About Main and Called Representations

Components can be defined in a system or called from another system.

A component is identified as a main component when it is defined in a given system. If a component is quoted from another system, it is defined as a called component.

This page discusses:

Main vs. Called Representation

Components can be represented differently depending on whether they are placed in the system they belong to or called from another system by defining main and called representations.

Labels can be defined to differentiate a main representation from a called representation.

Data Setup Resources for Representations Management

The following resources can be defined to manage the different representations:

  • Default Labels: Defines a list of labels for a given component.
  • Rule to get Logical System of a Logical Object: Provides the system of a logical object.
  • Rule to Get Representation Mode of a Symbol: Lets you decide whether the symbol or the route placed in view for a logical object is the main or called representation.
  • Rule to get Symbol and Graphic Attributes: Provides information about the symbol to be used during the placement.
  • Rule to Get Label Symbol: Provides information about the label to be applied on the symbols or routes based on the main and called representations.

For more information, see Diagram Resources

Representation Mode Attribute

When a symbol or a route is placed in a diagram view, the Representation Mode attribute appears in the Schematic Symbol tab of the Properties dialog box.

This attribute allows you to define if the symbol is a main or called representation.

When the Representation Mode value is modified, the following opening IDs are triggered:

  • GetSymbol_GraphicAttr
  • Schematic_GetLabelInfo

The Representation Mode value can be modified only if the Schematic_GetRepresentationMode opening ID, used to choose if the representation is main or called, allows it.

Switching Symbols

You can switch symbol using Manage Symbols. All the available symbols based on part type and subtype criteria with the available representations of the selected symbol will be displayed in the Symbols Management dialog box, providing that all the required resources have been defined in the Data Setup.

Note: For symbols loaded from the Data Setup, the Edit Symbol option and the option to define the default symbol are not available in the Symbols Management dialog box.

Space References

If a symbol or route is a called representation, spaces are not recomputed and previously assigned spaces are retained. The space reference displayed in the called representation is the one displayed in the main representation.