About the Catalog Database

Catalog information is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical toolset 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.

AutoCAD Electrical toolset also supports SQL Server for your catalog data information. AutoCAD Electrical toolset allows you to migrate your catalog data that is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical toolset installation in a Microsoft Access database file. In the deployment mode, you can connect to your SQL Server instance, which needs to be created by your database or system administrator. For creating an SQL Server instance, use the Autodesk® Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical toolset, which is a tool that helps in creating and migrating your database from Access to SQL Server.

In the standalone mode, you can configure your SQL Server from within the product-use the AECATALOGCONFIG command to bring up the Configure Database dialog box that allows you to connect, and then select your catalog and footprint databases on an SQL Server instance.

Default Catalog database (.mdb) file

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 toolset search sequence:

First choice -- <project>_cat.mdb (in folder of the <project>.wdp file)
Second choice -- default_cat.mdb (in folder of the <project>.wdp file)
Third choice -- default_cat.mdb (in user folder)
Fourth choice -- default_cat.mdb (in default Catalogs folder)

First choice -- <project>_cat.mdb (in folder of the <project>.wdp file)
Second choice -- default_cat.mdb (in folder of the <project>.wdp file)
Third choice -- default_cat.mdb (in user folder)
Fourth choice -- default_cat.mdb (in default Catalogs folder)

Managing the catalog information

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:

Insert a component from the Catalog Browser by selecting a catalog value.
Insert a component from the Icon Menu and click Lookup on the Insert/Edit dialog.
Edit a component and click Lookup on the Insert/Edit dialog.

Catalog table naming conventions

Each primary or stand-alone component type can have an associated table in your catalog database. 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 toolset determines the catalog table name for a symbol as follows:

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.
If the first character is an "H" or a "V", it is removed from the value.
The program looks for a table in the catalog database with this name.
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.
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.
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.
If a table is not found, the program stops looking (if running a report) or prompts you to add a table to the catalog database.

Note: AutoCAD Electrical toolset 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 catalog database

The list of tables available in the catalog database 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 toolset.

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 toolset 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 toolset first searches manufacturer-specific tables; if not found, it then searches the default _PINLIST table.
_TERMPROPS	Default terminal properties data table. AutoCAD Electrical toolset 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 toolset 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.