2011

Parametric PLC symbols vs. Full Units
Parametric PLC symbols are stored in
■ Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents\\Autodesk\Acade {version}\libs\{library}\
■ Windows Vista, Windows 7: \Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade
{version}\libs\{library}\
The file names begin with the characters "HP" (Horizontal ladder rungs / PLC)
or "VP" (Vertical ladder rungs) followed by a digit that corresponds to a PLC
I/O style number. Each symbol is a building block with a different arrangement
of attributes and wire connection points. AutoCAD Electrical selects the
appropriate symbols to use, stacks them together in the order defined by the
data file, and produces a completed I/O module.
The PLC database file (ace_plc.mdb) is used to drive the PLC I/O module
generation process. You can modify the PLC database file manually or using
the
PLC Database File Editor on page 603 (recommended method). The
AutoCAD Electrical PLC database file (ace_plc.mdb) is installed in
■ Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\My
Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\Plc
■ Windows Vista, Windows 7:C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\Plc
Each Parametric PLC symbol is a building block with a different arrangement
of attributes and wire connection points. AutoCAD Electrical selects the
appropriate symbols to use, stacks them together in the order defined by the
parametric data file, and produces a completed I/O module. AutoCAD Electrical
inserts the symbols based upon the rung spacing of the underlying ladder,
explodes them, draws a rectangular box around the entire assembly, creates
a single block out of the collection, and annotates the attributes of the new
module.
Some PLC units may not lend themselves well to parametric generation. If a
PLC module symbol is built with the appropriate attributes in place and the
symbol name follows naming convention of AutoCAD Electrical (the block
name begins with "PLCIO"), it can be inserted as a single unit using the
Insert
PLC (Full Units)
on page 591 command. The selected unit inserts into the
ladder, breaks the wires, and then reconnects.
PLC parametric selection
Inserts a parametrically generated PLC I/O module.
588 | Chapter 8 PLC