2011

Table Of Contents
BOM and Catalogs
Catalog database
Sample catalog information is furnished with the default AutoCAD Electrical
installation. The information is held in tables in a Microsoft Access database
file (.mdb) which are populated with sample vendor data. Expand and modify
these tables to meet your specific BOM reporting needs. Use tools provided with
AutoCAD Electrical, or use a database program that can read/write the Access
file format.
The .mdb file is a single file that is named <project>_cat.mdb or default_cat.mdb.
If the project-specific.mdb file is used, it must be in the same subdirectory as
the <project>.wdp file is located. Here is the AutoCAD Electrical search sequence:
First choice -- <project>_cat.mdb (in project's subdirectory of the project)
Second choice -- default_cat.mdb (in subdirectory of the project)
Third choice -- default_cat.mdb (in user subdirectory)
Fourth choice -- default_cat.mdb (in subdirectory of the catalog)
Catalog information can be carried on parent or stand-alone components that
have MANUFACTURER, CATALOG, and optional ASSEMBLYCODE attributes.
You can assign catalog information to the attributes of a component at
component insertion time or any time later during an edit of the component.
Catalog table naming conventions
Each primary or stand-alone component type can have an associated table in
your Access mdb file. This approach is taken for both performance reasons and
to exclude invalid choices. For example, you cannot assign a blue press-test
pilot part number to a standard red pilot light symbol. There can be multiple
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