Consideration of Height Differences during Routing

When planning routing path networks these may contain height differences because, for example, they cover several floors of a building. Vertical routing paths are required in order to connect routing path networks on different floors of a building that belong to each other. Such vertical routing paths are realized in EPLAN through so-called "partial routing paths". These are routing paths with distributed representation that connect two respective routing points on different topology pages with each other.

Partial routing paths

Partial routing paths are routing paths with the function definition "Topology partial routing path". They serve the distributed representation of a routing points and connect two routing points respectively with each other. Partial routing paths are used to connect routing path networks with each other that are located at different heights (for example on different floors of a building). Partial routing paths can also be used to simply continue a routing path network on a different topology page (without a height difference).

Exactly two partial routing paths with the same DT must always exist, of which one is the main function and the other the auxiliary function. The data of the two partial routing paths are synchronized with each other.

You can have the height difference displayed at partial routing paths. This specifies the vertical distance between the routing path networks. The value results from the routing length of the routing path. The following properties are available for partial routing paths to this purpose:

Topology: Height difference (ID 20347): The routing length of the vertical routing path is displayed with preceding sign in this property. The preceding sign "+" means "upwards", "-" means "downwards". The property is only filled if a direction for the height difference was specified.
Topology: Direction for height difference (ID 20348): Specifies the direction for the height difference. Possible values are "None" "Upwards" and "Downwards".

Procedure

In order to connect routing path networks on different floors through a vertical routing path, the project must have at least two routing path networks with routing points and routing paths. Usually the routing path networks are located on different topology pages. However, they can also be drawn on the same topology page. The following steps are necessary to generate a routing connection:

Insert a partial routing path in the routing path network of the lower level: Use the symbol selection to insert a partial routing path on the routing point from which the vertical routing path is to start. In this context, the SPECIAL symbol library provides the two symbols CABDSU and CABDSD. Enter the DT and the routing length in the property dialog of this partial routing path and select the entry "Upwards" for the Topology: Direction for height difference property. Activate the Main function check box.
Insert a partial routing path in the routing path network of the upper level: Use the Symbol selection to insert a partial routing path on the routing point with which the vertical routing path is connected. In the properties dialog of this partial routing path enter the same DT as at the associated partial routing path and select the entry "Downwards" for the Topology: Direction for height difference property. Leave the Routing length field empty and the Main function check box deactivated.
Display height difference: In the property dialog of the partial routing paths select the property Topology: Height difference for both partial routing paths in the Display tab for the display (if the display is not already set in the used symbol).
Route connections: When routing connections with the Route command a connection is routed between the levels via the vertical routing path (command path: Tab Connections > Command group Topology > Route). The routing path is listed in the routing track (only once) and the routing length of the routing path is taken into consideration when determining the total length.

Tip:

You can insert a partial routing path rapidly by selecting the command Routing path and subsequently press the [Backspace] (command path: Tab Insert > Command group Topology > Routing path). In the Symbol selection dialog the symbols are already filtered and only symbols with the "Topology routing track" function category are displayed. Below this function category you can select a symbol for a topology partial routing path.