How to Default to Fixed Component Tag IDs - AutoCAD Electrical

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  How to Default to Fixed Component Tag IDs - AutoCAD Electrical
  December 30, 2007, 06:34 PM Nate Holt

  A  "fixed" electrical component tag means that AutoCAD Electrical will not updating / re-tagging the device's tag-ID assignment. If you insert a solenoid symbol and manually assign it a tag pulled, let's say, from a P&ID drawing, it is open to an accidental re-tag update unless you specifically mark it as a "fixed" tag-ID.

  When you instruct AutoCAD Electrical to flip a component tag from normal to "fixed" mode, all it does is change the component block insert's attribute tag name from "TAG1" to "TAG1F". This is done "on-the-fly" without disturbing the block insert.
  How can I avoid forgetting to flip to "fixed"?
  Now, if/when AutoCAD Electrical wants to do a re-tag, either because the component is moved or scooted to a different reference location on the drawing or the "Re-tag" command is invoked, any components marked with the extra "F" suffix on the TAG1 attribute are left alone... their existing tag-ID is "fixed".
  Could the Insert/Edit dialog automatically pop up with the "Fixed" toggle turned on? Unfortunately, "No". But then Gerald came up with an alternate approach that is probably even better... open key library symbols and just change the TAG1 attribute definition from TAG1 to TAG1F. Save and Exit. Simple!
  Example: the parent solenoid symbol "HSV1.dwg"
  Just browse to the active symbol library and open up the solenoid symbol and open in AutoCAD. Change the existing TAG1 attribute definition to TAG1F as shown here. Save and exit.

  

   

  In operation

  Now, when this symbol is inserted into a new or purged drawing, the Insert/Edit dialog automatically comes up with the "Fixed" toggle turned on.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Simple, elegant solution. Good job, Gerald (he's in the blue shirt, pictured here at last month's Autodesk University)!

   

  5 Comments | Add Comment Controlling the Machine >

Comments

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  January 2, 2008 04:27 AM G. te Wierik

  Hi Nate, Can you please change the font, it's very hard to read. Regards, Gerald

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  January 4, 2008 04:10 AM ERNESTO FRAGA

  Hi Nate. My name is Ernesto and I´m new in this blog. Reading this post I realize that Acad electrical can update components tags. how can I do it? I can´t find the way to do it. Another question is if it works even if the tag format is override? For instance change the normal tag %F for -F%NF I would apreciate your help. I feel lost in the program. thanks a lot Ernesto Fraga Mvd. - Uruguay

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  January 6, 2008 06:13 PM Nate Holt

  Hi Ernesto. I do not fully understand your question, but I will make a guess. The default tag format is %F%N where "%F"=component family (ex: PB, CR, LT, M) and "%N" is the "number" (ex: line reference number or next sequential or grid-reference number). So %F%N will yield tags like "PB100" and "CR256". If you want tags in the format of "100-PB", then change drawing Drawing Properties --> Components --> Tag format to "%N-%F". Now, new tags will come in using this format. Old tags that are not set to "Fixed" will auto-update when you run the "Retag Components" command.

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  January 31, 2008 03:31 AM Scott Bell

  Hi Nate. I am only new to AE. I am trying to put a terminal strip in schematics diagrams. I have created a Terminal symbol and used the wd_3unit command so that three terminals appear. Is it possible to change the spacing between each terminal from 10 down to 5 so that the terminals are right beside eachy other. Is it possible to somehow use this same method to maybe place 10 Terminals in a row. Maybe there is a better way to do this and I am going about this the wrong way.

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  March 24, 2008 02:37 PM Nate Holt

  Hi Scott, I apologize for not responding sooner. I'm not getting pinged when someone leaves a note. Are you inserting these terminals on a schematic drawing or on a panel layout drawing? You can contact me directly at nate.holt@autodesk.com.