Eplan P8 2.2 Beginners Guide

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Getting Started

07 / 2012


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Copyright 2012 EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG

EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG assumes no liability for either technical or printing errors,

or for deficiencies in this technical information and cannot be held liable for damages that may result

directly or indirectly from the delivery, performance, and use of this material.

This document contains legally protected proprietary information that is subject to copyright. All rights

are protected. This document or parts of this document may not be copied or reproduced by any othermeans without the prior consent of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

The software described in this document is subject to a licensing agreement. The use and reproduc-

tion of the software is only permitted within the framework of this agreement.

RITTALis a registered trademark of Rittal GmbH & Co. KG.

EPLAN, EPLAN Electric P8

, EPLAN Fluid

, EPLAN PPE

, EPLAN Cabinet

, EPLAN Pro Panel

and EPLAN Mechatronic Integrationare registered trademarks of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH

& Co. KG.

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Table of Contents

EPLAN Electric P8 Getting Started 1

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................... 5Notes for the Reader ......................................................................... 6Remarks on the Sample Project ....................................................... 7

Starting EPLAN ..................................................................................... 8Getting to Know the EPLAN User Interface....................................... 10

What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 11Interface Elements ........................................................................... 12Changing the User Interface ........................................................... 16

Creating Projects ................................................................................ 22What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 22Creating a Project Using the Project Wizard ................................. 23

Creating and Editing Pages ................................................................ 28What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 28Creating Pages ................................................................................ 29Opening Pages ................................................................................ 34Editing Page Properties .................................................................. 36

Opening and Closing a Project .......................................................... 39Opening a Project ............................................................................ 39Paging Through the Project Pages ................................................ 41Creating a View ................................................................................ 43Closing a Project ............................................................................. 47

Creating a Schematic .......................................................................... 49What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 49Inserting "Angle" Connection Symbols ......................................... 50Inserting Potential Connection Points ........................................... 52Inserting "T-node" Connection Symbols ....................................... 55Inserting Graphical Elements ......................................................... 57Inserting General Devices ............................................................... 60


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Table of Contents

2 EPLAN Electric P8 Getting Started

Inserting Terminal Strips and Terminals ....................................... 68Drawing Cable Definition Lines ...................................................... 73Updating Connections .................................................................... 75Inserting Path Function Texts ........................................................ 76Inserting "Interruption Point" Connection Symbols ..................... 77

Generating Cross-references ............................................................. 80What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 80Automatically Generating Interruption Point Cross-references... 81Inserting More Connection Symbols and General Devices .......... 84Inserting Contactor Coils and Contact Images ............................. 87Inserting Contacts and Contact Image for Motor OverloadSwitches ........................................................................................... 91

Selecting Parts .................................................................................... 97What You Need to Know in Advance ............................................. 97Assigning Parts ............................................................................... 97

Generating Reports ........................................................................... 106What You Need to Know in Advance ........................................... 106Generating a Terminal Diagram .................................................... 107Performing Settings for Parts Lists.............................................. 114Printing Other Report Pages......................................................... 115

Creating and Inserting Macros ......................................................... 120What You Need to Know in Advance ........................................... 120Creating a Window Macro ............................................................. 120Inserting a Window Macro ............................................................ 122

Finding and Replacing Project Data ................................................ 126Finding and Replacing Device Tags ............................................. 126Finding Text and Editing Search Entries ..................................... 131


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Table of Contents


Completing and Updating Reports .................................................. 134What You Need to Know in Advance ........................................... 134Updating Reports .......................................................................... 134Creating Report Templates ........................................................... 135Generating Project Reports .......................................................... 137

Printing a Project .............................................................................. 140


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Table of Contents



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Introduction


Introduction

Dear users,

The team at EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG is pleased towelcome you as a new user.

This guide is for users who have never used EPLAN. Using an exampleproject, we will familiarize you with the basic functions of EPLAN.

Since this documentation is designed as an introduction to EPLAN, manyof the more complicated functions and relationships will be ignored.These details are covered in our trainings, where you can also find help

with your own individual and company-specific tasks. You should defi-nitely take part in our training program in order to make the best use ofthe functionality and possibilities of the system.

In the program itself, we provide you with an extensive online help sys-tem. In addition to conceptual information and dialog descriptions, hereyou will also find "step by step" instructions for most program functions.The "Proceed as follows" section of the operating information gives youstep by step instructions for using the program. Once you have startedthe program and require information on a particular dialog, you can then

call up the appropriate help by simply pressing the [F1]key.

Many thanks for your interest in EPLAN Electric P8. We hope that thebeginner's manual will give you a thorough insight into the many differentoptions and features of your EPLAN software.

Your EPLAN Software & Service team


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Introduction


Notes for the Reader

Before you begin reading, please note the following symbols and stylesused in this handbook:

Note:

Text preceded by this image contains extra notes.

Tip:

Useful tips to facilitate your interaction with the program are presentedafter this image.

Example:Examples are highlighted by this symbol.

User interface elements are marked in boldso they can immediatelybe located in the text.

Italictext provides particularly important information that you shoulddefinitely pay attention to.

Directory names and direct entries (among other things) are displayedin a non-proportionalfont.

Function keys, keyboard keys, and buttons within the program areshown in square brackets (e.g., [F1]for the "F1" function key).

To improve the flow of the text, we often use "menu paths" in thisdocument (for example, Help > Contents). In order to find a particularprogram function, the menus and options shown in a menu path must

be selected in the sequence shown. For example, the menu pathmentioned above calls up the EPLAN help system.

The operating information provides step-by-step instructions forreaching specific targets, and in many places, after the right-arrowsymbol you'll also find the reaction of the program to your action.

In combination with settings or fields (e.g., check boxes) which canonly be switched on or off, in this document we often use the term

"activate" (after which the setting is active ) and "deactivate" (after

which the setting is inactive ).


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Introduction


Remarks on the Sample Project

In the following chapters, you will gradually create and evaluate a smallsample project. So that you can successfully follow the instructions, we

assume that you have already installed EPLAN and have the requiredsoftware protection (dongle) and license.

While writing this guide, we used the fully licensed program with its entirescope of functionality. If you have not licensed all the modules, this docu-mentation (or some figures in this documentation) may possibly go be-yond the scope of functionality of the software you have purchased, thatis, functions are also described which may not be available to you.

All settings can be made in a central location in the program (in the

Optionsmenu under the menu item Settings). For the sample project,we almost exclusively used the default settings of the project templatebeing used. Don't change these settings while working with the sampleproject; otherwise you may see different results.

You can control EPLAN using both the mouse and the keyboard. Toquickly call up program functions, you often also have additional buttonson the toolbars and / or key combinations (e.g., [Ctrl] + [C]to copyelements). Since a list of the different call-up options would make thisguide much larger, we usually use the mouse controls in the action

instructions.


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Starting EPLAN


Starting EPLAN

In this chapter, you will learn how to start EPLAN easily.

During program installation, a program icon is created on the WindowsDesktop. You can use this icon to start EPLAN immediately.

1. Double-click the EPLAN icon .

EPLAN starts.

If you are not working with EPLAN rights management, theSelectscope of menudialog will open. Here, you specify the user mode in

which you would like to define the displayed scope of the menu.

2. In the Select scope of menudialog, select Expert.

You can also change the defined mode for the next time you startthe program.

3. Click [OK].

In addition to the main EPLAN window, EPLAN will by default thenopen the Tip of the daydialog. In this informational dialog, which isautomatically shown every time you start the program, you areshown useful information on program functions.


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Getting to Know the EPLAN User Interface


Getting to Know the EPLAN UserInterface

In this chapter, you will learn about the most important elements of theprogram interface. You will also learn how to change the interface easily.

When first started, EPLAN begins with a pre-configured interface. Be-sides various other interface elements, you see the Page navigatorandthe Graphical previewon the left side of the main window. When youfirst start the program, these two windows are empty. The area on theright side with the background image will be used later as a working areafor the opened pages.


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What You Need to Know in Advance

What is the EPLAN main window?

The main window is the entire working area of the program; its size andposition can be changed. For many other interface elements (e.g., menubars, toolbars, "dockable" windows like the Page navigator) the mainwindow is more or less the "frame". You can attach ("dock") these ele-ments to the window edges inside the main window.

What is the Page navigator?The Page navigatoris a window in which EPLAN shows the pages of allopen projects. You can choose between two representation types. In the

tree view, the pages are displayed hierarchically by page type and iden-tifier (such as higher-level function, mounting location, etc.). In the listview, this information is shown arranged in a table. You can switch be-tween the two views by clicking on the corresponding tab. In the Pagenavigator, you can edit the pages of one project, for instance, copypages, delete them, or change page properties. Multiple pages fromdifferent projectscan notbe edited at one time.

Tip:

To show and hide the Page navigatorquickly, you can use the [F12]key.

What is the Graphical preview?The Graphical previewis a preview window for the minimized display ofhighlighted pages, symbols, image files, macros, forms, etc. For exam-ple, if you have highlighted one or several pages in the page navigator,they will be displayed in a minimized window in the Graphical preview.Using this window, you can quickly search through all the pages of aproject.


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Interface Elements

Title bar

The horizontal bar at the top edge of a Windows application is the titlebar. It contains the program icon with the system menu, the programname, and the buttons controlling the size setting of the window.

If you have opened a project page, the name of the opened page willalso be shown in the title bar by default.

Example:

This is how the title bar looks if you have opened the page =ANL+SCP/1

in the project EPLAN_start, which you will create later.

Note:

The information you see additionally for an opened page in the title bar("Page" / "Project+Page" / "Project path+Project+Page") depends on the

Display in title barsetting. To access the relevant dialog, select theOptions > Settings > User > Display > User interfacemenu path.

Menu bar

The menu bar is located below the title bar. It contains the most impor-tant commands and dialog calls.

In order to show all the menu items of a menu, left-click on the corres-ponding menu. Until you have opened a project and a page, you will notbe able to select many of the menu items. These menu items are shownin a grayed-out view.

Some menu items work like a switch, that is, they can be turned on oroff. This applies particularly to the Viewmenu for the Graphical previewmenu item. If the option is switched on, then this is indicated with a pre-

ceding check mark .


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Example:

The following example shows the "switched-on" menu item Graphicalpreviewin the Viewmenu.

Tip:

In the Graphical preview, the pages you have selected in the Pagenavigatorare shown in a reduced view. Using this window, you can,

for instance, quickly search through all the pages of a project.

Popup menu

In many places in the program (in fields of windows or dialogs, in anopened page) you can open up a popup menu by right-clicking. Thepopup menu shows the most commonly used menu items for the objectin question.

If menu items are present in the popup menu of a field which go beyondthe standard functions, you can see that from a "popup menu button" .This button is located above the corresponding field.


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Example:

The figure shows the popup menu for the Page navigator, opened usingthe popup menu button.

Toolbars

As standard, the toolbars are located below the menu bar and consist of

buttons allowing you to directly call up the most important EPLAN func-tions. Here, too, you do not initially have all the buttons available.

Example:

The following figure shows you the Standardtoolbar for an openedproject.


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Status bar

The status bar is located at the lower edge of the window. When youpoint the mouse at a menu item or a button in a toolbar, a brief informa-

tive text relating to the action called by this command is displayed here.

If you have the cursor in an opened page, the status bar shows youinformation about the cursor position, grid, and logical status, along withdata about the currently selected element, in some cases.

Example:

In the sample project we will create later, we opened the first schematic

page (full page name =ANL+SCP/1) as an example, and positioned thecursor on a certain point.

RX:44 RY:17

RXand RYrepresent the horizontal and vertical position (coordinates)

in grid increments. On logic pages (such as this schematic page), thecoordinates are entered in grid increments; and on graphics pages,they are entered in millimeters or inches.

On: 4.00 mm

means that the Snap to gridoption is activated and that the grid size

for this page is 4 mm.

Logic 1:1

means that this page is a logic page with a scale of 1:1. Device data

is reported on logic pages.


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Window size adjustment

The ability to modify the size of the EPLAN main window (and also otherdialogs) is indicated by three diagonal lines in the lower right-hand corner

of the window. In the maximized view of the main window, the diagonallines are not shown. To show them, the window must be reduced in size,for instance using the button.

You can change the window size by positioning the mouse pointer in theframe at the edge of the window, and then pulling the window frame left /right or up / down while holding down the left mouse button.

Changing the User Interface

You can change the view of the user interface to fit your own workhabits. Many dialogs, such as the Page navigator, which you often usefor editing your data, can be permanently positioned on your screenwhile working with EPLAN and undocked from the EPLAN main windowin the same manner as independent windows.

You can position any of these "Windows" (in an undocked state), and

every other dialog, by pulling the title bar of the dialog to the desiredposition while holding down the left mouse button.

Docking and undocking control elements

Some user interface control elements, such as the menu bar, the tool-bars or various windows like the Page Navigator, can be positionedinside or outside of the EPLAN main window.

1. In the title bar of the EPLAN main window, click the button(Minimize).

The EPLAN main window will be minimized.

2. Next click the title bar of the Page navigatorwith the left mousebutton and keep the button pressed.


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3. Press [Ctrl]to avoid docking, and pull the Page navigatorto a freeposition on the Windows Desktop.

If the borders of the respective control element are displayed witha thickline, EPLAN positions the control element as an independent,undocked element on the Windows desktop.

4. Repeat this procedure for additional control elements. To do this fora toolbar or the menu bar, click on a "free" spot within the bar.

Practice docking control elements, too.

5. To do this, click the title bar of the desired undocked control element(e.g., the Page navigator) with the left mouse button and keep thebutton pressed.

6. Pull the element to the desired position in the EPLAN main window.

To dock the undocked element to the border of the EPLAN mainwindow (or the border of another dockable element), you must movethe cursor exactly to the border of the EPLAN main window. You canrecognize this by the border of the element being displayed as a thinline. This will be a horizontal or vertical line, depending on whetheryou wish to position the control element at the top, bottom, left, orright. You can recognize the orientation from the thinly drawn pre-view rectangle.

When the program is exited, EPLAN saves the last settings of theseelements (docked, undocked, size, position) and restores them the nexttime the program is started.


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Example:

The following illustration shows the EPLAN user interface reconfiguredby docking and undocking control elements. Moreover, another toolbar("Symbols") has been hidden and two more moved around inside themain window ("Graphics", "Connection symbols").

Hiding and displaying toolbars

In EPLAN, there are a number of predefined toolbars for the differentprogram areas. To avoid unnecessarily reducing the size of your EPLANuser interface, you have the option of hiding the toolbars you don't need.

1. Click the right mouse button on a free area in the menu bar ortoolbar.

The popup menu shows all the available toolbars. Displayedtoolbars are marked with a preceding checkmark .


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2. Select the Standardtoolbar, for instance, and click the check box infront of the toolbar name.

EPLAN closes the popup menu and hides the toolbar.

3. Repeat the procedure and deactivate some more toolbars.

Practice displaying (unhiding) toolbars too. To do this, call up the popupmenu again and click on the name of a hidden toolbar (e.g., Standard).


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Tip:

For the hiding and displaying of toolbars, you also have the Customizedialog available. Call this dialog, for instance, using the Customizemenu item on the popup menu, or using the menu items Options >Toolbars > Customize. You can also use this dialog to customize andextend the predefined toolbars and create your own toolbars.

Selecting workspaces

Once you have changed the EPLAN user interface to suit your needs,you can save this arrangement as a "workspace." In an EPLAN work-space, the size and position of the EPLAN main window are determined,

as well as the position, size and settings of dockable dialogs, menus,and toolbars.

Using the workspace, you can quickly adapt the EPLAN interface to dif-ferent tasks. We provide you with a few predefined workspaces whichyou can use as templates for your own workspaces.

1. Select the menu item View > Workspace.

The Workspacedialog opens.

2. From the Schemedrop-down list, select the entry Connectionsas

an example of a workspace.

3. Click [OK].


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The interface changes you made disappear. Besides the Page naviga-tor, the main window now also contains the two windows PotentialsandConnections. In these special navigators, all the potentials and connec-tions of a project are shown.

Restoring the original view

1. Select the menu item View > Workspace.

The Workspacedialog opens.

2. From the Schemedrop-down list, select the entry Default.

3. Click [OK].

EPLAN now shows the view displayed when it first started up. Usingthis action, you can reset an EPLAN user interface that you may havechanged back to the original state.

You can find more detailed information about the user interface forinstance, how you can define your own workspaces in the EPLANonline help.


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Creating Projects


Creating Projects

Now that you have learned something about the operation of the user

interface in the last chapter, you will learn how to create a project quicklyand easily using the "Project Wizard".


What is a project?In EPLAN, schematics and attached documents such as lists and over-

views are created as pages within projects. A project consists of a collec-tion of different types of documents. Projects are stored and organized ina special database "Project Management".

What is a project structure?In EPLAN, "Project structure" means the combination of all identifierstructures used in the project for objects, pages, devices, and functions.All objects in a project (pages, devices, and functions) must be identifiedand placed in a hierarchical structure within the project. In a hierarchical-

ly arranged project structure, for instance, you can store and find pagesand devices more easily. The identifiers for project structure are called"structure identifiers".

What is a project template?In order to create a new project, you always need a template. Whenusing the project template, you create a project in which some settingsare already predefined. For instance, the structure of page identifiers anddevice tags are stored in a project template. The file extension for project

templates is *.ept.


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Creating Projects


Creating a Project Using the Project Wizard

EPLAN provides several options for creating a project.

Even as a beginner, you can use the Project wizardto quickly and easilyget results. In the dialog of the wizard the Create project (Wizard)dia-log you can enter all the principal data for a new project step by step.

1. Select the menu item Project > New (Wizard).

The Create project (Wizard)dialog opens.

2. In the Project namefield on the first tab, enter the name for your firstproject. Name the project EPLAN_start.

3. Select a storage locationfor the project. To do this, click [...]next tothe field of the same name.


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Creating Projects


The Browse For Folderdialog opens.

4. By default, your projects are managed in the Projectsdirectory in a"company folder" created during installation (in the illustration, the

Company codefolder). Select this "company folder" and click on

[Make New Folder].

A new folder is created below the currently selected "companyfolder", whose temporary name New Folderis highlighted with an

edit frame.

5. Here, enter the name EPLAN_startand click [OK].

The Browse For Folderdialog is closed and you are returned tothe Project wizard.


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Creating Projects


6. Select a Templatefor the project. To do this, click the [...]buttonnext to the field of the same name. If you don't select a templatehere, you will not be able to perform any more steps in the Projectwizard.

The Opendialog opens.

7. In the Files of typefield, select the EPLAN project template

(*.ept)option.

8. In the Opendialog, select the template, IEC_tpl001.ept.

9. Click on [Open].

The Opendialog is closed, and the name for the project templateis accepted for the Templatefield. The template and location now

being used will then be the defaults next time the Project wizard isstarted.


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Creating Projects


10. Click [Finish].

The Importing projectdialog opens. The Project wizard copiesthe template into the new project. This procedure may take sometime.

Then, the Create project (Wizard)dialog closes and the projectEPLAN_startis displayed in the Page navigator. Projects form the

first level in the tree (icon: ). The levels with the project pages aretypically below the level with the project name.


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Creating Projects


You have just created a project using the Project wizard, but the projectstill has no pages.

The selected project template enables hierarchically arranged structuresfor all objects in the project. It has a project structure already determined.

Structure identifiers for the "higher-level function" and the "mountinglocation" are used to identify pages and devices. This will, for example,be visible later when editing the page properties in the Full page namedialog (see page 36).

The next chapter will describe how to create and edit pages. There, youwill also read how to assign structure identifiers for the pages.

Note:

Once you are more familiar with EPLAN, you can use the different tabs

of the Create project (Wizard)dialog to change the default settings fromthe project template regarding structure, numbering, and properties.


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Creating and Editing Pages



In the previous chapter, you used the Project wizard to create an empty

project. In this chapter, you will learn how to create pages and edit theirpage properties.

In EPLAN, every page is assigned a particularpage type. A project gen-erally consists of pages of different types. The page types help structurea project. The page type is generally assigned when the page is created,but it can also be changed later.


What is a title page or cover sheet?

A page with the Title page / cover sheetpage type contains

general project information such as project name, a description of theproject, the drawing number, revision information, and so on. The titlepage or cover sheet is usually the first page of a project.

What is a schematic multi-line page?A schematic multi-line page is a page for which the schematic docu-mentation has multi-line symbols. It has special editing capabilities forthe creation and analysis of schematic diagrams. For instance, symbolsinserted are automatically connected with one another.

What is a graphical editor?A graphical editor is the part of the program you use to create and editschematics and mechanical drawings. It is started when you open a

page. Besides the window in which the page is displayed, the menu baralso has numerous program functions (such as the Insertmenu) avail-able for graphical editing.

The window is dockable and has its own standard Windows buttons. Ina "maximized" view, the window of the editor fits into the main window insuch a way that the title bar is integrated into the menu bar of the mainwindow (see also the illustration on page 34). In the "minimized" view,the window has its own title bar.


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Creating Pages

For schematic editing in the chapter after next, you will need another

page of the Schematic multi-linetype.

1. In the tree view of the Page navigator, select the project

EPLAN_start.

2. Select the menu items Page > New.

EPLAN opens the New pagedialog. The Page typefield is

automatically prepopulated with Schematic multi-line(I).

3. In the Page descriptionfield, enter the text, Power supply.

4. Click [OK].

The new page is shown in the tree view of thePage navigator

below the level of the EPLAN_startproject and opened in the

Graphical editor.


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Tips:

To create new pages, you can also use the (New page) button inthe Pagetoolbar.

In the Page navigator, you can also select Popup menu > New. Any

page or structure level may be selected when you do this.


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Creating cover sheets

Next you will create a cover sheet for your project.

1. In the tree view of the Page navigator, select the 1 Power supply

page.

2. Select the menu items Page > New.

EPLAN opens the New pagedialog. Most property fields alreadyhave values. EPLAN accepts the properties of the selected page andautomatically suggests the next free page for the Full page name.

3. Click on [Clear fields].

The contents of some properties fields (such as thePage de-scriptionfield) are deleted. The automatically suggested Full pagenameand the prepopulated Page typeare kept.

4. Next to the Page typefield, click the [...]button.

The Add page typedialog opens.

5. In the Add page typedialog, select the entry, Title page / cover

sheet (A), and click [OK].


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6. In the Page descriptionfield, enter the text Cover sheet.

7. For the Form nameproperty, click in the Valuefield next to it, and

then click the button that appears.

8. From the list that drops down, select theF26_001entry.

No value needs to be entered for the Plot frame nameproperty.The plot frame used for a page is already predefined in the projectsettings. The other displayed properties, Scaleand Grid, are alreadyprepopulated with correct entries.

9. Click [OK].

The cover sheet is shown in the tree view of thePage navigatorand opened in the Graphical editor.


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Creating additional schematic pages

Next, you will add another page of the Schematic multi-linetype.

To do this, in the Page navigator, select the page you just created,

2 Cover sheet, and select the menu items Page > New. Then, in thePage typefield, select the entry, Schematic multi-line (I), and in

the Page descriptionfield enter the text, Control ET1. Now you have

created the pages you need for editing the schematic.

Closing a page

Since you don't immediately need the second schematic page, close it

again.1. Select the menu item Page > Close.

The page 3 Control ET1is closed.

Tip:

If you have the cursor in an opened page, then you can also close thepage using the key combination [Ctrl] + [F4].


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Opening Pages

As you can already see from the different icons in the Page navigator,

the two pages of your project, EPLAN_start, have different page types.

Page 2is a Title page / cover sheettype (icon for reporting pages:

), and pages 1and 3are Schematic multi-linetypes (icon: ).

1. In the tree view of the Page navigator, select the page2 Cover sheet.

2. Select the menu item Page > Open.

EPLAN opens the page in the Graphical editor. The cover sheet

of the project is shown.


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The page name is displayed not only in the title bar of the mainwindow, but also as a tab under the graphic. (This is the case, if inthe Viewmenu, you activated the menu item Workbook.)

In the Page navigator, you can recognize the opened page from

the fact that the page name and description (2 Cover sheet) are

now in bold.

Tip:

To open a page selected in the Page navigator, you can also double-click on the page or press the [Enter]key.

Open the page 1in the same way. This will automatically close the firstpage and display the empty schematic in the Graphical editor.

Tip:

In EPLAN, you also have the option of viewing multiple pages on the

screen at one time. For instance, select page 2again, then from the

popup menu of the Page navigatorselect the menu item Open in newwindow. EPLAN opens the page in another window of the Graphicaleditor. For every opened page, a tab is shown below the graphical editorwindow. You can quickly switch between pages by clicking these tabs.


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Editing Page Properties

For the sample project, you selected a project template with predefinedidentifier structures. The pages created, however, don't yet have struc-

ture identifiers. In the following section, we describe how you can assignthe identifier by editing the page properties.

1. In the tree view of the Page navigator, select the cover sheet (page2 Cover sheet).

2. Then, select the menu items Edit > Propertiesor press the key-board shortcut [Ctrl] + [D].

The Page propertiesdialog opens.

3. Change the value in the Full page namefield. To do this, click the[...]button next to the field of the same name.

EPLAN opens the Full page namedialog. Here, you can enterthe structure identifier and the name of the page (e.g., the page

number).


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4. Enter the value ANLin the Higher-level functionfield.

5. Enter the value DBTin the Mounting locationfield.

6. In the Page namefield, change the entry from 2to 1.

7. Click [OK].

The Full page namedialog is closed. The structure identifiers areaccepted for the field of the same name in the Page propertiesdia-log.

8. In the Page propertiesdialog, click [OK].

The cover sheet will then be placed in the tree view of thePagenavigatoraccording to the assigned structure identifiers (full page

name =ANL+DBT/1). For the "Higher-level function" structure iden-

tifier level with the identifier ANL, the icon will be used; and for the"Mounting location" level with the identifier DBT, the icon will be

used.

Repeat this action for the schematic page (page 1and 3). In the Full

page namedialog, as the structure identifier for the Higher-level func-

tion, enter the designation ANLagain. For the Mounting location, enter

the designation SCPfor the schematic pages. And for the second sche-

matic page, in the Page namefield, change the entry from 3to 2.


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Tip:

You can also determine structure identifiers and page names in the Fullpage namedialog when you create a page.

Now all pages in the project have structure identifiers. To display allpages in the Page navigator, click the plus sign in the tree in front of

the identifiers ANL, DBT, and SCP. You may first have to enlarge the Page

navigatorwindow a little before you can read all the page descriptions.

Note:

If you have made a change during page editing (for instance, changedpage properties, inserted graphical elements, etc.), then EPLANsavesthese changes immediately. There is no separate save necessary, andso there is no corresponding menu item in the program!


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Opening and Closing a Project



Before you start with the actual creation of a schematic, you will first look

at a predefined demonstration project in this chapter. You will also learnhow to open and close a project, and you will learn a few basic com-mands for viewing and editing a project.

Opening a Project

1. Select the menu item Project > Open.

The Open projectdialog opens. Here, the projects are shownwhich are located in your predefined project directory by default.

2. If they are not in the standard directory, click thePathfield and thenselect Popup menu > Go to default.

3. Select the project EPLAN-DEMO.elk.

4. Click [Open].

The page description is displayed in the Page navigator.


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Tip:

To open and close structure levels with subordinate levels, from thePage navigatoryou can also use the two menu items ExpandandCollapsefrom the popup menu. The currently selected level in the treeview will be opened or closed. A minus sign before a level indicatesthat the level is already open. For instance, if you want to show all thepages of a project in the tree at once, then select the (closed) level withthe project name, and press the [X]key on the numeric block of yourkeyboard. For a larger project, this process can take some time.

Paging Through the Project Pages

Using the appropriate program functions, you can look at the pages of aproject one after the other in the Graphical editor.

1. Select the menu items Page > Next pageto page to the next page of

the EPLAN-DEMOproject.

EPLAN shows you the next page in the window of theGraphicaleditor.

2. Repeat this action a few times and look at the contents of the pagesin the Graphical editor.

The pages are shown one after another in theGraphical editor.If the tree structure in the Page navigatorwas not yet completelyopened, this will be done while paging through the pages. The pagename and the description of the currently opened page are high-lighted in bold in the Page navigator.

3. Page back a few pages, too. To do this, select the menu itemPage >

Previous page.

4. Finally, finish paging and select the first schematic multi-line page(=EB3+ET1/1with the description Power supply) of the demo

project.


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Tip:

To page through the project pages, you can also use the keys [PgDn]/

[PgUp]or the buttons / in the Pagetoolbar. However, if yourcursor is located in the Page navigator, the keys will not page throughthe pages but will cause the cursor to jump to the bottom or top pageshown in the tree view.


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Creating a View

Using the page =EB3+ET1/1now opened in the demo project, we would

like to introduce you to a few functions which will be useful later when

you create schematics.

Turning on the grid display

A glance at the two menu items Viewand Optionswill show you that inEPLAN there are numerous program functions which make it easier foryou to draw schematics.

You can work with a grid to make the positioning of elements easier. By

default, in the Optionsmenu, the menu item Snap to gridis activated.

If this option is activated, the graphical elements and symbols are posi-tioned directly on the grid points of the grid during the drawing process.

The size of the grid used is stored as a page property. In the graphicaleditor, you can modify the grid size set by default to the respective page

type. Using the to buttons in the Viewtoolbar, you can switch be-tween five different grids, for which different grid sizes have been storedin the user settings.

Please keep the Snap to gridoption activated during the subsequent

schematic generation and use Grid Cwith the default grid size 4.0 mm.The grid size used is displayed in the status bar. The "ON" or "OFF" textin the status bar in front of the grid size indicates whether the snap togrid is activated or not (see example regarding status bar on page 15).

1. Select the menu item View > Gridto activate the grid view (or in the

Viewtoolbar, click the (Grid) button).

The use of grid snap is independent of the grid display options. If this

view bothers you later when creating the schematic, then turn the griddisplay off in the same way.


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Using window zoom

Normally, the entire page is shown in a window of the Graphical editor.For schematic editing, it is often a good idea to enlarge a certain screen

segment in order to be able to see details better. For instance, you canuse the "window zoom" in order to show a certain window segment in anenlarged view.

1. Select the menu item View > Zoom > Window(or in the Viewtool-

bar, click the (Zoom window) button).

In addition to the mouse pointer, a magnifying glass will also bedisplayed.

2. Left-click the mouse in the upper left corner of the schematic, anduse the mouse to open an area which includes about a quarter of theschematic page.

The area to be enlarged is outlined with a thick frame while it isbeing selected.


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3. Click the left mouse button again.

The selected area is displayed at maximum size.

If the entire page should be displayed later, select the menu items View

> Zoom > 100%(or in the Viewtoolbar click the (Zoom 100%) but-ton).

Tip:

You can also use an optional mouse wheel to zoom in EPLAN. By de-fault, during scrolling the mouse wheel acts in the same way you arefamiliar with from other CAD programs. If you scroll up / down with themouse wheel, the page is enlarged / reduced. In the settings, you alsohave the option of changing the scrolling behavior so that it matches thebehavior of text editing programs. In this case, when you scroll with themouse wheel, the visible section of the page is moved upwards or down-

wards.


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Deleting and restoring elements

1. Move the mouse pointer onto the element with the designation-Q1.

The element is displayed in a different color. Below the symbol, asmall text window (Tooltip) is displayed with information about theelement.

2. Select the element by clicking on it.

The color of the element changes again.

3. Select the menu item Edit > Delete(or press [Delete]).

The element -Q1is completely deleted. You can, however, use the Undo

command to reinsert the element.

4. Then select the menu item Edit > Undo.

Note:

When editing elements in the Graphical editor, besides the usual Win-dows operating methods (first select elements, then call command), inmost cases the reverse order of operation (first call the command, thenselect elements) is also supported.

Practice this once for the element -Q1you just inserted.

1. Select the menu item Edit > Delete.

In addition to the mouse pointer, two other symbols are also dis-played. The box with the red X is the symbol assigned to the deletefunction, and the box with the dashed line stands for the area to beselected.


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2. Left-click the mouse button on the upper left of the element, and use

the mouse to drag a frame around -Q1.

The element -Q1is removed.

3. This time, press the key combination [Ctrl] + [Z]to undo the Deletecommand again and to reinsert the element.

Closing a Project

1. Select the menu item Project > Close.

The EPLAN-DEMOproject is closed.

If your cursor is in the Page navigator, then the project for which youhave selected one or more pages is closed.

Note:

Please note that the menu item Closein the popup menu Page naviga-toronly closes the page currently located in the foreground. If you wantto close a project using the popup menu of the Page navigator, then youneed to select the menu items Popup menu > Project > Close.

Tip:

In the Projectmenu, beneath the menu item Print, a list of the lastprojects opened is displayed. You can use this list to open a corres-ponding project without needing to use the menu item Open.


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Example:

Also consider the following example. You have just closed the demoproject. Now click on the Projectmenu and select the EPLAN-DEMO

entry. EPLAN opens the demo project again. After it opens, practiceclosing it again.

Now that you have looked at the complicated demo project in thischapter, in the next two main sections you will create a much "simpler"schematic.


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Creating a Schematic



In this chapter, you will begin with the creation of a simple schematic. If

necessary, to do this, first open the schematic page=ANL+SCP/1in yoursample project with the description, Power supply.


What is a symbol?A symbol is a graphic which is used in EPLAN to show functions. By

default, symbols do not contain any logical data. These are generallystored in the functions.

What is a component?A component is a graphical element for the representation of a function.It consists of the function and symbol. The function contains the logicaldata and the symbol contains the graphical data. A component has adevice tag, connection point designations, and so on.

What are devices?Devices are logical electronic or fluid-technical units that work together.

They are named with a device tag (DT) such as M1, K1, X1, XS1, W1.

What are coordinate systems?A number of different coordinate systems are available in EPLAN forpositioning the cursor. Depending on the page type, a certain coordinatesystem will be the default. On electrical engineering schematic pages,

the coordinate system is of the type, Electrical engineering. This has itsorigin in the upper left corner of the drawing surface. The coordinates are

indicated in grid increments RXand RYand displayed in the status bar.


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Inserting "Angle" Connection Symbols

As the first elements, insert a few angles into your schematic. Anglesand other elements (T-nodes, interruption points, etc.) are considered

in EPLAN to be connection symbols, used to show the paths of connec-tions in the schematic.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Connection symbol > Angle (down,right).

The angle hangs on the cursor.

2. Select Options > Coordinate input.

The Coordinate inputdialog opens.

3. In the Current cursor positiongroup box, for X:enter 10and for

Y:enter 10.

4. Click [OK].

The Coordinate inputdialog is closed. Along with the cursor,EPLAN places the angle at the given position. The current cursor

position is also shown in the bottom left corner of the status bar.


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5. You can immediately insert more angles. To do this, callCoordinateinputagain, as shown above, and place more Angles (down, right)

at the positions RX:12/ RY:11and RX:14/ RY:12.

6. Then select Popup menu > Cancel actionto terminate the action.

Tip:

To call the Coordinate inputquickly, you can also press the [P]key.

Notes:

In the entire sample project, we place the different schematic ele-ments into precisely defined positions to make it possible to comparethe results. This kind of determination of insertion coordinates is not

absolutely necessary when editing your own schematics. To do thiswhen inserting as described above you can use Coordinate inputor position the elements at the given coordinates using the mouse orthe cursor keys.If you use the Coordinate inputdialog to do this, each element isdirectly placed after confirming the coordinates with [OK].If you position the element using the mouseor keyboard, then afterpositioning you must still left click or press [Enter]in order to placethe element on the page.

Please note that when inserting to specific coordinates outside ofthe coordinate systems in use, the grid sizebeing used will also playa role. The grid size for pages of the type, Schematic multi-line,

has a default of "4.00 mm". If, for example, in the Page propertiesyou changed the default Gridfrom "4.00 mm" to "2.00 mm", then theangle that you inserted first (previous position RX:10/ RY:10) would

now be in the position RX:20/ RY:20.


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Generating connection lines automatically

Repeat the "Insert angle" procedure for the symbol Angle down, left(menu path: Insert > Connection symbol > Angle (down, left)) and

insert three more angles at the coordinates RX:84/ RY:10, RX:86/RY:11, and RX:88/ RY:12.

Once the connection points of two angle symbols are directly horizontally(or vertically) aligned in the schematic, they are automatically connectedwith a connection line. This is called "autoconnecting", in which the con-nection lines created this way are called "autoconnect lines". Only theseautoconnect lines are recognized and reported as electrical connectionsbetween symbols. Autoconnecting is always performed if the connectionpoints of two symbols are aligned horizontally or vertically. When insert-

ing and moving symbols, a preview of the autoconnect lines is shown.

Inserting Potential Connection Points

The potentials in the schematic can be defined by potential connectionpoints.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Potential connection point.

The symbol for the potential connection point hangs on the mousepointer.

2. Position the first potential connection point at the coordinatesRX:10/

RY:48and click the left mouse button to place it.

The Properties (components): Potential connection pointopens.


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3. On the Potential definitiontab in the properties dialog, for theName of potential, enter the value L1.

4. In the Propertiesgroup box for the Potential type, select the valueLfrom the dropdown list.


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5. Click [OK].

The properties dialog is then closed.

You can immediately insert more potential connection points. First posi-

tion the connection points L2, L3(both with potential type L) at the coor-dinates RX:12/ RY:48and RX:14/ RY:48and the connection point PE/N

(with potential type Undefined) at the coordinates RX:16/ RY:48.

Then place two more potential connection points PEand N(with potential

types of PE and N) in the schematic at the coordinates RX:16/ RY:35

and RX:19/ RY:38. After the symbols are placed, a different symbol

variant must be selected in the properties dialog. To do this, click on theSymbol / function datatab in the properties dialog and, in the Variant

field, select Variant C.


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Finish this action by selecting the menu item Cancel actionfrom thepopup menu or pressing the [Esc]key.

Tip:

If there are different variants of a symbol (such as for a potential connec-tion point), then you already have several possibilities during positioningto select between the different variants. For instance, if the symbol ishanging on the mouse pointer, you can press the [Ctrl]key and movethe cursor in a circle. The various variants are displayed. Once you havedecided on a variant, first release the [Ctrl]key, then click the left mousebutton to place the symbol. A different way to page between the variantsavailable consists of pressing the [Tab]key while inserting.

Inserting "T-node" Connection Symbols

There are T-nodes for four different directions. For each direction, thereare then four variants.

1. Select the menu items Insert > Connection symbol > T-node(right).

The T-node hangs on the mouse pointer.

2. Position the T-node at the coordinatesRX:16/ RY:42and click the

left mouse button to place it.

3. End the action using Popup menu > Cancel action.

4. Then select the menu item View > Insertion points.

The insertion points of all placed schematic elements are shownin the schematic as "black squares".

5. Double-click on the insertion point of the T-node.

The T-node rightdialog opens.

6. Here, select the option 1st target below, 2nd target right.


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7. Click [OK].

Repeat this action for the connection symbol T-node down(menu path:Insert > Connection symbol > T-node (down)), and insert two more

T-nodes at the coordinates RX:44/ RY:10and RX:48/ RY:11. No variantselection is necessary.

Insert another Angle up, leftas well (menu path: Insert > Connectionsymbol > Angle (up, left)), and place it at the coordinates RX:19/

RY:42.

If you do not want the insertion points to be shown, select View > Inser-tion pointsagain.

Tips:

For fast display and hiding of the insertion points, you can also usethe [ i ]key.

By double-clicking the insertion point, you can also open the respec-tive properties dialog and then edit the properties for other symbols,texts and graphical elements that are placed in the graphical editor.Alternatively, you can select the respective object and select thePropertiesmenu item in the popup menu.


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Inserting Graphical Elements

Graphical elements are elements like lines, circles, rectangles, and soon, which contain no information relevant to the schematic. To draw

these elements, you have several commands available in the Insert >Graphicmenu.

Drawing rectangles

1. Select the menu item Insert > Graphic > Rectangle.

The rectangle hangs on the mouse pointer.

2. Position the cursor at the coordinatesRX:7/ RY:51.

3. Click the left mouse button to determine the starting point of therectangle.

4. Then move the cursor to the coordinates RX:19/ RY:45and click the

left mouse button to place the end point of the rectangle.


Note:

When inserting graphical elements, a small text window for inputtingnumbers is displayed on the cursor by default. This text window is calledthe "input box".

The values entered in the input box relate to the graphical coordinatesystem with its origin at the bottom-left and which is reported in "mm" or"inch", according to the preset displayed measuring unit.

If the Input boxfunction is enabled in the Optionsmenu, you can usethe input box, for example, to position graphical elements quickly andprecisely on graphical pages. On such pages, the graphical coordinatesystem is preset.


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Drawing lines

1. Select the menu item Insert > Graphic > Line.

The symbol for the line hangs on the mouse pointer.


3. Click the left mouse button to determine the starting point of thefirstlineof the rectangle.


left mouse button to place the end point of the first line.

5. Repeat this action, and position the starting point of thesecond line

at the coordinates RX:18/ RY:38. Place the end point of the secondline at the coordinates RX:21/ RY:38.


To "visually" highlight the action line, change the formatting properties ofthe lines inserted.

7. Double-click, for instance, on the "PE" line (the first line).

The Propertiesdialog opens.

8. In the Propertiesdialog, switch to the Formattab.

9. Change the settings here. For instance, select a differentLine thick-ness, Color, Line type, Pattern length, and / or Line end style.


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10. Click [OK].

Repeat this action for the second action line. To differentiate the lines,select different formatting properties (e.g., a different color or a differentline type).


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Inserting General Devices

Unlike other symbols (such as the connection symbols), general devicescan only be selected via symbol selection.

Selecting a symbol

In Symbol selection, you can select symbols from a tree or list view. Inthe tree view, symbols are divided neatly into different groups based ontheir function definitions. Here, you can page through the different groupsuntil you find the symbol you want.

Example:

The following illustration shows symbol selection through the tree viewfor the first device to be inserted.


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If you select a symbol in the tree, below the tree a symbol descriptionof that symbol is displayed. On the right side in the dialog, the Symbolselectionpresents you with a preview. Once you have selected the de-sired symbol in the preview, you can then accept it with a double-click.

For the sample project, we are using a symbol selection from the listview. You can also select a symbol very quickly using direct entryinthe list view.

Note:

The symbol selection via direct entrydescribed below works only if youleave the columns of the list configured so that the nameof the symbol isin the first column.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Symbol.

The Symbol selectiondialog is opened.

2. In the Symbol selectiondialog, select the Listtab.

3. To reduce the number of symbols shown, select a filter now. To do

this, from the Filterdrop-down list, apply the IEC symbols, multi-

lineentry.

4. Select the Activecheck box to activate the filter settings.

The various symbols are managed in so-called "symbol libraries".

Now the list only shows the multi-line symbols from theIEC_Symbol

symbol library.

5. In the Direct entryfield, enter Q1.

After you enter the first character, the cursor jumps to the firstsymbol whose namebegins with that character, and selects it.

The selected symbol is displayed in the preview window on theright side, with all existing variants. The first variant of each is se-lected in the preview window. The symbol will also be displayed inthe Graphical preview.


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6. In the list, select the three-pole switchQ1and click [OK].

The symbol hangs on the mouse pointer and can be placed on thecurrent page in the Graphical editor.

7. Position the symbol at the coordinatesRX:10/ RY:23in the sche-

matic and then click the left mouse button.

Determining properties

After placing the switch on the page, the Properties (components)dialog opens. Some fields are already prepopulated with entries. InEPLAN, devices are automatically numbered by default when inserted.This behavior is called "online numbering". In the settings, you can de-activate online numbering and also change the predefined numberingformat (menu path: Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name"> Devices > Numbering (online)).


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1. In the Properties (components): General devicedialog, switch tothe Switch / pushbuttontab.

The fields Displayed DT, Connection point designation, andConnection point descriptionare already prepopulated withentries.

2. Enter the value 16Ainto the Technical characteristicsfield.

3. In the Function textfield, enter the text Load interrupter.

4. Click [OK].



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You have now inserted a switch with three NO contacts into the sche-

matic. -Q1is shown as the displayed DT. In the schematic, you also see

the connection point designations entered and the function text.

Tip:

To call up Symbol selectionquickly, you can also use the [Insert]key

or the button (Symbol) in the Symbolstoolbar.

Inserting other general devices

Proceed in the same fashion as above for the components listed below.In the list view, select Symbol selectionusing direct entry. To do this,

enter the symbol name given below for each one, and leave the IEC

symbols, multi-line filterfilter activated.


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Symbols of the same type can be inserted immediately one after theother. Before you can then select a different symbol, you must finish theaction and then call Symbol selectionagain.

Position the symbols on the given coordinates and fill in the properties of

the components inserted, if necessary. The entries of the prepopulatedproperties are given in parentheses in the following listing.

No. Symbol description Entries

1. Fuse, single-pole, general

Symbol name for direct entry:

Coordinates:

Displayed DT:

Connection point designation:

Technical characteristics:

F1

RX:44/ RY:17

(-F1)

(12)6A



Coordinates:

Displayed DT:



F1

RX:48/ RY:17

(-F2)

(12)

6A

3. Single-phase transformer with twowindings and shield


Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


T11

RX:44/ RY:23

(-T1)

400V24V0V0VPE

In order to enter the character, which is already prepopulated for the

T11symbol and used here as a separator for the individual connection

points, use the keyboard shortcut [Ctrl] + [Enter]. You can also selectthe menu item Line breakfrom the popup menu.


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Coordinates:Displayed DT:



F1

RX:44/ RY:30(-F3)

(12)

6A

5. Rectifier, bridge, 2-phase, secondary2 connection points


Coordinates:Displayed DT:


G22

RX:44/ RY:37(-V1)

24+0-

6. Fuse, three-pole, general


Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


F3

RX:84/ RY:17

(-F4)

(123456)

7. Power circuit breaker / motor overloadswitch with switch mechanism and line


Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


Function text:

QL3_1

RX:84/ RY:23

(-Q2)

(123456)

Motor overloadswitch

8. Power NO contact of a contactor


Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


SL

RX:84/ RY:30

-K1

(12)


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For the other NO power contacts you have to insert, remove the sug-

gested displayed DT-?K1,and don't enter any device tag there. For

projects compliant with IEC standards, the DT is taken from the left. Thebehavior that occurs when components which have no displayed DT of

their own and take their DT from a different component is called "DTadoption" in EPLAN.




Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


SL

RX:86/ RY:30

-



Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


SL

RX:88/ RY:30

-

56

11. Three-phase asynchronous motor, one

rotation speedSymbol name for direct entry:

Coordinates:

Displayed DT:


M3

RX:84/ RY:48

(-M1)

(U1V1W1PE)

Assign the motor a PE potential connection pointas well. As alreadydescribed in the section "Inserting Potential Connection Points" on

page 52, select the menu items Insert > Potential connection pointand insert Variant Cof the symbol at the coordinates RX:90/ RY:35. As

Name of potentialand Potential type, you must enter PE.


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Then insert another Angle up, right(menu path: Insert > Connection

symbol > Angle...) at the coordinates RX:88/ RY:52and an Angle up,

leftat the coordinates RX:90/ RY:52.

Inserting Terminal Strips and Terminals

Terminals are a kind of device and, like general devices, can only beinserted into your schematic using symbol selection.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Symbol.

The Symbol selectiondialog is opened.

2. In the Symbol selectiondialog, select the Listtab.

3. If you haven't yet, activate the FilterIEC symbols, multi-line.


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4. In the Direct entryfield, enter X.

5. In the list, select the terminalXand click [OK].

The terminal symbol hangs on the mouse pointer and can be

placed on the current page in the Graphical editor.

6. Position the first terminal at the coordinatesRX:84/ RY:37in the

schematic and then click the left mouse button.

The Properties (components): Terminalsdialog opens. Here iswhere you determine the properties of the terminals. Terminals arealso automatically numbered by default. Accordingly, the DisplayedDTand Designationon the Terminaltab are already filled with the

entries X1and 1.


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8. Here, in the tree of the Selectionfield, select the function definition

Terminal with saddle jumper, 2 connection points.

9. Click [OK].

The Function definitionsdialog is closed.

10. In the Properties (components): Terminalsdialog, also click [OK].

The terminal with the displayed DT X1is placed in the schematic.

11. Place an additional three terminals at the coordinatesRX:86/ RY:37,

RX:88/ RY:37and RX:90/ RY:37. For the first two terminals, you

can accept the predefined terminal designations 2and 3, but for the

last terminal change the designation toPE

. Modify the function defini-

tions for all terminals. For the first two terminals (-X1:2and -X1:3),

also select the function definition Terminal with saddle jumper,

2 connection points, and for the PE terminal (-X1:2) the function

definition PE terminal with rail contact, 2 connection

points.

12. Finish the action by selecting the menu item Cancel actionfrom thepopup menu.

Inserting a terminal strip definition

In EPLAN, terminal strips are managed using terminal strip definitions.The terminal strip definition identifies the terminal strip and contains allthe relevant data for the terminal strip as well as the terminal strip partinformation.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Terminal strip definition.

The symbol for the terminal strip definition hangs on the mousepointer.

2. Position the symbol at the coordinatesRX:3/ RY:63and click the left

mouse button to place the terminal strip definition.

The Properties (components): Terminal strip definitiondialogopens. Due to the automatic numbering, the field Displayed DTisalready prepopulated with the entry X2.


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3. In the Displayed DTfield on the Terminal strip definitiontab, enter

the strip designation -X1already assigned in the schematic.

4. In the Function textfield, enter the text Motor, 4 connection

points.

5. Click [OK].

The terminal strip definition is inserted at the given coordinates.

As a terminal strip definition, the text -X1=Motor, 4 connection

pointsis displayed.



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Drawing Cable Definition Lines

Cables can be displayed graphically with cable definition lines (orshields). The cable definition line must cross the corresponding

connections.

1. Select the menu item Insert > Cable definition.

The symbol for the cable definition line hangs on the mousepointer.


3. Click with the left mouse button to establish the starting point of the

line.


left mouse button again to place the end point of the line.

The Properties (components): Cabledialog opens. Due to theautomatic numbering, the field Displayed DTis already prepopu-

lated with the entry W1.

5. In the Function textfield, enter the text Motor.

6. In the fields No. of conductors, Length, and Conductor cross-

section / diameter, enter the following entries: 4x, 10 m, 1.5.

7. From the drop-down list for the Unitfield, select the entry mm2.


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8. Click [OK].

In the schematic, the cable definition line with the displayed DT

W1is shown along with the data entered.


When drawing the cable definition line, a connection definition point isautomatically set at each intersection of connections with the cable defi-nition line. The cable conductors are determined via the connection defi-nition points. You will only see these automatically generated connectiondefinition points if you have activated the view of insertion points.


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Updating Connections

Connection lines generated by autoconnecting are at first simply graphi-cal lines and not connections with data. For certain actions (e.g., opening

a page, generating reports, etc.), the connections are first automaticallyupdated. In doing this, new connections are generated based on theavailable information or existing connections are updated. The individualconnection can get its data from project settings, potentials, or from aconnection definition point.

Since the connection data is not automatically updated for each action,we recommend manually updating before certain actions (such as theexecution of check runs, or working in navigator dialogs).

1. Select the project EPLAN_startin the Page navigator.

2. Select the menu item Project data > Connections > Update.

EPLAN updates all connections in the project.

Notes:

The "manual" updating of connections is usually done for the entireproject. For this purpose, the Update connections throughout the

project (manually)check box is activated by default in the settings(menu path: Options > Settings > User > Display > General). If thecheck box is not activated, updating is only carried for the currentselection (of pages, functions, etc.).

You can tell if connections are up-to-date by looking at the right edge

of the status bar: If the "#" sign is displayed there, the project has

out-of-date connections. If the "*" sign is displayed, the open page

has out-of-date connections.


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Inserting Path Function Texts

Path function texts ease documentation because you don't have to entera function text for each component. If no other function text is entered for

a component, the function text from the path will be used for reports(e.g., in terminal diagrams).

1. Select the menu items, Insert > Path function text.

The Properties - Path function textdialog opens.

2. On the Texttab, enter the term, Power supply.

3. Click [OK].

The path function text hangs on the mouse pointer.


5. Click the left mouse button to place the text in the desired path.


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The path function text is placed at the given coordinates.


Repeat this action to insert two more path function texts (Distribution

24 V DCat the coordinates RX:44/ RY:56and Conveyor beltatRX:84/ RY:56).

Note:

Be sure when inserting path function texts that the insertion point of thetext is aligned with the insertion point of the component which shouldreceive the path function text.

Inserting "Interruption Point" ConnectionSymbols

1. Select the menu item Insert > Connection symbol > Interruptionpoint.

The interruption point symbol hangs on the mouse pointer.

2. Hold [Ctrl]and then move the cursor in a circle.

The different variants are displayed.

3. Select the variant with the arrow pointing downwards (Variant D),

and release the [Ctrl]key.

4. Position the interruption point at the coordinatesRX:44/ RY:48and

click the left mouse button.

The Properties (components): Interruption pointdialog opens.


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5. In the Displayed DTfield, enter the device tag L+.

6. Click [OK].

The interruption point is inserted at the given coordinates.

7. Place another interruption point of Variant Dat the coordinates

RX:48/ RY:48, and enter L-as the device tag.



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Inserting more action lines

Your first schematic page is now almost complete. Now you must inserttwo more action lines. To do so, follow the same procedure as in section,

"Drawing lines" (on page 58), and drag the first line from the coordinates,RX:89/ RY:35,to the end point, RX:92/ RY:35. Assign this "PE" line the

same formatting properties you assigned to the first "PE" line.

Position the action line for the power NO contact K1at coordinates

RX:84/ RY:30and RX:88/ RY:30. Change the formatting properties for

this line, too. For instance, select a different line thickness and a differentline type.

Next, you will also insert components on the second schematic page,thus generating cross-references.


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Generating Cross-references



In the previous chapter, you generated a schematic on the first sche-

matic page of your sample project. In this chapter, you will complete theschematic on the second page, thus generating cross-references.

EPLAN differentiates between different types of cross-reference. Theprogram automatically inserts most of these cross-reference automati-cally (online). Based on the sample project, you will get to know some ofthe most common cross-reference types. More detailed information onthe different types of cross-reference can be found in the EPLAN onlinehelp.


What are cross-references?Devices can consist of different elements and be distributed across mul-tiple pages of schematics. It can also be necessary to depict a devicemultiple times. In such cases, cross-references identify the fact thatindividual components belong together. A cross-reference shows you

where the other part of a device can be found in the schematic. Usingcross-references, you can reliably find a component or associated partson a series of pages.

How are cross-references displayed in the schematic?

The cross-references are shown by default in the order, [Separa-

tor]Page name[Separator]Column. By default, the separator used

in front of the page is "/", and the separator between page and column

is ".".

By default, the cross-references receive a different color than the otherelements displayed.

Note:

Specify separators and other general settings for cross-references in thesettings by going to the menu items, Options > Settings > Projects >"Project name" > Cross-references / contact image > General.


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82 EPLAN Electric P8

Documents

Eplan P8 2.2 Beginners Guide