Edit Attribute Names

Attribute names can only be modified in Database Mode (see Database Editor).

 

All data items within E3.series can have user-defined attributes. Before using attributes, their names and value types must be defined.

 

Configuration settings are stored in various configuration tables of the E3.series database and can be set using E3.series' Database Editor (Tools-> Start Database Editor).

 

Use Format -> Attribute Names to define the attribute definitions:

 

 

Click here to find a list of attributes available in E3.series.

 

Edit Attribute Names

Name

Alphanumeric Name (no spaces)

An identifying name for the attribute.

 

Identifying names are used to interchange information between different projects. To customize attribute names within a local environment, define a Display Name for that attribute.

 

Note

Attribute names with a leading '.' are used to store internal information. Some of the fields are 'grayed-out' to indicate that these properties cannot be changed by the user.

Display Name

Possible values: Any string

 

May be used to define an additional name for an attribute. If defined, this name will be shown in input list boxes and attribute text strings later in the project. Changing the Display Name does not affect the attribute itself.

 

Attributes can either be accessed by their identifying names (preferred when using COM interface methods) or their Display Names.

Type

Possible values: Integer / Real / String / Yes/No / Linear measure

 

Defines the allowed type of an attribute value. This type is checked when defining new values. Invalid types will be rejected.

 

  • Attributes for linear measures are always displayed with unit here; entries with any other units are allowed - these are automatically converted into the default unit 1/10 mm.

  • If defined, attributes for Yes/No values are displayed with a checkbox and can be activated or de-activated.

  • Attribute texts of the type 'String' are multi-line and therefore translatable.

Owner

Defines the various owner types to which the attribute can be applied. One or more 'owner types' can be selected from a dialog box.

 

Attributes can be added to any E3. data item. But you have to define which data item types are allowed to carry a specific attribute type, i.e. it makes no sense to define a 'PRICE' for a cable end.

 

To change the list of allowed owner types, double-click on the right side of the specific field and the 'Select the Owners' dialog box will appear...

 

 

Below you'll find a list of available owners.
Checkboxes

There are three flags that are used to apply additional properties to the attributes:

Single instance

If set, one owner can have only one (or no) attribute of this name. If you define a second attribute, it overwrites the first one.

Unique value

With this option, it is possible to assign an attribute a unique value on the owner or in the project.

 

Unique attribute values can also be defined for assignment and/or locations. The drop-down list of Unique value displays the following objects:

  • <no entry>

  • Object

  • Project

  • Assignment

  • Location

  • Assignment and Location

 

Note

  • When adding an attribute value a message is displayed, when the value is not unique and an empty value is added.

  • When changing an attribute value the same message is displayed, when the value is not unique and the old value is kept.

  • When changing assignment and/or location, all attribute values of the object and all depending objects (e.g. pins) are verified by the system at the end of each transaction. In case a value is not unique, the content is deleted and a message is displayed.

    Double-clicking on the message jumps to the object.
Display Settings

If an attribute is to be displayed as a text string on a sheet within the project, the initial format and placement can be defined using the following properties.

 

These initial settings can be redefined when the text is placed. But all new attribute text strings will reuse the initial settings defined here.

Format

Name or Value

The text string will contain only the name, only the value or both depending on the setting.

Note: This format is not only an initial format. If it is changed, all already placed text strings of this attribute name will be redisplayed to reflect the new configuration.

 

It is also possible to define the number of decimal places for the representation.

 

For this purpose, a format string can be specified (in this column) in addition to selection of the values Value and Name=Value from the selection list for attributes of type Integer and Real.

 

The character '#' is used as a wild-card character for decimal places. The number of places before the decimal point is interpreted as minimum number of places (at least 1) and, if necessary, filled up with 0. Real values are rounded to the indicated number of decimal places.

 

Example

Internal attribute value = 0.499:

##.## € -> 00.50 €

#.### kg -> 0.499 kg

  • # is indicated for a numerical value.

  • Point can be used as decimal separators.

  • If more places are output before the decimal separator than were defined, these are nevertheless output.

  • If fewer places are output than defined, leading zeros will be output.

  • Fixed text can also be defined.

Size

Integer size

Defines an initial text height

Pos X / PosY

Integer values

If several attributes are to be displayed as a list of text strings, these values are used to place the strings within the list.

 

They define a relative offset of the attribute string based on the position of the last string in the list.

Color

Integer value

Defines an initial color code.

Ratio

Possible entries: narrow, normal, wide

Defines an initial text mode.

Direction

Possible entries: left aligned, centered, right aligned

Defines an initial alignment mode.

Level

Integer value

Defines the level on which the text will be placed.

Visible

none / all

Must exist

This property is only evaluated for nets, net segments and conductors. If such an object is created in the project, attributes are also automatically added to this property.

 

If this property is assigned, the attribute is additionally marked as Single instance.

Changeable by script only

When this checkbox is checked, the corresponding attribute can only be changed or added via COM Interface or directly in the Database Editor.

 

Attribute values cannot be changed interactively, when

  • the attribute has this property assigned

  • the attribute is assigned a text type that is changeable by script only.

 

Renaming folders in the tree is also considered, when the tree is structured or sorted by such an attribute.

 

Such attributes cannot be added nor deleted in the properties dialogs.

 

Text types cannot be changed interactively, when

  • the text has this property assigned,

  • the text type is assigned to an attribute that is changeable by script only,

  • another text type that has the same attribute assigned is changeable by script only.

Default value

The default value is used if no value has been defined when adding an attribute. The value must correspond to the defined attribute type.

 

A character in form of '<nnn>' can be defined within the default value, the number of n's defines the minimum length which is filled with 0. '<' or '>' must be masked with '\'.

 

The character's value is incremented by the system dependent of the properties Unique value and Unique in project beginning with 1.

 

Note

Values of type 'Linear Measure' are interpreted as tenths of a millimeter.

List of values

The attribute lists configured in the Edit Attribute Lists dialog, can be selected in this column.

 

The drop-down list contains all attribute lists available in the database.

 

Note

When assigning a list to an attribute, the list's content is not verified, i.e. the list may not yet exist and the list's values may not correspond to the attribute type.

 

It's impossible to define a list for system-generated attributes, except the Document type attribute. This means that no other document types can be defined than those contained in the list of values.

Changeable when owner is locked

When this checkbox is active, it's possible to control whether the attribute's value can be changed although the owner is locked at that time.

 

Note

By default, the checkbox is inactive, this means the attribute cannot be changed with the owner being locked.

 

See example.

Allow change of lock behavior

This option is used to control whether the behavior defined with Changeable when owner is locked may be changed by the user for individual attributes in the project.

 

Note

By default, the checkbox is inactive, this means the user cannot change the lock behavior for individual attributes.

 

See example.

 

To delete an attribute, right-click on the left (gray) column of the table and select the Delete Attributes... command from the displayed context menu.

 

List of the different attribute owners

Owners on components and devices

Component

Attribute for a component in the database (is defined in the database); In project mode, it is displayed in the Component View of the Component Properties; it cannot be modified.

Device

Attribute for a component, that can, in Project mode, be added and modified in the Device View of the Component Properties.

Component pin

Attribute for a pin in the database; NOT visible in the project.

Device pin

Attribute for a pin, that can be added and modified in the project.

Symbol

Attribute for placed symbols (either assigned or not assigned).

Database Symbol

Attribute for a symbol in the database; is not visible/modifiable in the project.

Shield/Bundle/Twisted Pair

Attribute for a shield/bundle/twisted pair in the database; can be modified in the project.

Model

Attribute for a model.

Functional Unit

Attribute for functional units.

(used only in E3.FunctionalDesign or E3.topology)
Owners on objects

Group

Attribute for the grouping of several objects.
Owners on objects on a block

Block pin

Attribute for the pin of a connector, that is placed on a block.

Block connector

Attribute for placed connectors on a block.

Block device

Attribute for blocks.

Module

Attribute for a module.

(used only in E3.logic)
Owners on cable elements and conductor elements

 

Note

When displayed in texts, coresconductors as owner have higher priority than cables.

Cable

Attribute for a cable, that is assigned in Project mode.

Cable type

Attribute for a cable in the database.

Cable end

Attribute for a cable end in the project.

Cable type end

Attribute for a cable end in the database.

Cable conductor

Attribute for a conductor in the project.

Conductor type

Attribute for a conductor in the database (not visible in the project).

Cable conductor end

Attribute for a conductor end in the project.

Conductor type end

Attribute for a conductor end in the database.
Owners on hose and tube elements

Hose/Tube

Hose/tube attribute in the project.

Hose/Tube type

Hose/tube attribute in the database.

Hose/Tube end

Attribute for a hose/tube end in the project.

Hose/Tube type end

Attribute for a hose/tube end in the database.

Hose/Tube inside

Attribute for the inside of a hose/tube in the project (the inside is for example the interior, the material, etc.).

Hose/Tube inside type

Attribute for the inside of a hose/tube in the database (not visible in the project).

Hose/Tube inside end

Attribute for a hose/tube inside end in the project.

Hose/Tube inside type end

Attribute for a hose/tube inside end in the database.
Owners on connectors

Connector

Attribute for placed connectors in the "Open".

Connector pin

Attribute for a connector pin in the "Open".
Owners on busbars

Busbar

Attribute for placed devices of the component type 'Busbar'.

Busbar type

Attribute for a busbar in the database.
Owners on connection lines

Net

Net: end points are pins.

Net segment

Net segment: end points are pins or connect nodes.

Signal

Attribute for a signal; it is inherited to other, identical signals.

Signal class

Attribute for a signal class

Net number

Attribute for physical connections.

Net node

Attribute for net nodes in formboard.
Owners on projects and sheets

Project

Attribute for a project.

Sheet

Attribute on a sheet in a project.

Sheet (database)

Sheet definition in the database.

Field cell

Attributes for a field on the sheet.

Structure node

Attribute for structure nodes.
Owners for Variants/Options

Variants/Options

Attributes for Variants/Options/Packages/Configurations/Harness families/Harness Derivatives