Electrical Device Shape(Phisical) Modification

[Binu Mathew]

Does anyone knows how to find a device block name in quick way by clicking on an Electrical Device (Device ID may varies) in ABS 2006 Example(AECBE_UK_FLSA_300x1200_M) if we feel to modify the Device shape physically after established in the layout map.

to modify the device i normally do insert command and in the block dialogue box, used to find the preview of the block Ex. (AECBE_UK_FLSA_300x1200_M) then insert it double click on that (Refedit command), it takes time to find out the device actual block through insert block dialogue box as we are having lots of devices and its associated blocks

any other quick method is available ????

Binu Mathew
Electrical CAD Designer
KEO
Kuwait

[david_peterson]

If you know the block name you should be able to use the "filter" command.

[stelthorst]

Hi Binu,


I'm not sure if this is what you are trying to accomplish but if you want to change the way a certain device looks permanently you will need to change the block in the content library.

I use ABS2007 so the path below may be different than ABS2006 but in ABS 2007

Go to FILE - OPEN and click the Content Folder on the left side of the dialog box. Now go to Aecb Content - US Imperial (or Metric) - Electrical - Devices and choose the device type you want to modify.

WARNING: I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST MAKING A COPY OF ANY OF THESE FILES BEFORE MODIFYING THEM (JUST IN CASE)

Once in the drawing you want go to:

FORMAT - Style Manager - Electrical Objects - Devices Styles

Click on the device you are interested in modifying and go to the views tab. At the top of the dialog box there will be several view names listed (Probably Plan, Model and Reflected) if you click on any of these you will see the name of the block used for this view in the middle of the dialog box.

Now that you know the name of the block all you need to do is insert it into this drawing, explode it make the modifications you want to make and then recreate the block with the same name.

I hope that is what you were wanting. If not post back and we'll try to help.

[Binu Mathew]

Hi Binu,


I'm not sure if this is what you are trying to accomplish but if you want to change the way a certain device looks permanently you will need to change the block in the content library.

I use ABS2007 so the path below may be different than ABS2006 but in ABS 2007

Go to FILE - OPEN and click the Content Folder on the left side of the dialog box. Now go to Aecb Content - US Imperial (or Metric) - Electrical - Devices and choose the device type you want to modify.

WARNING: I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST MAKING A COPY OF ANY OF THESE FILES BEFORE MODIFYING THEM (JUST IN CASE)

Once in the drawing you want go to:

FORMAT - Style Manager - Electrical Objects - Devices Styles

Click on the device you are interested in modifying and go to the views tab. At the top of the dialog box there will be several view names listed (Probably Plan, Model and Reflected) if you click on any of these you will see the name of the block used for this view in the middle of the dialog box.

Now that you know the name of the block all you need to do is insert it into this drawing, explode it make the modifications you want to make and then recreate the block with the same name.

I hope that is what you were wanting. If not post back and we'll try to help.

Dear Scott,

Thanks for the Detailed message its realy appreciated,
I know the Permenent way what you mentioned we are following that method thru. content library, that is for the main library, in some cases perhaps with in the drawing itself we wanted to edit the shape of the Device.

to do that as you mentioned to find a device associated block name go to FORMAT - Style Manager - Electrical Objects - Devices Styles

after finding the block name in this Tab i think we dont need to Explode it insert and Just double click(Refedit command) modify as you wish this is the procedure now what iam doing.

But Scott iam looking for like the previous AutoCAD if you type List command you will get all the details of the selecting item - this may come in future version well we are now working on ABS 2006, i dont know about 2007.1 we may have it,

any have lots thanks for your reply Keep it up- by the way do you know how to creat a new Device in your main Library?

Best Regards

Binu Mathew
Electrical CAD Designer
KEO
Kuwait

[david_peterson]

Now I know what you are looking for. We have a utility that works like the list command but sees through blocks. ie if you need to know the layer, block name, block scale...... I'm not sure if our IT guy wrote it, or found it. You may try searching the web for "Entity List Utility". I'm sure it's out there, I'm just not sure what you call it.

[stelthorst]

by the way do you know how to creat a new Device in your main Library?

Hi Binu,

I checked in 2007 and listing an electrical device does not tell you the block name(s). At this time the only way I know to find out the block name of an electrical device is thru the FORMAT - Style Manager - Electrical Objects - Devices Styles method. Cumbersome but it works.

As for your other question. You will need to do the following:

1. Open to the drawing that best fits the type of device you want to add. (For example if you want to add a receptacle open the Receptacle.dwg in your library.
2. Create the block(s) you want to use. I typically have a symbol block for the top view and a 3d block for all other views.
3. Now go to FORMAT - Style Manager - Electrical Objects - Device Styles and click New Style.
4. Give the style a name and on the view tab add a couple of views (Usually Model and Plan) For the Model view choose the Model display representation, your 3D block, and all view directions but top and bottom. For the plan view choose the Plan display representation, your symbol block, the top and bottom view directions, and if you want it to scale automatically check the "Use Annotation Scale" button.
5. You can then add connectors, classifications and modify the display properties.

If you did this all right your new device should be available when you go to the add device dialog.

Hope this helps,

Good luck and have fun (That's what w@*k is supposed to be right?)

[Binu Mathew]

Good luck and have fun (That what's w@*k is supposed to be right?)[/QUOTE]

Dear Scott,

Thanks a lots

Binu Mathew

[Binu Mathew]

If you know the block name you should be able to use the "filter" command.

Dear Dave,

Thanks for the Reply,
well we can remember the Device ID/Tag but the aassociated block name its very difficult to remember and its a very long name as you may know in Electrical we have plenty of devices and its associated Block.

i just wanted change my Device shape immediately (as before like list command or any other) its very difficult now in ABS 2006
i would prefer to keep this in a wish list for the coming version,

Once again thanks a lots for the Response

Best rgrds..........Binu Mathew

[david_peterson]

Binu, That's what we're here for. Did Scotts post make sense to you? I'm and ADT guy and I haven't played with ABS yet so I'm not sure how their blocks/components are set up. What ever you do, don't change the orginal. You never know when you're going to want it back.

If you are going to change a blocks graphics, can't you just pick on it and use the block editor? Just a thought.