EPLAN Electric P8 Reference Handbook

Content Preface and Thanks................................................... 1 Important Notes.......................................................2

2.6.7

Buttons (small black triangles) ............ 50

2.6.8

Filter Dialogs .......................................... 51

2.6.9

Popup Menu Functions......................... 51 Master Data ............................................ 52

1

Installing EPLAN Electric P8 ................... 3

2.7

1.1

Hardware....................................................3

2.8

Operation ................................................ 53

1.2

The Installation .........................................3

2.8.1

Using the keyboard ............................... 53

1.3

Important note for Version 1.8.x users10

2.8.2

Using the mouse .................................... 54

2.9

The User Interface - More Useful Information ............................................ 54

2.9.1

Working with Workspaces ................... 55

2.9.2

Dialog Display........................................ 56

2

System knowledge – and more ............ 11

2.1

Five basic principles in EPLAN Electric P8............................................................. 11

2.2

Directory structure, storage locations. 12

2.3

Settings – General ................................. 15

3

Projects and Managing Projects ...........61

2.3.1

Settings – Project................................... 16

3.1

Project Types .......................................... 62

2.3.2

Settings – User ....................................... 28

3.1.1

Project types in EPLAN......................... 63

2.3.3

Settings – Workstation ......................... 36

3.1.2

Project templates and basic projects... 64

2.3.4

Settings – Company .............................. 37

3.2

Creating a New Project ......................... 66

2.4

EPLAN and Multiple Starts .................. 39

3.2.1

A new project (from a basic project) .. 67

2.5

Properties................................................ 39

3.2.2

A new project (with project wizard) ... 69

2.5.1

Project properties................................... 40

3.3

The Project Management...................... 76

2.5.2

Page Properties ...................................... 42

3.3.1

All Your Projects under Control.......... 76

2.5.3

Symbol properties.................................. 43

3.3.2

Buttons in the Project Management ... 79

2.5.4

Plot Frame Properties............................ 45

3.3.3

Filters in the Project Management ...... 83

2.5.5

Plot frame properties............................. 45

3.3.4

2.6

Icons, Popup Menus in Dialogs ........... 45

Creating a Project (Project Management) ................................................................. 84

2.6.1

Icons in Device Dialogs ........................ 46

3.3.5

Copying a Project (Project Management) ................................................................. 85

2.6.2

Icons in Dialogs (Configuring)............. 47

3.3.6

Copying Projects (Explorer) ................. 87

2.6.3

Icons in Dialogs such as Filter Schemes ................................................................. 47

4

The Graphical Editor................................89

2.6.4

The Small Blue Triangle ....................... 48

4.1

2.6.5

Property Arrangements (Symbols) ...... 48

Pages under Control in the Page Navigator ................................................ 89

2.6.6

Formatting Properties ........................... 49

4.1.1

Page types............................................... 89

V

Content 4.1.2

The page navigator................................ 90

4.10

4.2

General Functions ............................... 102

4.10.1 What is the EPLAN Data Portal?....... 142

4.2.1

The menus in EPLAN .......................... 103

4.10.2 The installation .................................... 143

4.2.2

The status bar....................................... 103

4.10.3 Before the first start ............................ 145

4.3

Grid and Increments............................ 104

4.3.1

Graphical coordinate system.............. 105

4.10.4 Menu items of the EPLAN Data Portal ............................................................... 146

4.3.2

Logical coordinate system.................. 106

4.10.5 How the Portal works ......................... 147

4.4

Grid........................................................ 106

4.11

4.5

Increments, Coordinate Input ............ 108

4.11.1 Types of macros................................... 150

4.5.1

Increment.............................................. 108

4.11.2 Macros with value sets ....................... 156

4.5.2

Coordinate input.................................. 109

4.12

4.5.3

Relative coordinate input ................... 109

4.12.1 What are project options? .................. 160

4.5.4

Moving the base point ........................ 110

4.6

Graphical Editing Functions .............. 111

4.12.2 Terms used in the Options module area ............................................................... 160

4.6.1

Lines, circles, rectangles, and more .. 111

5

Navigators – Project Data Overviews165

4.6.2

Grouping and ungrouping ................. 113

5.1

Navigator Fundamentals .................... 165

4.6.3

Copying, deleting, selecting ............... 115

5.2

Project data – Devices......................... 171

4.6.4

Dimensioning and the object snap function................................................. 116

5.2.1

Devices – Exchange ............................ 172

4.7

Texts ...................................................... 118

5.2.2

Devices – Assigning Main Function . 173

4.7.1

Normal (free) texts............................... 119

5.2.3

Devices – Cross-referencing DTs ....... 175

4.7.2

Path function texts.............................. 119

5.2.4

Devices – Synchronize function texts176

4.7.3

Special texts ......................................... 120

5.2.5

Devices – Interconnect devices.......... 177

4.7.4

The Properties – Text dialog .............. 121

5.2.6

Devices – Number (offline)................. 180

4.8

Symbols ................................................ 127

5.2.7

Device navigator – New ..................... 182

4.8.1

Inserting and editing symbols ........... 128

5.2.8

Device navigator – New device ......... 183

4.8.2

Properties (components) dialog – [Device] tab .......................................... 129

5.2.9

Device navigator – Place.................... 184

4.8.3

The Display tab .................................... 131

4.8.4

The Symbol / Function data tab........ 134

4.8.5

The Parts tab ........................................ 136

4.9

Cross-references................................... 137

4.9.1

Motor overload switch contact image example................................................. 137

4.9.2

Coil contact image example............... 141

VI

The EPLAN Data Portal....................... 142

Macros................................................... 150

Project Options..................................... 160

5.2.10 Device navigator – Rename ............... 184 5.3

Project data – Terminal strips and terminals ............................................... 185

5.3.1

Terminal strips – Edit.......................... 185

5.3.2

Terminal strips – Correct .................... 187

5.3.3

Terminal strips – Number terminals . 189

5.3.4

Terminal strip navigator – New......... 190

Content 5.3.5

Terminal strip navigator – New functions............................................... 190

5.6.1

Cable – Edit .......................................... 214

5.6.2

Cable – Number ................................... 215

5.3.6

Terminal strip navigator – Generate terminal strip definition ..................... 192

5.6.3

Cables – Automatically generate cables ............................................................... 217

5.3.7

Terminal strip navigator – Generate terminal strip definition ..................... 192

5.6.4

Cables – Automatic cable selection .. 219

5.3.8

Terminal strip navigator – Place ....... 192

5.6.5

Cables – Delete automatically generated cables ..................................................... 220

5.3.9

Terminal strip navigator – Edit ......... 194

5.6.6

Cables – Automatic -> Manual............ 221

5.3.10 Terminal strip navigator –Number terminals ............................................... 194

5.6.7

Cables – Assign conductors – Keep existing properties ................................ 222

5.4

Project data – Plugs, sockets and more ............................................................... 195

5.6.8

Cable navigator – New ......................... 223

5.4.1

Plugs – Edit .......................................... 195

5.6.9

Cable navigator – Place........................ 223

5.4.2

Plugs – Correct..................................... 196

5.4.3

Plugs – Number pins........................... 196

5.4.4

Plug navigator – New ......................... 197

5.4.5

Plug navigator – New functions........ 197

5.4.6

5.6.10 Cable navigator – Number cable DT.... 224 5.6.11 Cable navigator – Number DT ............. 224 5.7

The Assign Function in Different Navigators ............................................. 225

Plug navigator – Generate plug definition .............................................. 198

6

Graphical and External Reports......... 227

6.1

What Are Reports? .............................. 228

5.4.7

Plug navigator – Generate pin .......... 198

6.2

Report Types......................................... 228

5.4.8

Plug navigator – Place........................ 199

6.3

Types of Graphical Reports ................ 228

5.5

Project data – PLC ............................... 199

6.3.1

Report types (forms) ............................ 228

5.5.1

PLC – Writing back connection point descriptions .......................................... 201

6.4

Settings (Output Options) ................... 240

6.4.1

Project setting Output to pages ......... 240

5.5.2

PLC – Set data types ........................... 202

6.4.2

Project setting Display / Output ........ 245

5.5.3

PLC – Address / Assignment lists...... 203

6.4.3

Project setting Parts ............................ 247

5.5.4

PLC – Address ...................................... 206

6.5

Generating Reports.............................. 247

5.5.5

PLC – Use existing addresses blockwise ............................................................... 207

6.5.1

The Reports dialog............................... 248

5.5.6

PLC – Use connection points blockwise ............................................................... 209

6.5.2

Generate reports without templates .. 249

6.5.3

Popup menus in the Reports tab ....... 253

5.5.7

PLC navigator – New .......................... 210

6.5.4

Generate reports with templates........ 254

5.5.8

PLC navigator – New functions......... 211

6.6

Other Functions ................................... 258

6.6.1

Generate project reports ..................... 259

6.6.2

Update ................................................... 259

6.6.3

Settings for automatic updates.......... 259

5.5.9

PLC navigator – New device .............. 212

5.5.10 PLC navigator – View ......................... 213 5.6

Project data – Cables and Conductors213

VII

Content 6.7

Labeling ................................................ 260

8.1.2

Importing DXF and DWG Files ......... 314

6.7.1

Settings ................................................. 260

8.2

Image Files ........................................... 316

6.8

Externally Editing Properties ............. 267

8.2.1

Exporting image files.......................... 316

6.8.1

Export data........................................... 268

8.2.2

Inserting image files (Importing)....... 319

6.8.2

Import.................................................... 273

8.3

PDF Files............................................... 321

8.3.1

Exporting PDF files ............................. 322

8.3.2

Inserting PDF files (importing) .......... 323

8.4

General Printing .................................. 327

8.4.1

The print dialog and its options ........ 327

8.5

Exporting and Importing Project Data ............................................................... 330

8.5.1

Exporting project data ........................ 330

8.5.2

Importing project data ........................ 330

8.6

Special Function Print attached documents ............................................ 331

8.7

Special Function Import PDF comments ............................................................... 332

7

Management Tasks in EPLAN ..............275

7.1

The Structure Identifier Management275

7.1.1

Tabs in the structure identifier management......................................... 276

7.1.2

The graphical buttons ......................... 279

7.1.3

Sort menu ............................................. 281

7.1.4

Extras menu ......................................... 282

7.2

The Message Management ................. 284

7.2.1

The visual appearance of the message management......................................... 285

7.2.2

Project checks ...................................... 286

7.2.3

Message classes and message categories ............................................................... 286

8.7.1

Importing commented PDF documents ............................................................... 332

7.2.4

Filters in the message management.. 290

8.7.2

Deleting PDF comments ..................... 334

7.2.5

Various ways of editing messages .... 291

7.3

Layer Management.............................. 292

9

7.3.1

Standard layers .................................... 292

Backing up, Restoring, and Mailing Data ................................................................... 335

7.3.2

Export and import layers.................... 293

9.1

Zipping and Unzipping Projects........ 335

7.3.3

Create and delete your own layers.... 294

9.2

Backing up and Restoring Projects ... 337

7.3.4

Uses of layers ....................................... 296

9.2.1

Backing up Projects............................. 338

7.4

Parts Management............................... 300

9.2.2

Restoring Projects................................ 343

7.4.1

Structure of the parts management .. 302

9.3

Other Important Settings .................... 344

7.4.2

Tabs in the parts management .......... 303

9.3.1

7.4.3

Create a part ......................................... 307

Default Settings for Data Backups (User) ............................................................... 344

9.3.2

8

DXF, DWG, PDF, Images – Exporting, Importing, Printing ...............................311

Compressing Project (remove unnecessary data) ................................ 345

9.3.3

8.1

Exporting and Importing DXF / DWG Files ....................................................... 311

Automated Processing – Compressing and Backing Up a Project................... 347

9.4

8.1.1

Exporting DXF and DWG files .......... 311

Backing Up and Restoring Master Data ............................................................... 350

VIII

Content 9.4.1

Backing up Master Data ..................... 351

9.4.2

Restoring Master Data......................... 354

9.4.3

User Settings for Master Data............ 355

9.5

Sending by E-mail............................... 356

9.6

Data Backup with a Script.................. 357

10

Master Data Editors ..............................359

10.1

Preparatory Measures.......................... 360

10.2

Form Overview Project ....................... 360

10.3

Forms..................................................... 362

10.3.1 Creating a new form (from a copy)... 363 10.3.2 Editing an existing form .................... 368 10.3.3 Creating a new form ........................... 369 10.4

Plot frames ........................................... 370

10.4.1 Creating a new plot frame (from a copy) ............................................................... 370 10.4.2 Editing an existing plot frame........... 372 10.4.3 Creating a new plot frame.................. 373 11 Importing Old EPLAN Data ...........................375 11.1

Importing EPLAN 21 Data.................. 375

11.1.1 Symbol libraries................................... 377 11.1.2 Plot frames ........................................... 378 11.1.3 Forms..................................................... 379 11.1.4 Parts data / plug data ......................... 380 11.1.5 Dictionaries .......................................... 381 11.1.6 Macros................................................... 382 11.1.7 Projects (complete) .............................. 384 Index

...................................................................387

IX