Links are used to map electrical devices placed in the 3D design with specifications in external systems.
A unique identifier is shared between imported data and 3D electrical data. This identifier is the Id attribute in the Electrical Data Exchange Format. The link between external system devices and 3D devices is done by option the 3D device instance name to the same value as the external system Id.
A number of checks are then performed:
Connector Check
The part numbers of the external system connector and the 3D connector are compared:
- If they are identical: the link is done
- If the external system connector Part Number is empty:
the link is automatically done.
- If the external system connector Part Number is
different from the 3D connector Part Number, a message
is displayed. You can decide whether or not you want to create the
link (using the OK or Cancel buttons). If you
create the link, the instance name of the 3D connector will be
replaced by the instance name of the external system connector.
Then the names of sub-entities (external system contacts and 3D cavities) are compared:
- If the Name is identical, the link is created. For example, a cavity in the 3D data is mapped to its external counterpart, using this mechanism.
- If some Names are different, Partial in the Linked column of the device list informs you that only some of the sub-entities have been linked.
Equipment or Shell Check
The part numbers of external system equipment and 3D equipment are compared:
- If they are identical: the link is done.
- If the external system equipment Part Number is empty:
the link is automatically done.
- If the external system equipment Part Number is different from the 3D equipment Part Number, a message is displayed. You can decide whether or not you want to create the link (using the OK or Cancel buttons).
External system connectors are then reconciled with corresponding 3D equipment connectors. This is done based on the external system connector Name and the 3D equipment cavity Name. When a cavity name is compatible, the connector plugged in this cavity is reconciled with the external system connector.
For example: an item of equipment has two cavities, with IdNum1
and IdNum2
as Name.
If the external system specified that a connector is plugged in
IdNum1
, and if, in the 3D session, a connector with a
compatible Part Number is connected to this cavity, the
system will automatically link this connector by option its
instance name to the Id of the external system
connector.
Checks are then performed on sub-entities of linked connectors (as explained above).
Automatic Placement of Connectors on Equipment
When you place the 3D connectors from the database
(with the Manage Links
command
from the Import / Export section
of the action bar), they are automatically placed at the correct location in the
equipment cavities:
- If an external system contains a piece of equipment with
connectors,
- The piece of equipment is already linked but not the
connectors.
The electrical connection is performed at
the same time.