Macro projects are used in EPLAN to manage and simplify the creation of macros. The respective project type (schematic / macro project) is set in the project properties via the property Type of project.
Functionalities in comparison to schematic projects
In macro projects some special functionalities are available to define macros (for example inserting of macro boxes) and automatically create macro files.
On the other hand, macro projects have limited logic functionalities in comparison to schematic projects:
- No cross-page connections
- No generation of unplaced functions
- No global editing.
Whether cross-references and / or block properties are shown in a macro project during graphical editing on project pages depends on the display mode specified in the project-specific settings. In the Settings: Representation in macro projects dialog you specify separately via the display mode of the respective group of properties (block properties, cross-references) whether the properties in the macro project are hidden or whether the name or the value of the properties is shown.
If the macros in the macro project contain several macro variants, the graphical display of the available functions becomes quickly confusing in case cross-references and block properties are shown in the graphical editor. In this case we recommend hiding the properties.
In macro projects in which the prepared macros are configured without macro variants, the display of the property values / names can make sense since this way it becomes clear which cross-references / block properties are shown later after the macro has been inserted into the schematic.
Some of the most important differences between the functionalities of the schematic and macro projects are listed below:
|
Functionality |
Schematic project |
Macro project |
|---|---|---|
|
- |
X |
|
|
- |
X |
|
|
- |
X |
|
|
- |
X |
|
|
- |
X |
|
|
- |
X |
|
|
Assign all the objects of the macro to the placeholder object |
- |
X |
|
X |
- |
|
|
X |
- |
Connections and potential tracking in macro projects
In macro projects only connections at which the source and target are located on the same page are generated. Interruption points are also recognized as connection targets. In addition to the autoconnecting lines, the connections and the potential tracking are also highlighted in accordance with the set colors on the pages in the macro project. Bundle connections and net connections are not generated in macro projects. The connections are updated automatically when switching between schematic and macro projects.
Inserting of macros in macro projects
When you insert window and symbol macros already existing into a macro project, you can use the project setting Insert macros referencing to determine that macros are inserted as a reference. In this case macros can be updated, only few modifications can be made at the macro itself though. Such a setting makes sense, for example, if macros exist in a completed state and are to be used as internal macros in nested macro boxes.
When the project setting is deactivated, the macros are inserted unchanged into a macro project - as they exist in the file. This way users can keep using and editing existing macros for their own macro project.
See also