Getting_started_EN (Ind : 3) 06/01/2014 elecworks Getting Started 1
Start with elecworks This document has been made to help you in starting elecworks. It summarizes the features available. If you would like more information on the use of a control or operation of a dialog box, please consult the online help by pressing the [F1] key. Launching elecworks When you start elecworks, the Projects Manager opens automatically. The projects manager can create, open and delete projects. Two lists of projects are available: All projects: All projects accessible to the user and can be shared by several users. Recent projects: Recent projects opened by the user. Changing the language of the software To change the language interface, use the menu "Tools / Interface configuration". Then select the language which you want. Close and restart elecworks. 2
The application menus The menu display differs depending on whether a project is opened or a folio is opened. Before opening a project, only four menus are available. File menu Open the projects manager, quit elecworks. The DWG group can manage dwg files (or dxf) to make drawings outside of a project. Library menu Management of libraries of symbols, terminals, title blocks and macros. Management of cable references and manufacturer parts. Tools menu Various options of the application and graphics Help menu Access to online documentation. Access to your customer portal, for example for downloading updates. Access to Technical Support 3
Projects When you use elecworks for drawing a wiring diagram, remember that every action causes a systematic action in the database. Only the drawing made on a sheet is stored in the project database. Sample Projects At first, to familiarize yourself with the use of elecworks we recommend that you open a sample project (Available in your customer portal). Open the Projects Manager, and unarchive it. In the Projects Manager, Click on the Unarchive button and select the sample Project. Creating a new Project In the Projects manager, to create a new Project, click on the New button. You must then choose a template project in the list. A template project is a predefined project that contains a standard configuration, project data and documents. You can define your own project template or use the existing one. Project templates save you a lot of time as they have defaults such as the units you want to use (metric, imperial) the symbol library you want (IEC standard or ANSI standard, etc.), graphical options, etc. 4
elecworks comes with two templates: IEC: predefined option for projects following international IEC standard. ANSI: predefined option for projects following American National Standards Institute symbols and settings. You can also create an empty project. In this case, you will have a project with a blank configuration, no data, or document. You will have to set the configuration before starting work on the project. It s not recommended as a starting point until you are familiar with the software. Opening a Project Select a project in the list and open it. A project contains all the data and drawings of an electrical installation. When the Project is open, it appears in the side panel. Navigation trees On the left side, there are two navigation trees. You can browse by sheet or by component. You can change the layout to see only one navigation tree at one time or several. 5
Document display The project can be seen as a consistent set of documents about an electrical installation. The navigator allows the user to organize the project on several levels. Project contains all documents. A Book groups documents that will be printed together. Folder lets you organize the book as directories on your hard drive. Documents are scheme drawings or other files. Several kinds of documents are available. All the documents editable in elecworks will be called drawings. Documents created by user: Cover sheet Line diagram Scheme Cover page or presentation page, no drawings. To draw synoptic diagram, (line diagram), used to describe cabling with block diagrams. Scheme, electrical scheme or any kind of drawing (default type of document). Documents generated by elecworks (cannot made by user): Terminal strip report 3D cabinet Terminal strip schema generated from terminal found on electrical diagrams. Report made based on data extraction. List of folios, BOM, cable reports, wiring list 3D Solidworks assembly, to realize cabinet layout. Data files: Data files are external files copied into the project. They can be any files in any format. DWG and DXF files are managed as elecworks documents. A preview is displayed. They can be modified and printed in elecworks. All other file formats may be added to the project but it will not be possible to preview or edit them in the elecworks interface. If you wish to open them, the application associated with the type of file will open them. Component display The main information of the project after the document is the electrical component (device). Electrical components are identified by a tag (usually single) and can be made up of several symbols. elecworks allows you to manage components, even if they are not represented in the diagram. One or more manufacturers can be allocated to the component. 6
For example, a contactor relay is one component with its own mark but it may be represented by a coil symbol, a power contacts symbol and several other symbols indicating the other contacts. In addition there is another symbol for the coil used in the Synoptic, (Single line diagram). The components navigator shows the corresponding symbols and coordinates for each component part, from which you can reach, (go directly to), the symbols. A component can have several references, the main reference (base) and auxiliary contact blocks added to the base. This component view also displays terminal strips, considered as components containing terminals that are also components. Here we have one terminal strip symbol on a synoptic diagram and for each terminal, one symbol on the scheme. Project data When you open a project, but before you open any diagram, some new menus become available. Project menu Manage project properties and configuration. Print project documents. Manage locations and functions. Manage electrical data as cables, wire type, wire links, cabling order. Manage PLC and Inputs / Outputs. Report management and creation (folios, (drawing), list, bill of material, cabling list, etc.). Terminal strips diagram management and diagram creation. Process menu 7
Wire numbering. 3D cabinet layout for SolidWorks. 2D cabinet layout Project translation. Realization of the scheme Your wiring diagram must be drawn in the sheets provided for this purpose (sheets for schematic or line diagram). Each action (inserting symbols, wires, etc.) made in these sheets, causes an update of the project database. All this data will allow the automatic generation of terminal strip and report sheets. The two types of sheets in which you can add electrical information (symbols, wire, cables, terminals, etc.) are the line diagram and schematic sheets. They have a specific menu for inserting electrical data. Line diagram Scheme Line diagram menu Schematic menu However, you have drawing commands ("Drawing" menu) allowing you for example, to create your own symbols or your own title blocks. Drawing menu This menu has all the tools you ll need to draw shapes, insert text, images, etc. These drawing types contain no electrical information. 8
Line diagram menu Insert block symbols and draw links between symbols. Insert link redirections between diagrams. Draw function and location outlines. Edit cabling between components. Schematic menu Draw electrical wires for power or command schemes. Insert symbols, terminals Define interconnection links between schemes. Draw function and location outlines. 9
Drawing wires To draw your electrical scheme, you have an infinite number of styles of wires (For example, for command or power wires). They are defined in the Line Style Manager. The choice of styles of wires will be very important when numbering wires. Wire drawing commands You have two different commands for drawing wires. Multiple wires Single wires Upon insertion of the wire, the side panel will change. It allows: - Access to the Line Style Manager. - Access to the various plot options. The Line Style Manager includes all available wires for the Project. These wires are grouped by Numbering Group. This means that, when numbering the wires, all wires in the same group share the same counter. 10
Inserting symbols elecworks has a symbols library that meets the needs of electrical schematics drawing. You can use these symbols or create your own symbols and incorporate them either into the existing library or to your own library. You have several ways of inserting electrical symbols: Copy / Paste. Symbol insertion commands. Symbols palette. Macros palette. Copy/Paste The elecworks interface follows Microsoft Windows standards and uses Copy/Paste, Drag and Drop, Undo/Redo, etc. The easiest way to add a symbol is to copy an existing one. You can copy a selected symbol from one scheme to another, from one project to another, or in the same scheme. You can also select a symbol and move it pressing [Ctrl] key to make a new copy. When you copy a symbol this way, a new component is created and the symbol receives a new mark. Symbol insertion command The "Insert symbol" command changes the look of the side panel. It displays the last symbol used. The "Other symbol" button opens the symbols library to select the symbol to insert. 11
Symbols palette When you open a scheme, two tabs appear in the side panel: palettes of Symbols and Macros. The palette is a shortcut to the symbols library. You can customize the groups (protection, switches, etc.) and the symbols it contains to get direct access to the symbols you use most. The palette does not contain all the symbols in the library, just a selection. The first group in the palette, named Find lets you search for a symbol from its description. The search is connected to the whole symbol library, not only symbols shown in the palette. Macros palette A macro is typically a standard layout you use a lot. It is composed of a scheme and all the data linked to symbols (components, references, location, etc). To add a new macro, the user just needs to select the part of scheme he wants to save, then drag and drop the selection onto the macro palette. Note: it is not possible to insert either a synoptic symbol on a standard scheme or a standard electrical symbol on a line diagram. So, line diagrams and standard schemes have separate symbols and macros palettes. 12
Electrical components A Component is by definition an electrical device. It includes devices such as circuit breakers, contactors and also terminal strips and PLCs. The component has a mark that guarantees its uniqueness. Typically a component is represented by one or more symbols using the same mark, but also elecworks manages Components without a graphical representation in the scheme. Symbols and Components When you insert a symbol on a schematic or line diagram sheet, the symbol editor window opens to allow you to define a new mark. A new electrical component is created. You can also associate a Location and a Function with this component. Symbols using the same mark are automatically associated (Component). When you insert a symbol, to associate an existing mark, select the component mark from the list on the right. The symbol inserted will be automatically associated with the selected component. Warning: If you switch to manual mode and force the mark to an existing mark, you will have two different components without cross-references. If you forget to change the symbol mark on insertion you can change the association between symbol and component using the contextual menu. Symbol properties : Lets you change the component associated with the symbol. 13
Allocating a manufacturer s reference The catalogs of leading manufacturers of electrical equipment are present in elecworks. When creating a component, elecworks asks you to select a manufacturer's reference. It is therefore possible to create all components of the Project without having completed the scheme. This can be done afterwards using only the symbols associated with components. Generally manufacturer's reference is allocated when inserting the symbol. The symbol mark dialog box has a tab to list references associated with the component. Use the "Search" button. You can browse the catalog using the filters to find the reference you need. You will see that the manufacturer's reference has generated circuits (visible in the bottom of the dialog box). These circuits are also in symbols, and when you associate symbols with manufacturer's references, these circuits are colored according to their status. - : associated to a symbol and a manufacturer s reference - : associated to a symbol only (without manufacturer s reference) - : associated to a manufacturer s reference but no corresponding symbols. 14
The PLC manager elecworks allows you to manage any type of PLC. It can be single-piece PLC, or PLC with rack and controller cards. You have two interfaces, one to manage the structure of the PLC and a second to manage IO. Sheets on which the PLC will be drawn are automatically generated. You may be able to complete them. The PLC commands are available in the Project menu. To launch the PLC drawing, click on the Generate / Update drawings button. 15
Numbering wires The command numbering wires uses the wires specific parameters. You have the choice of numbering equipotentials or numbering wires. In the Line Style Manager, wires are grouped by "Numbering Group" which means they share the same counter. Each wire also has a formula to format the wire number. You have two commands in the Process menu to number the wires. Number the wires that are not yet numbered. Renumber wires when changes were made in the scheme or in the numbering settings. You can also edit a wire mark using the context menu for the wire. 16
Managing terminal strips and cables elecworks offers you the opportunity to realize the wiring diagram of your installation before even having drawn your schema and generate the list of cables. The wiring diagram materializes how devices are connected between them and you can pre-reserve your cables. This step is not compulsory, you can realize your wiring directly into the schematic part of your Project. Cables reservation in the line diagram Having completed the line diagram of the installation, to make your cable reservation, just select the command "Reserve cables and cores" in the context menu of the cable. The cable management interface allows you to add new cables to your project, and in this case to reserve them. Once reserved, the cable may be reused in the developed scheme of the installation. Inserting terminals The terminals are managed like symbols. Symbols representing the terminals are also classified in the library. Two commands are available in the Schematic menu to place the terminals. The first will be used to place terminals unitarily, for example on command wires. The second will be used to insert the terminals on an axis, for example on a multiconductor wire. Like symbols, terminals have a mark. However, they must be attached to a terminal strip. 17
Editing terminal strips The Edit terminal strips command is available in the Project menu. The terminal strips are classified by location. Each terminal strip is associated with a configuration file for generation of the sheet. Select the terminal strip and click the "Edit" button. The terminal strips editor is used to: - Create wiring terminals - Renumber Terminals - Manage multi-level terminals - When the terminal strip is complete, you can launch the automatic generation of sheets, by clicking the "Draw pages" button in the editor. 18
Reports elecworks includes several reports provided as standard: : - List of sheets - Bill of materials - List of cables - etc. You can run as is or modify the templates so that reports display the information you need. You must first select the reports that you want to appear in your Project. Report Manager displays the results of data mining in the form of tabs. To add a new report click "Add". Editing templates Standard reports may sometimes not be enough, as they do not display the information you want or on the contrary display too much information. You can edit the report template (by clicking the "Properties" button) to modify its appearance, its data, etc. Generating reports You can get your reports in three different forms: - In the form of sheets - In the form of Excel files - In the form of text files Commands are available in the Report Manager. 19
Cabinet layout elecworks has two types of cabinet layout, depending on your equipment. - A 3D cabinet layout, made in SolidWorks - A 2D cabinet layout, made in elecworks. 3D cabinet layout in SolidWorks elecworks generates files which will then be used under the SolidWorks software. The command is available in the Process menu. As all Project locations are not necessarily the subject of a cabinet layout, a dialog box lets you select those you want to process. One file is created per location. These files are visible in the Project navigation tree. 2D cabinet layout in elecworks If you do not have SolidWorks or 3D cabinet layout does not match your needs, you can simply make a 2D cabinet layout directly in the elecworks interface. The command to generate the sheets for 2D Cabinet layout is available in the Process menu. When you open a Cabinet layout sheet, the side panel has a new tab showing a list of materials referenced. Each reference is preceded by a checkbox telling you whether it has been inserted in the sheet. The reference context menu allows you to display the insertion commands. 20
Printing sheets The final step in drawing an electrical scheme is obviously the printing of the project documents. Even if you can print each document separately, elecworks has a print manager that helps you in printing your project. The command to open the "Print Manager" is available in the Project menu. You can also generate a file in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), containing all your sheets. The command is available in the Process menu. 21
Conclusion We hope that this document was helpful to get started on elecworks. If your schedule permits, we advise you to unarchive a sample project, to print it and try to reproduce it. We would like to remind you that many documents are available to assist you in drawing your projects. See the contextual help (F1 key), and the documents available on your Customer Portal (www.elecworks.com). 22