Auxiliary functions

Distribution Board tab > Distribution group > Auxiliary functions

With the auxiliary functions, you can perform some rarely needed actions.

  • Link consecutive distribution board schema rows to each other – Link selected distribution board schema rows together. The edit commands (copy, paste, delete, etc.) will then affect all linked rows. Linking is not active on copied rows, they have to be linked separately.

  • Remove links from linked distribution board table rows – Remove linking between selected rows.

  • Link graphics to distribution board table rows – Link graphics to the desired schema rows so that the graphics follow when organizing or copying the rows. First select the row you want to link, and then select the graphics. When using the function, the rows and graphics are temporarily colored to make linking easier. Colors will automatically change back to normal after the linking. Also see Link graphics to rows.

  • Create feeders of selected rows – Select rows from which to create a group (must have a group number and a distribution board ID in the drawing label).

  • Import groups data to manufacturers distribution board schema – With this function, you can insert group information to other schemas than Electrical's own distribution board schema frames. The function shows all exported group information. Groups already inserted into the distribution board schema are indicated with a green tag.

    With database functionality all group information is stored to Electrical database automatically and those can be inserted to Electrical distribution board schema frames. This function is used to insert groups information for example to different manufacturers own distribution board schema frames.

    This function will insert group information, stored to ElectricGroupData.dat in project folder to the distribution board schema. From the opened dialog user can select correct group and insert information to the drawing with 'Insert' button. After clicking Insert, user can indicate right row from the drawing. To the Electrical distribution board schema row, information is inserted automatically to correct attributes. To the other drawings user can linked correct group information to the correct attribute. This link can be done with the Connection rules button.

    Connection rules

    You can connect group information to the correct attribute in distribution board schema row symbol with Connection rules.

    To the distribution board schema row, information is inserted automatically to correct attributes. To the other drawings user can linked correct group information to the correct attribute with this function.

    Adding a new connection rule can be done with Add new symbol name and indicating the desired symbol from the drawing. Symbol have to include some attributes and symbol with same name can't already be in the list. Connections can be done by selecting right symbol from the left window. Function list attributes from the selected symbol to the window in middle of dialog. After that user can pick one attribute from the list and select which group data wants to connect to this attribute from the window in right. Connection can be undone by selecting Not connected for the attribute.

    Connection rules are stored to the CentreSchemaConnections.dat file in the Electrical\Data folder.

    See also Export feeder data.

  • Load symbols from disc – With the following functions, you can load the symbol definition from the disc to the drawing:

    • Load all symbols from disc – Retrieve all symbol definitions to the drawing. The function will only load symbol graphics, not attributes. Attributes stay in the same location after loading.

    • Load symbols from disc and replace them in drawing – Retrieve all symbol definitions to the drawing, remove old symbol definitions and change new symbol definitions to the drawing. Possible new attributes will appear. Attribute locations will according to symbol definition.

    • Load selected symbol from disc and replace them in drawing – Retrieves all symbol definitions to drawing, removes old symbol definitions and changes new symbol definitions to drawing. Possible new attributes will appear. Attribute locations will according to symbol definition.

    Functions can be used when a symbol has been retrieved to the drawing, the symbol has been exploded and changed, and the new version has been saved in the disc but not in the drawing. The old version of the symbol is still in the drawing. When retrieving the symbol, the program always retrieves primarily the symbol definition from the drawing and thus selects the old version of the symbol.

  • Show symbol type – With this function, you can find out the symbol type: Select a function and a symbol. The function shows the symbol type:

    If the symbol type needs to be changed, do it with the Define symbol types to symbols in symbol directory function.

  • Define symbol types for symbols in symbol directory – With this function, you can add or change symbol types to symbols in symbol directory. Select the functions and symbols. Each symbol will be opened separately. For each symbol, you can select the symbol type and the subtypes that describe the symbol the best.

  • Convert to Electrical symbol – With this function, you can convert symbols with symbol type Not defined to Electrical symbols. These symbols can be originated from other applications, for example.

    Conversion enables devices to be created from the foreign symbols. Furthermore, you can then use the symbols with other Electrical functions. The conversion adds symbol type and ID attributes for the selected symbols. If a symbol already has another attribute for ID, this can be converted to the Electrical ID attribute (E_ID). Otherwise, a new ID attribute will be added.

    In Layout, you can also define system (mandatory) and elevation for the symbols you are converting, and create IDs for all symbols with the same name.

    Do the following:

    1. Select symbols to convert. You can select multiple different symbols which will then get the same symbol type. The Convert symbols in drawing to Electrical symbols dialog opens.

    2. Select attributes that hold device IDs, if there are any. If you do not select anything, a new ID attribute will be created.
    3. Select the (main) symbol type from the drop-down menu. You can also define more accurate sub types by clicking Select symbol type.
    4. If you opened the dialog from Layout, also define the following: 
      1. Select the desired system from the drop-down menu, or click the button and pick it from the drawing. Selecting a system also sets the default elevation if one has been defined for the system in Functions > Set default elevation values for current drawing.
      2. In the Elevation field, enter the desired elevation or click the button and pick it from the drawing.
      3. If you want to create IDs for all the symbols with the same name, select Convert all symbols with the same name. Otherwise, only the symbol type will be changed for the symbols not selected.

    5. Convert symbols by clicking OK.

  • Delete overlapping elements – With this function, you can remove overlapping elements created via copying, for example. From the selected elements, only those that are exactly the same will be deleted.

    You can choose not to compare some properties. If you choose not to compare layers, for example, the elements will be interpreted as similar if layer is the only difference.

  • Stickers – With this function, you can attach a "sticker symbol" in the drawing. The symbol is placed on zero layer, so that it is visible on each sheet of the schema application. Stickers can also be placed on printouts only by using the schema application queue printing function.