About Schematic Attributes

The following items are attribute requirements for various categories of schematic symbols. Some attributes are used in multiple categories.

Schematic parent and child components

Attribute	Description
TAG1	(Parent only) Attribute for required component tag name (64 characters maximum). The default value you assign to this attribute definition becomes the family code character string AutoCAD Electrical uses to build the tag name of the component when the block is inserted into your schematic. This default value character string is used as the Family Code (%F) portion of the tag format code of the drawing you set up in the Drawing Properties dialog box. Example: The TAG1 attribute definition on the symbol carries a default value of "MCR" and the tag format of the drawing is "%F%N" where %N is the placeholder for the line reference number or next sequential number. As each instance of this symbol is inserted, it is automatically assigned a tag name with an "MCR" prefix tacked on to the reference or next sequential number. Note: When a component is marked with a fixed tag, this attribute name is automatically changed with a "F" suffix (that is, TAG1 TAG1F).
TAG2	(Child only) This is a copy of the parent component's tag name of the component (64 characters maximum). If no parent tag is found then AutoCAD Electrical displays the attribute default value of the definition (for example, "MCR" or "PB" or "X").
TAG1_PART1 TAG1_PART2	(Parent only) Alternate to using a single TAG1 attribute (64 characters maximum). This allows the component tag name to be split into two pieces (example: two lines - "MDOT" on first line and "123" on the second line for a full tag name of "MOT123"). AutoCAD Electrical pastes the values on these two attributes together when it processes the component. To include a delimiter character in the tag name but not show it on the drawing (for example, "MOT-123" but just show "MOT" and "123"), then a third attribute definition marked invisible, "TAG1_PARTX" can be added to carry the dash delimiter. Note: The default for the %F tagging parameter, as described in TAG1 previously, is carried on the TAG1_PART1 piece of the attribute pair. If a component with a split tag is marked as Fixed, the attribute names are automatically changed to "TAG1F_PART1" and "TAG1F_PART2."
TAG2_PART1 TAG2_PART2	(Child only) Same as previous but for child components (64 characters maximum).
COPYTAG	Optional attribute that can carry a copy of whatever AutoCAD Electrical assigns to the tag name attribute - TAG1 or the split tag attribute combination (64 characters maximum).
MFG	Attribute used to hold manufacturer name or code (24 characters maximum). This attribute usually marked as invisible. MFG01 - MFG10: Optional invisible attributes for manufacturer name or code for up to 10 additional "Multiple Catalog" part number assignments (24 characters maximum each). If these attributes are not present and AutoCAD Electrical stores the additional part number information, it is saved on the inserted symbol as Xdata. Note: MFG, CAT, and ASSYCODE generally appear on parent components only; not child contact symbols.
CAT	Attribute used to hold catalog part number assignment (60 characters maximum). This attribute is usually marked as invisible. CAT01 - CAT10: Optional invisible attributes for catalog number code for up to 10 additional "Multiple Catalog" part number assignments (60 characters maximum each). If these attributes are not present and AutoCAD Electrical stores the additional part number information, it is saved on the inserted symbol as Xdata.
ASSYCODE	Invisible attribute for optional subassembly code that causes AutoCAD Electrical to look for subassembly items to extract into BOM reports (60 characters maximum). Define these subassembly items in the active catalog lookup file in the ASSYCODE and ASSYLIST fields. The value for this attribute is set automatically when you make a selection from the catalog lookup that carries subassembly information. ASSYCODE01 - ASSYCODE10: Optional invisible attributes for subassembly code for up to 10 additional Multiple Catalog part number assignments (24 characters maximum each). If these attributes are not present and AutoCAD Electrical stores the additional part number information, it is saved on the inserted symbol as Xdata.
ITEM	Attribute for the item or detail number for a component.
FAMILY	Invisible attribute that carries the components family type (for example, "CR", "TD", "M", "PB"; eight characters maximum). Generally, the default value of the FAMILY attribute definition is the same as the default value for the TAG1 or TAG2 attribute of the component. It is used as a check at the time child components are linked to a parent. On a family mismatch, an alert dialog box displays. A generic child device can be linked to any type of parent symbol if the Family attribute value of the child is left blank. AutoCAD Electrical fills it in on the fly with the FAMILY code of the parent when the link is made.
DESC1 DESC2 DESC3	DESC1: Description, first or only line of description text (60 characters maximum). DESC2: second line of description text. DESC3: third line of description text.
INST	Optional component installation code (for example, "MACH1"; 24 characters maximum).
LOC	Optional component location code (for example, "FIELD", "JBOX2" ; 16 characters maximum).
XREFNO XREFNC	(Parent only) Attributes to hold normally open and normally closed cross-reference annotation. These attributes automatically switch to invisible if graphical cross-referencing is applied to the component symbol.
XREF	Use this attribute in two ways. Use it for a combined list of normally open and normally closed contacts. AutoCAD Electrical underlines the closed contacts. If XREFNO and XREFNC are present, then this XREF attribute is used to carry undefined, non-NO/NC references. Note: If XREF is not present then non-NO/NC contacts are included with the XREFNO annotation.
CONTACT	Invisible attribute that is present when the symbol is a contact. The value of this attribute is the de-energized state of the contact (for example, "NO" or "NC" or any text string with an embedded "NO" or "NC" such as "NO-TC". Use "NULL" as the value of the contact attribute to exclude the contact from being included in any AutoCAD Electrical cross-reference text annotation.)
COMMON	Optional attribute that defines which TERMxx attribute receives the first PINLIST value. The attribute value is a two character string, for example “02”, that matches with one of the TERMxx attributes found on the symbol. If this attribute does not exist on the symbol, the first PINLIST value is assigned to TERM01 and the second to TERM02.
POSn	Attribute to mark switch position text where "n" is the position number digit (POS1 through POS12; 24 characters maximum). You can leave the default value blank and then fill it in at component insertion time.
STATE	Optional contact state character string to denote relationship between switch positions and open/closed contact state. It is for display only. You can leave the default value blank and then fill it in at component insertion time.
RATINGn	Optional rating / value attribute text where "n" is a digit starting with "1" (60 characters maximum). AutoCAD Electrical supports up to 12 RATINGn attributes (for example, RATING1 through RATING12) on the component symbol. These assignments can be pulled into various AutoCAD Electrical reports.
X?LINK	Optional invisible attribute that allows AutoCAD Electrical to tie in dashed link lines automatically between related components (instead of cross-reference annotation). The "?" is a digit that indicates the preferred link line connection direction and follows the wire connection convention. 1: connects to the attribute from the right 2: connects to the attribute from above 4: connects to the attribute from the left 8: connects to the attribute from below
PINLIST	(Parent only) Optional invisible attribute carried on a parent symbol for storing the allowed contact pin list for the child contacts of the parent (no limit on characters). If this attribute is not present then any related pin list data is automatically stored on the symbol as Xdata.
PEER_PINLIST	(Parent only) Like previous attribute, but is used to hold a second pin list temporarily that is later retrieved during insertion of a peer parent device. For example, a reversing motor starter contactor might be a single component with a single part number, but has a parent coil and a peer reversing coil. Each is to receive its own unique pin list. The catalog lookup assignment pulls both sets of pin lists to the parent. Then, inserting the peer reversing coil and referencing the parent, the pin list of the peer is retrieved from this temporary storage attribute (or Xdata) on the parent and pulled over to the peer.
WDTAGALT	(Parent only) Optional attribute carried on a parent symbol used for setting up a peer-to-peer relationship. It stores the cross-reference tag name of a related symbol shown on a different drawing type (for example, instrument drawing or pneumatic drawing vs. electrical schematic. For example, an instrument drawing might be included in an AutoCAD Electrical project drawing set with a valve marked "FY201". On the electrical schematics, the solenoid for this instrument valve is tagged "SV456". The WDTAGALT attribute carried on the schematic valve symbol can be annotated with the "FY201" instrument tag name and a WDTAGALT attribute on the symbol of the instrument diagram carries the "SV456" tag name pointing back at the schematic representation. With it in place, AutoCAD Electrical can cross-reference between them, do auto-update, and enable surfing from one drawing type to the other. Note: For cross-referencing to include these peer references, make sure that the Peer-to-peer toggle is turned on (under Project Properties Cross-reference tab).
WDTYPE	Optional attribute used to define the component category. 1- = one-line 1-1 = one-line bus-tap HY = hydraulic PI = P&ID PN = pneumatic Note: The WDTYPE value can be a user-defined value. AutoCAD Electrical reserves all two character values. User-defined values must be three or four characters long.
WD_WEBLINK	Attribute carried on a parent symbol for embedding Internet URL's, ".pdf", ".xls", or ".doc" links that can be surfed on. The attribute value should be the URL, .pdf, .xls, or .doc document file name that should be displayed when selected from the Surf dialog box of the component. Multiple weblink attributes can be assigned to a symbol. Use attribute names with the WD_WEBLINK prefix, for example, WD_WEBLINK1 and WD_WEBLINK2.
WDBLKNAM	Optional attribute to define the catalog database table to use for the component. If absent, the catalog table name is based on the block symbol name.

One-line

A one-line symbol can be a parent, child, or terminal. These one-line symbols use the same attributes as the schematic parent, child, and terminal symbols but with the following exceptions.

Attribute	Description
WDTYPE	The attribute must be present and carry a value of “1-” to indicate it is a one-line symbol, or “1-1” for the one-line bus-tap symbols. A bus-tap symbol is used to mark the beginning of a one-line circuit. Schematic symbols do not carry this attribute or have the attribute but with a blank value.
RATING1	Omitted from one-line cable markers symbols since a one-line cable marker can represent multiple conductors, multiple wires, or core color assignments.
TERM01	Omitted from one-line terminal symbols since a one-line terminal can represent multiple independent terminals. If a TERM01 attribute is added to a one-line symbol and carries a non-blank value, it can be edited in the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. However, terminal number text on one-line terminal symbols is not linked back to terminal number assignments on schematic or panel terminal representations. Note: Terminal Strip Editor does not process one-line terminals.

Attribute

Description

WDTYPE

The attribute must be present and carry a value of “1-” to indicate it is a one-line symbol, or “1-1” for the one-line bus-tap symbols. A bus-tap symbol is used to mark the beginning of a one-line circuit. Schematic symbols do not carry this attribute or have the attribute but with a blank value.

RATING1

Omitted from one-line cable markers symbols since a one-line cable marker can represent multiple conductors, multiple wires, or core color assignments.

TERM01

Omitted from one-line terminal symbols since a one-line terminal can represent multiple independent terminals.

If a TERM01 attribute is added to a one-line symbol and carries a non-blank value, it can be edited in the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. However, terminal number text on one-line terminal symbols is not linked back to terminal number assignments on schematic or panel terminal representations.

Note:

Terminal Strip Editor does not process one-line terminals.

Wire connection/terminal pin number pairs

Attribute	Description
X?TERMn	Invisible wire connection attributes where an external wire connects to the origin point of the attribute. The "n" character is an incremented digit starting at "01" used to keep multiple wire connection point attribute names unique. It also provides a link to an associated terminal number (TERMn) and a terminal description (TERMDESCn) attribute. The "?" character position is used to identify the preferred wire connection direction: 1: wire connects to the attribute from the right 2: wire connects to the attribute from above 4: wire connects to the attribute from the left 8: wire connects to the attribute from below 0: special for motor connections that radiate from a circle. Note: When a component is inserted with, nearby wires try to connect to this type of attribute only if it has a default prompt value of “X0STRETCH” If more than 99 terminals are present on a single symbol, the "n" value can continue with double alpha letters/numbers such as "A0," "A1," "AZ," "B0" and so on. Note: X?TERMn attributes can be stand-alone, meaning there is not an associated TERMn attribute.
X?TERMDESCn	Optional wire connection description attributes that match up with X?TERMn wire connection attributes (128 characters maximum). The value assigned to each termination description attribute can be extracted into various wire connection reports or merged onto panel wiring diagram representations of schematic symbols. Use these attributes to define a terminal as an internal or external connection.
TERMn	Optional terminal pin number attribute where "n" is a two-digit number (starting at 01) that is used to match up with the corresponding X?TERMn wire connection attribute (ten characters maximum). A single TERMn attribute can have two, three, or four wire connection attributes associated with it. For example, a round, stand-alone terminal symbol having a single terminal in number attribute TERM01 can carry four wire connection attributes to allow connection from any direction. All four wire number attribute names would end with 01 to link them all to the common terminal pin number attribute.
WD_JUMPERS	Optional internal wire jumpers attribute that can be encoded to link sets of terminals together so AutoCAD Electrical considers them internally jumpered when calculating wire number assignments and processing wire connection and from/to reports. For example, a WD_JUMPERS attribute value of ((01 02)) flags AutoCAD Electrical to treat wire connection X?TERM01 as electrically jumpered to X?TERM02. WD_JUMPERS attribute value of ((01 04)(02 05 06)) means that wire connection X?TERM01 and X?TERM04 are treated as internally jumpered together and X?TERM02, X?TERM05, and X?TERM06 are viewed as jumpered together. Note: You can keep jumpers from displaying in Wire From/To reports by placing the jumpers on a layer that contains the substring "JUMPER."

Schematic connector parametric build symbols

The parametric connector is made up of a series of master symbols; one parent and multiple children (default library symbol names HCN1_1*.dwg, VCN1_1*.dwg, HCN2_1*.dwg, VCN2_1*.dwg). See the following list of attributes for these symbol types.

Parent and Child Pin symbol attributes

(parent symbol has "1" and child has "2" as fourth character of the symbol name)

Attribute	Description
TAG1	(Parent only) Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
TAG2	(Child only) Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
INST LOC	Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
MFG CAT ASSYCODE	(Parent only) Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
FAMILY	Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
GENDER	Invisible attribute with blank value.
ACE_FLAG	Invisible attribute with a value of "2" for all parametric connector symbols and a value of "1" for splice symbols (1 character maximum).
DESC1 DESC2 DESC3	Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
X?LINK	Same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
WDBLKNAM	(Parent only) Invisible attribute with a value of "HC0" (0 = zero; 32 characters maximum). Flags access of the "C0" connector table in the catalog lookup database file.

Parametric Connector - Wire Connection attributes

Attribute	Description
TERM01P	Attribute for terminal pin number (for plug pin number).
TERM01J	Attribute for terminal pin number (for receptacle pin number).
X?TERM01P X?TERM01J	Invisible wire connection attributes for plug and receptacle side respectively. The "?" is the wire connection direction digit (1, 2, 4, or 8).
X?TERMDESC01P X?TERMDESC01J	Attribute for terminal pin description for plug side and receptacle side respectively. The "?" digit is same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
X?WIRE01P X?WIRE01J	Attribute for wire connection annotation for plug side and receptacle side respectively. The "?" digit is same as the FAMILY attribute definition.
X?_TINY_DOT_DONT_REMOVE_01P X?_TINY_DOT_DONT_REMOVE_01J	Visible attribute, small, single character value (a ".") that must remain visible and must be placed at the exact insertion location of the XnTERM01P and XnTERM01J attributes. Maintains wire connection integrity if a connector pin is moved beyond the end of the connector shell. The "?" digit is same as the FAMILY attribute definition.

Schematic terminal symbols

Use the following attributes for terminal symbols or multi-connection sequence terminal symbols (default library symbol block names HT00*.dwg, VT00*.dwg, HT10*.dwg, VT10*.dwg, HT0W*.dwg, VT0W*.dwg).

Attribute	Description
TAGSTRIP	Attribute to carry terminal strip tag name (24 characters maximum).
X?TERM01	Attribute for wire connection (up to four attributes positioned at each end of the horizontal and vertical axes of the symbol with the "?" part giving the wire connection direction digit as described previously).
X?TERMDESC01	Optional attribute for wire connection description.
STRIPSEQ	Attribute used internally by the Terminal Strip Editor command to sort a terminal strip.
LINKTERM	Attribute used internally to associate schematic terminals within one multi-level terminal or to associate a schematic terminal to its panel representation.
WIRENO or TERM01	Attribute to carry the terminal number assignment (24 characters maximum). If the terminal is to display the wire number value of the wire network that it is inserted into, then WIRENO attribute must be present. Otherwise, if the attribute is to carry a terminal pin assignment independent of the wire number, attribute TERM01 must be used.
INST	Same as previous attribute.
LOC	Same as previous attribute.
MFG CAT ASSYCODE	Same as previous attribute.
WDBLKNAM	Optional invisible attribute with value of "TRMS" to force access of the TRMS table in catalog lookup (32 characters maximum).

Special Multiple Connection Sequence Terminal symbol

Use the following attributes for this special type of terminal symbol. This single symbol instance can be used to define a series of up to six terminal strip inter-connections (example, a wire that passes through a series of shipping split terminal strips). Default library symbol block names H--1_multi*.dwg, V--1_multi*.dwg.

Attribute	Description
WD_#_TAGSTRIP	Attribute to carry terminal strip number (16 characters maximum). Use WD_1_TAGSTRIP for the first terminal strip number and select from WD_2_TAGSTRIP through WD_6_TAGSTRIP for the next terminal number in the sequence.
WD_#_TERMNO	Attribute to carry optional terminal number. Use WD_1_TERMNO for the first terminal strip number and select from WD_2_TERMNO through WD_6_TERMNO for the next terminal number in the sequence.
WD_#_INFO	Attribute to carry additional information such as installation, location, catalog, and item number assignments; and any connected cable information. Use WD_1_INFO for the first terminal strip number and select from WD_2_INFO through WD_6_INFO for the next terminal number in the sequence.
X?TERM01 X?TERM02	Attribute for wire connections on each end of the symbol, the "?" character is the wire connection direction, same as previous attribute.

Source/Destination wire signal symbols

These symbols allow a wire to jump from one place to another, either within a drawing or across multiple drawing. Default library symbol names are HAxSn.dwg, HAxDn.dwg where "x" = style digit and "n" = orientation 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Attribute	Description
SIGCODE	Attribute carries unique signal code that is user defined as the symbol is inserted (32 characters maximum). This value is used to match up each source signal symbol with it one or more destination signal symbols.
WIRENO	Attribute carries a copy of the wire number that gets assigned to the wire that the signal symbol is attached to (24 characters maximum). This attribute can be hidden.
XREF	Attribute carries the reference location for the matching source or destination symbols. Updates automatically with the Update Signal References tool or Auto Wire Numbers tool.
DESC1	Optional description attribute (60 characters maximum).
SHEET	Optional attribute for the SHEET (%S) value assigned in the Drawing Settings (12 characters maximum). Updates automatically with the Update Signal References tool or Auto Wire Numbers tool.
DWGNAM	Optional attribute for the DWGNAM (%D) value assigned in the Drawing Settings (40 characters maximum). Updates same as previous attribute.
X?TERM01	Attribute for wire connection where the "?" character is the wire connection direction, same as previous attribute.

Stand-alone Source/Destination cross-reference symbols

These symbols are like the previous ones, except there is no wire connection attribute and no WIRENO attribute. Default library symbol names are HAxS1_REF.dwg, HAxD1_REF.dwg where "x" = style digit.

In-line wire labels or wire numbers

These symbols insert into a wire, break the wire, and reconnect at each end. They carry a text label or wire number in the gap between the connected wire ends. They symbols can dynamically adjust their gap to accommodate the width of the in-line text. Default library symbol block names are HT0_*.dwg, VT0_*.dwg.

Attribute	Description
COLOR or WIRENO	Visible attribute for the text label (COLOR) or in-line wire text (WIRENO) (24 characters maximum). This attribute is center or middle justified and placed midway between the pair of wire connection attributes listed below.
X?TERM01	Pair of invisible wire connection attributes where the wires connect. Connection is made to the origin point of each attribute. The "?" character position in each attribute name identifies the wire connection direction: 1: wire connects to the attribute from the right 2: wire connects to the attribute from above 4: wire connects to the attribute from the left 8: wire connects to the attribute from below
X?_TINY_DOT_DONT_REMOVE	Visible attribute, small, single character value (a ".") that must remain visible and must be placed at the exact insertion location of each of the XnTERM01 attributes. This attribute allows the gap to auto-adjust to text width and to maintain connectivity through the symbol if the in-line label or wire number text is blanked or grows small compared to the total gap width in the wire.

Attribute

Description

COLOR

or WIRENO

Visible attribute for the text label (COLOR) or in-line wire text (WIRENO) (24 characters maximum). This attribute is center or middle justified and placed midway between the pair of wire connection attributes listed below.

X?TERM01

Pair of invisible wire connection attributes where the wires connect. Connection is made to the origin point of each attribute. The "?" character position in each attribute name identifies the wire connection direction:

1: wire connects to the attribute from the right
2: wire connects to the attribute from above
4: wire connects to the attribute from the left
8: wire connects to the attribute from below

X?_TINY_DOT_DONT_REMOVE

Visible attribute, small, single character value (a ".") that must remain visible and must be placed at the exact insertion location of each of the XnTERM01 attributes. This attribute allows the gap to auto-adjust to text width and to maintain connectivity through the symbol if the in-line label or wire number text is blanked or grows small compared to the total gap width in the wire.

PLC single I/O point symbols

These attributes must be present on single, stand-alone I/O symbols with one or two wire connections. Default library symbol block names are PLCIOI*.dwg and PLCIOO*.dwg.

Attribute	Description
TAG1 TAG2	Attribute for PLC I/O module tag name (parent / child) with the default attribute definition value for the parent symbol becoming the "%F" part of the tag name format (64 characters maximum).
TAGA01	Attribute for the I/O address (32 characters maximum).
INST LOC	Same as above.
XREF	Same as above.
TERM01L TERM01R	Attribute for terminal pin number on each side (ten characters maximum). If just a single wire connection then the attribute name is TERM01.
X?TERM01L X?TERM01R	Attributes for wire connections on each side. If just a single wire connection then the attribute name is X?TERM01 where the "?" character is the wire connection direction.
TERMDESC01L TERMDESC01R	Optional terminal pin description attribute on each side of the symbol (128 characters maximum). If just a single wire connection then the attribute name is TERMDESC01.
MFG CAT ASSYCODE	(Parent only) Same as above.
DESCA01 - DESCE01	Attributes to hold up to five lines of description text (60 characters maximum).
LINE1 LINE2	Optional attributes to hold two lines of general text (example: "Rack" and "Slot" address numbers; 24 characters maximum).
DESC	(Parent only) Optional attribute for general description purposes (60 characters maximum).
FAMILY	Same as above - default value "PLC" (eight characters maximum).

Splice symbols

Attribute	Description
XnWIRE01	Attribute for wire annotation.
XnWIRE02	Attribute for wire annotation.
TERMDESCxx	Attribute for wire connection description (128 characters maximum).
ACE_FLAG	Invisible attribute (value set to "1" to identify a splice symbol) used for export to Autodesk Inventor Professional (1 character maximum).

Parametric Twisted Pair symbols

Attribute	Description
X?TERM01	Pair of invisible wire connection attributes where the wires connect. Connection is made to the origin point of each attribute. The "?" character position in each attribute name identifies the wire connection direction: 1: wire connects to the attribute from the right 2: wire connects to the attribute from above 4: wire connects to the attribute from the left 8: wire connects to the attribute from below
X?_TINY_DOT_DONT_REMOVE	Visible attribute, small, single character value (a ".") that must remain visible and must be placed at the exact insertion location of each of the XnTERM01 attributes. This attribute is needed to allow the gap to auto-adjust to text width and to maintain connectivity through the symbol if the in-line label or wire number text is blanked or grows small compared to the total gap width in the wire.
ACE_OFFSET	Invisible attribute that carries the vertex offset distance measured from the midpoint of the symbol's two wire connection points. A positive value extends the twist through the gap. A negative value (default) decreases the height of the twist. A value of 0.0 makes the twist come up to the wire-gap midpoint. To change the height of the twist, open the symbol drawing file and edit this attribute definition. The next time you insert a twisted pair symbol into a new drawing, the twisted part takes on the new value.
ACE_FLAG	Invisible attribute set to a value of 3 to identify a twisted pair symbol (1 character maximum).