Author custom connectors

After you create a custom connector and add the appropriate pins, use the Connector command to prepare the part for publishing to the Content Center Library. You can author and publish both a non iPart or an iPart as a connector. Once authored, you can publish the connector into the Content Center.

Note: To access connector data in the Content Center Library you must install the Other Standard Content library.

1. With a connector part open or in-place activated, click Manage tab Author panel Connector .
2. Indicate the type of connector to author; a connector that attaches to a ribbon cable or one that attaches to a terminal (discrete wires).
3. Click the arrow to select a termination type for the connector from the list:
   • Select Crimp for connectors that are only connected from one direction.
   • Select Insulation Displacement for connectors that are connected from two directions, such as ribbon cable connectors.
4. Use Outward Direction to control the orientation of the conductors as they would terminate with the connector pins: a single direction or both directions. Both directions is available only for insulation displacement. Click the selector arrow and then click geometry to indicate the direction. As you pause your cursor over valid geometry, the geometry is highlighted.
5. Use the arrow in the graphics window to verify the direction. Click Flip to change the direction if needed.
6. Optionally, enter the embedded length for the direction(s). The embedded length is added as a custom property to the connector to provide a more accurate wire, cable wire, or ribbon cable length.
7. If a single group with only one row is placed on the connector, the start pin and orientation information is automatically populated in the dialog box. If multiple groups or groups with multiple rows are placed on the connector:
   • Ensure the appropriate Select command is enabled and click the start pin of the first group to author. Any pin in the group is a valid selection.
   • Click the geometry to indicate the direction of the ribbon cable's width.
8. If the part is an iPart, map the RefDes category parameter to the related column name in the iPart table. For non-iParts, enter the default RefDes if appropriate.

   Category Parameters maps the RefDes parameter to a column in the iPart.

   Parameter Value lists RefDes parameters to map to a column in the iPart. Click the arrow to select from the list. If the part to author is not an iPart, you can enter the default RefDes.

9. Click OK.