About Terminals

Terminal symbols on the schematic are a representation of wire connection points. The terminal symbol representation on the schematic can have associations with the physical terminal block on the panel drawing. To insert a terminal, select the Insert Component command to display the icon menu, and then select Terminals/Connectors.

There are four types of schematic terminal behavior that you can select from and five main terminal styles (square, round, hexagon, diamond, and triangle). Each type of terminal behavior is controlled by the terminal block name.

	Non-intelligent terminals. They do not show up in reports.
	Terminals that take on a terminal number that matches the wire number passing through or connected to the terminal.
	Terminals that carry a user-defined terminal number.
	Terminals that force a new wire number to generate as a wire passes through the terminal.

AutoCAD Electrical toolset supports two types of relationships for terminals: schematic-to-schematic and schematic-to-panel.

Note: Since one-line terminal symbols likely represent multiple, independent terminals, they cannot be associated to other schematic or panel terminals. A one-line terminal must be updated manually. A one-line terminal symbol is defined by a WDTYPE attribute value of “1-”.

Schematic-to-Schematic

The schematic-to-schematic relationship defines separate schematic terminal symbols as one multi-level (also referred to as multi-tier or multi-stack) terminal block. On the schematic drawing, each schematic terminal symbol represents one level of the multi-level terminal block.

Note: Multiple terminal symbols for one level are not currently supported.

The number of levels for the block is defined as a block property. Each level carries certain characteristics, such as a label, wires per connection, left pin, and right pin. Each schematic terminal symbol carries all the block properties for each level so that removing one terminal symbol does not remove the block properties. If a block property is modified, all the terminal symbols update.

An ID value held on the LINKTERM attribute or Xdata, associates the terminal symbols. When a terminal symbol is inserted, by default it is seen as a standalone terminal (it has no associations) and receives a new LINKTERM value. When the terminal is associated to another, the LINKTERM value updates so that each terminal carries the same LINKTERM value. Changing or removing the LINKTERM value breaks any associations that terminal has.

To associate schematic terminals, first add block properties. The number of terminals you can associate is limited to the number of levels defined in the block properties. Once block properties are established you can associate schematic terminals to build a multi-level terminal block by:

• Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelAssociate Terminals.

  You select a master terminal and then select each terminal symbol to associate to the master.

• Clicking Pick on the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. It adds the edited symbol into an association with the picked terminal.
• Clicking Add/Modify on the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. It adds the edited symbol into an association with any schematic terminal in the project.

Prebuilt circuits can contain associated terminals. These relationships are maintained when the circuit is inserted. Copying a circuit also maintains these relationships within the copied circuit.

When the Bill of Materials report is run, these separate terminal symbols that make up one multi-level terminal, are counted as one in the quantity.

Schematic-to-Panel

The schematic-to-panel relationship is used mainly for updating. If the schematic or panel is modified, the other updates to reflect the changes. This relationship is like component relationships, which are based on the TAG value. The TAGSTRIP, Installation, and Location values must match for the terminals to associate together. The association number on the LINKTERM is also taken into account when creating a relationship between the schematic terminal and its panel representation. Block properties are not required to associate a schematic to panel terminal. Once they are associated, modifications on one results in modifications on the other.

You can associate a schematic and panel terminal automatically by:

• Click Panel tabTerminal Footprints panelInsert Terminals drop-downInsert Terminal (Schematic List).
• Click Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downTerminal (Panel List).

For multi-level terminals, the Insert Terminal (Schematic List) tool shows only one terminal for insertion regardless of how many schematic terminal symbols/levels there are for that multi-level block. The Insert Terminal (Panel List) tool shows one terminal for each level for insertion.

Note: Panel terminals inserted by the Terminal Strip Editor are automatically associated to the schematic representation.

You can click the Associate terminals tool to select terminals to associate or click Add/Modify on the Panel Layout - Terminal Insert/Edit dialog box to add the panel terminal to an association with a schematic terminal on any drawing in the project.