2nd Edition

Bernd Gischel

EPLAN Electric P8Reference Handbook

Logon to

www.eplan-efficient-

engineering.com/handbook

for more related

content

Bernd Gischel

EPLAN Electric P8Reference Handbook

2nd Edition

Hanser Publishers, Munich Hanser Publications, Cincinnati

The Author: Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Gischel, Lünen, Germany Translated by think global GmbH, Berlin, Germany

Distributed in the USA and in Canada byHanser Publications6915 Valley Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244-3029, USAFax: (513) 527-8801Phone: (513) 527-8977www.hanserpublications.com

Distributed in all other countries byCarl Hanser VerlagPostfach 86 04 20, 81631 München, GermanyFax: +49 (89) 98 48 09www.hanser.de

The use of general descriptive names, trademarks, etc., in this publication, even if the former are not especially identified, is not to be taken as a sign that such names, as understood by the Trade Marks and Merchandise Marks Act, may accordingly be used freely by anyone.

While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of going to press, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gischel, Bernd. EPLAN electric P8 reference handbook / Bernd Gischel ; translated by Think Global GmbH. -- 2nd ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-1-56990-503-6 (softcover) ISBN-10: 1-56990-503-7 (softcover) ISBN-13: 978-3-446-42674-0 (softcover) 1. Electrical engineering--Data processing. 2. Electrical engineering--Computer programs. 3. EPLAN electric P8. I. Title. TK153.G5413 2011 621.30285--dc22 2011007238

Bibliografische Information Der Deutschen Bibliothek:Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detail-lierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über <http://dnb.d-nb.de> abrufbar.

ISBN 978-3-446-42674-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any me-ans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

© Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich 2011Production Management: Stefanie KönigCoverconcept: Marc Müller-Bremer, www.rebranding.de, MünchenCoverdesign: Stephan RönigkPrinted and bound by Kösel, KrugzellPrinted in Germany

Content

Foreword and acknowledgements .................................................11Important notes .......................................................................................................12

1 Install EPLAN Electric P8 .......................................................151.1 Hardware ......................................................................................................151.2 Installation ....................................................................................................161.3 Important notes for Version 1.9.x users .....................................................231.3.1 Parallel operation with Version 1.9.x ............................................................................. 23

2 The basics of the system .......................................................252.1 Five principles that apply to working with EPLAN Electric P8 ...................252.2 Directory structure, storage locations ........................................................272.3 Settings – General ........................................................................................302.3.1 Settings – Project ................................................................................................................... 302.3.2 Settings – User ........................................................................................................................ 412.3.3 Settings – Workstation ......................................................................................................... 472.3.4 Settings – Company ............................................................................................................... 482.4 EPLAN and multiple starts? .........................................................................482.5 Properties .....................................................................................................492.5.1 Project properties .................................................................................................................. 502.5.2 Page properties ....................................................................................................................... 512.5.3 Symbol properties (components) ...................................................................................... 522.5.4 Form properties ...................................................................................................................... 532.5.5 Plot frame properties ........................................................................................................... 532.6 Buttons and popup menus ...........................................................................532.6.1 Device dialog buttons ........................................................................................................... 542.6.2 Buttons in dialogs (configuring) ........................................................................................ 552.6.3 Buttons in dialogs such as filter schemes ...................................................................... 55

4  Content

2.6.4 Small blue triangle button .................................................................................................. 562.6.5 Property arrangements (components) ............................................................................ 562.6.6 Format properties .................................................................................................................. 572.6.7 Buttons (small black triangles) .......................................................................................... 582.6.8 Dialogs for schemes .............................................................................................................. 592.7 Master data ..................................................................................................602.8 Operation ......................................................................................................612.8.1 Using the keyboard ............................................................................................................... 612.8.2 Using the mouse ..................................................................................................................... 622.9 The user interface – more useful information ............................................622.9.1 Using workspaces .................................................................................................................. 622.9.2 Dialog display .......................................................................................................................... 63

3 Projects ....................................................................................673.1 Project types ...............................................................................................683.1.1 Project types in EPLAN ........................................................................................................ 693.1.2 Project types in EPLAN ........................................................................................................ 693.1.3 Project templates and basic projects............................................................................... 703.2 Create a new project ....................................................................................723.2.1 A new project (from a basic project) ............................................................................... 723.2.2 A new project (with project creation wizard) .............................................................. 75

4 The graphical editor (GED) .....................................................834.1 Page navigator ..............................................................................................834.1.1 Page types ................................................................................................................................ 854.1.2 The Popup menu in the page navigator ......................................................................... 864.1.3 Page navigator filter ............................................................................................................ 1014.2 General functions ...................................................................................... 1014.2.1 The title bar ........................................................................................................................... 1024.2.2 The status bar ....................................................................................................................... 1024.3 Coordinate systems .................................................................................. 1034.3.1 Graphical coordinate system ........................................................................................... 1034.3.2 Logical coordinate system ................................................................................................ 1044.4 Grid ............................................................................................................ 1044.5 Increments, coordinate input ................................................................... 1064.5.1 Increment ............................................................................................................................... 1064.5.2 Coordinate input .................................................................................................................. 1074.5.3 Relative coordinate input .................................................................................................. 1084.5.4 Move base point ................................................................................................................... 1084.6 Graphical editing functions ....................................................................... 1094.6.1 Graphical objects - lines, circles, rectangles ............................................................... 110

Content  5

4.6.2 Trim, chamfer, stretch and more... ................................................................................. 1114.6.3 Group and ungroup ............................................................................................................. 1174.6.4 Copy, move, delete, ... .......................................................................................................... 1184.6.5 Dimensioning ........................................................................................................................ 1194.7 Texts ........................................................................................................... 1224.7.1 Normal (free) texts............................................................................................................... 1234.7.2 Path function texts .............................................................................................................. 1234.7.3 Special texts ........................................................................................................................... 1244.7.4 The Properties – Text dialog ............................................................................................ 1254.8 Components (symbols) ............................................................................. 1294.8.1 Insert components (symbols) ........................................................................................... 1294.8.2 Properties (components) dialog – [device] tab ........................................................... 1314.8.3 The Display tab ..................................................................................................................... 1324.8.4 The Symbol/function data tab ......................................................................................... 1354.8.5 The Parts tab ......................................................................................................................... 1374.9 Cross-references ....................................................................................... 1374.9.1 Contact image on component .......................................................................................... 1384.9.2 Contact image in path ........................................................................................................ 1404.9.3 Special feature: pair cross-reference ............................................................................. 1424.9.4 Device selection settings ................................................................................................... 1444.10 Macros ....................................................................................................... 1454.10.1 Types of macros ................................................................................................................... 1454.10.2 Macros with value sets ...................................................................................................... 149

5 Navigators .............................................................................1575.1 Overview of possible navigators ............................................................... 1585.1.1 Additional navigators and modules............................................................................... 1605.2 Device navigator ........................................................................................ 1625.2.1 Devices / Assign main function ...................................................................................... 1645.2.2 Devices / Cross-reference DTs ......................................................................................... 1665.2.3 Devices / Synchronize function texts ............................................................................ 1675.2.4 Devices / Interconnect devices ....................................................................................... 1685.2.5 Devices / Number (offline) ................................................................................................ 1755.2.6 Device navigator / New... ................................................................................................... 1785.2.7 Device navigator / New device........................................................................................ 1795.2.8 Device navigator / Place / [Representation type] ...................................................... 1805.3 Terminal strips ........................................................................................... 1815.3.1 Terminal strips / Edit... ....................................................................................................... 1825.3.2 Terminal strips / Correct ................................................................................................... 1855.3.3 Terminal strips / Number terminals.............................................................................. 1865.3.4 Terminal strip navigator / New... .................................................................................... 1905.3.5 Terminal strip navigator / New functions... ................................................................ 190

6  

5.3.6 Terminal strip navigator / New terminals (devices)... ............................................. 1925.3.7 Terminal strip navigator / Place / [Representation type] ....................................... 1945.4 Plugs (Sockets) .......................................................................................... 1955.4.1 Plugs / Edit ............................................................................................................................. 1955.4.2 Plugs / Correct ...................................................................................................................... 1955.4.3 Plugs / Number pins ........................................................................................................... 1965.4.4 Plug navigator / New... ....................................................................................................... 1965.4.5 Plug navigator / New functions... .................................................................................... 1975.4.6 Plug navigator / Generate plug definition ................................................................... 1975.4.7 Plug navigator / Generate pin.......................................................................................... 1985.4.8 Plug navigator / Place / [Representation type] .......................................................... 1995.5 Cables ........................................................................................................ 1995.5.1 Cables / Edit ........................................................................................................................... 2005.5.2 Cables / Number .................................................................................................................. 2015.5.3 Cables / Generate cables automatically ....................................................................... 2045.5.4 Cables / Automatic cable selection ................................................................................ 2065.5.5 Cables / Assign conductors .............................................................................................. 2075.5.6 Cable navigator / New... ..................................................................................................... 2095.5.7 Cable navigator / Place / [Representation type] ........................................................ 2095.5.8 Cable navigator / Number cable DT .............................................................................. 2105.5.9 Cable navigator / Number DT .......................................................................................... 2105.6 PLC ............................................................................................................. 2115.6.1 PLC / Write back connection point designations ...................................................... 2135.6.2 PLC – Set data types ........................................................................................................... 2155.6.3 PLC / Addresses / assignment lists ................................................................................ 2165.6.4 PLC / Address ........................................................................................................................ 2185.6.5 PLC navigator / New... ........................................................................................................ 2205.6.6 PLC navigator / New functions... ..................................................................................... 2205.6.7 PLC navigator / New device... .......................................................................................... 2225.6.8 PLC navigator / View .......................................................................................................... 2225.7 Parts / Devices / Bill of materials ........................................................... 2235.7.1 Popup menu functions ....................................................................................................... 2255.8 Assign function (navigators) ..................................................................... 229

6 Reports...................................................................................2316.1 What are reports? ...................................................................................... 2326.2 Report types .............................................................................................. 2336.3 Types of graphical reports ........................................................................ 2336.3.1 Report types (forms) ........................................................................................................... 2336.3.2 Special connection diagrams ........................................................................................... 2476.4 Settings (output options) .......................................................................... 248

Content

Content  7

6.4.1 The Display / output project setting .............................................................................. 2486.4.2 The Parts project setting ................................................................................................... 2506.4.3 The Output to pages project setting .............................................................................. 2516.5 Generate reports ....................................................................................... 2566.5.1 The Reports dialog .............................................................................................................. 2576.5.2 Generate reports without templates ............................................................................. 2596.5.3 Popup menus in the Reports tab .................................................................................... 2656.5.4 Generate reports with templates .................................................................................... 2666.6 Other functions ......................................................................................... 2726.6.1 Generate project reports ................................................................................................... 2726.6.2 Update ..................................................................................................................................... 2736.6.3 Settings for automatic updates ........................................................................................ 2736.7 Labeling ..................................................................................................... 2746.7.1 Settings .................................................................................................................................... 2746.8 Edit properties externally ......................................................................... 2806.8.1 Export data ............................................................................................................................ 2826.8.2 Import ...................................................................................................................................... 288

7 Management tasks in EPLAN ..............................................2917.1 Structure identifier management ............................................................. 2917.1.1 Tabs in the structure identifier management............................................................. 2947.1.2 The graphical buttons ........................................................................................................ 2977.1.3 Sort menu ............................................................................................................................... 2987.1.4 Extras menu ........................................................................................................................... 2997.2 Message management .............................................................................. 3017.2.1 The visual appearance of message management ...................................................... 3027.2.2 Project checks ....................................................................................................................... 3037.2.3 Message classes and message categories ................................................................... 3047.2.4 Filters in the message management .............................................................................. 3097.2.5 Various ways of editing messages ................................................................................ 3117.3 Layer management .................................................................................... 3137.3.1 Standard layers..................................................................................................................... 3137.3.2 Export and import layers .................................................................................................. 3147.3.3 Create and delete your own layers ................................................................................ 3157.3.4 Uses of layers ........................................................................................................................ 3167.4 Parts management .................................................................................... 3187.4.1 Structure of the parts management .............................................................................. 3217.4.2 Tabs in the parts management ........................................................................................ 3217.5 Revision control ......................................................................................... 3297.5.1 General .................................................................................................................................... 3307.5.2 Generate new revision ....................................................................................................... 3307.5.3 Execute changes ................................................................................................................... 331

8  

7.5.4 Complete page(s) .................................................................................................................. 3357.5.5 Generate reports .................................................................................................................. 3367.5.6 Complete a project .............................................................................................................. 337

8 Export, import, print .............................................................3398.1 Export and import of DXF / DWG ............................................................. 3408.1.1 Exporting DXF and DWG files .......................................................................................... 3408.1.2 Import of DXF and DWG files ........................................................................................... 3448.2 Image files ................................................................................................. 3478.2.1 Export of image files ........................................................................................................... 3488.2.2 Insertion of image files (import) .................................................................................... 3508.3 Print ........................................................................................................... 3538.3.1 The Print dialog and its options ...................................................................................... 3548.3.2 Important export/print setting........................................................................................ 3568.4 Export and import of projects .................................................................. 3578.4.1 Export of projects ................................................................................................................ 3578.4.2 Import of projects ................................................................................................................ 3578.5 Print attached documents ........................................................................ 3588.6 Import PDF comments .............................................................................. 3598.6.1 Import of commented PDF documents ......................................................................... 3598.6.2 Delete PDF comments ......................................................................................................... 3628.7 Generate PDF documents ......................................................................... 3648.7.1 Export of PDF files ............................................................................................................... 365

9 Data backup ..........................................................................3739.1 Zipping and unzipping of projects ............................................................ 3739.1.1 Zip projects ............................................................................................................................ 3739.1.2 Unzip projects ....................................................................................................................... 3749.2 Backup and restoring of projects ............................................................. 3759.2.1 Back up projects................................................................................................................... 3759.2.2 Restore projects .................................................................................................................... 3819.3 Other important settings .......................................................................... 3849.3.1 Default settings for project backup (global user setting) ....................................... 3849.3.2 Compress project (remove unnecessary data) ........................................................... 3859.3.3 Automated processing of a project ................................................................................ 3879.4 Backup and restoring of master data ....................................................... 3909.4.1 Back up master data ........................................................................................................... 3909.4.2 Restore master data ............................................................................................................ 3929.4.3 Default settings for the backup of master data (user) ............................................. 3949.5 Send project by e-mail directly ................................................................. 394

Content

Content  9

10 Master data editors ..............................................................39710.1 Preparatory measures .............................................................................. 40010.2 Overview of forms ..................................................................................... 40010.2.1 First option - manual overview ....................................................................................... 40010.2.2 Second option - automatic overview ............................................................................. 40210.3 Forms ......................................................................................................... 40410.3.1 Create new form (from copy) ........................................................................................... 40710.3.2 Edit existing form ................................................................................................................ 41210.3.3 Create new form ................................................................................................................... 41310.4 Plot frame .................................................................................................. 41410.4.1 Create new plot frame (from copy) ................................................................................ 41410.4.2 Edit existing plot frame ..................................................................................................... 41610.4.3 Create new plot frame ........................................................................................................ 417

11 Old EPLAN data (EPLAN 5...) ...............................................41911.1 Import options ........................................................................................... 420

12 Extensions .............................................................................42112.1 EPLAN Pro Panel ....................................................................................... 42112.1.1 EPLAN Pro Panel – what is it? ......................................................................................... 42112.1.2 General .................................................................................................................................... 42212.1.3 Toolbars in EPLAN Pro Panel........................................................................................... 42412.1.4 Menus in EPLAN Pro Panel .............................................................................................. 43712.1.5 Navigators in Pro Panel ..................................................................................................... 44712.1.6 Settings for EPLAN Pro Panel .......................................................................................... 45212.1.7 A practical example with EPLAN Pro Panel ............................................................... 45412.2 EPLAN Data Portal .................................................................................... 46812.2.1 What are the advantages of the EPLAN Data Portal? .............................................. 46812.2.2 Before the first start ............................................................................................................ 46912.2.3 How the Portal works ......................................................................................................... 47212.3 Project options .......................................................................................... 47612.3.1 What are project options? ................................................................................................. 47712.3.2 Terminology in the Project options module ............................................................... 47712.3.3 Creating options and sections ......................................................................................... 47812.3.4 Generate options overview report ................................................................................. 485

13 FAQs .......................................................................................48713.1 General ...................................................................................................... 48713.2 Parts ........................................................................................................... 517

10  

13.3 Terminals, plugs ........................................................................................ 52213.4 Cables ........................................................................................................ 52613.5 PLC ............................................................................................................. 52913.6 Properties, layers ...................................................................................... 52913.6.1 Master data ............................................................................................................................ 53413.7 Data exchange ........................................................................................... 54013.8 Reports ...................................................................................................... 541

Index ................................................................................................545

Content

Foreword and acknowledgements

Dear users,

EPLAN Electric P8 is a CAE software with multiple innovations and innumerable project editing options, and it is constantly being developed further.

The new Version 2.0 continues to improve upon the previous versions, incorporating a number (over 1000 new features / improvements / function expansions, etc.) of user requi-rements and requests that have arisen during the practical use of EPLAN.

This book, in its second completely revised and expanded edition, is meant to demonstra-te the range of functions in EPLAN Electric P8 Version 2.0. The book is meant to make it easier to start using the software and smooth over the initial bumps. As in previous edi-tions of this book, practical examples demonstrate what is and could be possible.

Of course, this edition, like its predecessors, cannot and will not be able to describe all of the software’s functions or provide examples for every conceivable function. EPLAN Elec-tric P8 becomes increasingly comprehensive with every new version, and it offers a vari-ety of functions that cannot be completely covered in a book of this length. If we were to describe everything this software can do, then our readers would have to read a 4000-page tome, and I don’t think this is what they want to do. And EPLAN Electric P8 Version 2.0 is teeming with new features, function expansions and improvements. Therefore, I had to leave aside some of the functions in this edition.

As the reader will again see, this version has several paths to the same goal. A few solu-tions are presented and discussed; in this way, you will discover other solutions yourself and ask yourself why no one has ever tried it this or that way before.

The book should and will help to show solutions or propose approaches to solutions, the-reby simplifying everyday practical work. It can also make the decision-making process a bit simpler, without taking away the reader’s power to make decisions.

The book once again is addressed to everyone who uses EPLAN Electric P8 for electrical engineering constructions - the daily EPLAN Electric P8 user and the sporadic P8 user, as well as engineers, electrical engineers, pupils, and students.

I would like to express my thanks to Sieglinde Schärl and her team at the Carl Hanser Verlag for the opportunity to write and publish this book. I would also like to sincerely

12  Foreword and acknowledgements

thank my family, especially my wife Susanne. They have always been, and continue to be, very patient with me.

At this point, I would also like to thank all of the readers who have made this book a success! All of your feedback, whether criticism or praise, has been a strong motivator for me to write this edition!

And finally, I would again like to thank EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG for their consistent and very friendly support and collaboration in compiling some of the in-formation for this new second edition of the EPLAN Electric Manual.

■■ Important notes

All of the examples and explanations assume local installation and local operation of EPLAN. Furthermore, the book assumes that the user has all of the user rights in EPLAN and is logged in as the local administrator.

It is possible that, depending on the user’s license and module package, a functionality or function described in the book will not be available or executable in the way in which it is explained and illustrated. Therefore, you should always check to see which licensed add-ons you have (see image) (HELP / AbOuT / LICENSEd Add-ONS TAb).

For this book, EPLAN Electric P8 Professional Edition 2.0.5 build 4602 was used with the following licensed add-ons (see image).

NOTE for users of previous versions: Certain parts of the functions descri-bed here exist in EPLAN Electric P8 Versions 1.7.x, 1.8.x, and 1.9.x, alt-hough the use and range of their functionality may differ in Version 2.0.

NOTE for users of the EPLAN Electric P8 Education Version: The example project that goes with this book is also available in an education format and can be downloaded under http://www.eplan-efficient-engineering.com/handbook.

Foreword and acknowledgements 13

Additional notes on reading this book: Some settings were used, such as those for filters or schemes, that differ from a standard installation of EPLAN. All of this additional data is normally stored in the example project. Some custom, non-standard shortcut keys were also used.

Text boxes are used to visually highlight notes, tips, etc. They have the following meaning:

NOTE:

TIP:

TO DO:

Further information

Furthermore, symbols in the margins denote the following:

You will find examples, questions and answers here.

Help / Info / Licensed add-ons

Fig. 1 Help / Info / Licensed add-ons tab