Connection Properties

The most important connection properties can be pre-set for the project, e.g. Cross-section / diameter, Color / number, Length, Type etc. These properties are then assigned by default to all connections and can later be changed at the connections.

These properties are passed on to the potential from the project and from there to the signals, nets and then to the connections. The data can be manually changed on every level.

Connection properties are inherited in the following sequence:

Connection points (connection point type + potential type)
Project
Layer
Terminal targets
Potential
Piping definition
Signal
Net
Jumper generation
Shield
Connection definition point.

Notes:

The following peculiarity applies for connection points: If the value "Undefined" is set for a property on the source connection point (in the Connection point logic dialog), then the matching property of the target connection point is used.
If only a piping name and no state is entered at a piping definition in the P&I diagram, the piping definition is sorted in between the potential and signal in the inheritance order. If a state is also specified at the piping definition, the sequence of the piping definition and signal is the same. If a connection property is set both at the piping definition and at the signal in such a case, the value of the graphically first definition point is assigned to the connection.

If, for example, a property is specified in the project and a different value is specified at the signal for that property, the connection gets the value from the signal. The following table illustrates the behavior:

Properties	Connection points	Project	Layer	Terminal targets	Potential	Signal	Net	Jumper generation	Conn. def. point	Connection
Source										-X1:1
Target										-M1:U
DT									-W1	-W1
Connection designation					L1	L1.1			17	17
Cross-section / diameter		1.5					0.75			0.75
Cross-section / diameter unit		mm²					sqmm			sqmm
Cross-section / diameter unit of the connection										0.75 sqmm
Connection color / number		black							1	1
Description					black					black
Length		20			50				500	500
Pair index									1	1
Shielded by									SH1	SH1
Intrinsically safe	Yes								Possible	Yes
Remark		EPLAN								EPLAN
Function definition	Wire							Jumper	Undefined	Jumper
Cable connection	Yes			No					Yes	Yes
Trade	Hydraulics									Hydraulics
Subtrade	UXY									UXY
Pressure line / control line	Pressure line									Pressure line
Exchange source and target									No	No
Name of potential					L1	L1.1				L1.1
Potential						L1				L1
Potential type	L									L
Potential value					230					230
Frequency					50					50
Possible counter potentials					N, L2, L3	N, L2.1, L3.1				N, L2.1, L3.1
Line thickness			2							2
Line color			Red		Blue				violet	violet
Invisible									No	No
Line type			------							------
Pattern length			1		2	3				3
Layer		Default								Default
Type		H05V-K								H05V-K
Part									12345	12345
Wire termination processing source		Sleeve								Sleeve
Wire termination processing target		Sleeve								Sleeve
Source: Sleeve cross-section		2			2.5	1				1
Target: Sleeve cross-section		2			1					1
Source: Stripping length		4							8	8
Target: Stripping length		4							8	8

A connection also has the following properties:

Source and target

A connection always has information about what it is connected to at both ends, the source and the target. The source and target are determined by the position in the schematic. You can reverse the direction of connections using the connection definition point on the individual connections (i.e. exchange source and target). Connection symbols (e.g. angles, T nodes) are not targets. "Round drawing nodes" in busbars and shields are the exception. Shields are often connected on one side, in which case the shield is itself the target.

Part

Every connection can be assigned multiple connection parts. Parts can also be assigned sources and targets (e.g., cable lug).

A connection can have a DT. This DT is required in particular for assigning cable connections to a cable.

Connection designation

The connection designation can be manually written to the connection (the connection definition point) or automatically assigned with the help of connection numbering.

Function definition

The function definition is either taken from the connection point type at the function connection points, or specified at the connection definition point, whereby the connection definition point overwrites the setting on the function connection points. Depending on the function definition, connections get additional special properties. The connection can, for example, be a wire connection or a jumper. If the connection is, e.g., a cable connection of a cable, special properties for cable connections are added.

Type of administration

Specifies at a connection the manner in which the connection is managed in EPLAN. The property can be used to sort the connections in the connection navigator. The following values are possible:

Placed: Placed connection.
Unplaced: Unplaced connection.
Net-based: Connection in a net that is defined at a net definition point.
Jumper (automatic): Automatically generated jumper; this occurs if manual saddle jumpers are defined on terminals or pins or, when creating the jumper, between distributed terminals.
Direct (automatic): Direct connection between male and female pins; is generated by symbols with direct connection points.
Multi-line (automatic): Multi-line connection that is defined on a connection definition point in the single-line display.
Unrouted: Unrouted connection.

You can access the connection properties either in the navigator for connections or at the connection definition point. It is not possible to access the connection properties by directly selecting the autoconnect line in the graphical editor because the connections are not immediately updated when drawing.

Connections across multiple pages are only compiled from the partial connections once the page is closed.
You can change the connection data in the connection navigator and write them back to the connection definition points.

Multilingual connection colors

The Connection color (multilingual) property is provided for connections, connection definition points, and potential definition points. The connection color is saved by this property as a multilingual text. The color code is taken from the Color / number field in the Properties <...> dialog and assigned to a color name in the project properties according to the assignment table. It is case-sensitive. The property is automatically updated with every change in the Color / number field.