Drag & Drop

Drag & drop is a method of moving data between computer programs using the mouse.

If you click with the mouse button on the graphical representation of a drag & drop source and then move the mouse while holding down the mouse button, then the cursor will change its shape, and you can then see if you have dragged it onto a target object that is drag & drop capable. When you then release the mouse button, depending on the source and target programs, the data associated with the source object is copied, moved or linked to the target program.

As for drag & drop in the EPLAN platform, you are shown an additional information text in the status bar as soon as the action is permitted. This way, you can see when the action is possible and which action you are currently executing in connection with drag & drop (move pages, place function, insert external file, etc.).

More complex actions are also possible. For instance, you can directly open a file once you have dragged and dropped it.

Cursor symbols

Cursor	Meaning
	Not available.
	Object can be inserted here.
	Object can be assigned here (see "Assign functions during drag & drop").

Drag & drop in EPLAN

From the Windows explorer into the page navigator

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Editable project	Opens the project.
Page macro	Inserts the page macro.
AutoCAD file	Imports the AutoCAD data.
Form	Opens the form.
Plot frame	Opens the plot frame.
Symbol library	Opens the symbol selection.
Outline	Opens the outline.
Form	Opens the form.

From the Windows Explorer into the graphical editor

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Macro	Inserts the macro.
DXF / DWG	Inserts the AutoCAD data.
External document	Inserts a hyperlink to the external document.
Image	Inserts the image.

From the Windows explorer into the page navigator

Drag & drop source	Reaction
External file	Inserts the file depending on the file type.

From an Office application into EPLAN

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Excel cells	Inserts the cells into an EPLAN table.
Selected text	Inserts the text into an EPLAN table or an input field.

From the tree view of the EPLAN page navigator into the Windows Explorer

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Highlighted pages	Creates a page macro.

To create a page macro hold down the [Shift] key while dragging the page.

Within the tree / list view of the EPLAN page navigator

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Highlighted pages	Moves or copies pages.

To copy pages hold down the [Ctrl] key while dragging the page.

Within the tree view of the EPLAN layout space navigator

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Item in the hierarchy structure	Change the hierarchy.

Allows for the hierarchy structure in the layout space navigator to be changed in a macro project, for example if an enclosure door in the hierarchy structure is not assigned to the enclosure anymore but to the frame profile vertical right front.

From an EPLAN navigator into the graphical editor

From the navigator, you can place every function on a page as many times as you like. In the process, it does not matter if the function has already been placed, is unplaced, or is of a different representation type. The created representation type depends on the page type where the function is placed.

Special feature of Drag & Drop: When the mouse button is released, the function hangs on the cursor. When you have selected the desired position, insert the function with a click.

In the navigators from within which you can place functions (e.g., device navigator), it is also possible to make a multiple selection and to place the selected functions on a page one by one via drag & drop.

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Symbol selection	Inserts.
Device navigator	Places / assigns.
PLC navigator	Places / assigns.
Cable navigator	Places / assigns.
Plug navigator	Places / assigns.
Terminal strip navigator	Places / assigns.
Connections navigator	Places / assigns.
Potential navigator	Places.
Interruption point navigator	Places / assigns.
Bill of materials navigator	Inserts (with parts data).
Device list	Inserts (with parts data) / assigns (3D: placed).
2D panel layout navigator	Places.
Pre-planning navigator	Places.
Topology navigator	Places.
Piping navigator	Places.
3D mounting layout navigator	Places.
Part master data navigator	Inserts (with parts data) / assigns.
Comments navigator	Places unplaced comments.

Special features for the placing of functions

Please note that when using multiple selections in a navigator's tree view, the selection made is only retained if you draw the most recently selected function. Click on another function of the selected block; this removes the original selection and selects the new function.

If you have selected a DT in a navigator and you drag it to a schematic page using drag & drop, all the functions of this device are offered for placement one after the other. In this context, you can "browse" the functions using the [N] key and select the required one. You can use [Tab] to "page" through the available symbol variants for each function.

If you want to perform the drag & drop from the List view of a navigator, you have to select one or more lines. The selection made is displayed with a blue frame. To place the selected functions on a page, position the cursor within this frame and drag the selection made via drag & drop into the graphical editor.

Assigning functions with drag & drop

While performing the drag & drop in the device navigator (or other project data navigators), decide whether you want to place or assign the function. If you want to assign the function, simply press the [Ctrl] + [Shift] shortcut keys while performing the dragging action. When you let go of the left mouse button, the function description of the highlighted function will hang on the cursor. Now release the keys. Move the cursor to a suitable component, and with one click transfer the data of the function to the component. A function cannot be assigned directly via drag & drop.

From an EPLAN navigator into an EPLAN navigator

Drag & drop source	Drag & drop target	Reaction
Part master data navigator	Device list	Inserts.
Part master data navigator	Device navigator	Inserts.
Cable navigator	Plug navigator	Inserts.
Project options navigator	Project options navigator	Moves.
Pre-planning navigator	Page Navigator	Inserts.

From an EPLAN navigator into a device's property dialog

From some navigators you can add parts to the main function of a device placed in the graphical editor by using drag & drop, meaning dragging the desired part on the component and keeping the [Ctrl] + [Shift] shortcut key pressed while dragging. After pressing the shortcut key, first release the mouse button and then the keys. You thus have the opportunity to select a part using drag & drop.

If the device already has one or more parts, then a query is displayed asking whether the existing parts should be enhanced or replaced.

Drag & drop source	Reaction
Part master data navigator	Inserts the part.
Device list	Inserts the part.