Electrical Design Software | Elecdes Design Suite by Scada Systems Ltd

How to Generate Terminal Strips From a Database

The Wiring Diagram Generator can obtain the information for generating terminal strips from a database with a particular format, called a Signals file.

Since all of the information is obtained from the Signals file, no schematic drawings or Ebase projects are required.

Procedure to load a signals file

  1. Change to the Main dialog of the Wiring Diagram Generator.

  2. Click Select Project at the top of the wiring diagram dialog box.

    A dialog box will be displayed. Generally this dialog is used to select a project file.

  3. Click in the Files of type drop down list and change the file type to Signals files (signals*.dbf).

    You can select a signals file from any directory.

  4. The device list on the wiring diagram dialog box will be loaded with the terminal strips from the signals file.

Contents of a signals file

The signals file has a very regimented structure. The following fields are repeated with increasing numbers replacing the letters "n" and "m".

XnName of the n'th terminal strip.
Xn_T1 or Xn_T2Name of a terminal from the n'th terminal strip. Two terminal names are possible.
Xn_PPanel name for the n'th terminal strip.
Xn_CATNOPart number of this terminal from the n'th terminal strip.
Xn_MFGManufacturer code of this terminal from the n'th terminal strip.
C_n_mName of the cable connected from the n'th terminal strip to the m'th terminal strip.
W_n_mName of the core (conductor) of the cable, or the name of the wire connected from this terminal on the n'th terminal strip to the m'th terminal strip.

Not all of the fields are required. You will require at least a terminal strip name, a terminal name and a wire or core (conductor) name to generate a wiring diagram.

Signals file example

The following is an excerpt from a signals database.

The data in the example file can generate the following terminal strip diagram for the terminal strip named 3RT-08C.

  • Column X2 provides the name of the terminal strip in the example below.

  • Column X2_T1 provides each terminal number for the terminal strip 3RT-08C.

  • Column X1 provides the name of the terminal strip to the left of 3RT-08C.

  • Column W_1_2 provides the name of each wire connected between the terminal strip in column X1 to the terminal strip in column X2, the strip in the example below.

  • Column C_1_2 is blank because wires (as opposed to cables) are used to connect the terminal strip in column X1 to the terminal strip in column X2.

  • Similarly on the other side of the strip:

  • Column X3 provides the name of the terminal strip to the right of 3RT-08C.

  • Column C_2_3 provides the name of the cable connecting the terminal strip in column X2 to the terminal strip in column X3. Column W_2_3 provides the core (conductor) names for that cable.