Wiktor Wise
AutoCAD Electrical is a powerful tool for electrical design and drafting, offering a comprehensive catalog database to enhance project efficiency. The catalog database in AutoCAD Electrical serves as a repository for critical electrical component information, enabling users to quickly access and utilize specific parts during the design process. With the ability to expand and modify tables, users can tailor the database to their unique requirements, ensuring a seamless workflow. This flexibility empowers designers and engineers to create intricate electrical systems with ease, making it essential to understand how to maximize the potential of the catalog database. By exploring methods to increase the catalog database in AutoCAD Electrical, users can streamline their design processes, enhance productivity, and ultimately deliver exceptional electrical designs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Default catalog database name | default_cat.mdb |
| Project-specific catalog database name | |
| File type | .mdb |
| File location | In the same folder as the |
| Symbol used in AutoCAD Electrical | SYMBOL2D |
| Symbol used when inserting parts in Inventor | SYMBOL3D |
| Field used to assign values to attributes | TEXTVALUE |
| AutoCAD Electrical toolset search sequence | |
| Standalone mode configuration | Use AECATALOGCONFIG command to connect to SQL Server |
| Deployment mode configuration | Connect to SQL Server instance created by database or system administrator |
| Tool for creating and migrating database from Access to SQL Server | Autodesk Content Migration Utility for AutoCAD Electrical toolset |
| Catalog Browser requirement to display new table | Exit and restart AutoCAD Electrical |
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What You'll Learn
Editing the catalog database records
To edit the catalog database records in AutoCAD Electrical, you can use the Catalog Browser or a compatible database program. Here are the detailed steps:
- Understanding the Database Structure: Before making any edits, it's essential to understand the structure of the catalog database. The Help topic "About the Catalog Database Structure" can provide valuable insights into the fields and their purposes. This understanding ensures that your edits are accurate and consistent with the database structure.
- Launching the Catalog Browser: The Catalog Browser is a built-in tool within AutoCAD Electrical that allows you to edit the catalog database. To begin editing, launch AutoCAD Electrical and access the Catalog Browser.
- Selecting the Table: Choose the specific table within the catalog database that you want to edit. Each table corresponds to a particular component family or category. Ensure that you have the correct table selected before proceeding with any edits.
- Entering Edit Mode: Once you have selected the desired table, click on it to enter edit mode. You will be able to modify the fields within the table to update or add new information.
- Populating Required Fields: There are a few required fields that you must complete. These fields typically include essential information about the catalog entry. You will receive an alert if you attempt to save your changes without filling in these mandatory fields.
- Adding Records: If you need to add multiple records, press Enter to insert new lines. This allows you to add as many records as necessary, ensuring that each record contains the required information in the appropriate fields.
- Working with Sub-assemblies: AutoCAD Electrical allows you to set up sub-assemblies within the catalog. When assigning the main catalog value, you can include extra parts or sub-assemblies. This feature is useful for generating comprehensive Bill of Material reports. Refer to the Help topic "To Work With Editing the Catalog Database Records" for detailed instructions on setting up assemblies.
- Updating Existing Components: If you make edits to a catalog record and want those changes to reflect in existing components, follow a specific process. Go to Project tab > Other Tools panel > Component Update from Catalog. This updates the terminal pin values on both the parent (COILPINS) and child (PINLIST) symbols.
- Using SYMBOL2D and SYMBOL3D: AutoCAD Electrical uses SYMBOL2D for 2D symbols and SYMBOL3D when inserting parts in Inventor for 3D projects linked to an Inventor assembly. Understanding the usage of these fields ensures that you assign the correct symbols to your catalog records.
- Saving and Displaying Changes: After making your edits, save your changes. Depending on your specific version or setup of AutoCAD Electrical, you may need to exit and restart the software for your newly edited table to display in the Catalog Browser.
Remember to refer to the Help topics and documentation provided by AutoCAD Electrical for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting steps when editing the catalog database records.
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Using the TEXTVALUE field
When creating new parts or editing existing parts in the default_cat.mdb file, users can push information from the component part and annotate it into a symbol's attribute value. This is done using the TEXTVALUE field, which allows users to assign values to attributes when the catalog is assigned to a component.
For example, a catalog entry that annotates the attributes RATING1 and RATING2 with "ON DELAY" and "5-30 sec" respectively, contains the following TEXTVALUE:
> RATING1="ON DELAY" RATING2="5-30 sec"
These values are assigned to the component when the catalog is assigned. If you edit the catalog record and want to update existing components, run Project tab > Other Tools panel > Component Update from Catalog. The information entered in these fields will populate the terminal pin values on the parent (COILPINS) and child (PINLIST) symbols. When these values are edited in the Catalog Browser, the information is written back to the correct _PINLIST table in the catalog database.
TEXTVALUES can be added to any catalogue record card, and multiple texts can be pushed to multiple attributes. The field text uses the same text style as the text object in which it is inserted. By default, fields are displayed with a light grey background that is not plotted FIELDDISPLAY. When any text command is active, Insert Field is available on the shortcut menu. Some sheet set fields can be inserted as placeholders. For example, you can insert SheetNumberAndTitle as a placeholder, and when the layout is added to a sheet set, the placeholder field will display the correct sheet number and title. A field for which no value is available displays hyphens (----).
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Adding a new table
To add a new table to the catalog database in AutoCAD Electrical, you must first ensure you are working on an active project with the main catalog database that you want to edit. Then, follow these steps:
- Go to the "Project" tab and select the "Other Tools" panel.
- Select your catalog database .mdb file. The default catalog database is called "default_cat.mdb".
- Enter a Table Name and, if desired, a Table Description.
- Click "OK".
After completing these steps, your new table will be added to the database with the correct fields, including field order, length, and type. Additionally, the table name and description will be added to the _FAMILY_DESCRIPTION table in the catalog database.
To see your new table in the Catalog Browser, you may need to exit and restart AutoCAD Electrical. Once restarted, your new table should be visible, and you can begin adding catalog data to it.
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Using the Symbol Builder
Once you've selected your file, you can start creating your new symbol category. In the example provided, the author creates a symbol category of "FC" to stand for "Fictional Category". After clicking OK, you'll notice that a new table is added to the database, complete with the correct fields, including field order, length, and type.
The table name and description will also be added to the _FAMILY_DESCRIPTION table in the catalog database. This table is crucial as it is used by both the Catalog Browser and the Symbol Builder to display the description for your symbol category.
Now, let's discuss the fields you'll be working with. The SYMBOL2D field is used in AutoCAD Electrical, while the SYMBOL3D field comes into play when inserting parts in Inventor when your project is linked to an Inventor assembly. Additionally, the TEXTVALUE field allows you to assign specific values to attributes when the catalog is assigned to a component. For instance, if you have a catalog entry with attributes RATING1 and RATING2, you can use TEXTVALUE to assign values like "ON DELAY" and "5-30 sec", respectively.
By following these steps and utilizing the Symbol Builder effectively, you can efficiently increase your catalog database in AutoCAD Electrical, adding new symbol categories and enhancing your overall design capabilities.
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Using the Catalog Browser
To add content to the catalog database, expand the Other Tools panel on the Project tab and select your catalog database .mdb file. The default catalog database file is default_cat.mdb. After adding a new table, exit and restart AutoCAD Electrical for the new table to display in the Catalog Browser.
The Catalog Browser supports associating commands selected from the icon menu. The following icons indicate that a command is associated with the catalog value: an image of the symbol associated with the catalog, which can be clicked to insert the block; the icon menu, where you can select a symbol to insert; the Bill of Material Check dialog box, which displays details of the main catalog and any associated sub-assembly items; the Weblink field, which displays the URL or document associated with the record; and the option to add or remove the record from the favorites list for the active category.
The Catalog Browser also allows you to perform a global search, which finds specific catalog, manufacturer, or assembly code values across different family tables. For example, you can search for "Red Illuminated" to find records containing the exact phrase in any of the displayed fields. You can also use "Red OR Illuminated" to find records with either word in any of the displayed fields.
The browser can be used in lookup mode to assign catalog values to components, with the category based on the selected component. You can also use the TEXTVALUE field to assign values to attributes when the catalog is assigned to a component.
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Frequently asked questions
To add a new table, expand the Other Tools panel on the Project tab and select your catalog database .mdb file. You can then add a symbol category and click OK.
You need to exit and restart AutoCAD Electrical. Once you've done this, your new category should appear in the Catalog Browser.
You can use the Catalog Browser to edit the catalog database or use a database program that can read/write the Access file format.
The default catalog database file is called default_cat.mdb.
