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Radica Electra® E8
User Manual
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Table of Contents
1. Concepts and What's New ................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Concepts ....................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2 What's New in Electra E8 .............................................................................................................. 8
2. Getting Started ..................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Starting Electra ............................................................................................................................. 9
2.2 Saving Electra Drawings ............................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Page Scale .................................................................................................................................. 10
2.4 Page Measurement Units ........................................................................................................... 11
2.5 Stencils and Drawing Area ......................................................................................................... 12
2.6 Connection Points ...................................................................................................................... 13
2.7 Positioning Text .......................................................................................................................... 14
2.8 Selecting Sub Shapes in a Group ............................................................................................... 14
3. Document Options ............................................................................................................................. 15
3.1 Accessing Electra Options.......................................................................................................... 15
3.2 Popup Reference Window On Drop ............................................................................................ 15
3.3 Automatic in/mm/cm/meters Resize ........................................................................................ 16
3.4 Automatic Wire Propagation and Detection .............................................................................. 16
3.5 Automatically manage connection dots for wires ..................................................................... 17
3.6 How Page Prefix Works .............................................................................................................. 18
3.7 Enable Page Prefix on References ............................................................................................. 18
3.8 Enable Page Prefix on Wires ....................................................................................................... 18
3.9 Page Prefix Separator for Wires ................................................................................................. 19
3.10 Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails .......................................................................... 19
3.11 Initial Placement Offset .............................................................................................................. 20
3.12 Export Format ............................................................................................................................. 21
3.13 Location Zone Options ............................................................................................................... 22
3.14 Location Format .......................................................................................................................... 23
3.15 Saving Your Own Document Options ......................................................................................... 23
4. Symbols and Components ................................................................................................................. 24
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4.1 One Intelligent Symbol ................................................................................................................ 24
4.2 Placing and Duplicating Symbols .............................................................................................. 24
4.3 Searching for symbols ................................................................................................................ 25
4.4 Customizing Symbol Search ...................................................................................................... 26
4.5 Maintaining the search database ............................................................................................... 26
4.6 Intelligent Inheritance ................................................................................................................. 27
4.7 Intelligent Automatic Numbering ............................................................................................... 27
4.8 Editing Symbol Reference .......................................................................................................... 27
4.9 The Reference Window ............................................................................................................... 28
4.10 Displaying Pin Names ................................................................................................................. 30
4.11 Automatic Pin Names ................................................................................................................. 30
4.12 Modifying Pin Sets ...................................................................................................................... 31
4.13 Understanding Symbols and Components ................................................................................ 31
4.14 Assigning Components .............................................................................................................. 33
4.15 Managing Components .............................................................................................................. 34
4.16 Selecting a Component .............................................................................................................. 38
4.17 The Component Database .......................................................................................................... 40
4.18 The AutoLocation Shape ............................................................................................................ 41
5. Wires and Cables ................................................................................................................................ 44
5.1 Variety of Wires ........................................................................................................................... 44
5.2 Difference Between A Line And A Wire....................................................................................... 44
5.3 Connecting and Manipulating Wires .......................................................................................... 45
5.4 Editing Wire Name ...................................................................................................................... 47
5.5 The Wire Window ........................................................................................................................ 48
5.6 Customizing Wires ...................................................................................................................... 50
5.7 Automatic Wire Status Display ................................................................................................... 51
5.8 Automatic Wire Name Detection ................................................................................................ 51
5.9 Wire Name Propagation .............................................................................................................. 52
5.10 Automatic Wire Connection ........................................................................................................ 53
5.11 Wire Links .................................................................................................................................... 54
5.12 Assigning Cables ........................................................................................................................ 56
5.13 Managing Cables ........................................................................................................................ 57
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5.14 Selecting A Cable ........................................................................................................................ 62
5.15 Arranging Cable Cores ................................................................................................................ 63
5.16 The Cable Database .................................................................................................................... 64
5.17 The Cable Tag Symbol ................................................................................................................ 65
6. Re-Using Circuits ................................................................................................................................ 66
6.1 Intelligent Copy and Paste .......................................................................................................... 66
6.2 Prefab Circuits ............................................................................................................................ 69
6.3 Creating Prefab Circuits .............................................................................................................. 69
6.4 Using And Sharing Prefab Circuits ............................................................................................. 69
6.5 Moving and Duplicating Prefab Circuits .................................................................................... 70
7. Intelligent Terminals .......................................................................................................................... 71
7.1 Terminal Status Detection .......................................................................................................... 71
7.2 Automatic Wire Splitting ............................................................................................................. 71
7.3 Using and Generating Terminals ................................................................................................ 73
7.4 Manually Assigning Terminal Numbers ..................................................................................... 76
7.5 Jumping to Linked Terminals ..................................................................................................... 76
7.6 Using Terminal Blocks ................................................................................................................ 78
7.7 Organizing Multitier Terminals ................................................................................................... 80
8. Panel Layout ....................................................................................................................................... 82
8.1 The Panel Layout Process .......................................................................................................... 82
8.2 Preparing a Page for Panel Layout ............................................................................................. 82
8.3 Inserting Plates, Cable Ducts And Rails ..................................................................................... 83
8.4 Dimension Shapes ...................................................................................................................... 83
8.5 Generating Panel Layout ............................................................................................................ 84
8.6 Using Guides to Place Layout Shapes ....................................................................................... 85
8.7 Using Automatic Placement on Rails ........................................................................................ 86
8.8 Setting Automatic Placement Orientation ................................................................................. 90
8.9 Disabling Automatic Placement ................................................................................................. 91
8.10 Using 3D Layout Shapes............................................................................................................. 91
8.11 Making Your Own Layout Shapes .............................................................................................. 92
9. Generating, Importing and Exporting Reports ................................................................................... 93
9.1 Generating Reports ..................................................................................................................... 93
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9.2 Choosing An Export Format ....................................................................................................... 94
9.3 Cross Reference Report .............................................................................................................. 95
9.4 Material Reference Report .......................................................................................................... 96
9.5 Importing Material Reference ..................................................................................................... 97
9.6 Bills of Materials Report ............................................................................................................. 98
9.7 Cable Reference Report .............................................................................................................. 99
9.8 Connections (From/To) Report .................................................................................................. 99
9.9 Exporting Stencils ..................................................................................................................... 100
9.10 Importing Stencils ..................................................................................................................... 101
9.11 Exporting Component Database .............................................................................................. 102
9.12 Importing Component Database .............................................................................................. 103
9.13 Exporting Cable Database ........................................................................................................ 104
9.14 Importing Cable Database ........................................................................................................ 105
9.15 Export Symbols on Drawing ..................................................................................................... 106
9.16 Import Symbols on Drawing ..................................................................................................... 106
9.17 Export Wires on Drawing .......................................................................................................... 107
9.18 Import Wires on Drawing .......................................................................................................... 107
9.19 Generating Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 108
10. PLC and Connector Shapes.......................................................................................................... 110
10.1 The PLC Symbol ........................................................................................................................ 110
10.2 Customizing the PLC Symbol ................................................................................................... 112
10.3 Creating a Single PLC using Multiple Symbols ........................................................................ 114
10.4 The Connector Symbol ............................................................................................................. 115
10.5 Customizing the Connector Symbol ......................................................................................... 116
11. The Ladder Zone Shape ................................................................................................................ 117
11.1 The Ladder Zone Symbol .......................................................................................................... 117
11.2 Using Ladder Zone .................................................................................................................... 117
12. Creating Your Own Symbol .......................................................................................................... 121
12.1 Symbol Creation Process ......................................................................................................... 121
12.2 The Anatomy of a Schematic Symbol ...................................................................................... 121
12.3 The Create Symbol Window ...................................................................................................... 122
12.4 Editing the Symbol Icon ............................................................................................................ 126
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12.5 Modifying Existing Symbols ..................................................................................................... 127
13. Creating Your Own Title Blocks .................................................................................................... 130
13.1 The Anatomy Of A Title Block ................................................................................................... 130
13.2 Title Block Creation Process .................................................................................................... 131
13.3 Inserting Title Block Zones ....................................................................................................... 131
13.4 Inserting Static Text and Graphics ........................................................................................... 132
13.5 Inserting Automatic Text .......................................................................................................... 132
13.6 Creating and Inserting User Data ............................................................................................. 134
13.7 The Create Title Block Window ................................................................................................. 135
13.8 Using a Custom Title Block ...................................................................................................... 136
13.9 Editing the Title Block Icon ....................................................................................................... 136
14. Tools ............................................................................................................................................. 137
14.1 Stencil Browser ......................................................................................................................... 137
14.2 Renumber .................................................................................................................................. 138
14.3 Clean Up Document .................................................................................................................. 139
14.4 Reload Document ..................................................................................................................... 139
15. Installation and Activation ........................................................................................................... 140
15.1 System Requirements .............................................................................................................. 140
15.2 Installing Electra ....................................................................................................................... 140
15.3 Activating Electra ...................................................................................................................... 140
15.4 Enabling Macros ....................................................................................................................... 141
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1. Concepts and What's New
1.1 Concepts
Users create a new project by opening the New Electra Drawing template. Visio drawings can contain multiple pages and each page can contain one or more wires and symbols. Symbols represent real world components and always has a reference name (R1), pin names (13 & 14) and description (NO Contact). Double click or right click on a symbol for more operations, including setting pin names and editing references.
In Electra, all symbols with the same reference are initially organized into a single group, where they can be assigned to one or more components. Users can then divide the same symbols into further groupings, and each group can then to be assigned to one or more components.
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Component information are stored in the drawing file for portability. Files that are shared or sent, retain all their data inside the drawing. Users manage component information in a drawing by clicking on menu Electra | Manage Components. The component database stores all component specifications for easy access, without the need to type and re-type specifications. Users select components from the database to be used on the drawing and can add, edit or delete additional components into the database.
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Wires represents real world cables and always has a wire name. Wires can use wire links to extend to another location or to another page. Each wire can be assigned to a cable, or to a specific core of a multicore cable. Numerous wires on a drawing can be assigned to a multicore cable. Cable information are stored in the drawing file for portability and can be easily shared or sent without losing their data. Users manage cable information in a drawing by clicking on menu Electra | Manage Cables. The cable database stores all cable specifications for easy access, without the need to type and re-type specifications. Users select cables from the database to be used on the drawing and can add, edit or delete additional cables into the database
1.2 What's New in Electra E8
Added new terminal layout shape. Able to generate terminal layout one by one. Able to generate jumpers when generating terminal listing. Added PLC parts - Sinking/Sourcing, AC, DC. Added page revision title block data. Able to sync title in title block and page name. Able to generate Tubing Reference report. Able to generate Hosing Reference report. Able to generate Tubing BOM report. Able to generate Hosing BOM report. Able to generate Pneumatic Connections report. Able to generate Hydraulic Connections report. Remind users if no pin name is set during create new symbol. Able to hide terminal block reference when renumbering terminal list. Able to sort symbols in Stencil Browser. Added Component Tag. Able to assign cable to multiple wires. Added spring return key switch symbol. Able to hide default cable in reports. Able to set orientation for multiple shapes. Able to hide pin name for multiple shapes. Improved the connection point text generation in Set PLC Module window. Added spacing between cables in Cable Reference report. Changed pin name format in reports. Added loading message when sorting wire links. Simplified Document Options.
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2. Getting Started
2.1 Starting Electra
To start a new Electra drawing:
Click on the Windows Start button. Select Programs | Radica Software | New Electra Drawing.
When Electra is loaded into Visio, users will see an "Electra" tab on Visio's menu. For older versions of Visio prior to Visio 2010, users will see a menu instead. To use Electra for electrical drawings, you must create a new drawing using the New Electra Drawing template, or a template that is created from this template. For all other non electrical drawings, usage of this template is not required.
To open an existing Electra drawing:
Double click on the drawing file (.vsd or .vsdm) and Visio will automatically load Electra.
2.2 Saving Electra Drawings
Electra drawings contains codes and data that perform all the automation, therefore when you save a drawing, ensure that you are saving into ".vsd" (Visio 2010 or older) or ".vsdm" (Visio 2013) formats.Electra drawings contains codes and data that perform all the automation, therefore when you save a drawing, ensure that you are saving into ".vsd" (Visio 2010 or older) or ".vsdm" (Visio 2013) formats.
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2.3 Page Scale
In Visio, each and every page can be set to different scales. On the New Electra Drawing template, the page is set to 1:1 scale, which is optimized for schematic drawings and produces an excellent printed copy. During panel layout, you may need to apply a different scale. For medium sized panels, we recommend a scale of 1:5 and for bigger panels a scale of 1:10.
To set page scale:
Right click on the page tab, then select Page Setup. Click on the Drawing Scale tab. Click Pre-defined scale or Custom scale. Enter your desired scaling.
See Also: Preparing a Page for Panel Layout, Automatic in/mm/cm/meters Resize
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2.4 Page Measurement Units
Each and every page can also have its own measurement units, where rulers and grids on a page will change to reflect the new measurement units. On the New Electra Drawing template, page measurement units are set to inches and is optimized for schematic drawings. During panel layout, you may need to apply a different measurement unit. For panel layout drawings, a measurement unit of millimeters is recommended.
To set the measurement units:
Right click on the page tab, then select Page Setup. Click on the Page Properties tab. Click and select the desired measurement units.
See Also: Preparing a Page for Panel Layout
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2.5 Stencils and Drawing Area
On the left of the Visio screen are a list of stencils, which contains a collection of symbols that you can drag and drop onto your drawings. The shapes on a stencil are called Master shapes or Masters. All stencils can be configured to display symbols in multiple ways, so please right click and explore display options.
See Also: Placing and Duplicating Symbols, Connecting and Manipulating Wires
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2.6 Connection Points
Most shapes in Electra have connections points to allow one shape to connect to another (e.g. connecting a wire to a symbol). Although they are visible in the drawing, they are not printable, meaning they will not appear on the printed hard copy (In Visio 2010 and above, they are dynamically hidden and shown, as you drag a wire near a symbol).
To add connection points:
Click on a shape. Click on the connection point tool. Press CTRL key and click on anywhere you would like to add a connection point.
To change the position of a connection point:
Click on a shape. Click on the connection point tool. Click and drag a connection point from the shape to a new position.
To delete a connection point:
Click on a shape. Click on the connection point tool. Click on a connection point. Press the DEL key.
See Also: Automatic Wire Connection
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2.7 Positioning Text
Symbols and wires in Electra have yellow control handles that let users re-position text easily. Simply drag on yellow control handles to move them to a new position.
2.8 Selecting Sub Shapes in a Group
Individual shapes in a group (sub shapes) can be individually selected and formatted. Click on a group, then click on the sub shape (not double click). Applying formats (e.g. font, alignment) to the group will affect all shapes in the group while applying formats to a sub shape will only affect the individual sub shape.
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3. Document Options
3.1 Accessing Electra Options
Electra comes with drawing options that can be accessed by:
Click menu Electra | Document Options.
3.2 Popup Reference Window On Drop
To enable the Reference window to popup every time a new symbol is added to your drawings, check this option. We recommend unchecking this option for faster schematic designs. The Reference window will still be accessible by double clicking or right clicking on a symbol and selecting "Edit Reference" even when automatic popup has been disabled.
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3.3 Automatic in/mm/cm/meters Resize
Electra has the ability to automatically resize symbols and circuits to fit onto pages, irrespective of the page measurement units used, be it inches, millimeters, centimeters or meters. Enable this option to let Electra automatically resize symbols and circuits to fit onto pages. When enabled, symbols and circuits that is manually resized by users will retain their sizing and will not be automatically resized by Electra.
When using metric measurement systems (mm, cm, meters) for circuit drawings, we strongly recommend that the scaling is to 1:1.5 or 1:1.25, so that symbols and circuits are displayed at optimum size.
3.4 Automatic Wire Propagation and Detection
Enable this option to let Electra automatically propagate wire name changes to all connected wires and automatically detect a wire name when it is connected to another. Disable this option to have different wire names for wires with the same potential.
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See Also: Automatic Wire Name Detection, Wire Name Propagation
3.5 Automatically manage connection dots for wires
By default, Electra has the ability to automatically manage connection dots for wires. Enable this option and Electra will automatically show dots for a connection, and remove them when there are no connections. Connection dots are also automatically hidden when you connect a wire end to another. Disable this option to manage connection dots manually.
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3.6 How Page Prefix Works
Page prefix in Electra is powerful and automatic. Once enabled, Page Prefix adds a page number in front of your symbol reference or wire name and automatically keeps track and update this page number even when you rearrange your pages, all automatically.
On the example above, there is a coil named 1R1 on page 1, another coil 2R1 on page 2 and 2 contacts, each of them belonging to the coil at page 1 and 2 respectively (top row of the image). When page 3 is rearranged as page 2 (bottom row of image), the coil 2R1 previously at page 2 is now automatically renamed to 3R1 on page 3. The contact 2R1 is also renamed to 3R1 since the coil it is belonging to, is now renamed to 3R1 on page 3.
3.7 Enable Page Prefix on References
Users can select to prefix a page number on all symbol references by enabling this option, and Electra will automatically insert and maintain all page prefixes. Alternatively, right click on a symbol and select "Edit Reference" to use Page Prefix.
3.8 Enable Page Prefix on Wires
Users can select to prefix a page number on all wires by enabling this option, and Electra will automatically insert and maintain all page prefixes. Alternatively, right click on a wire and select "Edit Wire" to use Page Prefix.
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3.9 Page Prefix Separator for Wires
The default separator for wires is the "." character (e.g. 1.100). Page prefix separator for wires can be any character but cannot be numeric (e.g. 0-9) and can consist of more than one characters.
Separator Examples
. 1.100, 2.100, 1.101
P 1P100, 2P100, 1P101
/ 1/100, 2/100, 1/101
Pg 1Pg100, 2Pg100, 1Pg101
3.10 Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails
Electra has the ability to automatically attach and arrange layout symbols when dropped on rails. Uncheck this option to disable automatic placement of layout symbols to rails globally. Alternatively, each layout symbol can be individually disabled from automatic placement by right clicking on the symbol and unchecking "Enable Automatic Placement".
See Also: Using Automatic Placement on Rails, Disabling Automatic Placement
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3.11 Initial Placement Offset
When layout symbols are placed on rails, Initial Placement Offset specifies the distance between the edge of the rail and the first layout symbol.
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3.12 Export Format
Electra has a list of reports which can be exported to Excel or as tab separated values (.tsv). Use this option to select a format for exporting reports. Once set, Electra will export reports using the selected without the need to ask users for a format repeatedly. To select a format, click on the export format drop down and select the required export file format. If tab separated values are selected, Electra will ask for a file name during the export operation.
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3.13 Location Zone Options
Electra reports shape locations (e.g. /1.A1 : Page 1 - zone A1) by dividing a drawing page into zones. To modify the location zones, click on the Location tab in Document Options and enter your preferred zone spacing.
A: Denotes the starting spacing for vertical zones. B, C: Denotes the repeated spacing for vertical zones. 1: Denotes the starting spacing for horizontal zones. 2, 3: Denotes the repeated spacing for horizontal zones.
See Also: The AutoLocation Shape
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3.14 Location Format
To configure how Electra displays location information, use these options:
Page: Denotes characters used to prefix page numbers. Separator: Denotes characters used to separate page numbers and location zones.
Page Separator Examples
/ . /3.E7, /4.F8
P . P3.E7, P4.F8
Pg / Pg3/E7, Pg4/F8
See Also: The AutoLocation Shape
3.15 Saving Your Own Document Options
Settings under Document Options applies globally and is saved in the registry, except Location options where these settings applies to current document only and is saved inside the current drawing. If you wanted to save location options globally, you will need to create a new template using the following steps:
Make a backup copy of the file New Electra Drawing.vst (in C:\Program Files\Radica\Electra folder).
Open Visio and Electra by double clicking on New Electra Drawing.vst. Select menu Electra | Document Options and apply your custom settings. Do not modify the drawing, and select menu File | Save As. Type in your custom template name or overwrite New Electra Template.vst. Close Visio and restart.
The settings are now saved into the template you have chosen above. The next time you start Visio with the above template, your settings will be automatically loaded and used as the default.
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4. Symbols and Components
4.1 One Intelligent Symbol
On some occasions, users may want to create drawings that display symbols horizontally. At other times, users may want to create vertical ones. Electra makes it easy to do both, with one single symbol. Symbols in Electra are intelligent, and can be rotated vertically or horizontally with a simple right click. Rotated symbols automatically have their text and descriptions moved to the correct positions. Certain symbols are even smarter, for example, the motor symbol will allow users to place a 3 terminal or a 6 terminal motor with just a single right click. Drop a symbol onto a drawing and right click to explore for more options.
4.2 Placing and Duplicating Symbols
To place a symbol on a drawing, simply drag and drop a symbol from a stencil and drop it on your drawing. Symbols dropped from stencils inherits all formatting and data from it's master shape in the stencil.
To duplicate a symbol (2 methods):
Method 1: Click on a symbol in a drawing, then click copy and paste. Method 2: Click on a symbol, press CTRL key, drag and drop, then release the CTRL key.
Duplicated symbols inherits all formatting and data from the source symbol. For faster circuit design, duplicating symbols are recommended, especially when users wanted to preserve text or reference formatting.
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4.3 Searching for symbols
Electra symbol search works on open stencils only. Users may need certain stencils on one project and other stencils on another. Since Electra only search open stencils, it will only return symbols that you are currently interested in and ignore unopened stencils.
To search for electra symbols:
Click on Electra tab | Search Symbols. Simply type in what you want to search for and click "Search" button.
Users can select to place search results in as many new stencils as required, which means searching repeatedly for the same thing is not required. These search results can also be saved in a stencil, without the need for repeated searches even across projects.
See Also: Introducing Electra Symbol Search
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4.4 Customizing Symbol Search
To make symbol search even faster, you may mark symbols with your own keyword as follows:
Right click on a stencil and select "Edit Stencil". Right click on the symbol you wanted to modify and select "Edit Master", then "Master
Properties". Key in custom keywords and click OK.
4.5 Maintaining the search database
Electra scan all open stencils and place search data into a search database, "Search.accdb" that is placed on the same folder as your Electra6.mdb. The search database will be filled up with stencil data after a period of time, where some of it may be deprecated and no longer used. To clean up and clear your search database:
To clean up and clear your search database:
Click on Electra tab | Document Options | Miscellaneous | Clear search database.
See Also: Introducing Electra Symbol Search
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4.6 Intelligent Inheritance
When a symbol or wire is duplicated from another, the new symbol will inherit all formatting and data from the source symbol. For example, if you assign a relay symbol to a Siemens component, when you duplicate this symbol, the new symbol will automatically be assigned to a Siemens component. If you assign a wire to a cable, duplicating the wire will result in a new wire that is also assigned to a cable. Intelligent Inheritance allows users to set data to one symbol and re-use these data simply by duplicating the symbol.
4.7 Intelligent Automatic Numbering
When a symbol is dropped on a drawing, Electra will automatically and intelligently rename the new symbol. If a symbol is dropped from a stencil, Electra will always rename the symbol by using its default reference, as listed on the symbol's master in the stencil. If a symbol is duplicated from an existing symbol, the new symbol will inherit all formatting and Electra will rename using the existing reference format.
The same also applies to wires. If a wire is dragged from a stencil, Electra will search through its internal sorted list and rename the new wire to the next sequential number. If a wire is duplicated from an existing wire, the new wire will inherit all formatting and Electra will rename using the existing wire name format.
4.8 Editing Symbol Reference
To edit the symbol reference (2 methods):
Method 1: Click on a symbol and type reference directly. Method 2: Double click or right click on a symbol and select "Edit Reference".
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4.9 The Reference Window
Included on the Reference window are real time cross reference information on shapes that you have already placed on your drawing. Click on a reference to display shapes and locations for that reference.
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4.10 Displaying Pin Names
To display or hide pin names, right click on a symbol and select "Set Pin Names", then click on Hide or Show Pin names. Alternatively, pin names can be hidden or shown on an entire page by clicking on menu Home | Layers | Layer Properties, and modifying the Pin layer to show or hide pin names.
4.11 Automatic Pin Names
When symbols are dropped on a drawing, Electra automatically allocate the next available pin set to the symbol. When pin sets are not available or fully used, Electra displays the pin names as red. Users can right click on a symbol and select "Set Pin Names" to manually allocate another pin set, show or hide pin names or add and edit pin sets.
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4.12 Modifying Pin Sets
To modify pin sets, right click on a symbol, then select Set Pin Names. To assign a pin set, click on a pin set, then click OK. To add, edit or delete a pin set, right click on any pin set and select edit, add or delete.
4.13 Understanding Symbols and Components
Symbols in Electra represents real world components, and the relationship can be any of the following:
Relationship Example
One symbol to one component A power supply symbol represents a real world power supply.
One symbol to many components A relay symbol may represent a relay, a relay base and relay clips.
Many symbols to one component Coil symbol, main contacts symbol and auxiliary contacts symbol all represent only a single contactor.
Many symbols to many components Coil symbol and main contacts represents a contactor while multiple auxiliary contacts represents a single 4
pole auxiliary contact.
Note: All symbols have the same reference.
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In Electra, all symbols with the same reference are initially organized into a single group, where they can be assigned to one or more components. Users can then divide the same symbols into further groupings, and each group can then to be assigned to one or more components.
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4.14 Assigning Components
To assign a component to a single symbol:
Right click on a symbol and select Edit Reference. On the Reference Window, click on Component button.
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4.15 Managing Components
To assign and manage all symbols and components:
Click on menu Electra | Manage Components.
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By default, all symbols with the same reference are are initially organized into a single group. Users can select to move some symbols to another group by unchecking the grouping box. Once unchecked, the symbols will automatically appear in another group ready to be assigned to another component. To move back symbols to it's original group, simply select the original group and check required symbols.
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4.16 Selecting a Component
When users click the "Select" button on the Manage Components window, the Select Component window will be displayed:
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4.17 The Component Database
The Component database stores all component specifications so that they can be used and re-used on multiple projects and drawings. Once a component is selected, it's specifications is then transferred and stored on the drawing itself for portability. Components stored on the database are divided into categories and a single component can appear in more than one category.
To access the component database:
Click on menu Electra | Component Database.
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4.18 The AutoLocation Shape
The AutoLocation symbol displays the location of your references automatically in real time, all without user interference. Locations will update automatically when you move symbols, even across multiple pages. Right click on an AutoLocation shape to jump to monitored references. Multiple AutoLocation symbols can be used to monitor the same reference on multiple pages.
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See Also: Location Format, Location Zone Options
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5. Wires and Cables
5.1 Variety of Wires
Electra provides a variety of wires for every conceivable type of connections. Just drag and drop to place wires on your drawing. In addition, you can always customize wires, and drop them into your own custom stencils for further usage.
5.2 Difference Between A Line And A Wire
A normal line in Visio does not have data and intelligence as compared to a wire in Electra:
Normal Visio Line Electra wires
Automatic Wire Status Display (turns red) No Yes
Automatic Wire Name Detection No Yes
Automatic Wire Name Propagation No Yes
Automatic Wire Connection No Yes
Location Information No Yes
Right click for Dots No Yes
Detected by Terminals No Yes
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5.3 Connecting and Manipulating Wires
Wires in Electra are extremely flexible and can be stretched and manipulated in a variety of ways, by dragging on their handles.
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5.4 Editing Wire Name
To edit a wire name (2 methods):
Click on a wire and type to edit. Double click on a wire or right click and select Edit Wire.
To show or hide wire name, right click on a wire and select Show or Hide Wire Name.
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5.5 The Wire Window
Included on the Wire window are real time cross reference information on wires that you have already placed on your drawing. To display the location of a wire, click on a wire name. (e.g. /1.J1 - Page 1, location J1). To set the current wire name to a wire name that already existed in your drawing, double click on a wire name in the Existing Wire Names list, and click OK.
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5.6 Customizing Wires
Users may want to customize existing wires, by changing line weights, color and to who wire names by default. To customize wires:
Drop a wire onto a drawing. Customize wire accordingly. Drag and drop the customized wire onto your custom stencil. Drag and drop custom wire from stencil to drawing for further usage.
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5.7 Automatic Wire Status Display
Wires in Electra will be automatically displayed in red when it does not have a wire name (orphaned). When a name is assigned, the wire will be displayed as black.
5.8 Automatic Wire Name Detection
When a wire is dragged and moved to connect to another wire, Electra will automatically detect and assign a wire name to the connected wire.
See Also: Automatic Wire Propagation and Detection
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5.9 Wire Name Propagation
If you have multiple wires connected together, changing the name of any wire will also changes the names for all connected wires. Changes will propagate to all connected wires, through wire links and even over multiple pages.
See Also: Automatic Wire Propagation and Detection
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5.10 Automatic Wire Connection
When a wire is connected to another wire, Electra automatically creates a connection point and connects the 2 wires together. Wires that are connected, will display a red handle. When you move the wire away, the connection point is automatically deleted.
See Also: Connection Points
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5.11 Wire Links
Wire links are used to extend a wire to another location, on the same page or to another page, while still symbolically representing a single wire. Use FromWireLink (source) to extend a wire to another location and ToWireLink (target) to continue a wire from another location. When you double click on unpaired links, Electra will automatically prompt you to pair them. When double clicking on paired links, Electra will automatically jump to the target link
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5.12 Assigning Cables
To assign a cable to a wire:
Right click on a wire and select Edit Wire. On the Wire Window, click on Cable button.
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5.13 Managing Cables
To assign and manage all cables:
Click on menu Electra | Manage Cables.
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5.14 Selecting A Cable
When users click the "Select" button on the Manage Cables window, the Select Cable window will be displayed. Click on a cable and then click OK to select thye cable to be used on the wire.
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5.15 Arranging Cable Cores
When users click the "Arrange" button on the Manage Cables window, the Arrange Cable Core window will be displayed. Drag wires from any core and drop to any other core to rearrange cores. Alternatively, drag wires to the right to remove wire from a core, or to drag it back to another core.
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5.16 The Cable Database
The Cable database stores all cable specifications so that they can be used and re-used on multiple projects and drawings. Once a cable is selected, it's specifications is then transferred and stored on the drawing itself for portability.
To access the cable database:
Click on menu Electra | Cable Database.
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5.17 The Cable Tag Symbol
The Cable Tag symbol is used on a drawing to automatically display cable information on a wire. Simply drag and drop the Cable Tag symbol on any wire to display cable information. More options are available with a simple right click.
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6. Re-Using Circuits
6.1 Intelligent Copy and Paste
One of the most powerful and useful tool on Electra is intelligent duplication of entire circuits. In most schematic drawings, there are similar circuits that is duplicated throughout the drawing (e.g. motor starter and control circuits). All references and wires on these circuits must be correctly and uniquely numbered. The issue is further complicated by the fact that certain symbols should be renumbered while others left unchanged (e.g. a common safety relay on motor control circuits should not be renumbered). Electra solves all this complexity by allowing users to choose wires and references that should be left unchanged and automatically and intelligently renumbering wires and references through its AutoRename window.
To duplicate and reuse your circuits:
Select all the shapes in your circuit. Click on the copy tool then click on the paste tool. Select/Deselect symbols and wires to be renamed on the AutoRename window. Click OK and then drag your new circuit to your desired position.
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6.2 Prefab Circuits
Pre-Fabricated (Prefab) circuits are circuits that you often use on your projects and are created and stored in a custom stencil of your own choosing. Prefab circuits are extremely portable, and easily shared among different projects, teams or even online, by simply sending over a stencil.
6.3 Creating Prefab Circuits
To create a prefab circuit:
Draw a circuit as you would normally draw them. Select all the symbols and wires on your circuit. Click on menu Electra | Create Prefab Circuit. Type in a name and description for your circuit. Select the target stencil to store the circuit. Click OK.
Your newly created prefab circuit will be then be stored in the stencil of your choosing.
6.4 Using And Sharing Prefab Circuits
To use a prefab circuit, simply drag and drop them from your stencil and place it anywhere on your drawing. Electra will automatically display the AutoRename window to ensure all numberings are correct.
To share a prefab circuit, simply copy the stencil with the prefab circuit and make it available on a network drive to be shared among team members, or compress the stencil into a zip file to be emailed to anyone.
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6.5 Moving and Duplicating Prefab Circuits
Prefab circuits CANNOT be dragged and drop from one stencil to another, unlike other symbols. Therefore, to move or duplicate Prefab circuits:
Select menu Electra | Duplicate Prefab Circuit. Select the source stencil that contains the prefab circuit you wanted to duplicate/move. Select "All" to duplicate all prefab circuits in the stencil, or select a prefab circuit from the drop
down menu. Select the target stencil where you wanted to move and store the prefab circuit. Click OK
Your Prefab circuit will now be duplicated to the target stencil of your choosing. The original prefab circuit can now be deleted simply by click on the prefab circuit on the original stencil and pressing the DEL key.
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7. Intelligent Terminals
7.1 Terminal Status Detection
Terminal symbols are always placed on wires. In Electra, the terminal symbol will be displayed as red when it is not placed on a wire. When placed on a wire, it will automatically detect the underlying wire and will be displayed as black.
7.2 Automatic Wire Splitting
When a terminal is placed on a wire, Electra automatically splits the wire into two parts, but still preserving cable data. For example, if a wire is assigned to a cable and splitted by a terminal, Electra will insert the same cable onto the drawing and assign it to the splitted wire. When splitted wires are too short to display wire names, Electra will automatically hide wire names for improved viewing.
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7.3 Using and Generating Terminals
To use terminals:
Drop terminal symbols on wires. Drop terminal list symbol, right click and select generate to generate terminal listing. Arrange terminal listings, then drop a terminal block symbol to encapsulate terminal listings. Right click on the terminal block and select Edit Terminal Block or Renumber.
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Generated terminal listing will automatically update wire names when they are changed on a wire. Generated terminal number will automatically update on terminal symbols (when terminal with numbers is used). If there are any modifications of terminal symbols after generating terminal listings, right click on any TerminalList symbol and generate again. Electra will automatically synchronize (create or remove) TerminalList symbol based on your modifications.
To insert manual terminal listing, simply drop a TerminalList symbol or duplicate from another. Manually inserted terminal listings will be preserved by Electra, while automatically generated terminal listings will be automatically created or removed by Electra during terminal listing generation.
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7.4 Manually Assigning Terminal Numbers
If you wanted to manually assign terminal numbers, simply click on any terminal symbol and type away. For example, you can click on any terminal symbol and type in "X1-3". These terminal numbers will be automatically picked up by Electra when generating Terminal listing.
Alternatively users can right click on a TerminalBlock symbol to select Renumber Terminals and Electra will automatically assign terminal numbers and update them on both terminal symbols and terminal listings. Automatically generated terminal numbering will always overwrite manually assigned terminal numbers.
7.5 Jumping to Linked Terminals
Double click or right click on any terminal listing to jump to the terminal symbol. On the terminal symbol, double click or right click again to jump back to the terminal listing. During jumping, the target terminal symbol or terminal listing will always be selected for easy viewing.
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7.6 Using Terminal Blocks
Terminals are normally handled as blocks. Users may have one row of higher rated terminals and other rows of lower rated terminals. Electra enables a mix of terminals by using the TerminalBlock symbol. To use the TerminalBlock symbol:
Drag a TerminalBlock symbol onto your drawing. Drag and resize the TerminalBlock symbol and ensure that it encapsulate all your terminal
listings. Right click and select ReNumber Terminals to generate TerminalBlock with numbers.
TerminalBlock symbols automatically calculate the amount of TerminalList symbols that it encapsulates. When TerminalList symbols are added onto a drawing, click on the TerminalBlock symbol, drag and resize TerminalBlock symbol to encapsulate all TerminalList again, and Electra will automatically re-calculate TerminalList symbols. Alternatively, to manually re-calculate, right click on the TerminalBlock symbol and select Count Terminals.
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The TerminalBlock symbol is also used during panel layout to generate a terminal block component. To edit the TerminalBlock reference, right click and select Edit Terminal Block:
Fields Default Value Description
Terminal Reference X1 Used as a reference to identify a terminal block.
Terminal Width 10 mm. The width of each terminal in the block. Accepts major units (e.g. mm, in, cm)
Terminal Height 50 mm. The height of each terminal in the block. Accepts major
units (e.g. mm, in, cm)
Reference position Left Other values: Right, Top, Bottom. Select the reference text position.
Quantity position Right Other values: Left, Top Bottom. Select the quantity text
position.
When you drag a TerminalBlock symbol from a stencil, the symbol will be populated with default values. When you duplicate a TerminalBlock symbol from an existing one, it will inherit all the properties from the symbol that it is copied from. For example, you may use terminals that is 15mm wide. Drag a TerminalBlock symbol from the stencil, set the width property to 15mm, duplicate 3 more TerminalBlock symbols and all of them will inherit the properties and have the Terminal Width property set at 15mm. Alternatively, TerminalBlock properties can also be accessed by using the Generate Layout or Manage Component window.
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7.7 Organizing Multitier Terminals
Some terminals may have just 2 connections while others may have 4 or more connections, and we called these terminals, multitier terminals. To enable Electra to identify terminals with more than 2 connections, simply arrange them in parallel, either horizontally or vertically.
Ensure that the TerminalBlock symbol encapsulates all terminals and Electra will be able to identify and count them properly. Once counted, Electra would be able to generate BOM and layout accordingly.
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8. Panel Layout
8.1 The Panel Layout Process
To generate panel layout, follow the process as listed below:
Complete schematic drawings. Create a new page and set scale and measurement units. Place base plates, cable ducts and rails on the new page. Click on menu Electra | Generate Layout and use the Generate Layout window to assign
components. Click on Generate or Generate All button to generate layout. Use guides to place and align layout shapes.
8.2 Preparing a Page for Panel Layout
Pages on the New Electra drawing template are set at 1:1 scale and measurement units set at inches. These page settings are optimized for schematic drawings. To prepare a page for panel layout drawings:
Right click on a page tab and select insert page. On the Page Setup dialog, select the Page Properties tab. On the measurement units drop down, select millimeters. On the Page Setup dialog, select the Drawing Scale tab. Click on the custom scale radio button. Type in your custom scale (Recommended: 1:5 for smaller panels and 1:10 for bigger panels).
See Also: Page Scale, Page Measurement Units
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8.3 Inserting Plates, Cable Ducts And Rails
One of the first thing to do during panel layout drawings is to insert a plate (base plate or front plate). To insert a plate, select the Layout stencil and drag the plate symbol to your drawing. All Plate symbols have automatic dimensions that you can show or hide by right clicking on the plate. Users can also set units for plates, cable ducts and rails to be displayed on a drawing by right clicking on these symbols.
8.4 Dimension Shapes
To measure length and diameters, Electra provides dimensioning shapes on the Layout stencil to be dragged and dropped on drawings. All of them automatically display the dimension when their handles are dragged. Right click on dimension shapes for more options.
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8.5 Generating Panel Layout
To generate panel layout:
Click menu Electra | Generate Layout. Ensure that all references are matched correctly with components. Click the Generate All button on the Generate Layout window. Place and arrange generated components on your panel layout drawings.
When the Generate All button is pressed, Electra will automatically synchronize your panel layout to your schematics. For example, you may have added or deleted some symbols on your schematics, and Generate Layout will insert or delete components accordingly. If you have changed the references of your schematics, GenerateLayout will also automatically reflect this change.
See Also: Understanding Symbols and Components
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8.6 Using Guides to Place Layout Shapes
To create a guide:
Drag on the ruler in Visio and drop a guide in any position.
Once a guide is created, drag layout symbol to guides for attachment (shape handles will turn red). When guides are moved, all syymbols that are attached to guides will automatically move and follow guides.
Placing shapes on a guide:
Drag shapes onto the guide (center of shape will turn red to indicate latching on guide).
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8.7 Using Automatic Placement on Rails
Layout symbols can be automatically placed and arranged on rails if Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails is enabled in Document Options. To automatically arrange layout symbols on rails, simply drag and drop a layout symbol onto a rail:
Layout symbols must be touching rails in order to be automatically placed and arranged. Multiple layout symbols can be dropped, but only one symbol needs to be touching rails for all
symbols to be automatically placed and arranged on rails. Symbols can be dropped between previously placed symbols, but still be touching rails, in
order to be automatically arranged. When the rail is fully occupied, layout symbols to the right is booted out from the rail to make
room for newly dropped symbols. Layout symbols can be dragged from rails, and symbols that is still on rails will be
automatically rearranged. When rails are dragged to new positions, all layout symbols on rails will be automatically
moved and repositioned on rails.
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See Also: Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails, Initial Placement Offset
8.8 Setting Automatic Placement Orientation
Automatic Placement on Rails are set to align layout symbols from left to right or if the rail is vertical (right click, select Vertical), from top to bottom. Each rail can be individually set to align on any orientation, by simply right clicking on the rail and selecting Place Layout Shapes at Left/Top (left to right and top to bottom) or Place Layout Shapes at Right/Bottom (right to left and bottom to top) orientation.
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8.9 Disabling Automatic Placement
By default, all layout symbols are enabled for automatic placement on rails, but can be disabled individually or globally. To disable automatic placement on rails globally, see Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails. To disable a layout symbol from automatic placement individually, simply right click on any layout symbol and select "Enable automatic placement", to uncheck this option. Once unchecked, this individual layout symbol will not be automatically placed. This is useful for certain layout symbols like base plate, or relays that is placed on relay base.
See Also: Automatically Place Layout Symbols on Rails
8.10 Using 3D Layout Shapes
To use the Layout 3D shapes, open the stencil "Layout3D E8.vss" in the C:\Program Files\Radica\Electra\ folder. Make sure the folder is opened in your document when you generate layout.
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8.11 Making Your Own Layout Shapes
To make your own layout shape:
Draw lines, arcs and graphics or import a CAD drawing and convert into Visio or import an image of the layout shape.
Group all shapes and select them. Click on menu Electra | Create Layout Symbol. Type in a name and description for the layout symbol. Click OK.
An icon will be generated automatically when the layout symbol is added to a stencil. Right click on the layout symbol in the stencil and select Edit Icon to modify layout symbol icon. After creating your custom icon for your layout symbol, right click on the layout symbol in the stencil, select Master Properties, and make sure to deselect Generate Icon automatically from shape data (In Visio 2010, it's called preview).
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9. Generating, Importing and Exporting Reports
9.1 Generating Reports
Most reports can be generated inside a drawing, exported to Excel (.xls, .xlsx) or exported as tab separated values (.tsv). To generate a report inside a drawing, simply drag and drop a report symbol from the Report stencil, then right click and select Generate.
Report symbols can be resized by dragging on their handles and when a report is generated, Electra automatically create additional report symbols if the content overflows a single symbol. Columns in report symbols can be resized by clicking on the report symbol, then on any column, and dragging on the handles. Some columns may contain options to hide a column, simply right click on a column when it is selected, and choose Hide/Show column.
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9.2 Choosing An Export Format
By default, Electra will export reports into Excel. To choose exporting reports as tab separated values (.tsv), click on menu Electra | Document Options | Export Format, and select tab separated values. Electra will then export reports to the format of your choosing.
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9.3 Cross Reference Report
The cross reference report list all references, descriptions, symbol master and their locations.
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9.4 Material Reference Report
The material reference report list all references, grouping, component information and descriptions.
When exporting Material Reference, the Reference tab will be shown. By default, all references will be exported. Users can click on the references selectively, to export a smaller set of references. Multiple references can be selected by pressing the CTRL key or the SHIFT key and clicking on multiple references. Export a smaller set of references for editing in an Excel or .tsv file, and use the same file to be imported back into the drawing.
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9.5 Importing Material Reference
To import a Material Reference report into a drawing:
First, export a Material Reference report. The report MUST be exported with ALL fields for it to be successfully used as an import file. After report generation, add in rows of components by following the format in the report, delete
or modify component information as required, then save the report. Then click on menu Electra | Import | Material Reference and select the file to be imported (.xls,
.xlsx, .tsv). Then click the import button.
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The ability to import Material Reference report allows users to edit component information in batches, in a familiar spreadsheet environment, where these information can be easily copied from manufacturer's website and pasted into the spreadsheet. Once editing is complete, all these component information including dimensions can be easily imported back into a drawing.
9.6 Bills of Materials Report
The Bill of Materials report list all components used in a schematic, including component information, subtotals and totals.
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9.7 Cable Reference Report
The cable reference report list all cables used on a drawing, including cable information, core name, wire name and their locations.
9.8 Connections (From/To) Report
The connections report list all wires in your schematics, their location, cable information and their connections, including exactly which symbol the wire is connected to, their references, location and pin names.
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9.9 Exporting Stencils
Once a symbol is created and saved on a stencil, users will need to use menu Electra | Tools | Stencil Browser to edit symbol and component information. To edit these information in batches, use Export Stencil to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.
To export a stencil:
Click on menu Electra | Export | Stencil Select the stencil to export.
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9.10 Importing Stencils
After editing exported symbol information from a stencil, these information can then be imported back into Electra.
To import a stencil:
Click menu Electra | Import | Stencil. Select the target stencil to import to. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv). Click OK.
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9.11 Exporting Component Database
In Electra, users can click on menu Electra | Component Database and be able to add, edit and delete component information from the database. To edit component information in batches, use Export Component Database to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.
To export the component database:
Click on menu Electra | Export | Component Database.
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9.12 Importing Component Database
After editing exported component database information, these information can then be imported back into Electra.
To import component database:
Click menu Electra | Import | Component Database. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv). Click OK.
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9.13 Exporting Cable Database
In Electra, users can click on menu Electra | Cable Database and be able to add, edit and delete cable information from the database. To edit cable information in batches, use Export Cable Database to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.
To export the cable database:
Click on menu Electra | Export | Cable Database.
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9.14 Importing Cable Database
After editing exported cable database information, these information can then be imported back into Electra.
To import cable database:
Click menu Electra | Import | Cable Database. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv). Click OK.
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9.15 Export Symbols on Drawing
Schematic symbols on drawings can be exported so that their references, descriptions and pin names can be edited in batches before being imported back into drawings.
To export symbols on drawing:
Click on menu Electra | Export | Symbols on Drawing.
9.16 Import Symbols on Drawing
After editing references, dessctiptions and pin names for symbols on drawings in a spreadsheet, these information can then be imported back into a drawing.
To import symbols on drawing:
Click on menu Electra | Import | Symbols on Drawing.
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9.17 Export Wires on Drawing
Wire names on drawings can be exported so that their names can be edited in batches before being imported back into drawings.
To export wires on drawing:
Click on menu Electra | Export | Wires on Drawing.
9.18 Import Wires on Drawing
After editing wire names on drawings in a spreadsheet, these information can then be imported back into a drawing.
To import wires on drawing:
Click on menu Electra | Import | Wires on Drawing.
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9.19 Generating Table of Contents
To use Table of Contents:
Users must use the "Title" Automatic Text block from the Title Block stencil. Insert the "Title" Automatic text into your Title Block and create your own title block, or use a
title block supplied by Electra. Drag and drop title blocks on all pages in your drawing. Drop Table of Contents (TOC) report from the Reports stencil onto your drawings. Right click and select "Generate Report" and Electra will automatically scan every page to
create a Table of Contents.
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10. PLC and Connector Shapes
10.1 The PLC Symbol
To create a PLC module in your drawings, drag and drop the PLC symbol onto your drawings. To rotate the PLC symbol, right click on the PLC symbol and select Horizontal or Vertical. To change the label position and orientation on the PLC symbol, right click and select Change Label position or Change Label orientation.
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10.2 Customizing the PLC Symbol
PLC symbols can be input, output or analog modules. To customize the PLC symbol, right click on the symbol and select Set PLC Module.
PLC Point allows users to set the starting format for a PLC point. For example, if the PLC points starts from B00000 to B00007, type in B00000 into PLC point text box. If the PLC point starts from X00 to X07, type in X00 into the text box.
Number of points tells Electra how many PLC points to generate. For example, if you have 16 inputs, key in a value of 16 into the number of points text box.
Max increment tells Electra what is the maximum number when generating PLC points. For example, if you have 16 inputs, from X00 to X07, and X10 to X17, then your maximum increment is 7 as that's the maximum number that your PLC point can have. If you have 16 inputs from X00 to X0F, then your maximum increment will be F. If you have 16 inputs from X00 to X15 then your maximum number is 9.
Spacing tells Electra what spacing to use when generating the PLC points on the PLC symbol. The Spacing text box accepts measurement units, e.g. inches, millimeters, cm and other units.
Generate button instructs Electra to generate PLC points on the text box, based on the formats that is entered. Once generated, these PLC points can be manually edited before being generated on the PLC symbol itself. Users can also manually create PLC points by using the text box under the Generate button. Type in the desired PLC points and press the Enter key. The PLC symbol will automatically generate PLC points for each line of text in the text box. Examples of generation below:
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PLC Point X0 B00001 Q0.0
Number of Points 8 12 12
Max. Increment 9 9 7
Original text box content 24Vdc
Y01 Y02
24Vdc X0
0Vdc
24Vdc Y01
0Vdc
Results after Generate
24Vdc X0 X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 X7
24Vdc B00001
0Vdc B00002 B00003 B00004 B00005 B00006 B00007 B00008 B00009 B00010 B00011 B00012
24Vdc Q0.0 0Vdc Q0.1 Q0.2 Q0.3 Q0.4 Q0.5 Q0.6 Q0.7 Q1.0 Q1.1 Q1.2 Q1.3
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10.3 Creating a Single PLC using Multiple Symbols
Users can use the PLC symbol to create separate input and output modules and they will be displayed as separate shapes on your drawing. If you edit their reference (e.g both input and output module are labelled "PLC1") then Electra understands that both symbols represent only a single PLC module. Therefore, only a single PLC module appears on Generate Layout or on the Bills of Materials, despite having 2 separate PLC module shape on your drawings.
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10.4 The Connector Symbol
To create a connector assembly that includes both plug and socket in your drawings, drag and drop the double sided Connector symbol onto your drawings. To create a connector with plug or socket only, drag and drop the single sided Connector symbol onto your drawing. When using the single sided Connector symbols, right click on the Connector and select "Show Male Plug" or "Show Female Socket" to display male plugs or female sockets on the connector.
To rotate a connector, right click and select Horizontal or Vertical. To switch the position of the labels on a connector, right click and select Flip Right or Flip Left
or Flip Up or Flip Down.
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10.5 Customizing the Connector Symbol
To customize the Connector symbol:
Right click on the Connector symbol and select Set Connector.
The Connector symbol operates similarly like the PLC symbol, so for more information, please refer to Customizing the PLC Module.
See Also: Customizing the PLC Module
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11. The Ladder Zone Shape
11.1 The Ladder Zone Symbol
Drag and drop the LadderZone symbol onto your drawings to create ladder diagrams. Symbols and wires in a ladder zone gets automatically renamed according to their rung numbers. If a number is used, it is automatically incremented to the next number. To increase the height of a rung, drag on the yellow controls handles on the LadderZone symbol. When a rung is moved, all symbols attached to the rung will be automatically moved.
11.2 Using Ladder Zone
To use the LadderZone shape:
Drag and drop the LadderZone symbol onto your drawing.
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Rung numbers, and ladder zone sizing can be customized by right clicking on the LadderZone symbol and selecting "Set Ladder Zone". The LadderZone symbol green grid lines are for display on drawings only and is not visible when printed.
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12. Creating Your Own Symbol
12.1 Symbol Creation Process
Creating your own intelligent schematic symbol is an easy and automated process:
Draw symbols using lines, circles, arcs and text. Group all shapes and add connection points. Select shape and click on menu Electra | Create Schematic Symbol.
12.2 The Anatomy of a Schematic Symbol
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12.3 The Create Symbol Window
The Create Symbol window is used to automatically insert intelligence and data into your custom symbol for it to be correctly identified and processed by Electra.
Default Reference Default reference for your custom symbol (e.g. R1)
Description text box and No Description check box
Most schematic symbols have a symbol description (e.g. Start button) displayed at the bottom of the symbol. If a description box does not exist, it will be added automatically. To disable automatic adding of description box, check the No Description check box.
Vertical by default When creating symbols that is vertical by default when dropped on drawings, check the Vertical by default check box.
Hide Description Check to hide description by default. Once a symbol is dropped on a drawing, users can select to show or hide the description text by right clicking on the symbol and select "Edit Reference"
Insert Horizontal / Vertical rotation menu
To insert a horizontal / vertical rotation menu into custom symbols, check the Insert Horizontal / Vertical rotation menu check box. The menu allow symbols to rotate horizontally or vertically using the right click, similar to symbols provided by Electra.
Category
If symbols are assigned to a category, during component selection only the components for the category will be presented. This makes for easier and faster component selection, while still allowing users to select components in other categories.
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All schematic symbols in Electra have a link to a default component. This link is used by Electra to automatically match symbols to components during panel layout and reports.
Priority The lowest priority number in a group of symbols with the same references will be used to suggest a default component. For user created custom symbols, a priority number of 15 is recommended.
Location Type
The Location Type combo box is used by the Location or AutoLocation shape to identify the symbol type. For example, a coil symbol should be set to location type Coil, a normally closed contact should be set to location type NC and a normally open contact should be set to location type NO.
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See Also: Understanding Symbols and Components
All symbols with connection points can have a set of pin names assigned to the connection points.
Pin Set
Each connection point has a pin name. If none were entered, Electra will use defaults (blank). Pin Names comes in sets. For example, a standard NO (2 pole) can have 13 / 14, 23 / 24 etc as pin names. 13 / 14 is one set of pin names and 23 / 24 is another set of pin names. To specify numerous sets of pin name for a single pin, type in all the possible pin names for that pin separated by commas, e.g. 13, 23. Then cycle to the next pin to repeat the same and type 14, 24 as pin names.
Position Click on any 8 of the radio buttons to set the pin name position relative to the connection point. You will be able to see how your selection affects the position of the pin name on the right side of the window.
Text Orientation Select horizontal or vertical text for your pin name orientation.
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See Also: Displaying Pin Names, Automatic Pin Names, Modifying Pin Sets
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To manually control the width and height of the description textbox, use the width and height text box.
After setting all the options on the Create Symbol window, click the OK button and Create Symbol will:
Insert intelligence and data into your custom symbol. Open the selected stencil and add your custom symbol onto the stencil. Delete the custom symbol from your drawing (For Electra to identify your custom symbol, it
must originate from a stencil).
12.4 Editing the Symbol Icon
An icon will be generated automatically when the symbol is added to a stencil. Right click on the symbol in the stencil and select Edit Icon to modify symbol icon. After creating custom icons for symbols, right click on the symbol in the stencil, select Master Properties, and make sure to deselect Generate Icon automatically from shape data (In Visio 2010 it's called a preview).
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12.5 Modifying Existing Symbols
To modify symbol names, components and other symbol information without dropping on drawing:
Click on menu Electra | Tools | Stencil Browser.
To modify and edit symbols on drawing:
Drop symbols onto drawing. Modify symbols as required and click on menu Electra | Create Schematic Symbol to add in
back onto a stencil.
To delete a graphic on an existing symbol:
Drop symbols onto drawing. Click on the symbol, then click on a graphic. With the graphic selected, click on the menu Developer | Protection | None | OK. With the graphic now unprotected, simply press the Delete key to remove the graphic. After graphics has been removed, select the symbol and use menu Electra | Create Schematic
Symbol to add it back onto a stencil.
To add a graphic to an existing symbol:
Drop symbols onto drawing. Draw and place graphics as required. Select both the existing symbol and also the newly drawn graphics, then click on menu Electra
| Create Schematic Symbol. Electra will automatically detect an existing symbol in your selection and will ask if you wanted
to combine them. Once combined, Electra will add the new graphic into the existing symbol while still preserving
the symbol's information.
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13. Creating Your Own Title Blocks
13.1 The Anatomy Of A Title Block
A title block can consist of the following:
Static Text Text that does not change over projects or pages, e.g. addresses or company names.
Static Graphics Graphics that does not change. e.g. logos or client logos.
Automatic Text Automatic fields that is automatically updated by Visio, e.g. editing dates, scale and page numbers.
User Data (Document Scope) User editable data that applies for a single project, e.g. Project name, site name or any data that applies over the entire project.
User Data (Page Scope) User editable data that applies for the current page only, e.g. page title, page author, etc.
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13.2 Title Block Creation Process
To create your own title block:
Insert title block zones onto a blank page, Insert static text and static graphics. Insert automatic text. Insert user data (page or document scope). Select and group all shapes together. Select all and click menu Electra | Title Blocks | Create Title Block. Type in a name and a prompt for your title block and click OK.
13.3 Inserting Title Block Zones
The title block zones automatically setup and divide your page into location zones based on your settings in menu Electra | Document Options.
See Also: Location Zone Options
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13.4 Inserting Static Text and Graphics
Use drawing and text tools on Visio to create graphics and text or import an image. If necessary, group them and place them in the desired location on your title block.
13.5 Inserting Automatic Text
Electra provides a host of automatic shapes including pages, scales and editing dates that can be placed on your title blocks. Just drag and drop them onto your drawing from the Title Block stencil. Right click on them for more options and place them at your desired position.
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13.6 Creating and Inserting User Data
To create User Data:
Draw a box and select it. Click menu Electra | Title Blocks | Insert Title Block Data. Type in a name for your User Data, e.g. Project or Page Author. Type in the default value for the User Data. Select Document scope for data that applies throughout the document or Page scope for data
that applies for current page only.
The User Data rectangle is now ready to be used on your custom title block. Drag the handles of the rectangle to position and resize your user data.
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13.7 The Create Title Block Window
After selecting all shapes that make up your custom title block, group them together, the click on menu Electra | Title Blocks | Create Title Block. Type in a name and prompt for your custom title block, and click ok. Your new custom title block will now be saved and stored in a stencil of your choosing, ready to be used.
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13.8 Using a Custom Title Block
To use your custom title block:
Drag and drop your custom title block from stencil onto your drawing.
Your custom title block will automatically center on your drawing.
To edit and modify title blocks:
Right click on the title block and select Edit Title Block.
13.9 Editing the Title Block Icon
An icon will be generated automatically when the title block is added to a stencil. Right click on the title block in the stencil and select Edit Icon to modify icons. After creating custom icons, right click on the title block in the stencil, select Master Properties, and make sure to deselect Generate Icon automatically from shape data (In Visio 2010 it's called a preview).
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14. Tools
14.1 Stencil Browser
The stencil browser is used to edit symbol information after their creation. Users could browse stencils containing symbols and edit component or pin names without recreating a symbol.
To access the stencil browser:
Click on menu Electra | Tools | Stencil Browser.
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14.2 Renumber
The Renumber utility is used to renumber or resequence a batch of symbols or wires with the same format. For example, you may have K1, K2 and K5 as symbol references, and the Renumber utility will be able to resequnce them back to K1, K2 and K3.
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14.3 Clean Up Document
When a Master shape or symbol from a stencil is dropped onto a drawing, Visio automatically inserts the master shape into a special stencil called the Document Stencil. When a user deletes a symbol from a drawing, these Master shapes get left behind in the Document Stencil even though they are no longer used and causes the entire document to increase in size.
To remove these unused symbols in the Document Stencil, run the Clean Up Document utility, and Electra will scan the entire document and remove all unused Master shapes to reduce file sizes. When a drawing is saved, Electra will also automatically run the Clean Up Document utility to reduce file size.
14.4 Reload Document
Using the Reload document menu, users can re-scan Electra drawings without the need to save, close and re-open a document when an unhandled error is encountered.
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15. Installation and Activation
15.1 System Requirements
Electra requires:
Microsoft Visio 2003 or later. Works with all 32-bit versions of Visio including standard, professional, technical and academic
editions. DOES NOT WORK on Visio 64-bit versions as Microsoft has not worked out compatibility
problems with 64-bit versions. Microsoft has recommended AGAINST installing Office 64-bit unless absolutely necessary. Please refer to the below for more information: Microsoft TechNet Microsoft TechNet Blog PC World
Works on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
15.2 Installing Electra
Electra is a Microsoft Visio solution and requires Microsoft Visio to operate. It is strongly recommended that you install Visio before installing Electra.
To install Visio, follow the instructions listed on the Visio documentation.
To install Electra:
Exit any applications you are running. Double click on the installer and run the installer program. Read the installer warning regarding closing any applications that you may be running and
click OK. Read the End User License Agreement and if you agree to the terms, click Accept. Click on the installation button to begin installing.
15.3 Activating Electra
To activate your copy of Electra:
Click menu Electra | About Electra. Click on Edit button and paste/type in your serial number, then click Save. Click on Activate button to activate.
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15.4 Enabling Macros
Electra uses macros in Visio. If your installed copy of Visio is set to High or Medium security, you may be prompted for permission to run a macro every time Electra is activated or have Electra disabled altogether. To enable macros and Electra:
Start Electra by double clicking on New Electra Drawing.vst. Visio will ask you about trusting us as a publisher, as listed below. Click “Trust all from
publisher”.
In Visio 2010, you will also be asked to turn on macros as listed below. Click on “Enable Content”.
