AutoCAD Electrical – Best Practices

Tifani Weisbrod AUTODESK

AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL – BEST PRACTICES

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1. General Tips

As with many software packages and design tools, there are many ways to accomplish the same task. This can add a load of confusion to novice and veteran users alike. In addition to the countless ways to accomplish the same tasks, there are similarities between AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical that can add confusion. Along with these hurdles, AutoCAD might provide a manual process to accomplish the task, where AutoCAD Electrical, being an electrical design tool, may provide an automated process for the same task.

 Take AutoCAD Electrical Essentials Training (it will help!)

 Always work with drawings within the Project Manager, not the File Menu

 Include all possible wire types in your template for ease of use and always keep wires organized on proper wire layers (created in the *dwt using Create/Edit Wire Type)

 Use the Electrical Audit for at least the Top 3 warnings:

o Wire No Connection for missing Source/Destination Signals

o Component No Catalog Number for missing BOM info

o Contacts (Child No Connection) for missing parent/child relationships

 Try to work as “out of the box” as you can with AutoCAD Electrical. It will make your implementation much smoother. (Even if it means, changing the way some of your symbols look, etc)

 If you decide to modify the Environment file, make sure that you save the existing environment file (wd.env) in its clean original state.

 Although your project files can access drawings from many different folders, it’s often a best practice to try to keep the project file, all of its drawings, and most support files in the same place.

 If you intend to share the major support files with other team members, utilize the Network Installation Wizard that comes with your software. It will help to ensure that you are keeping all of the support files linked to the software.

 If you want to utilize the Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility, using the demoplc.xls (C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical 20xx\Rxx.1\enu\Support\User\demoplc.xls) file that comes with the software is a great template to start with.

 Use the Help Menu often. It provides a wealth of knowledge, is award winning, and well worth the time. (Tip: Don’t forget that clicking F1 when you’re in the middle of a command or hovering over a command will take you right to that command in the Help Menu, which saves you from having to search for the command in Help.)

 Always review the Launchpad for new features whenever a new release comes out. Make sure you are making use of the software’s true potential. Taking Update class also a great idea!

 Utilizing the support files for default description values (wd-desc.wdd located on C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical xxxx\Rxx.1\enu\Support), location (Default.loc) and installation (Default.inst) (both located in C:\Users\username\Documents\Acade

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20xx\AeData\Tutorial\IEC Sample, which and be copied into project folder and renamed to match then name of the project) codes are a great way to standardize throughout a company. These files can be created in Notepad.

 If you use your own part numbers in association with Manufacturer catalog numbers, the User Fields within the Catalog Database are great places to put those.

 Creating custom workspaces is a great way to keep your environment always looking like you want it to.

 Always follow up the creation of a new symbol with adding its .png image to the Icon Menu via the Icon Menu Wizard.

 Decide on company standards for your project properties and build those into your template files.

1.1. Paper Space

Utilize Paper Space tools, including Viewport settings. Note: Lock viewports once the scale is set

 Double click inside of the viewport to activate Model Space within the viewport.  Use the Viewport scale from the Status Bar to adjust the scale & the padlock next to it to Lock the Scale  Double click outside of the viewport to return to Paper Space

1.2. Publish

Publish is a great tool!! It will save an immense amount of time!

When Publishing from Model Space

 If you don’t already have a Page Setup created for Model Space plots, Go to File>Page Setup Manager>  Select New  Name it something similar to Model Publish  Setup the plotter, page size, plot Extents, Center the Plot, Fit to Paper, Monochrome, and Landscape  Save the Drawing  Go to File>Publish.  Right click inside the drawing list and select Remove ALL  Check Model Tabs and Uncheck Layout Tabs  Click the + button to add desired drawings to be plotted.  Shift select all drawings in the list.  Scroll to the top of the list, and click the arrow down for the Page Setup, select Import.  Choose the drawing that you created the Model Publish Page Setup in  Select Imported: Model Publish from the list to apply it to all drawings in the dialog box.  Click Publish  (You may or may not want to save the drawing list when it asks you. It will save a .dsd file that holds all of the

drawings list and all settings for the Publish that you can load anytime you start the Publish command)

If you want to Publish Existing Layout Tabs, they should all have their own Page Setups so that they will not need to

be shift selected and forced to take on an imported Page Setup

Note: You can also Publish AutoCAD Electrical Projects by right clicking on the project name in the Project Manager

and selecting Publish (the dialog box does look different)

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2. AutoCAD vs. AutoCAD Electrical:

Important Tips if you’re working between Vanilla AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical

2.1. Deleting a Component  Deleting a Component NEVER USE THE DELETE KEY IN AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL, use the Delete Component

tool.

 Deleting a component can be done using Vanilla AutoCAD commands such as “Erase”. There will be some clean up work after deleting the component such as the wire will need to be repaired.

 Things to keep in mind: o The AutoCAD Electrical user should perform a “Full Rebuild” of the scratch database before updating the

bill of materials; o The AutoCAD Electrical user will need to re-run the Reports / Bill of Materials after the Vanilla AutoCAD

users are done editing the drawing package.

2.2. Copying a Component  Copying a Component NEVER USE THE COPY COMMAND IN AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL, use the Copy

Component tool.

 Copying a component can be done using Vanilla AutoCAD commands such as “Copy”. There will be some clean up work after copying the component such as the wire will need to be trimmed out.

 Things to keep in mind: o The AutoCAD Electrical user should perform a “Full Rebuild” of the scratch database before updating the

bill of materials; o The AutoCAD Electrical user will need to re-run the Reports / Bill of Materials after the Vanilla AutoCAD

users are done editing the drawing package.

2.3. Changing Annotation  Use the Edit Component tool  Any of the attributed fields in the AutoCAD Electrical symbol can be edited using Vanilla AutoCAD commands

such as “Eattedit” or simply double left clicking on symbol to be revised.

 Things to keep in mind: o Typed catalog numbers must be accurate. If they do not match anything in the parts database of

AutoCAD Electrical they will never pull the proper information. o Any child symbols will not be automatically updated as they would be in AutoCAD Electrical.

2.4. Adding new components  Creating new components, use the Symbol Builder tool.  The best way for a non AutoCAD Electrical user to insert components that don’t exist on the drawing is to have

access to the symbol library, use the Icon Menu tool. In addition to having access to the symbol library, the user should have a working knowledge of the symbol naming convention. The reason for understanding the naming convention is for ease of finding a symbol.

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 Things to keep in mind: o The AutoCAD Electrical user should perform a “Full Rebuild” of the scratch database before updating the

bill of materials; o The AutoCAD Electrical user will need to re-run the Reports / Bill of Materials after the Vanilla AutoCAD

users are done editing the drawing package.

2.5. Adding Wires  Adding Wires, use the Wire tool.  Wires can be added using Vanilla AutoCAD by using the “Line” command.  Things to keep in mind:

o Lines must be on a valid wire layer to be considered a wire.  To find valid wire layers, perform an attribute edit on the WD_M block in the drawing. View the list

of layers in the WIRELAYS attribute. Please note that an “*” is used as a wild card. o A wire can only be a line entity.

2.6. Component Symbol Some of the most tedious tasks an electrical engineer can contend with on a daily basis, maybe even hourly basis can be related to symbols. These tasks can range from symbol insertion, to symbol annotation, cleaning the symbol up by trimming lines and much more. Classically in AutoCAD these tasks have been very labor-intensive, time consuming and error prone. AutoCAD Electrical has provided countless software features to improve on these tedious and painful tasks. Considering most of these tasks can be done in a manual form, the AutoCAD Electrical tools should be used to avoid unforeseen ramifications.

 Insert Component Not Blocks, use the Icon Menu tool which takes you to the Insert Component dialog box. o By using AutoCAD Electrical component symbols and the proper tool to insert them not only is the tedious

line trimming being averted, as well as prompting the user to input the description, catalog number, ratings and much more.

 Icon Menu, Insert Component Benefits o Automatically Trim Wires o Automatically Assign Device ID o Automatically Prompt Users for Annotation o Automatically re-locates existing wire numbers.

 Delete Components not Blocks, use the Delete Component tool. o Classically in AutoCAD a user could either select the block and press the delete key on the keyboard or

use the erase command NEVER USE DELETE KEY IN AUOTCAD ELECTRICAL. That day has come and passed with the coming of AutoCAD Electrical. AutoCAD Electrical has a Delete Component command that provides some benefits over the standard erase command.

o Delete Component tool Benefits:  Automatically Heal Wires  Updates the Scratch Database  Automatically re-locates existing wire numbers.

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 Move Components not Blocks. o Classically in AutoCAD a user would enter the “Move” command then select a block to move. In a

schematic drawing NEVER USE THE MOVE COMMAND IN AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL, use the Move Component tool, there are several benefits over the vanilla AutoCAD methods.

o Move Component Benefits:  Automatically prompts retag.  Automatically heals wire.  Automatically trims new wire.  Automatically re-locates existing wire numbers.

 Inserting multiple components, use the Multiple Insert tool not Array. o Classically in AutoCAD a user would insert the first block, and then use the array command to create

multiple instances of the same block. With AutoCAD Electrical a user can select Multiple Insert Component to insert all of these components with different options.

o Benefits of Multiple Insert Components:  Insert multiple intelligent symbols at once.  Have the ability to show edit dialog after each insert (allows user to give different information for

each component)  Have the ability to skip components on rungs in the selection set (can’t be done with an array)

 Aligning components, use the Align Components tool. o There are many times in an electrical drafter’s day when components will not be aligned between rungs,

which causes an unprofessional look to the schematics. Most AutoCAD users would use the following workflow to achieve aligned components.

o AutoCAD Workflow:  Create construction line through insertion point of first component.  Move or stretch each remaining component from insertion point to perpendicular construction line.  Repeat for each component to be aligned.

o AutoCAD Electrical Workflow:  Right Click on component and select Align.  Select components to follow that alignment.

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3. Ladders

Ladders play a significant role in electrical schematics. Because of the large role they play there are some things that can be and should be done to help increase productivity. The following sub sections outline some of the inbuilt tools in AutoCAD Electrical.

3.1. Healing Rungs When a component is deleted using standard AutoCAD commands, and occasionally with the Delete Component command the wire does not heal. Classically AutoCAD users would erase one end of the line, and then extend the other line segment to the power rail. This is an expectable, yet time consuming method of healing the rung.

3.2. Adding Rungs AutoCAD Electrical provides a command that limits the amount of clicks as well as the amount of commands used. The Add Rung command combines several steps into one step.  AutoCAD Electrical performs several operations when a user selects the Add Rungs command to accomplish the

image below.

3.3. Revise Ladders not Edit Text. Often a user might be tempted to just edit the line reference text in order to obtain the desired results. AutoCAD Electrical has a built-in tool to revise ladders.  Revise Ladder Benefits:

o One location to edit. o Edit multiple ladders at one time. o Quickly change ladder number count o Quickly change number spacing

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4. Miscellaneous

4.1. Scoot Components and Wires not Stretch or Move Scoot Components and Wires not Stretch or Move. AutoCAD users are typically in the habit of stretching or moving components in vanilla AutoCAD. A better workflow now exists thanks to AutoCAD Electrical. Users can activate a “Scoot” command on a wire, rung or component to re-locate. There are many benefits to using this workflow as opposed to stretching or moving a component or wire.  Scoot Component Benefits:

o Preview of change o Automatically re-locates wire numbers. o Automatically adjusts wires. o Will only scoot until the next component. o Will only scoot in one direction.

 Scoot Wire Benefits: o Preview of change o Automatically prompts for retag. o Automatically scoots all wires that are connected through one rung. o Automatically adjust wire ends appropriately.

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5. Project Overview Project files are the moral fiber that holds electrical designs together. The benefits of following the approved method outweigh not following the method. The purpose of project files in AutoCAD Electrical project file is to inform the software of project wide settings and drawing file paths. The project file is a text file with a .WDP file extension. The image below shows the Enhanced Secondary Window Project Manager with an overview of the tools.  Benefits:

o Consistency – This method promotes consistency in project wide settings. o Ease of creation – Using this method gives the user a “Wizard” type interface to create the project. o Automatic Project Specific file copy – The copy project will allow users to automatically copy project

specific files. o One location to make updates – If the company decides to make changes to the master project template

it is made in one place.

 Downfalls: o Not consistent – This method forces users to create the settings every time. This is very error prone. o Time consuming – since this is the manual method is more time consuming. o Manually copy project specific files – This method forces the user to remember to copy project specific

files.

5.1 Copy Project. Used for your company custom settings for the projects you design. By using Copy Project, it will ensure that all new projects have the proper settings in them. In addition, you can create a Template Project that will allow each user to start a new project.

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6. Updating Title Blocks One of the most time-consuming uses of a “designers” time is updating title blocks. AutoCAD Electrical has a very nice workflow to save the designer time on this repetitive task. Each and every drawing in an AutoCAD Electrical project has the availability to have descriptions assigned to it. That description is then pushed into the attributes of the title block.

6.1. Assigning Drawing Descriptions This section will explain how to assign a drawing description to a specific drawing. In addition to assigning the value I will also explain how to have that value go to two different fields in the title block.

1. In the Project Manager right click on the drawing you wish to assign a description too and click Drawing Properties as shown in the image below.

2. In the text field we will type the description we want. If it is going to be just one line, all we need to do is

type it as we want it to appear on the drawing. However if it is two lines, we will need to follow the process shown below.

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6.2. Forcing an update of the Title Block In this section we go over how to update the title block. Follow the steps below for successful title block updates.

1. Right click on the project name; click “Title Block Update” as shown below.

2. Click the each of the Select line(s) to Update (Project Description Lines) as shown below or as needed. Also click the next page button [>] to select more properties if applicable.

Note: By selecting all you will update all fields in the title block as shown above.

3. To update the drawing description, sheet numbers and some other fields click as shown below.

Note that “Sheet Maximum” and “Resequence Sheet” may not always be a field you wish to update or change.

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4. The selections made above will fill in the rest of the title block. The Drawing Description check box uses

the drawing description values discussed in the previous section.

5. Click “OK Project-wide”, then continue by clicking Do All then click OK.

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6.3. Creating Index Lists One of the most beneficial pages in an electrical design can be the Drawing Index. With AutoCAD Electrical and the workflow that has been set up for updating title blocks this comes as pretty much a freebie. Below is the workflow for creating a drawing index.

1. Right click on the project name in the Project Manager and select drawing list report as shown below.

2. Continue by clicking New Report, Do-All then OK.

3. Choose “Change report format” if needed to change reports information.

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4. Add and Remove fields as needed. (Note: Available fields may vary)

5. Click OK

6. Click Put on Drawing

7. Make any modifications to the appearance of the table.

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8. Click OK

9. Place Index on the drawing.