Symbols and components
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. Capital Electra X makes it easy to do both, with one single symbol.
Symbols in Capital Electra X 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 change the contact, output and connection type with just a single right click. Drop a symbol onto a drawing and right click for more options.
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 inherit all formatting and data from its source symbol in the stencil.
To duplicate a symbol (2 methods):
- Method 1: Click on a symbol in a drawing, then press the CTRL + C key to copy and press the CTRL + V key to paste.
- Method 2: Click on a symbol in a drawing, press the CTRL key, drag and drop, then release the CTRL key.
Duplicated symbols inherit 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.
See also
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.
Intelligent inheritance allows users to set data to one symbol and re-use these data simply by duplicating the symbol.
Intelligent automatic numbering
When a symbol is dropped on a drawing, Capital Electra X will automatically and intelligently rename the new symbol.
If a symbol is dropped from a stencil, Capital Electra X will always rename the symbol by using its default reference, as listed on the source symbol in the stencil.
If a symbol is duplicated from an existing symbol, the new symbol will inherit all formatting and Capital Electra X will rename using the existing reference format.
The same also applies to wires. If a wire is dragged from a stencil, Capital Electra X 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 Capital Electra X will rename using the existing wire name format.
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.
Cross navigation hyperlinks
Users are able to navigate through schematics with hyperlinks that connect symbols to their (Layouts/Hydraulic/Pneumatic/P&ID/Single Line) design for a quick cross-checking and reviewing process.
The hyperlinks will be updated automatically whenever user:
- Drops, renames & deletes a symbol while the drawing has a same reference symbol
- Generates Layout (Symbol & Terminal)
For existing drawings that do not have this feature updated, you can opt to run Public plugins | Utilities | Cross Navigation Hyperlinks to update all of the symbols' hyperlinks in the drawing once the loading message disappears.
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.
Realtime reference window
To view the Realtime Reference Window :
- Click on menu View | Show Reference Window
The realtime reference window will show list of the references of the symbols. It will be automatically updated after dropping a new symbol on the drawing, changing the reference and deleting a symbol.
When a reference is clicked, the drawing will automatically locate and show the symbol with the reference.
Similarly, when a symbol is clicked on the drawing, the reference list will automatically scroll to identify its reference.
Displaying pin names
To show or hide pin names:
- Right click on a symbol, select Hide Pin Names or Show Pin Names
Alternatively, pin names can be hidden or shown on an entire page by:
- Clicking on menu Layers | Layer Properties, and modifying the Pin layer to show or hide pin names.
Automatic pin names
When symbols are dropped on a drawing, Capital Electra X automatically allocates the next available pin set to the symbol.
When pin sets are not available or fully used, Capital Electra X 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.
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 Pin Set.
Editing symbol information
To edit symbol information:
- Open a stencil and right click on a symbol.
- Select Edit symbol information
Increment type
Increment type for numbering of symbol reference. For example, the references of two symbols with the same increment type will be automatically renumbered after dropping them on the page.
Understanding symbols and components
Symbols in Capital Electra X represents real world components, and the relationship can be any of the following:
In Capital Electra X, 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.
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 the Component button.
Managing components
To assign and manage all symbols and components:
- Click on menu Manage Components.
By default, all symbols with the same reference 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.
See also
Selecting a component
When users click the Select button on the Manage Components window, the Select Component window will be displayed:
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, its specification is then transferred and stored on the drawing itself for portability. Components stored in 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 Component Database.
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.
See also
Customizing the Fitting Manifold symbol
A fitting manifold symbol can be double-sided or open-ended. Its ports number are customizable as well. To customize the Manifold symbol, right click on the symbol and select Set Manifold.
Number of ports tell Capital Electra X how many ports to be generated on the Manifold symbol.
If the double-sided option is enabled, the ports will be generated on both sides of the Manifold symbol.
If the open-ended option is enabled, Capital Electra X will generate additional port at the end of the Manifold symbol.
The Component Tag Symbol
The Component Tag symbol is used to automatically display the information of a component.
To view the information of a component:
- Drag and drop the Component Tag symbol or the tag line to the drawing and attach it to a symbol.
- Alternatively, right click on the Component Tag symbol and select Select Reference to view the list of references in the drawing. Click on a reference and click OK.
- Right click and select Edit Component Tag to view and choose the fields you need.
Add custom fields for a component
Click on the Custom fields button to add custom fields for a component. After the custom fields dialog shows up, you can start to add custom fields in the label-value columns.
