There are various ways of working with devices: Devices can be inserted directly in the graphical editor, or you can generate unplaced devices in the navigators (e.g., device navigator, PLC navigator) and subsequently place them in the graphical editor.
A device is defined in EPLAN through its functions which are in the end used in the schematic.
The New device functionality in the device navigator generates a device with all its functions in the project. If function templates are entered at the part, an unplaced function is normally only generated from the first main function. The remaining function templates are displayed in the navigator and can be assigned later to the functions existing in the schematic. If function templates do not exist, the functions from the macro entered at the part are collected and generated in the project. To this purpose the project setting Consider macro when generating devices has to be activated. The exact behavior is described in detail in the "Taking account of macro variants when generating devices" section.
The Insert device functionality in the graphical editor also generates a device with all its functions, but in this case at least a part of the device is placed immediately.
A clear difference is made between the functionalities inserting of macros and placing: When macros are inserted, new additional functions arise in the project that have nothing to do with the functions already existing in the project. By contrast, when Placing is used, a macro is not placed or insert, but the functions / function templates already existing in the project are placed. The macro only supplies the graphic in this case. Functions and devices additionally existing in the macro are additionally inserted into the project, as when macros are inserted.
See also
Procedure for Inserting Devices