PLC Database File Editor Dialog Box

Creates and modifies PLC modules within the PLC Database File (ACE_PLC.MDB).

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 Command entry:  AEPLCDB

PLC Selection List

Provides a complete list of the PLC data files available to AutoCAD Electrical toolset. The PLC Selection list uses an expandable and collapsible tree structure for the PLC categories. These PLC categories are: Manufacturer, Series, Type, and Part Number. The tree structure supports right-click controls for copying, renaming, deleting, and creating PLC data.

The right-click controls for the selection list are:

New Manufacturer	(available only for the PLC branch of the tree structure) Defines a new manufacturer. The manufacturer then appears in the PLC Selection tree structure in alphabetical order.
New Series	(available only for the Manufacturer branch of the tree structure) Defines a new PLC series underneath the respective Manufacturer. The series then appears in the PLC Selection tree structure in alphabetical order.
New Type	(available only for the Series branch of the tree structure) Defines a new PLC type underneath the respective Manufacturer and Series. The type then appears in the PLC Selection tree structure in alphabetical order.
New Module	(available only for the Type and Module/Code branches of the tree structure) Defines a new PLC module underneath the respective Manufacturer, Series, and Type. The module then appears in the PLC Selection tree structure in alphabetical order.
Paste Module	(available only for the Type branch of the tree structure) Copies the PLC module to the highlighted PLC Type branch. This option becomes active after you copy or cut a PLC module inside the Module/Code branch of the tree structure.
Delete	Deletes an entire PLC module, type, series, or manufacturer from the tree structure and the PLC database (ACE_PLC.MDB).
Rename	Renames a PLC module, type, series, or manufacturer in the tree structure. You cannot have duplicate names in the same branch of the tree structure.
Cut	(available only for the Module branch of the tree structure) Cuts the highlighted module code from the tree structure. You can then paste the code into the same PLC Type, or a new PLC Type category.
Copy	(available only for the Module branch of the tree structure) Copies the highlighted module code from the tree structure into the same PLC Type, or a new PLC Type.

Note: If you attempt to copy a PLC Module part number into a PLC Type that already has a module with the same name, the PLC Database File Editor prompts you to change the name of the new module being copied.

Terminal Grid Control

Highlight a module from the PLC Selection tree structure to populate the Terminal Grid Control with the terminal information that was previously defined for the module. When creating a PLC module, the PLC Database File Editor lists as many blank Terminal Type fields since are terminals defined within the New Module dialog box.

Terminal Type	Specifies the type for the terminal. Select from the various predetermined types of addressable terminals and non-addressable terminals.
Show	Shows terminals that are not used. If Include Unused/Extra Connections in the Module Layout dialog box is selected, all terminal entries marked (in the PLC Database File Editor dialog box) with 'when excluding unused' are skipped and all terminal entries marked with "when including unused" are shown.
Optional Re-prompt	Prompts for a new beginning address number when the parametric build flips from inputs to outputs or from outputs to inputs. On the line where you want AutoCAD Electrical toolset to prompt for a new output address, select Output. If you want AutoCAD Electrical toolset to prompt for a new input address, select Input from the list.
Break After	Specifies for the module to break automatically after a specific terminal type. To activate the prompt for an automatic break in the PLC module, select Break After.
Spacing Factor	Overrides the current rung spacing for I/O and wire connection point spacing. For example, a value of two inserts the point down two times the rung spacing instead of a full rung spacing.

You can right-click any row in the grid control to activate a menu of commands that allows you to edit the terminal, insert a new terminal before or after the selected terminal in the grid control, or delete a terminal from the grid control. You can select multiple fields to update at the same time by dragging your mouse across contiguous fields or by holding down the Control key while selecting non-contiguous fields.

Terminal Attributes

Displays attributes associated to the selected terminal. These attributes can have predefined values, including some values that you specify at insertion time.

New Module

Opens a dialog box for defining the module descriptions and parameters. A series of boxes are used to type in or select the values required to define the module.

Note: If you right-click a type or module in the PLC Selection window and select New Module, the New Module dialog box opens with data already specified for the Manufacturer, Series, and Series Type.

Module Specifications

Opens a dialog box for modifying some of the specifications previously defined during the creation of a new module.

Note: The Manufacturer, Series, Series Type, Code, and Terminals fields are not active since they are under the control of the tree structure in the PLC Selection window and the total number of terminals listed in the Terminal Type grid control.

Save Module

Saves the module to the PLC database file. If you exit the PLC Database File Editor without clicking Save Module, you get a prompt asking whether to save your changes.

Style Box Dimensions

Opens a dialog box for defining the module box dimensions (such as the offset values and line properties) based upon the style number used when the PLC was created.

Note: The Module Box Dimensions override the style dimensions.

Settings

Opens a dialog box for adding or updating the symbols available to build a module.