Cables are graphically represented in the schematic by cable definition lines or shields. A cable can contain cable definition lines, shields, and cable connections.
Cable definition lines and shield symbols are saved on a separate layer. Properties like line type, line thickness, and line color can be specified in the component properties. The cable definition line or the shield can also be invisible. The symbol setting has a higher priority than the layer setting in this case.
Cable definition lines and shields can be cross-referenced as well as display cross-references. They do not show cross-references to connection definition points that are influenced by a shield or cable definition line.
Cable definition lines
Cable definition lines can run orthogonally or diagonally. Diagonal cable definition lines result in a message, but they are fully supported. A connection definition point is automatically placed on each intersection; it serves the automatic or manual definition of cable connections.
The insertion point for the cable definition line is always at the left end of the line.
Area of influence of cable definition lines
The area of influence (for orthogonal lines) corresponds exactly to the graphical cable definition line. For a diagonal cable definition line, the area of influence is the rectangle drawn around the line. In this area the cable definition line DT is transferred to existing connection definition points. However, the points are only placed at actual intersections.
Distributed display of cables
A cable can be displayed in a distributed manner if you place multiple cable definition lines / shields with the same DT. The cable definition lines and / or shields can be on different pages. The complete definition (cable type, number of connections, etc.) only needs to be stored on one cable definition line or shield, which then becomes the main function. On all other displays, the cable DT is sufficient for identification and they become auxiliary functions.
For reports and device selection only the main function data is used. If data is contradictory, i.e., if the main function cannot be clearly identified, an error message will appear during the check run and the first graphical function will become the main function. The part can only be entered on the main function.
Shields
Shields can run horizontally or vertically. A connection definition point is set on every intersection on an imaginary axis through the shield. This connection definition point is used for automatic or manual definition of cable connections.
There is a special symbol with a connection point for shields. The connection point designation is also the name of the shield. The symbols have four variants internally. The variants are automatically selected according to the drawing direction of the shield. The insertion point for a shield is always at the end where the connection point is.
Area of influence of shields
The area of influence of a shield precisely corresponds to the dimensions of the shield graphic drawn. All connection definition points within the shield are influenced by the shield.
The connection definition points contain information about the shield to which they are associated, and transfer this information to the connections.
Distributed display of shields
EPLAN distinguishes shields by their names. If two drawn shields have the same name and are assigned to the same cable (that is, they have the same DT), then they are the same shield. This way a shield can be placed on two sides. If the shields have different names they are treated as two (also logical) different shields.
The same shield can be represented in a distributed manner with multiple shield symbols. In this case it can occur that shields are not connected or that only one shield symbol is connected or that one shield is connected on two sides (via T-node).
If multiple shields are connected to the same connection, then only one cable connection is drawn (as long as the shields have the same designation and are thus a single shield shown in a distributed view.)
See also