About the Catalog Database

Catalog information is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical installation. The information is in tables in a Microsoft Access database file (.mdb). Expand and modify these tables to meet your specific needs. Use the Catalog Browser to edit the catalog database, or use a database program that can read/write the Access file format.

The .mdb file is a single file that is named <project>_cat.mdb or default_cat.mdb. If the project-specific.mdb file is used, it must be in the same folder as the <project>.wdp file. Here is the AutoCAD Electrical search sequence:

Catalog information can be carried on parent or stand-alone components that have MANUFACTURER, CATALOG, and optional ASSEMBLYCODE attributes. You can assign catalog information to a component using any of these methods:

Catalog table naming conventions

Each primary or stand-alone component type can have an associated table in your Access mdb file. This approach is taken for both performance reasons and to exclude invalid choices. For example, you cannot assign a blue press-test pilot part number to a standard red pilot light symbol. There can be multiple catalog tables for the same component family. Alternately, all master test and all neon pilot lights (of all colors) can be combined into a single catalog table named LT.

If the project properties are not set to Always use MISC_CAT table, AutoCAD Electrical determines the catalog table name for a symbol as follows:

  1. The symbol is checked for the WDBLKNAM attribute (or Xdata).
    • If found, the WDBLKNAM value is used.
    • If not found, the block name of the symbol is used.
  2. If the first character is an "H" or a "V", it is removed from the value.
  3. The program looks for a table in the catalog database with this name.
  4. If this table exists, it is used. If this table does not exist, and the block name is eight characters or more, the program starts removing characters from the end of the block name, looking for a table name match. This process continues until only seven characters remain.
  5. If there is not a match on the last table name, the program checks for the family-specific table, as identified by the second and third character of the block name.
  6. If this table exists, it is used. If it does not exist, a MISC_CAT table is looked for if the project properties are set up to use this catch-all table.
  7. If a table is not found, the program stops looking (if running a report) or prompts you to add a table to the default_cat.mdb file.
Note: AutoCAD Electrical always goes to the fixed table names for PLC I/O modules (PLCIO), terminals (TRMS) and cable markers (W0). Panel layout symbols must always use the WDBLKNAM attribute or Xdata without the leading H or V character.

Family tables in the default_cat.mdb

The list of tables available in the default_cat.mdb is shown in the following table. All tables are family-specific and one table is created for each family.

Family Code/Table Name

Description

AM

Ammeters

AN

Buzzers, horns, bells

CB

Circuit breakers

C0

Connectors/pins

CR

Control relays

DI

Din Rail

DN

Device networks

DO

Diodes

DR

Drives

DS

Disconnect switches

EN

Enclosures/hardware

FM

Frequency meters

FS

Flow sensors

FT

Foot switches

FU

Fuses

LR

Latching relays

LS

Limit switches

LT

Lights, pilot lights

MISC

Miscellaneous

MO

Motors

MS

Motor starters/contactors

NP

Nameplates

OL

Overloads

PB

Push buttons

PE

Photo switches

PLCIO

Programmable logic controllers

PM

Power meters

PNEU-ACT

Actuators

PNEU-ALU

Lubricators

PNEU-CYL

Cylinders

PNEU-FLC

Flow Control

PNEU-FLT

Filters

PNEU-MET

Pressure Gauges

PNEU-MFL

Silencers

PNEU-MNF

Manifolds

PNEU-MOT

Motors

PNEU-NOZ

Nozzles

PNEU-OPR

Push buttons

PNEU-PMP

Pumps

PNEU-TNK

Reservoirs

PNEU-VAC

Suction

PNEU-VLV

Valves

PS

Pressure switches

PW

Power supplies

PX

Proximity switches

RE

Resistors

SS

Selector switches

SU

Surge suppressors

SW

Toggle switches

TD

Timer relays

TRMS

Terminal blocks

TS

Temperature switches

VM

Volt meters

WO

Cables, multi-conductor cables

WW

Wire ways

XF

Transformers

Tables with Leading "_" Character

Tables with a leading "_" underscore character do not carry catalog information but are used for other functions in AutoCAD Electrical.

Table Name

Description

_FAMILY_DESCRIPTION

Table used by Symbol Builder to map the attribute template type to a symbol type description. The description is displayed in the Type list on the Select Symbol / Objects dialog box.

_LISTBOX_DEF

Allows you to predefine search values used by the Catalog Browser when you assign a catalog value to a component from the Lookup button on the Insert/Edit dialog box.

_PINLIST

Default pin list data table. AutoCAD Electrical also contains manufacturer-specific pin list tables that have the same format as the _PINLIST table. The naming convention for manufacturer-specific tables is: _PINLIST_AB or _PINLIST_AROMAT. AutoCAD Electrical first searches manufacturer-specific tables; if not found, it then searches the default _PINLIST table.

_TERMPROPS

Default terminal properties data table. AutoCAD Electrical also contains manufacturer-specific terminal properties tables that have the same format as the _TERMPROPS table. The naming convention for manufacturer-specific tables is: _TERMPROPS_AB or _TERMPROPS_AROMAT. AutoCAD Electrical first searches manufacturer-specific tables; if not found, it then searches the default _TERMPROPS table.

_W0_CBLWIRES

Cable conductors.

_XREF_GRAPHICS

Table cross-reference style symbol mapping table. Maps a contact block name to a graphic drawing name. This graphic drawing is inserted as a block in the TYPE column of the cross-reference table for the contact.

Related Concepts

Related Tasks