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First Steps
Creating Symbols and
Components with the E³.series
Database Editor
 2008 CIM-Team GmbH

Welcome to Your First Tour of How to

Create Symbols and Components with E³.series

Up until now, you have worked with components and symbols that already existed in the database.

The following chapter will show you how to create your own symbols and components and
afterwards, save them to the database.

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What is a symbol?
It is a circuit element that can be assigned to a component. Since many components use the same
symbols, they only have to be described once in the database. These symbols can then be used in
any combination to create the different components.

What is a component?
Simply put, a component is a predefined set of symbols, which possess pin numbers. A component
is loaded with all of its symbols. All of its symbols have the same device designation. Components
can also be assigned additional information, e.g. part numbers, description, supplier, price and so
forth.

Preparations for Symbol Creation

Open a new project with the File->New command or by clicking on the icon.

Symbols and components are created in the Database Editor mode. This is a special mode within
E³.series that allows you to create components and symbols as well as enter standard definitions
for the attributes, text, colors etc. in the databases.
Since several users can access the databases simultaneously (configuration, components and
symbols), all modifications will be updated instantly and can be seen by any user connected to the
database.

You have limited functionality in the Database Editor mode as well as working in a separate work
area. To switch back and forth from Database Editor mode to working in the project simply click

the icon.

Creating a New Symbol

The fastest way to create a new symbol is to use a similarly existing symbol as a template, make
the required changes and save it under a new name.
The following section, however, describes how to create an entirely new symbol without using a
template.

A symbol is created in four steps:

1. Create the symbol’s graphics
2. Add pins for the electrical connections
3. Add text nodes for standard text
4. Define the attributes

We are going to create a new symbol for a valve coil.

Switch to the Database Editor mode by right-clicking on the component header in the Database
Window and select the New Symbol command from the context menu. This will activate the
Database Editor mode automatically and open a drawing area for the new symbol.

The new symbol should look like this:

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The

cross in the middle of the drawing area represents the symbol’s origin. It will also be used as the
symbol’s first pin.
Activate the display grid using the icon. The grid points will help you in drawing the symbol.
Grid settings can be defined in the Settings (Tools -> Settings -> Database Editor ->
Symbol).

First, draw the graphic.

Zoom into the area around the origin
and begin by drawing the rectangle
and other lines as shown in the screen
shot below. Remember to use the grid
points to assist you when drawing the
symbol and activate the Copilot in
Tools -> Settings -> Database
Editor -> Display.
The graphic size can exactly be defined
using the Graphic Properties –
Graphic Information tab.

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A line’s width, color and type can be defined or changed for a selected element using the graphic
toolbar.

Next, we have to define the pins.

E³.series recognizes electrical pins including their preferred direction of approach. A pin that is
connected from underneath should be connected from the bottom and a pin from above from the
top.

Select the node symbol Node - from bottom from the

drop-down list and place it using the icon. Define the
second pin in the same way but use the node symbol Node - from top.

The symbol is assigned the pin names of the component within

which it is used. Therefore, the pin sequence within a symbol is
very important when assigning them.

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Click on the icon to display the pin order (Edit -> Order Definition ->Node command).
The Node Order Definition menu appears. To change the order of the nodes, check the
desired option and click on the nodes in the correct "new" order afterwards. Press the <ESC> key
to terminate the command.

Lastly, we have to assign the symbol text nodes for the

higher-level assignment, location and device designation.
Once again, you'll find that a template already exists. It can
be found in the Misc view of the Database Window in the
folder Electric - Misc_Template. The template TEXT_L
can be placed like a symbol with Drag & Drop or by using the
command Place in the context menu.

Notice how the text nodes are represented by green Xs in the

drawing. This means that the actual values with their defined
text parameters have been entered at this position.

To see what text will be entered at the

text nodes, change the display mode
with the icon.

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The graphical description is now complete.

To conclude, we still need to define the name of the new symbol G01Y001B, the symbol’s class
Coil (this defines the folder, in which the symbol appears) as well as any descriptive information,
which allows the symbol to be found more easily in the database.

By the way, the symbol names used in our database are in accordance with the definitions in the
IEC 617 standard.

This information can be entered by right-clicking on the symbol and selecting the Symbol
Properties command in the context menu.

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Before the symbol is saved to the database, redefine the symbol’s origin, usually on a pin. To do
so, click on the Symbol Origin button and place the origin by left-clicking on the desired
position.

The symbol can be saved to the database using the Save to Database command in the symbol’s
context menu or by using File -> Save to Database in the standard toolbar.

To terminate the Database Editor mode, use the Tools -> Stop Database Editor command.
You are now back in schematic mode and the new symbol can be used in the circuit diagram.

If any of your colleagues are using the same database, they can immediately access the new
symbol.

Creating a New Component

The new component that we want to create is named GHR15511201R003. It is a loop contactor
from ABB that has two NO contacts. The simplest way to create a new component is to call up a
similarly existing component, change it and save it to the database under a new name.
In this example, we will use the component 3RT10151AB01 found in the Electric – Main
contactor 3-pole AC folder. Select the New Component… command in the component’s
context menu. This switches you to the Database Editor mode, starts the Component Wizard and
allows the new component to be created.

The Component Wizard guides you through the process of creating a component. First, define the
new component’s type, name and other global parameters in the Identification dialog. In our
example, we are going to create a standard device.

Click Next.

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The next step is to enter the component-specific attributes in the Properties dialog. These
values define the new component. You will notice that values are already entered under the Entry
column. Change only those entries that have differing text.

Firm-specific properties can also be entered here. These must be previously defined in the Format
-> Attribute Names table.

Click Next.

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Now we have to define the component’s

structure as well as the symbols that will
represent the component in the circuit
diagram. This is done in the Structure
dialog.

If you would like to use the already existing

structure, the component can be saved directly
to the database without any additional steps.
However, if you wish to change any of the
original component’s structure, then these
changes will apply to all components using this
structure. Therefore, you need to be very
careful when selecting this option.

If a new copy of the structure is created, it

can be edited at any time without the
modifications affecting other components.

Activate this option in the menu and click

Next.

Finally, the Component Wizard allows you to

decide whether to save the new component
directly to the database or to continue editing
the component.

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Activate the Edit component graphically option and exit the Wizard by pressing Finish.

Setting Levels
E³.series distributes information on various levels (or layers). Imagine these levels as transparent
sheets, which can be displayed or not in the drawing. For example, it is possible to make the
different languages visible or invisible. Entire information types (e.g. empty text nodes) can also be
switched on or off. When editing a component, it isn’t necessary to use all of the available
information so you just switch off the superfluous information using the levels command.

To do so, select the View -> Levels... command

or simply press the L key. A menu appears, in which
you can switch on or off individual or all levels. The
Read Configuration command is used for loading
predefined level display configurations.

Select the component-editor.vis file from the ...\data directory and close the menu.
You'll notice that the component’s symbols are much clearer.

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All of the component’s symbols along with their pin names will now be displayed in the drawing
area.

Additional symbols can be added here by placing

them from the Database Window or existing symbols
can be deleted. For the component pictured at right,
we need to delete the contact arrangement (marked
by number 1), the symbol for the main contacts
(marked by number 3) and the symbol for the
display in another view (marked by number 1, to
activate the view symbol double-click on it in the
Database Editor window) and replace them with
another contact arrangement and an additional NO
contact.
The model in our example is irrelevant and can be
deleted.

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First, delete the symbols that are no longer required and place the symbol CIM07-50-36 from the
database (Symbol tab, Electric - Contact Arrangement folder).

Next, place the symbol IEC07-02-01 for the second NO contact from the database (Symbol tab,
Electric - Contacts folder).

We must also change/define the

pin names. If the Pin
Assignment command is
selected from the symbol’s
context menu, a dialog box will
appear, in which the symbol’s pin
names are displayed. Activate
this command on the NO contact
symbol that was added and enter
both new pin names 24 and 23.

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The next step in defining the component is to determine the order of the symbols within the
component. This mode can be activated with the Edit -> Order Definition -> Symbols in
Component command or the icon.

Click on the symbols in the order in which you want them to appear in the component. This means
that the contact arrangement should be first, followed by the coil, then the contact with pin
numbers 13, 14 and finally, the contact with the pin numbers 23, 24.

The new sequence will be displayed on the symbols in the blue text boxes. Exit the symbol order
mode by pressing the <ESC> key.

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The last step in defining the

component is to specify the
relationship between the symbols
within the component (in case
component cross-references are
desired). Select the
Master/Slave Assignment…
command from the context menu
of the symbol that is intended to
be the master element (in this
case the contact arrangement)
and transfer all symbols into the
Assigned Slaves column. This
produces an online cross-
reference between the
component symbols and the
contact arrangement.

With this, we have defined a complete component and can now save it to the database using the
Save To Database command in the context menu or the File drop-down menu in the standard
toolbar.

Special Components
In addition to standard symbols and components, E³.series can be used to create special
components, especially for those used in E³.cable (i.e. connectors and cables).

A connector can be depicted in different ways in a project, not only as a connector pin or a socket.
They can be represented as:

block connectors

documentation graphics, which are displayed in the Preview Window and placed using the
Place as Graphic command

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different views of a connector that can be selected by means of the Place New Device
View command

A component can also be a cable. We are speaking here about cable types. A cable type describes
a special cable that is used in a defined form in the project. Its structure cannot be easily changed.

A cable type can contain the following information:

component master data

number of conductors with conductor attributes

cable attributes

shields

twisted pairs

bundles

The cable type describes the cable as found on a cable drum; it contains no information about any
connected plug connectors.

Creating a New Connector

Start the Component Wizard by selecting the
New Component command as described
above. The Database Editor mode is activated
and the Component Wizard started, displaying
the Identification page.

Select the component type Connector. Enter

the new component’s name and its device
letter code (here X).

Since we are creating a completely new

component, this is the only information that
will be required. The other fields are only used
when the new component's structure and
attributes are based on an existing
component.

Click Next.

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We willuse the Component Wizard’s

Properties dialog to define the new
component’s master data.

If the new component is based on an existing

component, these fields will already contain
entries. Since we are creating a completely new
component in our example, we will have to fill
in these empty fields.

For component attributes that are not displayed

in the list, they can be added in the last line by
simply clicking on the line and selecting the
desired attribute from the drop-down list.
These user-specific attributes, however, must
be previously defined in the attributes table.

This can be accomplished by using the

Format…-> Attribute Names command in
the Database Editor mode.

After defining the component's master data,

click Next.

The Component Wizard’s Connector

Structure dialog appears next. The
Completely new structure field is already
active since we are creating a new structure for
the connector.

Select a connector symbol to represent the

connector in the circuit diagram. This is usually
the socket symbol W_ST. You must define a
connector symbol. It specifies that this symbol
will be displayed in the circuit diagram.

Optionally, the connector can be placed on a

block. Select a block symbol. This symbol will

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only be used if the connector is placed on a

block.

Generally, the symbol BL_ST is defined here. This option must be defined to place the connector
on a block.

Define the Number of pins as 4.

The figure to your right shows a standard connector with four pins.

Click Next.

The next step is to define the different

Connector Views. A connector can be
defined with any number of views. This
definition is optional.

The drop-down list displays all connector views

that are available as symbols in the database.
Select the symbol MINIMNL-P004TP as the
side view and the symbol TABWIRE3 as a
second possible view. Later, the TABWIRE3
symbol will be used to automatically create a
table listing the pin designations and signals.

We recommend saving this symbol as a valid

connector view.

If no alternative connector views are defined,

the Component Wizard can be terminated by
clicking on Finish. However, to complete the
example, click Next.

The Component Wizard Connector Master

allows you to define the connector’s

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documentation graphics. This symbol already

exists in the database.
Select the MINIMNL-P004D symbol from the drop-down list.

When selecting a component from the database, the master symbol will be displayed in the
Preview Window. Master symbols can also be placed by means of the Place as Graphic
command, and for documentation purposes, be attached to objects in the circuit diagram.

This definition is also optional, which means the Component Wizard could Finish without
specifying a master symbol.

To continue, click Next.

Finally, the Component Wizard allows you to

save the newly created connector directly to
the database.

If the option Edit component graphically

is selected, the new connector will be
graphically displayed and can then be modified.
Select this option and click on Finish to exit
the Component Wizard.

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E³.cable opens a new sheet, in which the different views of the connector are displayed. In the
screen shot shown, the descriptive text was inserted at a later date.

The Component Properties dialog box allows you to define active Mating Connectors and
Connector Pin Terminals.

In our example, the definitions for

mating connector and connector pin
terminal are valid for the whole
connector and all pins. However, it is
also possible to define valid connector

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pin terminals for each specific pin.

First add the corresponding attributes (Valid Mating connector and Valid Connector pin
terminal), the select values from the drop-down list (MINI-B-0.5-1.5 and MINI-MNL-04-B)
and then define the default value from the list.

These mating connectors are automatically selected when connecting to a connector.

User-specific attributes can also be inserted here from the attribute table.

Lastly, the pin names can be changed.

If the pins are not defined, they will be numbered

sequentially. In our example, the pin names will be
changed.

The new connector component, which has been completely

described, can now be saved to the database.

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Creating a New Cable

Start the Component Wizard by selecting the
New Component command as previously
described. The Database Editor mode is
activated and the Component Wizard started,
displaying the Identification page.

Select the component type Cable. Enter the

new component’s name (here Cable1) and its
device letter code (here W).

Since we are creating a new component, this

is the only information that will be required.
The other fields are only used if the new
component's structure and attributes are
based on an existing component.

Click Next.

We will use the Component Wizard’s

Properties dialog to define the new
component's master data.

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If the new component is based on an existing component, these fields will already contain entries.
Since we are creating a completely new component in our example, we will have to fill in these
empty fields.

For component attributes that are not displayed in the list, they can be added in the last line by
simply clicking on the line and selecting the desired attribute from the drop-down list. These user-
specific attributes, however, must be previously defined in the attributes table.

This can be accomplished by using the Format-> Attribute Names command in the Database
Editor mode.

After defining the component's master data, click Next.

The Component Wizard’s Cable Structure

dialog appears next. The Completely new
structure field is already active since we
are creating a new structure for the cable.

The other options would be active if we had

selected another component’s structure and
attributes on the first page of the Component
Wizard.

Next, we have to enter the number of

conductors as 4 in our example. If, at this
point, the definitions are sufficient, you can
exit the Component Wizard and the
definitions will be written directly to the
database. To complete the example,
however, continue by clicking Next.

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Finally, the Component Wizard allows you to

save the new created cable directly to the
database. The option Edit component
graphically allows you to refine the cable
definition further.

Select this option and click on Finish.

E³.cable opens a sheet, on which the

four conductors are displayed.

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These conductors are completed by shieldings. To do so, select the cable’s conductors to be
shielded in the Database Editor Window and select the Add Shield command from the context
menu displayed by right-clicking on the conductors.

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Using the context menu’s Component Properties command, we can now assign attributes to the
component itself, the cable, the cable ends, the conductors and the conductor ends, as displayed in
the example.

The command Conductor Assignment in the

context menu can be used to assign the consecutively
numbered conductors different names or numbers.
Use the F2 button to activate edit mode, or click on
the button to select the translation table, for
example in order to define language-dependent
conductor colors.

This definition, however, is optional and can be

changed.

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The new component can now be saved to the database and is available to all users.

You now have an idea of how fast and easy it is to create components, connectors and cables in
the database using the E³.series Database Editor. The Database Wizard helps you create these
additional elements in the database, which can then be used immediately in the project.

Enjoy using

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