Create your own symbols

Single-line tab > Devices group > Symbols menu > Save user symbol

With this function, you can create your own single-line symbols by exploding an existing symbol to be used as the base. This is also an easy way to get several attributes in your symbol. You can copy or edit the attributes as needed.

Do the following:

1. Select objects to include in the symbol to be saved.

2. Indicate symbol's insertion point. The Save Single-line diagram symbol dialog opens.

   

3. Define symbol information:

   • Symbol name – Enter the name of the symbol to be saved. The function adds SO by default but you can name the symbols any way you want.
   • Define symbol insertion point – Click to define insertion point.
   • Appearance – The appearance can be framed or not framed. By default, the appearance is set to No Frame.
     • Framed – The objects you selected after starting the function are added to the framed symbol.

       • There is a wiring point in the middle of each side of the frame. The top and bottom wiring points form a cut point pair, as well as the left and right wiring points.

       • The highest wiring point is the insertion point.

       • You can insert attributes inside the frame, to the right or left of the symbol, or above or below the symbol. Default attributes are located automatically. ID attributes are stacked automatically.

       • If you select Show symbol, you will see a preview of the symbol. In addition, with the Select button you can replace the objects you selected after starting the function with those you select from the drawing, from the multi-line diagram symbol menu or from the arrangement drawing symbol menu.

         

         The objects you selected after starting the function are then removed, and the newly selected is added inside the frame.

     • No Frame – With Select, you can replace the selected objects with those you select from the drawing, from the multi-line diagram symbol menu or from the arrangement drawing symbol menu. The objects you selected after starting the function are removed.
   • Wiring points – In this section, you can see the number of wiring points in the symbol. Symbols have to include one or more wiring points i.e. points where the wire or cable can be connected (like a real terminal of equipment). Therefore, it is important to draw all lines (wires or cables) from wiring point to another.
   Show/hide details

   • Define – First, indicate the wiring point to which you want to draw the wiring. The point is marked with a cross. Second, pick wiring point's number attribute i.e. the attribute from which to read the connection information.

   • Delete – Pick the wiring point you want to remove. Removing a wiring point also removes cut points associated with it.

   • Delete all – Delete all wiring points defined to the symbol.

   • Cut points – In this section, you can see the number of cut points in the symbol. Two cut points make a pair, which can be used to cut line when inserting the symbol into the drawing.
   Show/hide details

   • Define:

     1. Select 1. wiring point, which defines a cutting line: Select 1. wiring point (=cross) from the wiring point pair

     2. Select 2. wiring point, which defines a cutting line: Select 2. wiring point (=cross) from the wiring point pair.

     3. Function asks to select the next wiring point pair and marks the 1. wiring point pair with red dashed line.

     

   • Delete – Pick pair of cut points you want to remove. Cut points are marked with cross and dashed line.

   • Delete all – Removes all cut points from symbols wiring points.

   • Symbol data
     • Symbol type is important for the functions to recognize the symbol to certain electric symbol.

     • The default symbol type is Other, and the default sub-type Single-line Diagram Symbol.

     • If you selected a symbol, the symbol type is set accordingly and Single-line Diagram Symbol will be set as the sub-type.

     • Symbol type is not included in the E_ID attribute.

     • Select to create a horizontal or vertical symbol.
     • With Select symbol type, you can select several subtypes.
   • Attributes
   Show/hide procedure

   • Add – Every symbol needs at least E_ID attribute (ID).

     1. Select attribute and insert default value if needed.

     2. Indicate attribute's insertion point.

   • Delete – Attribute removal.

   • Edit – Edit attribute properties. You can edit the order of attributes in the symbol with the arrow buttons.

   • Attributes to stack – You can select attributes that are allowed to stack. It means that if attribute value is empty, another attribute can take its place, thus eliminating gaps between attributes.
   • Add to icon menu
     • Icon menu to where the symbols will be saved – Select icon menu from the drop-down menu.
     • Tiptext of the symbol button – Tooltip shown when hovering on the symbol button.
     • Show icon area manually – Outline area of the symbol shown in the icon menu.
   • Drawing and editing – When you select a function from the drop-down menu and click Run, you can edit the symbol graphics. After the changes are done, you are taken back to saving your own symbol.

4. Click OK.

The program saves the symbol to the user icon menu. To access and insert the symbol, do the following:

1. From the Symbols menu, select User symbols. The icon menu with your own single-line symbols opens.

2. Insert the desired symbol in the drawing by double-clicking it and indicating the insertion point.

3. Stop inserting symbols by pressing Esc.