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1 Editing the Connections...............................................................................3
1.1 Designate connections..............................................................................3
1.2 Update connections ..................................................................................4
1.3 Interrupt connections ................................................................................5
1.4 Delete connections ...................................................................................5
2 Using Smart Connect ...................................................................................8
3 Drawing Connection Definition Points........................................................9
4 Predefining Connection Properties...........................................................11
5
Specifying Connection Properties for the Potential ................................13
6 Specifying Connection Properties via Connection Definition Points ....15
7 Viewing and Editing the Connection Properties ......................................17
8 Using Existing Connections ......................................................................19
9 Placing Connections ..................................................................................21
9.1 Delete connection placements................................................................23
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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Note:
Autoconnecting initially generates only a graphical line, not a connection with data.For certain actions (e.g., closing a page) the connections are first automaticallyupdated. In doing this, new connections are generated based on the available
information or existing connections are updated. You can also manually call up theupdate of connections at any time.
1.2 Update connections
Connection properties are defined at four different locations: in the project settings, atpotential connection points, potential definition points, and connection definitionpoints. Connection data is not immediately automatically updated after changes. Youcan manually update them if you need to.
Note:
You can tell if connections are up-to-date by looking at the right edge of the statusbar: If the "#" sign is displayed, the project has out-of-date connections. If the "*" signis displayed, the open page has out-of-date connections.
Precondition:
You have opened a page in the graphical editor or selected pages in the page
navigator.
1. Select the menu items Project data > Connections > Update.
EPLAN regenerates all connections in the project. A progress bar isdisplayed allowing you to cancel the process.
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1.3 Interrupt connections
A connection can be interrupted using a break point.
1. Select the menu items Insert > Connection symbol > Break point and place
the break point on a connection line.
EPLAN separates the corresponding connection.
1.4 Delete connections
Connections are automatically deleted if you move a component in the schematicand its connection points can no longer find its counterpart. Any existing connectiondefinition points remain.
Unplaced connections can be deleted in the Connections - dialog:
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1. Select the menu items Project data > Connections > Navigator.
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2. In the Connections - dialog select the unplaced connectionsyou want to delete.
3. Select Popup menu > Delete.
After a confirmation prompt the connections in question are deleted.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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2 Using Smart Connect
Smart connect allows the movement of symbols in the schematic while retaining the
autoconnection.
Precondition:
You have opened a page in the graphical editor.
Options > Smart connect
1. Hold down the left mouse button and move a symbol in the schematic.
After releasing the left mouse button, the autoconnect lines are
automatically redrawn.
2. If you no longer wish to use smart connect, reselect the menu item Options >Smart connect.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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3 Drawing Connection Definition Points
Connections also be assigned properties via connection definition points.
1. Select the menu items Insert > Connection definition point.
The symbol for the connection definition point hangs on the cursor.
2. Click in the schematic to place the connection definition point.
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3. In the Properties dialog specify the connection properties in theConnection definition point tab (and other properties in the other tabs, ifnecessary).
4. Click [OK].
The properties are assigned to the connection passing through theconnection definition point.
Tip:
You can insert multiple connection definition points at the same time by holding the
left mouse button down and pulling the cursor over multiple autoconnect lines.At each autoconnect line intersected, a connection definition point is thenplaced.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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4 Predefining Connection Properties
Connections are given properties once from the defaults in the project and the
properties of the potential. All other properties are specified in the connectiondefinition points.
You can specify certain properties for connections in the project settings that are thenassigned to every connection generated.
The properties specified in the project are inherited by the potential. The potentialsthen pass on their properties to the signals and then the connections. You canmanually change the data on the individual levels and define additional properties.
Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Connections > Properties
1. Select the desired tab, Electrical Engineering, Hydraulic, Pneumatic,Cooling , or Lubrication.
2. In the individual fields specify the default values for the connection properties.
3. Click [OK].
The default values are saved. When generating a connection it isautomatically assigned the corresponding default values.
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This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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5 Specifying Connection Properties for thePotential
Properties can also be assigned to a connection via the potential connection pointsor potential definition points. If a connection with a potential connection point isconnected, or it intersects a potential definition point, it automatically inherits theconnection properties.
Precondition:
The connection leads to a potential connection point or intersects a potentialdefinition point.
1. Double-click the potential connection point or potential definition point.
2. Specify the name of the signal and the potential in the Potential definition tabof the Properties dialog in the Name of potential and Signal name fields. Click [...] to open a selection dialog with signal and potential namesdefined in the project.
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3. In the Properties field change the values for the already specified properties,or create new ones.
4. In the Display tab you can change how properties are displayed in theschematic and in the Connection graphic tab you can change the graphicalproperties of the connection lines.
5. Click [OK].
The defined properties are assigned to all connections attached to thepotential in question.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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6 Specifying Connection Properties viaConnection Definition Points
Connection definition points define the properties of connections which run underthem.
1. Double-click the connection definition point.
2. In the Connection definition point tab of the Properties dialog, changethe default connection properties or create new ones.
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3. In the Display tab you can change how properties are displayed in theschematic and in the Connection graphic tab you can change the graphicalproperties of the connection lines.
4. In the Parts tab you can assign parts data to the connection.
5. Click [OK].
The defined properties are only assigned to the connection that intersectsthe connection definition point in question. You can change the properties ofmore than one connection if you make a multiple selection of connectiondefinition points.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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7 Viewing and Editing the Connection Properties
Connection properties can be viewed and edited in the Connections - dialog.
Project data > Connections > Navigator
1. In the Connections - dialog mark the desired connectionsand select Popup menu > Edit.
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2. In the Properties dialog change the connection properties in theConnection tab and the graphical properties in the Connection graphics tab.
3. Click [OK].
The changes are adopted.
Connections can be assigned additional properties via Connection definition points .Edit these properties at the connection definition point.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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8 Using Existing Connections
In EPLAN you can generate unplaced connections that predefine certain properties.
These connections can be used on existing Connection definition points . The placedconnection in question thus gets the properties of the unplaced connection. It is alsopossible to use existing placed connections. The connection in question then existsmore than once in the project and must be edited at a later point in time.
1. Select the menu items Insert > Connection definition point and place theconnection definition point on a connection line.
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2. In the Properties dialog select the Connection definition point tab andclick [...] next to the Displayed DT field.
All unplaced and placed connections of the project are listed in the Useexisting connections dialog. Connections where both targets match the
targets of the selected connections are at the top of the list. After that are theconnections where one target is identical, then the unplaced connectionswithout targets and finally all other placed and unplaced connections.
3. Select the desired connection and click [OK].
The connection is used, i.e., its properties are transferred to the connectiondefinition point.
An unplaced connection is always deleted after it has been used. It is alsodeleted if it previously had completely different targets and if a completelydifferent connection is created by the combination of multiple connectiondefinition points.
4. Click [OK].
You can only use existing if the connection definition point is uniquely assigned toone individual connection. If this is not the case, then an appropriate message isdisplayed.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
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9 Placing Connections
In general, it is possible to place unplaced connections, or to place already placed
connections again.
Project data > Connections > Navigator
1. Select the connections you wish to place.
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2. Select Popup menu > Place.
The symbol for a connection definition point hangs on the cursor.
3. Click in the schematic to place the connection definition point.
A connection definition point with the connection data is placed. Unplacedconnections are deleted after the placement.
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9.1 Delete connection placements
A connection placement can only be deleted via its connection definition point. Theconnection will then exist as an unplaced connection in the project.
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1. Mark the desired connection definition points and select the menu items Edit >Delete placement.
The connection definition points in question will disappear and unplacedconnections will appear. This also applies if the connection it is associated
with does not disappear. Then there are two connections: one placed withoutspecial properties and one unplaced with special properties.
If an unplaced connection already exists with identical targets, an additionalunplaced connection is added. Because multiple connection definition pointscan be located on the same connection, this can result in inconsistencies.
If you delete the placements on multiple connection definition points of one connection, multiple unplaced connections will be created. You can use orplace these unplaced connections again on multiple connection definitionpoints of one connection, in which case you again have the same result asbefore deleting the placements.
Note:
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If placements from connected components are deleted, the associated connectionsonly remain as unplaced if the connection definition points were marked (that is, iftheir placements were also deleted). If the placements of the connection definitionpoints are not deleted, no unplaced connections will result, but the connections will
be completely deleted.
You can only delete a placement if the connection definition point is uniquelyassigned to one individual connection. If this is not the case, then an appropriatemessage is displayed.
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