Connect04243.pngSpecifying ConnectCAD settings

Command

Path

ConnectCAD Settings

ConnectCAD

Prior to beginning the schematic design, set up the default ConnectCAD settings. The settings apply to the current file.

To specify the ConnectCAD settings:

Select the command.

The ConnectCAD Settings dialog box opens.

Click the General Settings pane to set global default parameters.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Device Units

 

Power

Specify watts or kilowatts for device power requirements

Weight

Select the units for weight measurements (use kilograms for best results)

Circuit Label Offset

 

Circuit Number Offset (Grid Spaces)

Sets the position, in grid spaces, of the circuit number label

Connector Type Offset (Grid Spaces)

Sets the position, in grid spaces, of the connector type label

Device Builder

 

Enable database

Allows the Device Builder tool access to the database of existing makes and models. If you are creating custom devices with the device builder, you may want to disable this option so that you do not need to scroll through the existing device makes and models. New devices that you create are saved as symbol definitions. 

Edit Default Circuit Graphics

Allows you to customize the default appearance of circuit arrows and/or bubbles; see Customizing ConnectCAD objects

Click the Panel Settings pane to set up the jackfield and terminal panel parameter defaults. These settings override any existing custom labels.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Panel Type

Select each type of jackfield or terminal panel to set its label parameters

Group Series

Sets the sequence of the letters and numbers available from the Group list in the Tool bar

Panel Series

Sets the sequence of letters and numbers available from the Panel list in the Tool bar.

The label type determines how these are used. For example, for jackfields labeled AB, CD, EF..., each character pair is taken from this list. For an A, B, C... label style, these are taken one by one.

Jackfield Label Type

Select a labeling style for jackfield and linked jackfield labels. The style can either be the panel and port number, separated by the Delimiter Char, or an alphabetical identifier.

Terminal Panel Label Type

Select a labeling style for terminal panel labels

Delimiter Character

Specifies the delimiter character for jackfield and terminal panel numeric styles

Second Delimiter Character

Specifies the second delimiter character for terminal panel numeric styles

Jack Panel Size/ Terminal Panel Size

Sets the maximum number of holes available for each panel type (video, audio, data, and optical; also DIN Rail terminal panel).

Select Other to specify a custom number of holes in the Enter New Panel Size dialog box.

Click the Numbering pane. Select a standard numbering system to use, or add a custom system. See Cable numbering rules for more information about numbering rules.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Cable Numbering Systems

Specifies the numbering system to use for drawing circuits, when circuits are created or renumbered. Several standard systems are included by default. Click in the Use column to use that numbering system (a check mark indicates the currently selected system).

Add

Opens the Edit Numbering System dialog box, to create a custom numbering system. The currently selected system displays for reference; enter a new System Name and System Description, and then add or edit rules to create a custom system.

Edit

Opens the Edit Numbering System dialog box, to edit the currently selected numbering system.

Click Add to open the Edit Numbering Rule dialog box; edits made here create a new rule that is appended to the end of the rules list.

Click Edit to open the Edit Numbering Rule dialog box, where you can change the Match Rule parameters/prefix and the Cable Number format.

Click Edit as text to open the Edit Numbering Rule dialog box, which displays the currently selected rule as a formula for editing directly.

Click Delete to delete the currently selected rule.

Click and drag in the # column to reorder the rules.

Delete

Deletes the currently selected numbering system

Click the Signals pane. The list of available signals for the Device Builder and Socket tools displays and can be customized. Default items cannot be edited or deleted, other than changing class settings; however, you can create a duplicate entry in the list and customize it as required, and the custom duplicate is used instead.

Click to show/hide the parametersClick to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Signal Types list

Lists the available signals, with prefix, connector, description, and attribute settings 

Add

Adds a new signal to the list; the new signal is saved in the user folder. Edit the line for the new entry; enter the signal name, select a prefix and connector from each list, enter the description, and then click Edit Class to set the attributes.

Edit Class

Opens the Edit Class(es) dialog box, to edit the attributes of the class assigned to the currently selected entry. See Setting class properties.

Delete

Removes the selected custom entry from the list

Click the Connectors pane. The list of available connectors displays and can be customized. Default items cannot be edited or deleted; however, you can create a duplicate entry in the list and customize it as required, and the custom duplicate is used instead.

Click to show/hide the parametersClick to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Connector Types list

Lists the available connectors and description

Add

Adds a new connector to the list; the new connector is saved in the user folder. Edit the line for the new entry; enter the connector name and description.

Delete

Removes the selected custom entry from the list

Click the Cable Types pane. The list of available cable types displays and can be customized. Default items cannot be edited or deleted; however, you can create a duplicate entry in the list and customize it as required, and the custom duplicate is used instead.

Click to show/hide the parametersClick to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Cable Types list

List the available cable types, with description and cable outside diameter size

Add

Adds a new cable type to the list; the new type is saved in the user folder. Edit the line for the new entry; enter the connector name, description, and diameter.

Delete

Removes the selected custom entry from the list

Click the Cables pane. You can create a list of custom cables for use by the Connect tool; select the Cable from the Object Info palette of a selected circuit. The cable name displays in the drawing, which is useful for identifying cables in a complex drawing.

Click to show/hide the parametersClick to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Cables list

Lists the available cables and description

Add

Adds a new cable to the list; the new cable is saved in the user folder. Edit the line for the new entry; enter the cable name and description.

Delete

Removes the selected custom entry from the list

Vectorworks preferences: User Folders pane

Customizing ConnectCAD objects

Cable numbering rules

 

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