and Hints

Turn Snap ON.
Pins can be added inside the shell or beyond either end of the connector shell.
Pins are inserted along the connector's centerline axis, even if your pick point is far off to one side of the connector.
Connectors can be stretched later to accommodate new pins added beyond either end of the connector.
Pins can be added between the original pins; pins can then be moved or scooted to accommodate spacing.
Pins can be lined up with a pin on another connector. After selecting the Add Connector Pins tool, select the connector to add the pin to, press Shift + right-click to display the Object Snaps options, select Insert and click the pin to align the new pin to. The new pin is inserted onto the selected component and is lined up with the pin on the other connector.

Delete pins from connectors

Deletes connector pins from an existing connector.

If the connector has a defined pin list, free this deleted pin for later insertion on this connector or on a related child of this connector.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downDelete Connector Pins.
Pick the pins to delete from the connectors.
The pin number attribute on the connector block disappears. This attribute along with associated wire connection and description attributes are not immediately removed from the connector. They are renamed so that they are effectively ignored. If the connector is subsequently stretched or split, then these deleted pin attributes are purged from the connector block instance.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Tips and Hints

Deleting a pin that has a connected wire does not remove the wire. In this case, the wire no longer is connected to the connector. It appears to be a wire that is unconnected at the connector end.

Swap pin numbers

Swaps pin numbers on existing connectors.

Exchange one set of connector pin numbers for another on an existing connector or between connectors on the drawing.

Note

You cannot swap a combination connector with a single plug or receptacle connector. Additionally, you cannot use this tool to swap pins from one side of a connector to the other.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downSwap Connector Pins.
Select the connector pin to swap.
Temporary graphics are drawn around the selected pin number indicating that it has been included in the "swap" list.
Select the pin that you want to swap with the selected pin.
The connector pins are swapped between the two selections.
Select another set of pins to swap or press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Move pins

Moves the connector pin associated to a selected connector.

The pin relocates along the centerline axis of the connector, even if the pick point is off to one side of the connector. You can specify a location beyond either end of the current connector shell. Use Stretch Connector to extend the shell to enclose these pins.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelModify Connectors drop-downMove Connector Pins.
Select the connector pin to move.
Specify the new location for the pin.
The pin relocates along the connector's centerline axis, even if your pick point is far off to one side of the connector. You can also specify a location beyond either end of the current connector shell, and then use the Stretch Connector tool to extend the shell to enclose these pins.
Press Enter or Esc to exit the command.

Edit connector pin numbers

Once the connector is inserted onto the drawing file's block definition, you can edit the connector pins found inside of the connector. Use the Connector Pin Numbers in Use dialog box to edit the pins defined on the parametric connector. Connector symbols have attributes to define Installation and Location codes, manufacturing data, component tagging and descriptions, and pin assignments.

Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelEdit Components drop-downEdit.
Select the connector.
In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Pins section, click List.
In the Connector Pin Numbers in Use dialog box, select a pair of pins to modify.
In the Pin Number section, enter a new pin number value in the edit boxes or click the arrows to either increase or decrease both plug and receptacle values by one.
(Optional) Enter a description for the plug or receptacle terminal.
Click OK.

References

Insert connector

Generates a connector dynamically from parameters you specify, and inserts it at a specified location.

Ribbon: Schematic tab

Insert Components panel

Insert Connector drop-down

Insert Connector.

Toolbar: Main Electrical

Menu: Components

Insert Connector

Command entry: AECONNECTOR

You select an orientation, connector type, such as plug/receptacle combination, and enter fixed pin spacing or adapt the pin spacing to underlying wires, and so on. Insert Connector negates the need to create and maintain a large library of schematic connector symbols.

Click Details to expand the dialog box to provide more options to define settings for the size, shape, and display of the parametrically built connector symbols.

Layout

Determines the overall appearance of the parametric connector, including pin spacing and pin count.

Pin Spacing	Specifies the distance between the pin wire connections. This value initially defaults to the Rung Spacing defined in Drawing Properties Drawing Format Ladder Defaults - Spacing setting for the drawing file.
Pin Count	Specifies the number of pins associated with the connector. This is required to parametrically build the connector.
Pick	This is an alternate Pick method for determining the Pin Count for the new connector. You can do a fence selection of crossed wires or you can define a starting point and ending point in empty space. For the fence selection, a pin exists for every wire intersection with the AutoCAD fence line. For example, if you cross five wires with the fence pick points, the pin count value will be 5. On the other hand, if you select endpoints in empty space, the total number of pins is based upon dividing the distance between the two pick points by the Pin Spacing value.
Fixed Spacing	Generates the connector with a fixed spacing from one pin to the next. This is the Pin Spacing value. If the Pin Spacing edit box is left blank, the fixed spacing value defaults to the drawing's ladder default spacing value.
At Wire Crossings	Modifies the pin placement to have the pins coincide with underlying wires. The connector stretches or compresses to match up with underlying wires as it inserts on to the drawing. If the connector has more pins than underlying wires, the excess pins are added at the end of the connector using the default fixed spacing value.
Pin List	Specifies either the starting pin number for an incrementing series of pin numbers or the actual comma-delimited list of pin numbers to be used on the connector. For example, a pin list entry of "1" for a connector with the Pin Count set to 8 generates a connector with pins labeled "1" through "8." On the other hand, a pin list entry of "1,2,3,4,A,B,C,GND" generates an 8-pin connector with pins labeled "1", "2", "3", "4", "A", "B", "C", "GND." If the Pin List edit box is left blank, the connector numbering starts at 1 and continues up through the Pin Count value. If you define more pin list data than pin count, the pins are used in the order they are defined. The entire list is saved on the connector as PINLIST xdata. This can be later referenced to add missing pins (Add Connector Pin tool) or to assign unused pins to a child instance of the parent connector.
Insert All	Creates the connector without further prompts (i.e. no option for inserting spacers or for breaking the connector into 2 or more pieces).
Allow Spacers/Breaks	Gives you manual control over the insertion of the connector. Displays the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box that prompts you for the insertion of each connector pin prior to committing the connector block definition to the drawing file. The running count of pins inserted versus total pins defined for the connector is listed at the top of the dialog box. Select an option for inserting the other pins: Insert Next Connection: Continues building the connector by inserting the next pin (repeated prompting until all pins are inserted). Add Spacer: Adds a spacer in place of a pin on the connector in order to leave room for a future pin or to skip over a wire that is not to be broken by the connector. The connector stretches its length to account for this extra blank space. Break Symbol Now: Breaks connector and begins prompt back at the connector layout dialog box. If you terminate the command without inserting the remainder of the connector, you can go to another drawing and restart the command. You can continue with the previous connector or discard the saved data and start with a new one. Note This insert of a continued, broken connector must be done during the current AutoCAD Electrical session. Cancel Custom: Inserts the remaining pins into the connector without any further prompts.
Start Connector As Child	Defines the new connector block definition as a child of a parent connector. This means that after it is created it needs to be linked to a parent connector through a common tag-ID value (select Edit Component and link to parent using any of the normal methods).
Start with Break	Creates the child symbol with a jagged or broken top. If unselected, the child symbol has a rounded corner determined by the radius dimension defined in the Size section of the dialog box.

Orientation

Use to quickly change the connector's orientation prior to placing it into the drawing file. This orientation change also modifies the preview to reflect the selection.

	Rotate	Switches the orientation of the parametric connector insertion between horizontal and vertical.
	Flip	Flips the connector about its long axis.

Type

Determines the type of connector to be built as to whether it includes the plug/receptacle combination or if it will display either the plug side or the receptacle side.

Plug/Receptacle Combination	Creates the connector as a single block file showing both the plug and receptacle.
Wire Number Change	Sets the property of the connector symbol to change the wire number through a plug/receptacle connector symbol. By default, the wire numbers are maintained through a plug/receptacle connector.
Add Divider Line	Creates a plug/receptacle combination connector with a line down the middle of the block to indicate the separation of the plug and receptacle. This line becomes part of the block definition for the connector.
Plug Only	Creates the connector as a single block file showing the plug representation only.
Receptacle Only	Creates the connector as a single block file showing the receptacle representation only.

Display

Use to define the connector's placement on the drawing relative to other connectors and the drawing border. This controls which side of the connector the plug will be displayed, whether the connector goes in vertically or horizontally, and whether the pins are visible.

Connector

Specifies whether the connector inserts vertically or horizontally.

Plug

Specifies which direction the plug portion of the connector comes in relative to the overall plug/receptacle parametric build. The plug representation is displayed with rounded corners.

Options include vertical with the plug to the left, vertical with the plug to the right, horizontal with the plug to the bottom, or horizontal with the plug to the top.

Pins

Specifies which pin numbers are visible or hidden on the connector. In the case of a plug/receptacle combination, options include showing both sides, showing the plug only, showing the receptacle only, or hiding both.

If you select to make the pins on the plug or receptacle invisible, the attribute and its value are still defined in the block definition on the drawing file.

If you selected Plug Only or Receptacle Only for the Type, the pin display options are show or hide only. These show or hide the pin numbers on a single plug or receptacle symbol.

Hidden pins are still present on the symbol, but they are marked invisible. Values assigned to the hidden pins will still show up in various wire connection from/to reports. You can unhide hidden attributes using the Move/Show Attribute tool.

Size

The values in the edit boxes define the parameters used to build the graphical outline that represents the shell of the connector.

Receptacle	Specifies the width of the receptacle side of the connector. This value can be the same as the plug side.
Plug	Specifies the width of the plug side of the connector.
Top	Specifies the distance from the first pin of the connector to the top end of the connector.
Bottom	Specifies the distance from the last pin of the connector to the bottom end of the connector.
Radius	Specifies the fillet radius for the rounded portion of the plug representation. If left blank or if you enter a 0.0 value, then the corner is drawn without a fillet. If the radius value exceeds the Plug width value, the radius value will be internally set back to be equal to the plug width value.

Insert

Inserts the connector symbol on the drawing. If a pin count was not defined, an error message appears indicating that you must define a pin count before proceeding. A preview outline of the connector displays for placement on the drawing. It shows angled corners for the plug side of the connector. An 'x' indicates the insertion point of the connector. An arrow indicates the plug side wire connection direction for plug/receptacle or plug-only connector inserts or shows the wire connection direction for a receptacle-only connector insert

Prior to committing the connector outline to the drawing, you can press TAB on your keyboard to flip the connector through four different orientations or press the "V" key to switch between vertical and horizontal orientations.

Connector layout

Ribbon: Schematic tab

Insert Components panel

Insert Connector drop-down

Insert Connector.

Toolbar: Main Electrical

Menu: Components

Insert Connector

Command entry: AECONNECTOR

In the Insert Connector dialog box, select Allow Spacers/Breaks and click Insert. In the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box, click Break Symbol Now.

Selecting Break Symbol Now on the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box breaks the connector and displays this dialog box for defining how you want the rest of the pins inserted on the drawing.

Pin Spacing

Specifies the distance between the pin wire connections. This value initially defaults to the Rung Spacing defined in Drawing Properties Drawing Format Ladder Defaults - Spacing setting for the drawing file.

Fixed Spacing

Creates the connector pin spacing as fixed. The spacing is driven by the Pin Spacing value. If the Pin Spacing edit box is left blank, the fixed spacing value is determined from the drawing's ladder defaults spacing value.

At Wire Crossings

Modifies the connector to have the pins coincide with underlying wires. The connector stretches or compresses to match up with underlying wires as it inserts on to the drawing.

If the connector has more pins than underlying wires, the excess pins are added at the end of the connector using the default fixed spacing value.

Pin Insertion

Insert All

Creates the connector without further prompts (for example, no option for inserting spacers or for breaking the connector into 2 or more pieces). When you click OK on the Connector Layout dialog box, the block definition is committed to the drawing and the command is complete.

Allow Spacers/Breaks

Gives you manual control over the insertion of the connector. Displays the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box that prompts you for the insertion of each connector pin prior to committing the connector block definition to the drawing file. The running count of pins inserted versus total pins defined for the connector is listed at the top of the dialog box. Select an option for inserting the other pins:

Insert Next Connection: Continues building the connector by inserting the next pin (repeated prompting until all pins are inserted).
Add Spacer: Adds a spacer in place of a pin on the connector in order to leave room for a future pin or to skip over a wire that is not to be broken by the connector. The connector stretches its length to account for this extra blank space.
Break Symbol Now: Breaks connector and begins prompt back at the Connector Layout dialog box. If you terminate the command without inserting the remainder of the connector, you can go to another drawing and restart the command. You can continue with the previous connector or discard the saved data and start with a new one.
Note
This insert of a continued, broken connector must be done during the current AutoCAD Electrical session.
Cancel Custom: Inserts the remaining pins into the connector without any further prompts.

Connector pin numbers in use

Lists all of the pins previously used in the project and the available pins that can be assigned to a connector. The connector tag and pin count displays below the title bar in the dialog box.

Ribbon: Schematic tab

Edit Components panel

Edit Components drop-down

Edit.

Toolbar: Main Electrical

Menu: Components

Edit Component

Command entry: AEEDITCOMPONENT

Select the connector to edit. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Pins section, click List.

Note

You can edit pin numbers when a row is selected in the grid.

Pin List	Displays all available pins to be assigned to the parametrically-built connector. The number in parenthesis () indicates the single or pair of pins for the connector. The first column is the value assigned to TERM01 or TERM01P while the second column assigns its number to TERM02 or TERM02J. Select the pin from the list to populate the grid. The Pin list table in the catalog database (default_cat.mdb) supports connectors drawn in the ladder diagram or connector diagram schematics.
x	Displays an 'x' for all pins that are displayed since they are part of the connector and not selected on the block being edited (the pins may be on a different drawing or part of another symbol). Only the pin numbers associated to the block selected are editable; the controls at the bottom of the dialog box are disabled if a pin with an 'x' is selected from the list.
Sheet, Reference	Displays the sheet number and potential reference line number where the connector definition is located in the project.
Plug	Displays the plug pin number. The value changes automatically if you edit it in the Pin Numbers section of the dialog box.
Description	Displays the terminal descriptions that are associated to the wire connection point. The first Description column displays the description for the plug; the second displays the description for the receptacle.
Receptacle	Displays the receptacle pin number. The value changes automatically if you edit it in the Pin Numbers section of the dialog box.
Wire Numbers	Displays the wire numbers on either side of the combination connector or a single wire number based on whether or not the connector is a simple plug or jack.
Pin Numbers	Displays the plug and receptacle pin numbers for the selected row. Enter a new value in the edit box or click the arrows to increment or decrement both numbers on the plug and receptacle. Note If you replace pin numbers through editing, the replaced pin numbers may go back into the Pin List if they were originally defined in the Pin List range.
Pin Descriptions	Edits the plug and receptacle terminal descriptions. The value you enter in the edit box displays in the Description column of the grid.

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