Unity Pro Import Dialog Box

Prepares Unity Pro exported data for the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O utility.

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 Command entry:  AEUNITYPROSS

Imports Unity Pro hardware (.xhw) and I/O variable (.xsy) files and formats the data into a PLC import spreadsheet in preparation for the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O utility. After you create the spreadsheet file, create PLC style drawing files automatically with the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O utility.

When you click OK, you are prompted to enter a name for the PLC spreadsheet file. You can save this file in .xls (preferred), .mdb or .csv format. Once you enter a name (or accept the default) and click Save, you are then prompted to create an equipment list spreadsheet file. You can save this file in .xls, .mdb (preferred) or .csv format. The suggested file name is the name of the hardware import file with the suffix ‘(Equipment).’

Hardware File

The path and file name of the hardware file created from Unity Pro (.xhw) displays at the top of this section of the dialog box.

Hardware file information

Allows you to view and select the hardware configuration from the Unity Pro export files. The tree structure has four nodes:

  • Unity Project (export file name)
  • Bus name
  • Rack location and catalog number
  • Module location and catalog number

Right-click on a node to include or exclude modules from being saved into the spreadsheet file. Upon exclusion the module icon changes to indicate that it was excluded. You can exclude or include an entire rack node. Multiple node selection is allowed.

Changed icons:

Note:

If you choose to include modules that do not contain any I/O addressing, the module catalog number appears in the Code column of the spreadsheet.

Show only I/O modules

Indicates to display only modules in the .xhw file that contains I/O addressing (PLCs). If a rack node only includes modules that are not PLC I/O modules, the entire rack is removed from the tree structure. If a rack node contains modules with and without I/O addressing, the modules that do not have I/O addresses are removed.

Include inner terminals

Defines a terminal symbol to place into the spreadsheet on the inner side of the in-line component (between the I/O point and the in-line component).

  • All I/O addresses: Places the terminal symbol name into the row of every I/O address listed in the import spreadsheet.
  • I/O addresses defined: Places the terminal symbol name into every row where an I/O point is defined from Unity Pro. The defined address from Unity Pro is the topographical address coming from the I/O variable file that contains a value for the address string.

Include outer terminals

Defines a terminal symbol to place into the spreadsheet on the outer side of the in-line component (between the I/O component and the wire connected to the ladder rail).

  • All I/O addresses: Places the terminal symbol name into the row of every I/O address listed in the import spreadsheet.
  • I/O addresses defined: Places the terminal symbol name into every row where an I/O point is defined from Unity Pro. The defined address from Unity Pro is the topographical address coming from the I/O variable file that contains a value for the address string.

I/O Variable File

Once you select a module node from the tree selection the data relative to the I/O variable file displays for viewing and editing. The path and file name of the I/O variable file created from Unity Pro (.xsy) displays at the top of this section of the dialog box.

I/O variable file grid

Displays a list of the I/O variables found inside of the Unity Pro I/O Variable export file (.xsy). Remains empty if the selected module does not have addresses (such as power supplies and CPUs).

All I/O points for the respective PLC card display in the grid (including the points that are undefined). The total number of I/O points and the order of the data is determined from the topological address in the .xsy file in combination with the PLC definition inside of the AutoCAD Electrical toolset PLC database file (ACE_PLC.MDB).

Note: Single and multiple row selection is allowed.
  • Address: Displays the address string from the Unity Pro I/O Variable export file. This field is not editable in the dialog box.
  • Description: Displays the comment field string associated to the address from the Unity Pro I/O Variable export file. This field is not editable in the dialog box.
  • Terminal: Defines the placement of a terminal symbol in line with the PLC I/O point. Select the check box to place a terminal symbol in the spreadsheet and drawing file. Since it is not defined in the Unity Pro export files, it must be defined before creating the AutoCAD Electrical toolset import spreadsheet.
  • Symbol Name: Displays the AutoCAD Electrical toolset schematic symbol file name to place in line with the PLC I/O points. If the symbol is not found in the schematic symbol library or the custom string is not mapped to a symbol name in the mapping file, the name displays in red. Right-click in this column to select a file name from the icon menu or to clear the symbol name.

    The symbol name is derived from the value in the Custom field of the Unity Pro data and the symbol file name that it is mapped to in the mapping file.

  • Device Tag: Displays the tag value. If left blank, the normal tagging method for parent components is followed while children components remain untagged. Click in the column to enter a value or right-click to copy, cut, or paste a value into the cell.

Inner terminal symbol

Specifies the symbol name to insert for inner terminals in the spreadsheet. The default symbol name is HT0001 (a terminal that maintains the wire number potential, has a tag strip ID and terminal number, and is square). Click the Select from Icon Menu button to select a terminal to use from the icon menu.

Outer terminal symbol

Specifies the symbol name to insert for outer terminals in the spreadsheet. The default symbol name is HT0001. Click the Select from Icon Menu button to select a terminal to use from the icon menu.

I/O variable grid right-click options

Right-clicking in the I/O variable grid control allows you to edit the file before creating the PLC I/O spreadsheet. Multiple selection is allowed.

Select Symbol

Displays the icon menu for selection of symbol file names. Selecting a symbol file name fills in an empty grid cell or overwrites the existing text in a cell.

Select All

Selects every row in the grid control

Clear All

Removes every row from selection.

Select All Defined I/O

Makes a selection in the grid for the rows that are defined with I/O addresses.

Cut

(single selection only) Cuts the selected value (description, symbol name, or device tag).

Copy

Copies the selected value from one or more grid cells.

Paste

Pastes in the selected value from one or more grids into the selected grids.

Apply Terminal Inner

Selects all inner terminals in the grid.

Apply Terminal Outer

Selects all outer terminals in the grid.

OK + Run

Displays the Save As dialog box where you can quickly save the data to a spreadsheet and start the PLC drawing creation automatically. The Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility dialog box then opens with the saved spreadsheet already selected.