Creating custom electrical and communication symbols
The Vectorworks Architect product includes many pre-defined electrical and communication objects in its object library files. If necessary, you can create custom panel and circuiting symbols instead.
Creating custom panels
Electrical, communication, and disconnect panel symbols can be created specifically to fulfill a custom requirement.
To create a panel symbol:
Draw the object to represent the panel.
Select Modify > Create Symbol. Enter a name for the panel and set a destination folder for the symbol as described in Creating symbol definitions.
The panel symbol requires both a panel and circuiting record. If the file does not contain panel and circuiting records, create the records shown in the following tables, as described in Creating record formats.
Record names, particularly the Type field names, are case sensitive.
Panel record
|
Field |
Type |
Contents |
|
Name |
Text |
Must be unique |
|
Type |
Pop-up |
Must be Electrical, Communication, or Disconnect |
|
Phase |
Integer |
1 |
|
Volts |
Text |
117 |
|
Amps |
Integer |
100 |
|
# of Spaces |
Integer |
20 |
|
Panel Header Line 1 |
Text |
Text placed on Panel Schedule |
|
Panel Header Line 2 |
Text |
Text placed on Panel Schedule |
Circuiting record
|
Field |
Type |
Contents |
|
Name |
Text |
None |
|
Circuit # |
Integer |
0 |
|
Wire Size |
Text |
0 |
|
Trip |
Integer |
0 |
|
Conduit Size |
Text |
1/2 |
|
V.A. / Watts |
Integer |
0 |
|
Remarks |
Text |
Panel |
|
Phase / Pole |
Integer |
2 |
|
Voltage |
Text |
0 |
|
Circuit Type |
Pop-up |
1 for electrical device, 2 for communication device |
|
UID |
Text |
0 |
|
ID |
Text |
0 |
From the Resource Manager, right-click the symbol, and select Edit 2D Components from the context menu.
In the Edit Symbol window, deselect all symbol components.
From the Data tab of the Object Info palette, click Attach Record. From the Resource Selector, double-click the panel record format to apply it. Select the panel record and enter the panel information in the fields that display below the Detach button.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
|
Parameter |
Description |
|
Name |
Enter a unique name for each symbol later, when it is placed on the drawing |
|
Type |
Select Electrical, Communication, or Disconnect |
|
Other Panel Parameters |
Enter specific information about the panel |
|
Panel Header Line 1/2 |
Enter text to display on the panel schedule |
Click Attach Record and attach the circuiting record to the symbol. Select the circuiting record and enter the circuiting information in the data fields that display.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
|
Parameters |
Description |
|
Name |
Leave this field blank |
|
Circuit # |
Enter 0 (zero) |
|
Other Circuit Parameters |
Enter specific information about the circuit |
|
Circuit Type |
Select 1 for an electrical symbol, or 2 for a communication symbol |
|
UID |
Enter 0 (zero) |
Click Exit Symbol at the top right of the drawing window.
Creating custom circuit symbols
Electrical and communication circuit symbols can be created specifically to fulfill a custom requirement.
To create a circuit symbol:
Draw the object to represent the circuitable symbol.
Select Modify > Create Symbol. Enter a name for the circuitable item and set a destination folder for the symbol as described in Creating symbol definitions.
If the file does not contain a circuiting record, create the record shown in the following table, as described in Creating record formats.
|
Field |
Type |
Contents |
|
Name |
Text |
None |
|
Circuit # |
Integer |
0 |
|
Wire Size |
Text |
0 |
|
Trip |
Integer |
0 |
|
Conduit Size |
Text |
1/2 |
|
V.A. / Watts |
Integer |
0 |
|
Remarks |
Text |
Panel |
|
Phase / Pole |
Integer |
2 |
|
Voltage |
Text |
0 |
|
Circuit Type |
Pop-up |
1 for electrical device, 2 for communication device |
|
UID |
Text |
0 |
|
ID |
Text |
0 |
From the Resource Manager, right-click the symbol, and select Edit 2D Components from the context menu.
In the Edit Symbol window, deselect all symbol components.
From the Data tab of the Object Info palette, click Attach Record. From the Resource Selector, double-click the circuiting record format to apply it. Select the circuiting record and enter the circuiting information in the fields that display below the Detach Record button.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
|
Parameters |
Description |
|
Name |
Leave this field blank |
|
Circuit # |
Enter 0 (zero) |
|
Other Circuit Parameters |
Enter specific information about the circuit |
|
Circuit Type |
Select 1 for an electrical symbol, or 2 for a communication symbol |
|
UID |
Enter 0 (zero) |
If the symbol requires more than one circuit, create and attach a second identical record named Circuiting Record-1.
Click Exit Symbol at the top right of the drawing window.