Autodesk AutoCAD AutoCAD Electrical Quick Reference Manual

AutoCAD Electrical Quick Reference Guide

Symbol Libraries

Databases

AutoCAD Electrical provides library symbols that comply with
the standards:

 IEEE 315/315A
 IEC-60617
 NFPA

The symbols are located in

\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs

Catalog Lookup – parts catalog database.
The following naming convention and search sequence is
used:

 <project name>_CAT.MDB located in the same folder

as the .wdp file for the active project

 DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in the same folder as the

.wdp file for the active project

 DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in

\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs

 DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in a support folder

Footprint Lookup – maps the graphical footprint symbols
to catalog part numbers.
The following naming convention and search sequence is
used:

 <project name>_FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in

the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project

 FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder

as the .wdp file for the active project

 FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in

\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs

 FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in a support folder

Schematic Lookup – maps the schematic symbols when

inserted from panel footprints.
The following naming convention and search sequence is
used:

 <project name>_SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in

the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project

 SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder

as the .wdp file for the active project

 SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in

\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs

 SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in a support folder

WD_LANG1.MDB – used when convert description or

switch position component text from one language to
another. Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs.

ACE_PLC.MDB – used to generate PLC I/O modules.
Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\PLC.

Icon Menus

Use the icon menu to insert schematic and panel components.
The program defaults to icon menu ACE_<standard>_MENU.DAT
for schematic symbols and ACE_PANEL_MENU.DAT for panel
symbols. These menu files are located in

\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD
Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support.

Circuit Builder

ACE_CIRCUIT_BUILDER.XLS - defines the available circuits,
circuit types, and defaults for each option within a circuit.
Located in \Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\AcadE
{version}\{language code}\Support.

ACE_ELECTRICAL_STANDARDS.MDB - defines default values and
engineering calculations, annotates circuits, and provides wire
type analysis.

Din Rail and Wireway

WDDINRL.XLS – used to parametrically generate din rail and
wireway. Located in \Users\{username}\Documents\Acade
{version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs.

Miscellaneous Text Files

WD_DESC.WDD – lists various standard component description
selections, accessible by clicking Defaults on the Insert/Edit
dialog boxes.

WD_FAM.DAT - maps the family codes to new values, overriding
the family tag code of the library symbols.

DEFAULT.WDT – attribute mapping file for Title Block update.
DEFAULT.WDA – user-defined attribute list used in reports.
DEFAULT.INST, DEFAULT.LOC - lists the default installation and

location codes, accessible by clicking Project in the Installation
or location section of the Insert/Edit dialog boxes.

DEFAULT_WDTITLE.WDL - customizes the generic LINEx labels in
the various title block and project information dialog boxes.

Support Search Folders

\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\User
\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support

\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\Support\{language code}

\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade

All paths defined under AutoCAD Options → Files → Support Files Search Path

Schematic Symbol Naming Convention

Default Family Codes

 The first character is either "H" or "V" for horizontal or vertical wire insertion.
 The next two characters are reserved for family type (for example, PB for

push buttons, CR for control relays, LS for limit switches).

 The fourth character is generally a 2 for child contacts and 1 for everything

else (parent or standalone component).

 If the symbol is a contact, then the fifth character is a 1 for normally open, 2

for normally closed.

 The remaining characters are not specified. They are used to keep names

unique. Symbol names are limited to 32 characters.

AM: Ammeters
AN: Buzzers, horns, bells
CB: Circuit breakers
C0: Connectors/pins
CR: Control relays
DI: Din Rail
DN: Device networks
DO: Diodes
DR: Drives
DS: Disconnect switches
EN: Enclosures/hardware
FM: Frequency meters
FS: Flow sensors
FT: Foot switches
FU: Fuses
LR: Latching relays
LS: Limit switches
LT: Lights, pilot lights
MISC: Miscellaneous
MO: Motors
MS: Motor starters/contactors
NP: Nameplates
OL: Overloads
PB: Push buttons
PE: Photo switches
PLCIO: Programmable logic controllers
PM: Power meters
PNEU-ACT: Actuators
PNEU-ALU: Lubricators
PNEU-CYL: Cylinders
PNEU-FLC: Flow Control
PNEU-FLT: Filters
PNEU-MET: Pressure Gauges
PNEU-MFL: Silencers
PNEU-MNF: Manifolds
PNEU-MOT: Motors
PNEU-NOZ: Nozzles
PNEU-OPR: Push buttons
PNEU-PMP: Pumps
PNEU-TNK: Reservoirs
PNEU-VAC: Suction
PNEU-VLV: Valves
PS: Pressure switches
PW: Power supplies
PX: Proximity switches
RE: Resistors
SS: Selector switches
SU: Surge suppressors
SW: Toggle switches
TD: Timer relays
TRMS: Terminal blocks
TS: Temperature switches
VM: Volt meters
WO: Cables, multi-conductor cables
WW: Wire ways

XF: Transformers

Replaceable Parameters

Replaceable parameters are codes used to define tagging formats.

Device tags, wire numbers, cross-reference parameters:
%F: Component family code string (for example, "PB," "SS," "CR," "FLT," "MTR")
%S: Sheet number of the drawing (for example, "01" entered in upper right)
%D: Drawing number
%G: Wire layer name
%N: Sequential or Reference-based number applied to the component
%X: Suffix character position for reference-based tagging (not present = end of

tag)

%P: IEC-style project code (default for drawing)
%I: IEC-style installation code (default for drawing)
%L: IEC-style location code (default for drawing)
%A: Project drawing list's SEC value for active drawing
%B: Project drawing list's SUB-SEC value for active drawing

Wire annotation and graphical terminal strips parameters:
%P: Terminal pin text
%Q: Terminal pin TERMDESC text
%I: IEC-style installation code
%L: IEC-style location code
%M: Mount assignment (on panel footprint equivalent)
%U: Group assignment (on panel footprint equivalent)
%W: Wire number
%C: Cable tag + conductor/core color combination (format is "tag-color")
%E: Cable tag
%J: Cable conductor/core color
%V: Cable tag substituted for wire number if cable tag is non-blank.The wire

number is displayed when a cable ID does not exist.

%G: Wire color/gauge (or wire layer name)
%H: Cable wire color substituted for wire number if cable color is non-blank.The

wire layer is displayed when a wire conductor in conjunction with a cable ID does
not exist.

%T: Terminal strip terminal pin assignment
%K: Terminal strip TERMDESC text - useful for multi-stack terminals
%1: Destination component tag ID.
%2: Equivalent of "%1:%P" (comp tag:term)
%3: Equivalent of "%1:%P:%D" (comp tag:term:termdesc)
%4: Equivalent of "%L%1" (IEC comp tag)
%5: Equivalent of "%L%1:%P" (tag:term)
%6: Equivalent of "%L%1:%P:%D" (tag:term:termdesc)
%7: Equivalent of "%I%I%1" (INST prefix+IEC comp tag)
%8: Equivalent of "%I%L%1:%P" (tag:term)
%9: Equivalent of "%I%L%1:%P:%D" (tag:term:termdesc)

Note: You can use only one of the (%number) parameters.