About iXF Model Import/Export in Electrical Systems Design

An electrical iXF file represents a logical reference (system) in the Electrical Systems Design app. The file name is the external identifier of the system. During the import process, if the system does not exist, a new logical reference is created.

Components and conductors are instantiated under the system from saved electrical references using the iXF PartNumber attribute (iXF Id for Equipotential and EquipotentialGroup). If no electrical reference is found, a new one is created then instantiated.

If the position (of components, ports and harnesses) and dimensions (of components and harnesses) are defined in the XML file, they will be taken into account during the import process. Conductors' position is computed according to the components' and ports' position.

The position (of components, ports and harnesses) and dimensions (of components and harnesses) are generated in the XML file during the export process.

Warning: An imported iXF system must be saved to be found when re-importing. For a proper use, instance names must be unique.

Also note that an iXF file do not structure sub-systems. Objects are always aggregated under a root node.

The following tables expose objects mapped in import and export of iXF in Electrical Systems Design:

This page discusses:

Electrical Objects
Mapping Components
Mapping Connector Ports
Mapping Pins
Mapping Conductors
Electrical Harnesses
Mapping Links
Samples

Electrical Objects

This section describes the mapping of iXF objects in the Electrical Systems Design app.


iXF Object	ELE Object
System (File)	System Reference
Equipment	Equipment
Connector Component	Splice
Connector Component	Terminal Block
Connector Component	ConnectorShell Component
Connector Component	Harness Connector Component
Wire	Wire
WireGroup	Cable
Equipotential	Net
EquipotentialGroup	NetGroup
ConnectorShell Port	Connector Port
Connector Port	Connector Port
Cavity	Pin
Pin	Pin
Terminal Connector	Connector Port
Harness	Harness

Mapping Components

This section describes the classification of the following components:

equipment
shell
harness connector
splice.

Components Attributes

Classification attributes for connector component specify its type of use (splice, shell, harness connector).


iXF Component Attributes	Electrical Component Attributes
Id	Name (Instance)
PartNumber	Name (Reference)
SubType	Subtype

Note: disconnects are not supported.

Mapping Connector Ports

This section describes the classification of attributes for the following connector ports:

equipment connector port
shell port.

Connector Port Attributes

Classification attribute for connector port specify its type of use (ConnectorShell, harness Connector).


iXF Connector Port Attributes	Electrical Connector Port Attributes
Name	Name (Port)
PartNumber	Predefined part number
SubType	Subtype

Mapping Pins

This section describes the classification of pins. Pins are pin and cavity.

Pin Attributes


iXF Pin Attributes	Electrical Pin Attributes
Name	Name (Port)
SubType	Subtype

Mapping Conductors

This section describes the classification of attributes for the following conductors:

WireGroup
Equipotential (Net)
EquipotentialGroup (NetGroup).

Common Conductor Attributes


iXF Conductor Attributes	Electrical Conductor Attributes
Id	Name (Instance)
SubType	Subtype
Segregation Code	Segregation

Common Attributes for Wire and Cable


iXF Wire and WireGroup Attributes	Electrical Wire and Cable Attributes
PartNumber	Name (Reference)
Color	Color
Bend Radius	Bend radius
OuterDiameter (Wire)	External diameter
Diameter (WireGroup)	External diameter

Specific Attributes for Wires


iXF Wire Attributes	Electrical Wire Attributes
InnerDiameter	Cross-section
LinearMass	Linear mass

Equipotential and EquipotentialGroup Attributes


iXF Equipotential/EquipotentialGroup Attributes	Electrical Net/NetGroup Attributes
Id	Name (Reference)
RoutingPriority	Routing priority
EstimatedDiameter	External diameter
WirePartNumber (Equipotential)	Predefined part number
WireGroupPartNumber (EquipotentialGroup)	Predefined part number

Electrical Harnesses

This section describes how harness attributes and links are managed.

Harness Attributes


iXF Harness Attributes	Electrical Harness Attributes
Id	Name (Instance)
Part Number	Name (Reference)
Subtype	SubType

It is recommended to create harness links between harness objects and harness connectors or splices. An implicit link between the harness and the wires or cables exists if their ends are connected to the harness content. For more information, see Managing Harness Content.

Mapping Links

This section shows the iXF Links mapping into logical connections and electrical links.


iXF Links	Electrical Links
Wire / Net / Mating Connector (Attr)	Logical Connection
Device / WireGroup / EquipotentialGroup	Electrical Group
Harness	Electrical Group

When importing modifications on wire/net links into an existing iXF System, only conductors instances will be seen as modified in the iXF tree.

When importing modifications on electrical cables and net groups into an existing iXF System, all concerned conductors in the structure will be seen as modified in the iXF tree.

When importing modifications on disconnects into an existing iXF System, all concerned components will be seen as modified in the iXF tree.

Samples

The following samples describe some possible valid assemblies of simplified electrical components. Creating properly systems in and using the correct iXF format definition insure an appropriate data import/export.