2011

Panel nameplate symbol. Must have a P_TAG1 and NP attribute or
xdata.
Panel Nameplate
NOTE Panel symbols do not require any attributes but uses xdata for any missing
attributes. This xdata is added when the symbol is inserted using the appropriate
AutoCAD Electrical panel insertion command. All xdata values have a VIA_WD_
prefix followed by the name of the attribute it takes the place of. For example, if
a panel footprint does not have a P_TAG1 attribute it gets a VIA_WD_P_TAG1
xdata when inserted.
Block Editor Environment
Once you make the initial selections, you enter to the Block Editor
environment. Your initial selections can include symbol type, attribute
template, existing objects, and insertion point. In addition to the Block Editor
menus for adding and modifying the symbol graphics, a
Symbol Builder
Attribute Editor
on page 346 is available for inserting and modifying the
AutoCAD Electrical attributes.
Attribute Template
AutoCAD Electrical expects certain attributes for each symbol type, schematic
parent, schematic child, and so on. Symbol builder uses attribute templates
to facilitate adding these attributes to your symbol. Attribute template drawings
are AutoCAD drawings with AutoCAD Electrical attributes. There are different
attribute templates for different types of symbols and for different family
codes. The supplied attribute templates are in the symbol library folders and
all attribute template drawing names begin with “AT_”.
When you select your symbol type, the associated attribute template is used
to create a list of attributes. The attribute template can contain attributes
defined as required and others as optional. The required attributes are expected
on the specific symbol type you are building. Optional attributes are attributes
that may not be necessary on this symbol type but are supported. For example
rating or switch position attributes. You can insert the attributes individually
as needed, or you can insert all the attributes from the template at one time.
Attribute templates follow the naming convention, AT_{symbol}_{type}. The
{symbol} string is displayed in the Symbol list in the Select Symbol/Objects
dialog box and the {type} string is displayed in the Type list. You can also map
abbreviations for the {type} in the _FAMILY_DESCRIPTION table of the catalog
database, default_cat.mdb. For more information see
Create a Symbol Builder
attribute template
on page 2105.
Symbol Builder | 341