EPLAN Harness proD and EPLAN Electric P8 Project Data Exchange Overview

EPLAN Electric P8 Project Data Exchange Overview

It is possible to exchange project data between EPLAN Harness proD and EPLAN Electric P8. The data can be exchanged bi-directionally.

The following function definition categories are supported:

EPLAN Electric P8 function definition category	Imported to EPLAN Harness proD as
General > General special functions > Connection	Wire, cable
Electrical engineering > Cable / Antenna > Cable	Cable
Electrical engineering > Cable / Antenna > Shield	Cable
Electrical engineering > Terminals and Plugs > Plug definition	Connector
Electrical engineering > Terminals and Plugs > Pin	Connector
Electrical engineering > Terminals and Plugs > Female receptacle	Connector
Electrical engineering > Connection splicer / line connector > Connection splicer / line connector	Splice
Electrical engineering > Power consumers (motor, heating, light) > Light	Light
Electrical engineering > Electronics and logic item > Capacitor	Capacitor
Electrical engineering > Electronics and logic item > Resistor	Resistor
Electrical engineering > Protection device > Safety fuse	Fuse
Electrical engineering > Terminals and Plugs > Terminal	Terminal
Electrical engineering > Terminals and Plugs > Terminal strip definition	Terminal strip
Electrical engineering > PLC / bus > PLC connection point	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > PLC / bus > PLC box	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Switch / pushbutton	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Limit switch, mechanical	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Light barrier	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Proximity switch	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Digital sensor, general	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Analog sensor	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Sensor, Switch, and pushbutton > Level detector	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Power consumers (motor, heating, light) > Motor	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Special function in electrical engineering > BlackBox	Connectable object
Electrical engineering > Special function in electrical engineering > Device connection point	Connectable object
General > General special functions > Wire harness	Wire harness

Differences between importing EPLAN Electric P8 projects versus *.hpdex files

There is one difference between project data exchange via API (direct import to an EPLAN Electric P8 project) and by using *.hpdex files. If, for instance, a PLC macro is placed on an Overview page in EPLAN Electric P8 and the rest (individual functions and connections) are placed on a Schematic multi-line page, the project data is synchronized to EPLAN Harness proD using the direct import of the EPLAN Electric P8 project as expected. If you are, however, using an *.hpdex file, the part number of the PLC will not be synchronized and possibly not all connections will be synchronized to EPLAN Harness proD, the reason simply being that the API offers more functionality.

Project data exchange between EPLAN Harness proD and EPLAN Electric P8

The parts that are directly synchronized are connectors ("plugs" in EPLAN Electric P8), terminals, connectable objects (motors, PLCs), special components (connection splicers, lights, capacitors, etc.), wires (connections), cables, ribbon cables. All other parts are synchronized to EPLAN Electric P8 as accessories of pins, parts, and wire harnesses. Parts are synchronized both ways between EPLAN Harness proD and EPLAN Electric P8, regardless of where you start (in EPLAN Harness proD or in EPLAN Electric P8).

By default, all parts placed from the EPLAN Harness proD Library and the Wire harness have the EPLAN export check box deactivated. Parts placed from EPLAN Harness proD Library do not have the P8 Full DT property assigned in the Properties panel. Such parts can be named as in the EPLAN Electric P8 project (the Full DT entry has to be used). The part is recognized and is marked as "placed" in the EPLAN import panel. The object receives the P8 Full DT property assigned in the Properties panel.

All parts placed from an EPLAN Platform project - from the EPLAN import panel - have the EPLAN export check box activated. The P8 Full DT, P8 displayed DT, P8 function text properties in the Properties panel are filled automatically.

The EPLAN export check box can be activated / deactivated as desired in EPLAN Harness proD.

Wire names in EPLAN Harness proD are used in this order: Connection point designations or Connection color / number or Full DT.

The lengths of wires, cables, cable shields, and surface protections are synchronized to EPLAN Electric P8, with the length of wires, cables, and cable shields being displayed within those parts in EPLAN Electric P8 (if so determined). The length of surface protections is displayed in the properties of the Wire harness definition; select the surface protection in the Part number > Subset / length and Part number > Subset / length with unit of project etc. properties.

The "Bundle" tree view name is synchronized to the Bundle property of the connections.

Wire harnesses

Wire harnesses are synchronized both ways. In EPLAN Harness proD the Wire harness object has the EPLAN export check box activated in the Properties panel. The EPLAN export property is propagated to all objects assigned to the wire harness. If the wire harness is created in EPLAN Harness proD, it has the EPLAN export check box deactivated. The wire harness tree view name is assigned to parts in EPLAN Electric P8 via the Wire harness name / Bundle group properties. The part number of a wire harness is synchronized both ways.

Importing terminal strips to EPLAN Harness proD

Terminal strips can be imported to EPLAN Harness proD from EPLAN Electric P8 if they are created in one of the following ways:

By placing terminals in a line.
By placing terminals and assigning the same Displayed DT to them.

Adding terminal strip definitions is not required; imported terminals with the same Displayed DT property are automatically assigned to a new terminal strip in EPLAN Harness proD.

Properties of terminals can be edited in the following ways:

Designation may be changed.
Level should not be changed.
Connection point designation can be changed, but the changes won't be imported to EPLAN Harness proD.

Black boxes

The black box is handled differently depending on whether it contains one or multiple parts:

EPLAN Electric P8	EPLAN Harness proD
Black box contains one device and does not have a part number assigned. The device, however, has a part number assigned.	Part number of the device in the black box.
Black box contains one device and has a part number assigned.	Part number of the black box, regardless of whether the device in the black box has a part number assigned.
Black box contains multiple devices.	Part numbers of all the devices inside the black box, regardless of whether the black box has a part number assigned.

Mark for deletion

Mark for deletion in EPLAN Harness proD and Marked for deletion in EPLAN Electric P8 are synchronized both ways. In EPLAN Harness proD, the Mark for deletion property can be set to a part which has not been placed from the EPLAN import panel yet (see more details in the Importing EPLAN Electric P8 Data into Workspace / Workdesk section). A part with this property activates the Marked for deletion check box in EPLAN Electric P8.

Accessories such as cavity seals, cavity plugs, wire terminals, leading parts, surface protections, etc. can be marked for deletion individually. Such accessories are not synchronized to EPLAN Electric P8 or are removed from the EPLAN Electric P8 project if they have already been placed.

If a part has the Marked for deletion check box activated in EPLAN Electric P8 and the part has already been placed in the workspace / workdesk in EPLAN Harness proD, the (Delete) action will be offered for this part. Note that all functions under this part must have the Marked for deletion check box activated so that the (Delete) action is active.

If a part has the Marked for deletion check box activated in EPLAN Electric P8 and the part has not yet been placed in the workspace / workdesk in EPLAN Harness proD, this part will be deleted directly from the EPLAN import panel.