Signal Format

In E3.series a signal placeholder for the signal name can be displayed on the signal. The signal name will automatically be generated either for one-time use or for relevant changes according to the format description after having placed a signal placeholder.

 

Placing the signal placeholder occurs with the functionality Signal Format.

 

How to place a signal placeholder in a signal text

  • right-click on the desired connection line and select the command Signal Format...in the displayed context menu

    or right-click with the mouse button on the desired signal within the signal tree and select the command Signal Format... in the displayed context menu

    or right-click on the desired symbol in the working area and select the command Signal Format... in the displayed context menu.

  • the Signal Formatdialogopens:

     

 

Signal Format

Format

The signal placeholder can be entered on a signal here.

 

The following signal placeholders are available:

  • <.SHEET>

    If this signal placeholder is specified, the sheet name on which the reference object is placed appears as the signal name.

     

    Note:

    If the sheet name is numeric, it will be displayed with at least three digits and zeros at the beginning.

  • <.GRID>

    If this signal placeholder is specified, the current sheet coordinates on which the reference object is placed appear as the signal name.

     

    Note:

    The pin on the first sheet in the project structure with minimum X and maximum Y coordinate will be used as the reference object.

     

    The sheet coordinates are displayed according to the Setting Format: (in the section Settings under General -> Display -> Sheet Reference-> Format)

  • <Attribute>

    If this signal placeholder is specified, a signal or a sheet attribute appears when available.

     

    Note:

    The attribute must contain 'Signal' or 'Sheet' as the valid owner. If both 'Signal' and 'Sheet' are available, the attribute is determined by the signal.

 

Already created signal format combinations can be selected in the drop-down list.

 

Note

  • Additionally permitted characters can be placed before and after signal placeholders. The following characters are not allowed < > , { }.

    Example: 123_<.SHEET>-ABC

  • Up to eight signal placeholders can be used for a signal. In doing so, a signal placeholder may not appear repeatedly.

  • A signal placeholder must be unique.

     

    Examples of faults:

    • Different attributes used in the signal format have the same attribute value. (Example: Attribute 1 with entry A - Attribute 2 with entry A)
    • The signal name generated by the signal format is already used as signal name.
  • Exception: The signal name generated by the signal format <.GRID> from the sheet coordinates information is already used in another sheet. In this case the next possible free sheet coordinate will be used (Example: Instead of A1 -> A2).
  • Using <no entry> resets the signal format on the signal.
  • When determining the reference object, inactive objects are also considered for variants/options.

Clicking the button opens the Translation Table dialog. This dialog displays all entries of the different languages. The desired text is inserted.

Recalculate signal name according to format specification

If the check box is active, all relevant changes to the signal formats will be recalculated automatically. In doing so, it's possible to control whether modifications to each signal can be individually updated or not.

 

Relevant changes are:

  • Moving a sheet within the project structure if the reference object is changed.

  • Moving connection lines or symbols if the reference object is changed.

  • Changing an attribute value which is used as the signal format.

  • Deleting signals

  • Deleting or moving reference objects

 

A default value can be defined using the check box Recalculate signal names according to format specification in the Settings (under Connection -> Signals -> Signal Format).

 

Note

 It's also possible to set signal placeholders in texts of the type TTYP_SIGNAL (#7) and TTYP_CONNECTION_SIGNAL (#1007) as follows:

  • by selecting the signal texts and clicking F2 afterwards, or

  • right-clicking on the signal text and selecting the command Text Properties... in the displayed context menu.

    Select the tab Text in the Text Properties and insert the desired signal placeholder under Text.

 

Example for the signal placeholder <.SHEET>:

  1. This example shows the sheet name 'sheet_name':

     

  2. The signal placeholder <.SHEET> is defined on the signal:

     

  3. The signal now receives the current sheet name 'sheet_name' as signal name:

     

 

Example for the signal placeholder <.GRID>:

  1. 'C2' is used as reference value for the sheet coordinate in following example:

     

  2. The signal placeholder <.GRID> will be defined on signal:

     

  3. Now the signal receives the sheet coordinate 'C2' as signal name:

     

 

Example for the signal placeholder <ATTRIBUTE>:

  1. The signal attribute New Feature is used as attribute with the Entry 2014:

     

  2. The signal placeholder <New Feature> (<Name of attribute>) is defined on the signal:

     

  3. The signal now receives the Entry 2014 from attribute New Feature as the signal name: