To Link to the Electrical Project Database

Create a file to serve as the electrical project database. Then, link drawings to the electrical project database. You can link a drawing to only one electrical project database at a time.

1. Create a new drawing, or open an existing drawing that you want to link to the electrical project database.
2. Click Manage tab Preferences panel Electrical .
3. In the Electrical Preferences dialog box, click the Electrical Project Database tab.
4. For Project Database, click .
5. In the Open dialog box, browse to the file you want to use as the electrical project database.
6. Select the electrical project database file, and click Open.

   The file name is displayed for Project Database, and Used Database shows the directory path.

7. For path type, select either Use Fixed Path or Use Relative Path.
   • Fixed path: If you use a fixed path reference, moving the electrical project database file to another directory, this also breaks the links with associated electrical drawings. If you move an entire project to another directory, this will also break the links between the electrical project database file and the linked drawings.

     To move the electrical project database file, you must open each linked drawing and configure the electrical project database to its new file path.

   • Relative path: If you use a relative path reference, the link remains intact as long as the electrical project database file is in the same location relative to the linked drawing. You can move a project or rename directories in the project without breaking the links to associated electrical drawings.

     If Use Relative Path is inactive, you must save the current drawing in order to make it active.

8. The electrical project database status icon displays in the application status bar.

   

You can now assign devices to circuits in the electrical project database. You can assign devices to a circuit as you add or modify them. If more than one electrical drawing is open and being worked on, you can reload the electrical project database in your current drawing by reloading the electrical project database.

Attention: When you are working in linked drawings, the electrical project database must be closed. If it is open, you are prompted to close it when you try to save a linked drawing. No data can be written from linked drawings to the electrical project database unless the electrical project database is closed.