AutoCAD Electrical Toolset Quick Reference Guide

Symbol Libraries

AutoCAD Electrical toolset provides library symbols that comply with the standards:

• IEEE 315/315A
• IEC-60617
• NFPA

The symbols are located in \Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs.

Icon Menus

Use the icon menu to insert schematic and panel components. The program defaults to icon menu ACE_<standard>_MENU.DAT for schematic symbols and ACE_PANEL_MENU.DAT for panel symbols.

These menu files are located in \Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support.

Supported Databases

Microsoft® Access

Catalog information is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical toolset installation. The information is in tables in a Microsoft Access database file (mdb ).

Catalog Lookup

Parts catalog database. The following naming convention and search sequence is used:

• <project name>_CAT.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs
• DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in a support folder

Footprint Lookup

Maps the graphical footprint symbols to catalog part numbers. The following naming convention and search sequence is used:

• <project name>_FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs
• FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in a support folder

Schematic Lookup

Maps the schematic symbols when inserted from panel footprints. The following naming convention and search sequence is used:

• <project name>_SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
• SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs
• SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in a support folder

WD_LANG1.MDB

Used when you convert description or switch position component text from one language to another. Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs.

ACE_PLC.MDB

Used to generate PLC I/O modules. Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\PLC.

Microsoft® SQL™ Server

AutoCAD Electrical toolset also supports SQL Server for your catalog data information. AutoCAD Electrical toolset allows you to migrate the catalog data that is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical toolset installation in a Microsoft Access database file. You can either configure and set up your SQL Server instance when you are installing AutoCAD Electrical toolset or use the AECATALOGCONFIG command, later, to set your catalog database source.

Currently, the support is limited to catalog and footprint databases for SQL Server.

Circuit Builder

ACE_CIRCUIT_BUILDER.XLS

Defines the available circuits, circuit types, and defaults for each option within a circuit. Located in \Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Support\{language code}.

ACE_ELECTRICAL_STANDARDS.MDB

Defines default values and engineering calculations, annotates circuits, and provides wire type analysis.

Din Rail and Wireway

WDDINRL.XLS

Used to parametrically generate din rail and wireway. Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs.

Miscellaneous Text Files

WD_DESC.WDD

Lists various standard component description selections, accessible by clicking Defaults on the Insert/Edit dialog boxes.

WD_FAM.DAT

Maps the family codes to new values, overriding the family tag code of the library symbols.

DEFAULT.WDT

Attribute mapping file for Title Block update.

DEFAULT.WDA

User-defined attribute list used in reports.

DEFAULT_WDTITLE.WDL

Customizes the generic LINEx labels in the various title block and project information dialog boxes.

DEFAULT.INST, DEFAULT.LOC

Lists the default installation and location codes, accessible by clicking Project in the Installation or location section of the Insert/Edit dialog boxes.

Schematic Symbol Naming Convention

• The first character is either "H" or "V" for horizontal or vertical wire insertion.
• The next two characters are reserved for family type (for example, PB for push buttons, CR for control relays, LS for limit switches).
• The fourth character is generally a 2 for child contacts and 1 for everything else (parent or standalone component).
• If the symbol is a contact, then the fifth character is a 1 for normally open, 2 for normally closed.

The remaining characters are not specified. They are used to keep names unique. Symbol names are limited to 32 characters.

Replaceable Parameters

Replaceable parameters are codes used to define tagging formats.

Device tags, wire numbers, cross-reference parameters

%F	Component family code string (for example, "PB," "SS," "CR," "FLT," "MTR")
%S	Sheet number of the drawing (for example, "01" entered in upper right)
%D	Drawing number
%G	Wire layer name
%N	Sequential or Reference-based number applied to the component
%X	Suffix character position for reference-based tagging (not present = end of tag)
%P	IEC-style project code (default for drawing)
%I	IEC-style installation code (default for drawing)
%L	IEC-style location code (default for drawing)
%A	Project drawing list's SEC value for active drawing
%B	Project drawing list's SUB-SEC value for active drawing

Wire annotation and graphical terminal strips parameters

%P	Terminal pin text
%Q	Terminal pin TERMDESC text
%I	IEC-style installation code
%L	IEC-style location code
%M	Mount assignment (on panel footprint equivalent)
%U	Group assignment (on panel footprint equivalent)
%W	Wire number
%C	Cable tag + conductor/core color combination (format is "tag-color")
%E	Cable tag
%J	Cable conductor/core color
%V	Cable tag substituted for wire number if cable tag is non-blank.The wire number is displayed when a cable ID does not exist.
%G	Wire color/gauge (or wire layer name)
%H	Cable wire color substituted for wire number if cable color is non-blank.The wire layer is displayed when a wire conductor in conjunction with a cable ID does not exist.
%T	Terminal strip terminal pin assignment
%K	Terminal strip TERMDESC text - useful for multi-stack terminals
%1	Destination component tag ID.
%2	Equivalent of "%1:%P" (comp tag:term)
%3	Equivalent of "%1:%P:%D" (comp tag:term:termdesc)
%4	Equivalent of "%L%1" (IEC comp tag)
%5	Equivalent of "%L%1:%P" (tag:term)
%6	Equivalent of "%L%1:%P:%D" (tag:term:termdesc)
%7	Equivalent of "%I%I%1" (INST prefix+IEC comp tag)
%8	Equivalent of "%I%L%1:%P" (tag:term)
%9	Equivalent of "%I%L%1:%P:%D" (tag:term:termdesc)

Note: You can use only one of the (%number) parameters.

Default Family Code Catalog Tables

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