Miscellaneous Terminal Functions

Renaming a Single Terminal of a Terminal Strip

A terminal containing several symbols can be moved from one terminal strip to another one using the Device Properties....

 

It is possible using the Device Properties...Device tab to rename the Device Designation of a single terminal within a terminal strip. The single terminal is moved from the previous terminal strip to a newly created one.

 

When changing the Device Designation of a single terminal within a terminal strip using the Terminal Strip tab of the Device Properties..., the modification on the single terminal applies to the complete terminal strip. The system automatically assigns the new Device Designation to the complete terminal strip, i.e. this terminal strip is automatically newly generated.

 

Moving Terminals in the Device Tree

Terminals of a terminal strip can be moved within the terminal strip

  • using Drag&Drop or

  • Ctrl-X and Ctrl-V.

 

Merge Several Individual Terminals as a Multi-Level Terminal

With the functionality Merge terminals... several individual terminals can be merged into a multi-level terminal (e.g. a double-level terminal).

 

To merge several individual terminals into a multi-level terminal

In the following example the command Merge terminals... is executed on terminal strip -X1:

  • select the desired individual terminals in the device tree, workspace, terminal plan or terminal table using multi-select and then right-click, or right-click on the desired terminal strip in the tree view to merge all possible individual terminals within the terminal strip(s),

     

  • select the context menu command Merge terminals...,

  • this opens the Select Component dialog, in which the desired multi-level terminal can be selected:

     

    Note:

    The number of pins on each level must have the same number of pins of the merged individual terminals

     

  • Select Component

     

    Merge terminals continuously

    This check box determines whether the individual terminals shall be merged as a multi-level terminal.

    In the following example the individual terminals 1-10 are merged into a double-level terminal:

     

    Check box Merge terminals continuously is checked:

    02 - 04 - 06 - 08 - 10 2.Level

    01 - 03 - 05 - 07 - 09 1.Level

     

    Check box Merge terminals continuously is not checked:

    06 - 07 - 08 - 09 -10 2.Level

    01 - 02 - 03 - 04 -05 1.Level

     

     

  • The individual terminals are replaced by multi-level terminals and theconductors/wires reconnected to the multi-level terminals. The conductor/wire is removed when the cross section definition at pin of multi-level terminal is not fulfilled after merging.

     

 

Automatically Place Add-On Parts on Terminal Strips

In E3.series there is the function Autosolve Terminal Strip. With this functionality add-on parts (like end brackets / end covers / separation plates) can be automatically placed at the correct position on a terminal strip. Furthermore, unnecessary or incorrectly placed add-on parts are deleted from the project.

 

When executing the command Autosolve Terminal Strip on a terminal strip, it checks to see whether the assigned add-on parts can be placed on the terminals. The following is valid:

  • End brackets are placed at the beginning and end of a terminal strip

  • End covers are placed as covers after the last terminal

  • Separation plates are placed between two terminals with different component codes

 

Preparation

In order that the terminal receives the 'correct' add-on parts, the corresponding add-on parts must be defined in the Database Editor for each terminal component type.

 

To do so, there are the following attributes in the database:

  • .ASSIGNED_END_BRACKET (Assigned end bracket)

  • .ASSIGNED_END_COVER (Assigned end cover)

  • .ASSIGNED_SEPARATION_PLATE (Assigned separation plate)

 

Define the corresponding add-on parts for the terminal

To do so, edit the desired terminal in Database Editor mode

  • right-click on the terminal and select the context menu command Component Properties...,

  • open the Component tab in the Component Properties,

  • click in the first free field under the column Name and select the corresponding add-on attributes for the terminal,

  • select the desired add-on part in the column Entry:

     

 

Usage in Project

In the following example the functionality Autosolve Terminal Strip shall be applied to the terminal strip.

 

Presently, no add-ons exist on the terminal strip:

 

 

Proceed as follows:

  • right-click on the desired terminal strip in the Device Tree,

  • select the context menu command Autosolve Terminal Strip,

  • add-ons are inserted at the corresponding locations on the terminal strip:

     

     

    (1) End brackets

    (2) End cover

    (3) Separation plate

     

    Note:

    • If the context menu command Autosolve Terminal Strip is executed in the project folder, all terminal strips within the project folder are included.

    • When executing the command Autosolve Terminal Strip unnecessary or incorrectly placed add-ons are deleted from the project.