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Use wire layers

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    Version as of 23:27, 20 May 2013

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    Procedures | References

    The Set Wire Type tool is used for setting a wire type for new wires only. The wire layer name and the associated wire properties (such as wire color, size, and whether the wire layer is processed for wire numbers) are saved in the drawing file. The following rules determine the wire layer for a new wire:

    • When a wire is created from an existing wire, the new wire takes on the same layer as the existing wire. It ignores the current layer and the current wire type.
    • When the new wire is started in empty space but ends at an existing wire, the new wire takes on the wire layer of the ending wire. The current layer and current wire type are ignored.
    • When a new wire is started at an existing wire and ends at another existing wire, the new wire takes on the layer of the beginning wire.
    • If there are no wire layers in the drawing, the new wire is drawn in the WIRES layer.
    • When a wire starts in empty space and ends at the component wire connection point, the new wire is drawn on the current wire type. The layer of the wires already tied to the same component connection points are ignored. The same is true for a wire that starts at the component wire connection point and ends in empty space.

    Use the Create/Edit Wire Type tool to create new or edit existing wire types or use the Change/Convert Wire Type tool to convert lines to wires.

    Procedures

    Create wire types

    Wire types for drawings are set up in the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box.

    1. Click Schematic tabEdit Wires/Wire Numbers panelModify Wire Type drop-downCreate/Edit Wire Type.
    2. In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click inside the Wire Color column for a blank row and specify a value for the new wire layer.
    3. Click inside the Size column and specify a value for the size.

      The Layer Name is automatically created. If you specified Wire Color: Red and Size: 20, the name RED_20 is assigned to the wire layer you are creating.

    4. If you do not want wires on this layer processed for wire numbers, select No for the Wire Numbering option.
    5. To import wire types from an existing drawing or template, click Import.
      • Select the drawing or drawing template containing the wire types for import.
      • On the Import Wire Types dialog box, select the wire types for import.
      • Define how the import function behaves if a wire type exists on the active drawing.
    6. Click Color, Linetype, or Lineweight to assign values for the new layer.
      Note

      If you want the new wire layer to be the default, click Mark Selected as Default.

    7. Click OK.

    Add existing wire layers to the drawing

    Wire layer names for drawings are set up in the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box.

    1. Click Schematic tabEdit Wires/Wire Numbers panelModify Wire Type drop-downCreate/Edit Wire Type.
    2. In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click Add Existing Layer.
    3. In the Layers for Line "Wires" dialog box, define the layer name and click OK. You can either enter a name in the edit box or click Pick to select a name from the existing layer list.

      The layer displays in the wire type grid. If you selected the wrong wire layer, highlight the layer in the dialog box and click Remove Layer. You can then go back into the Layers for Line "Wires" dialog box and select another layer to add.

    4. In the Create/Edit dialog box, click Color, Linetype, or Lineweight to assign new values for the layer.
    5. If you do not want wires on this layer processed for wire numbers, select No for the Wire Numbering option.
    6. Click OK.

    Import wire types

     

    1. Click Schematic tabEdit Wires/Wire Numbers panelModify Wire Type drop-downCreate/Edit Wire Type.
    2. Click Import.

      The Wire Type Import - Select Master Drawing dialog box displays.

    3. Select the drawing or drawing template containing the wire types for import.
    4. Click Open.

      The Import Wire Types dialog box displays.

    5. Select the wire types for import.
    6. Define how the import function behaves if a wire type exists on the active drawing.
      • Overwrite any Wire Numbering and USERn differences - if checked, changes the wire numbering setting and all the USER values for the existing wire type to match the imported wire type.
      • Update any layer color and linetype differences - if checked, changes the color and linetype settings for the existing wire layer to match the imported wire layer.
    7. Click OK.

      The selected wire types and settings display in the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog.

    8. Continue adding, importing, and editing wire types in the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog.
    9. Click OK.

     

    Import wire types project-wide

     

    1. Click Project tabProject Tools panelUtilities.
    2. Select the Import from specified drawing check box.
    3. Browse to or enter the name of the drawing or drawing template containing the wire type definitions for import.
    4. Click Setup to display the Import Wire Types dialog box.
    5. Select the wire types for import.
    6. Define how the import function behaves if a wire type exists on the drawing being processed.
      • Overwrite any Wire Numbering and USERn differences - if checked, changes the wire numbering setting and all the USER values for the existing wire type to match the imported wire type.
      • Update any layer color and linetype differences - if checked, changes the color and linetype settings for the existing wire layer to match the imported wire layer.
    7. Click OK and return to the Project-Wide Utilities dialog box.
    8. Click OK.

      The Select Drawings to Process dialog box displays.

    9. Select the drawings you want to import the selected wire types into.
    10. Click OK.

     

    References

    Create/edit wire type Create/edit wire type

    Defines and edits wire types.

     Ribbon: Schematic tabEdit Wires/Wire Numbers panelModify Wire Type drop-downCreate/Edit Wire Type.
     Toolbar: Wires
     Menu: WiresCreate/Edit Wire Type
     Command entry: AEWIRETYPE

    The program saves the wire layer name and associated properties, such as wire color, size, and whether the wire layer is processed for wire numbers, in the drawing file. Use the grid control to sort and select wire types to modify.

    Tip

    Use the Change/Convert Wire Type tool to convert lines to wires. You can also type "T" at the command prompt during wire insertion to use the Set Wire Type tool.

    Wire type grid

    Displays the wire types used in the active drawing. The wire layer name and the wire properties like color, size, whether the wire layer is processed for wire numbers, and user-defined properties are listed in the grid. An “x” in the Used column indicates that the layer name is currently used in the drawing. A blank value in this column indicates that the layer name exists in the drawing but it is not currently being used. The current wire type is highlighted with a gray background; selected wire types highlight in blue.

    If you do not want wire numbers assigned to wires on a specific layer, select “No” Wire Numbering for that layer. The Insert Wire Numbers command follows these rules:

    • If all wires in the network are on layers set “No” for Wire Numbering, no new wire number is inserted.
    • If any wire in the network is on a layer set “Yes” for Wire Numbering, the existing non-fixed wire number is updated or a new wire number is inserted.
    • If a wire network already has a non-fixed wire number, it is updated regardless of the Wire Numbering setting. Use the Delete Wire Numbers command to remove the wire number.
    Note

    Manually maintain wire layer type consistency through signal arrows.

    To rename the User1- User 20 column headers, right-click the project name in the Project Manager and select Properties. In the Project Properties Wire Numbers dialog box, Wire Type section, click Rename User Columns. In the Rename User Columns dialog box, specify a new column name and click OK. Renaming of user-defined columns is project-specific. You cannot rename the Color, Size, or Layer Name columns. All the data corresponding to the header column can be copied, cut, and pasted to another column.

    All text fields are editable except for the Layer Name cell. It cannot be edited for existing layers. Left-click to edit the cell or right-click in a cell to display options for modifying the cell contents. If you want to rename a layer, right-click on a cell and select Rename Layer. Right-click options include: Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete Layer, and Rename Layer. If it is the default layer, you cannot delete or remove the layer.

    You can select multiple layers to edit or remove by using the Shift or Ctrl keys on your keyboard while picking the wire layer in the wire type list.

    You can move the wire type records inside the grid to whatever position you want using drag and drop. Select the wire type records to move and drag to the new position in the grid.

    Option

    Make All Lines Valid Wires

    Makes all existing layers valid wire layers and displays them in the wire type grid.

    If you later decide you want some layers to be wire layers and others to be line layers, you can deselect this option. All the layers are removed from the wire type grid. Add layers again using the Add Existing Layer option.

    Import

    Imports wire types from an existing drawing or drawing template. Once the drawing is specified, the Import Wire Types dialog box displays. Select the wire types to import.

    Layer

    Allows you to format the layer name, define or edit the layer color, linetype, and line weight.

    Layer Name Format

    Format the layer name. The program fills the layer name automatically once you enter a value in color, size based on the format. For example, if you enter BLK for color and 10AWG for size, the layer name is filled in as BLK_10AWG based on default %C_%S format. Placeholders are supported at any place in the format (that is, "CUST%C-THIN%S).

    Valid wire name format codes are:

    • %C = Wire Color
    • %S = Wire Size
    • %1-%5 = User 1 - User 5

    Color

    Displays the AutoCAD dialog box for Layer colors election. The Select Color dialog box highlights the color corresponding to the wire type record. The default color for new records is white. Undefined colors for layers use the default color while creating the layer. Multiple selection is allowed. All wire layers that were selected can be changed to the color.

    Linetype

    Displays the AutoCAD dialog box for linetype selection. This Select Linetype dialog box highlights the linetype corresponding to the wire type record. The default linetype for new records is continuous. Undefined linetypes for layers use the default linetype while creating the layer. Multiple selection is allowed. All wire layers that were selected can be changed to the desired linetype.

    Note

    If you need special linetypes for constructing P&ID or point to point diagrams, load the special linetypes from theacade.lin text file.

    Lineweight

    Displays the AutoCAD dialog box for lineweight selection. The Lineweight dialog box highlights the lineweight corresponding to the wire type record. The default lineweight for new records is default. Undefined lineweights for layers use the default lineweight while creating the layer. Multiple selection is allowed. All wire layers that were selected can be changed to the desired lineweight.

    Add Existing Layer

    Displays the Layers for Line Wires dialog box for specifying a layer name. Click Pick to select the layer name from the existing layer list consisting of all the layers in the drawing inclusive of the non-wire layers.

    Only lines on pre-selected layers are processed as wires. Enter a wire layer name in the dialog box. A wildcard used in the name selects a group of layers (for example, RED_* selects all layers that begin with "RED_").

    Remove Layer

    Removes the selected layer name from the wire type grid. The layer is no longer a valid wire layer, however the layer remains in the drawing as an AutoCAD line layer.

    If multiple layers of one color exist in the drawing, select all layers of that color in the wire type grid to activate this button. For example, if there are multiple RED* layers such as RED_AWG18, RED_AWG20,and RED_AWG25, select all three layers in the wire type grid to enable the button.

    Note

    You cannot remove the wire layer marked as the default.

    Mark Selected as Default

    Makes the selected layer the default layer for new wire layers and displays the layer name in the dialog box.

    OK

    Note

    This option is available only when one wire type record is selected in the list.

    Makes the selected wire type the current wire type. If the selected wire type does not exist on the drawing, the wire layer is created on the fly. The wire layer name and properties are saved in the drawing file. For the layer to create, the following rules apply:

    • The layer name must be unique
    • The layer name cannot be left blank
    • The layer name cannot contain special characters such as / \ " : ; ? * | , = ' > <

    Import Wire Types

    Imports wire types from another drawing or drawing template.

    Create/Edit Wire Type

     Ribbon: Schematic tabEdit Wires/Wire Numbers panelModify Wire Type drop-downCreate/Edit Wire Type.
     Toolbar: Wires
     Menu: WiresCreate/Edit Wire Type
     Command entry: AEWIRETYPE

    Click the Import button in the Option section.

    Project-wide utilities

     Ribbon: Project tabProject Tools panelUtilities.
     Toolbar: Project
     Menu: ProjectsProject-Wide Utilities
     Command entry: AEUTILITIES

    Select the Import from specified drawing check box. Browse to or enter the name of the drawing or drawing template containing the wire type definitions for import. Click Setup.

    Double click a column heading to sort the wire type list by the data in that column.

    Grid

    Select the wire types to import.

    Clear All

    Select All

    All wire types are initially selected to import. Clears or selects all wire types to import.

    Note

    The button switches between Select All and Clear All each time it is clicked.

    Overwrite any Wire Numbering and USERn differences

    If checked, changes the wire numbering setting and all the USER values for the existing wire type to match the imported wire type.

    Update any layer color and linetype differences

    If checked, changes the color and linetype settings for the existing wire layer to match the imported wire layer.

    Project-wide utilities Project-wide utilities

    Provides the means for operations on wire numbers, component tags, attribute text, wire types, and item numbers. You can define scripts and apply them project-wide.

     Ribbon: Project tabProject Tools panelUtilities.
     Toolbar: Project
     Menu: ProjectsProject-Wide Utilities
     Command entry: AEUTILITIES

    Select project drawings and perform any of the following:

    • Erase, reset, fix, or unfix wire numbers.
    • Fix or unfix component tags.
    • Fix or unfix item numbers.
    • Clear signal cross-referencing.
    • Run a user-specified script file.
    • Change attribute text size or style.
    • Import wire types from another drawing or drawing template.

    You can have multiple drawings open at any time. However, to maximize performance and memory usage, minimize the number of open drawings when running project-wide commands.

    Wire Numbers

    Select to keep wire numbers the same, erase specified wire numbers, reset specified wire numbers, or set wire numbers to fixed or normal.

    Signal Arrow Cross-reference text

    Select to maintain the signal arrow cross-reference text or to remove all signal arrow cross-reference text across the current project.

    Parent Component Tags: Fix/Unfix

    Select to maintain the component tags or to set all parent component tags to fixed or normal across the current project.

    Item Numbers: Fix/Unfix

    Select to maintain the item numbers or to set all item numbers to fixed or normal across the current project. If you run Resequence Item Numbers later on, fixed item numbers do not change.

    Change Attribute

    Change Attribute Size

    Click Setup to select the attributes to change, and then enter the height and width definitions for the selected attributes.

    Note

    If you do not want the attribute height or width to change, do not enter a value definition.

    Change Style

    Click Setup to select a text font to apply to the text style used on component attributes.

    For each drawing

    Enter the name or browse to a command script file to use for each drawing in the current project or to purge all blocks.

    Wire Types

    Imports wire types defined on another drawing or drawing template. Enter the drawing or template name or browse to it using the browse button. The program reads the specified drawing and extracts all wire type information. Click Setup to display the Import Wire Types dialog box where you:

    • Select the wire types to import.
    • Define whether to overwrite any Wire Numbering and USERn differences for existing wire types.
    • Define whether to overwrite color and linetype differences for existing wire layers.

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