Components Tab (Project Properties Dialog Box)

Define project settings for components.

Find
 Command entry:  AEPROJECT

In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Properties. Select the Components tab.

Component TAG Format

Tag Format

Specifies the way new component tags are created. The tag consists of a minimum of two pieces of information: a family code and an alphanumeric reference number (for example, "CR" and "100" to yield a tag like CR100 or 100CR). Optionally, a component tag might contain a sheet number or some user-specified separators. If your format includes the sheet number %S parameter or the drawing number %D parameter, enter the values in the edit boxes in the Drawing Properties Drawing Settings dialog box.

Note: AutoCAD Electrical toolset provides a predefined format for you to use or you can enter your own format using replaceable parameters.
Note: The %N parameter is mandatory in any component tag format you define.

Search for PLC I/O address on insert

Searches for a connected PLC I/O module's I/O point. If found, the I/O address value is substituted for the "%N" part of the default component tag.

Note: This setting is saved in the MISC_FLAGS attribute on the WD_M block of the drawing.

Sequential

Enter the beginning sequential number for the drawing. Sequential tags can continue uninterrupted from one drawing to the next if you assign the same beginning sequential number to every drawing in your project. As you insert components on any drawing of the project set, AutoCAD Electrical toolset starts with the value you set and works its way up until it finds the next unused sequential number tag for the target component family.

Note: If you finish a drawing and move to the next, but return to the first drawing to add another component and sequential tag, a gap appears in the numbering sequence for that drawing. Use the AutoCAD Electrical toolset Project-wide Update/Retag tool to retag the whole drawing set.

Line Reference

Set up the unique format tag suffix list. Use this list to create unique reference-based tags when multiple components of the same family are located at the same reference location. (For example, three push buttons on the same line reference "101" could be labeled PB101, PB101A, and PB101B -- AutoCAD Electrical toolset does this using a suffix list of " ", "A", "B", and so on).

Note: The component tag suffix is automatically added to the end of the tag. You can force AutoCAD Electrical toolset to insert the suffix character somewhere within the tag format. Use the Suffix position parameter, %X, in the component tag format (for example, %N%X - %F).

Suffix Setup

Displays the suffix list. The individual items in the suffix list are given in the row of edit boxes across the top of the dialog box. List suffix characters for duplicate family components on the same line reference or in the same zone (to keep tags unique). The suffix is added to the end of the component tag. To add it to the inside of the tag, use "%X" in the Tag Format. Example:

%N-%F or %N-%F%X = suffix at the end (such as 101-CRA)

%N%X-%F = add to number, before family code (such as 101A-CR)

Select from the default lists or manually enter your own suffix list in the row of edit boxes.

Component TAG Options

Combined Installation/Location tag mode

Uses the combined installation/location tag for interpreting component tag names. For example, -100CR relay contact marked with location code PNL1 is interpreted as being associated with a different relay coil than relay contact -100CR marked with location code PNL2. If this setting is not selected, both contacts are associated with the same parent relay coil, -100CR.

Suppress dash when first character of tag

Suppresses any single-dash character prefix in a combined tag that does not have a leading Installation/Location prefix. (For example, "-K101" dash is suppressed to "K101" but "+LOC1-K101" remains unchanged.)

When switched OFF, it automatically adds a single dash character to a combined tag that does not already have a single leading dash prefix. It also does not have a leading Installation/Location prefix. (For example, tag "K101" becomes "-K101" but "+LOC1-K101" remains unchanged._

Note: This suppression takes place automatically in reports; and takes place graphically only when a component is inserted, edited, or retagged.

Format Installation/Location into tag

Specifies to exclude the Installation and Location code values as part of the tag when displaying. For example, if it is not on, a tag might show up as K16 in the Surf dialog box, but if selected the tag might show up +AAA-K16 (where AAA is the location).

Suppress Installation/Location in tag when match drawing default

Suppresses Location and Installation values on components if they match the drawing default values.

Note: Update cross-reference text using the AutoCAD Electrical toolset Cross-reference command.

Suppress Installation/Location in tag on reports

Specifies to exclude Installation and Location values as part of the tag when displayed in reports.

Upon insert: automatic fill Installation/Location with drawing default or last used

Fills the Installation and Location edit boxes on the Insert/Edit component dialog box. The attributes on the block with drawing default or last used values (if no drawing default).If not selected, these edit boxes and attributes are not filled in and are assumed.

Note: Avoid using a mixture of drawings in the project when using the Combine Installation/Location Tag mode. For example, do not include some drawings with drawing-wide Installation or Location values and some without drawing-wide values. It can result in a disruption of the child and parent component relationship under certain circumstances.

Component Options

Description text upper case

Forces description text to upper case.

Item Numbering

Launches the Item Numbering Setup dialog box. The dialog box contains options for project or drawing wide item numbering, and per-part number or per-component item numbering.