Path Function Texts1Inserting and Editing Path Function Texts (6)1.1Insert a path function text (6)1.2Edit path function text (10)2Using the Display and Positioning Aids (11)3Defining the Cursor Display (12)4Defining Increment Sizes (14)4.1Select increments using the keyboard (15)5Moving the Coordinate Base Point (16)6Working with Grids (18)6.1Displaying the Grid (18)6.2Using Grid Snap (19)6.3Align on grid (20)7Activating Object Snap (22)8Using the Design Mode (23)9Using the Orthogonal Function (26)10Displaying Insertion Points (27)11Displaying Connection Point Directions and Designations (29)11.1Display the connection point direction (29)11.2Hide and Reveal connection point designations and descriptions (29)11.3Rotating connection point designations and descriptions (30)12Using Zoom Functions (31)12.1Using window zoom (31)12.2Magnifying / shrinking sections (31)12.3Using the quadrant zoom (32)12.4Zoom with the mouse (32)12.5Use the pan function (33)13Editing Elements (34)14Selecting Elements (35)14.1Select multiple elements individually (35)14.2Select an area of elements (35)14.3Select an area with the keyboard (35)14.5Remove element selection (36)15Copying, Cutting, and Pasting Schematic Elements (37)16Duplicating Elements (39)17Deleting Elements (40)17.1Delete areas (40)18Moving Elements (41)18.1Move elements using drag and drop (41)19Working with Element Groups (42)19.1Group elements (42)19.2Ungroup (42)19.3Consider groupings (43)20Distributing Elements Evenly (45)21Moving Elements into the Foreground / Background (46)22Changing Elements (47)22.1Scale elements (47)22.2Rotate elements (47)22.3Stretch elements (48)23Changing Element Properties (49)24Editing Text Properties (50)25Docking / Undocking Text (51)25.1Dock text (51)25.2Undock text (52)25.3Dock property text (52)25.4Undock property text (55)26Moving Property Texts (56)26.1Resetting moved property texts (58)27Inserting Graphical Elements (59)28Drawing Lines and Rectangles (60)28.1Draw lines (60)28.3Draw rectangles (62)29Drawing Circles, Arcs, and Sectors (64)29.1Draw circles (64)29.2Draw arcs and sectors (65)29.3Draw ellipses (69)30Drawing Splines (70)31Entering Coordinates when Drawing (72)31.1Enter absolute coordinates (73)31.2Enter relative coordinates (76)32Inserting Text (79)32.1Find empty texts (82)33Inserting Image Files (84)34Inserting Hyperlinks (87)34.1Open hyperlinks (90)34.2Select hyperlinks (91)This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info1 Inserting and Editing Path Function TextsPath function texts are inserted in the same way as graphical texts. The only differences are that the title bar of the input dialog in the first tab shows a different title, and that the path function texts are stored in a different layer from the other texts (EPLAN110, Graphic.Path function texts). Moreover, there are additional orientation options for path function texts, that are needed for editing projects imported from EPLAN 5.Note:Path function texts are only evaluated on schematic pages with multi-line or single-line display. On all other types of page, path function texts are treated like graphical texts.On PLC overview pages, no path function text is evaluated, but the "Function text (automatic)" property on PLC connection points and channel symbols - if no other function text has been entered - determines the automatic function text of the corresponding PLC connection point on the circuit diagram side.1.1 Insert a path function textPrecondition:You have opened a schematic page or a page with a multi-line or a single-line display.Insert > Path function text1. In the Path funciton text tab of the Properties dialog, enter the desired text.The popup menu provides you with many options to further edit the text. Youcan, for instance, use the functions cut, copy, and paste, or insert line breaks and special characters.Note:Line breaks can be entered using [Ctrl]+[Enter].2.3. On the Format tab, you can specify text properties such as size, color, andorientation, along with the layer on which the path function text is stored.4. In the Language tab, define whether the text is to be displayed in only onelanguage or in all of the display languages. (The translation module must be licensed in order to display multiple languages.)5. In the Border tab, you define whether the text is placed within an alignmentbox and how it fits into the alignment box.6. Click [OK].The dialog is closed and the text hangs on the cursor.7. Place the text in the desired path. Be sure that the insertion point of the text isaligned with the insertion point of the component which should receive the path function text.If no function text is entered for a component, the path function text is stored in the "Function text (automatic)" property.1.2 Edit path function text1. Double-click a path function text.2. In the Properties dialog, edit the text and its properties. Use the Pathfunction text, Format, and Language tabs as described under Insert a path function text.3. Click [OK].The changes are adopted and are immediately visible on the page.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info2 Using the Display and Positioning AidsEPLAN offers a series of options which simplify the placement of graphical elements and components.You can select the behavior of the cursor, for instance, select different increments to be taken into account when moving the cursor with the keyboard, specify the distance between grid points, or set different zoom levels.The options Snap to grid and Object snap make it possible to orient elements directly to the grid points or element points when drawing.The option Design mode helps when placing elements exactly at specific coordinates.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info3 Defining the Cursor DisplayThe cursor can either be shown as a cross hair or as "small cross". You define this in the User settings. In the “small cross” form, two short lines, at an angle of 45° to each other, are displayed. Regardless of the cursor display settings, the form of the cursor always reflects the currently active command.Options > Settings > User > Graphical editing > General1. In the Display field, you define whether the cursor is displayed as crosshairsor as a "small cross".2. You can use the Display crosshairs when placing symbols and macroscheck box to specify – regardless of the setting above – how the cursor should appear when placing symbols or macros.3. Click [OK].You can also affect the type of cursor displayed using the menu item View > Crosshair for element selection in the graphical editor:If this option is activated, then the predefined cursor display will always be used when selecting elements. The cursor display can no longer be used to distinguish between element selection and point entry.If the option is deactivated, then the crosshairs are only displayed on the entry ofpoints. This makes it easier to distinguish between the entry of points and the selection of elements.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info4 Defining Increment SizesThe increment defines how far the cursor jumps in a particular direction when the cursor key is pressed. It is set and activated from the current cursor position.For the Use logical coordinates setting, the step size is given in grid increments. This depends on the grid increments used on the page. If the defined grid size is (e.g.) 4 mm, then an increment setting of 1 means that the cursor jumps by 4 mm, with a setting of 2 by 8 mm, etc. An increment setting less than 1 is not permitted. For the Use graphical coordinates setting, the increment is defined in terms of the drawing units (in mm or inches, depending on the settings).Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.Options > Increment1. Select the Use graphical coordinates check box to display the increments forGraphical coordinates in the list fields.Deselect the check box to display the increments for Logic coordinates.2. Enter the desired increment into the Increment field, or select an entry fromthe Personal increments or Recently used increments lists.Note:The lists show the default increments (defined in the user settings) and the last10 increments used, where the entries in the Recently used increments areoverwritten, from top to bottom, with each new increment used.3.4. Click [OK].The cursor can now only be moved using the keyboard in the increment defined here.4.1 Select increments using the keyboardThe personal increments are defined in the user settings. These are allocated to the letters A to T. The list of recently used increments is filled from top to bottom and is continually overwritten. These are allocated to the letters K to S. K is therefore the last used increment, L the second to last etc.1. Enter the letter for the relevant increment using the keyboard.5 Moving the Coordinate Base PointThe Move base point function allows you to define an optional coordinate base point. The new base point is displayed using a small coordinate cross and is calculated with reference to the relative coordinate entries. The relative entry of coordinates always relates to the most recently place point.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the menu item Options > Move base point, and position the cursor atthe position where the new base point origin is to be located.Instead of the normal coordinate display in the status bar, either the (absolute) DX and DY coordinates are displayed, or the (relative) DRX andDRY coordinates. The setting remains until you open a new page or perform the command again.If you have (e.g.) activated the command for drawing a line, after having placing the first line point, you can then enter either the absolute or relative coordinates. The entered values are then used to define the coordinates of the endpoint of the line. If the relative coordinate entry is started without having first defined a starting point, then the entry is treated as an absolute coordinate. If no command is active, then the cursor is positioned to the entered coordinates; this may also change the displayed screen section.6 Working with GridsYou can work with a grid to make the positioning of elements easier. The insertion and element points are then placed on the grid points.The size of the grid used (i.e. the clearance between the individual grid points) is stored as a page property and displayed in the status bar. You can select one of the default grid sizes from the drop-down list or enter you own values.In the user settings, you can define up to five different grid sizes; in the graphical editor, these can then be selected using the to buttons in the "View" toolbar.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.6.1 Displaying the Grid1. Select the menu item View > Grid, to switch the grid display on and off.6.2 Using Grid SnapThe use of grid snap is independent of the grid display options.1. Select the menu item Options > Snap to grid to switch the grid snap on andoff.If the grid snap is activated, then all of the subsequent actions are performed within the grid points.In the status bar, the text "ON" or "OFF" in front of the grid size shows whether the grid snap is switched on or off.6.3 Align on gridThis function allows you to subsequently align objects to the grid settings without having initially drawn them using the grid. If you subsequently switch on the grid snap, then previously drawn objects may no longer be accessible if they aren't on a grid point.1. Select the objects and then select the menu item Edit > Other > Align ongrid.The selected objects are realigned so that all of their important points (such as line starting points, curve ends etc.) are on the grid.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info7 Activating Object SnapText and logical elements (symbols, black boxes etc.) have insertion points. Graphical elements have element points (e.g. start and end points).8 Using the Design ModeThe design mode assists you in placing graphical elements at specific points and at specific coordinates.With the Design mode activated, do not use area selection for editing operations (i.e. Move, Delete, Duplicate, etc.) on the elements to be changed, instead just click them. To edit the element, define both the starting and target points for the action. Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the menu item Options > Design mode to activate or deactivate thisoption.Now select the starting point for moving by positioning the crosshairs on the intersection of the diagonals and clicking.Finally, select the target point by positioning the crosshairs on the desired point and clicking. The rectangle is moved to the desired position and the middle point is on the starting point of the line.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info9 Using the Orthogonal FunctionThe orthogonal function enables movement of the cursor in only the horizontal or vertical direction. In the process, the cursor assumes a special form, known as the Orthogonal cursor. The function can be used when all insertion points are to be oriented either horizontally or vertically to each other upon symbol insertion. Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Press [<] to activate the orthogonal function in a horizontal direction.2. Press [<] a second time to activate the orthogonal function in a verticaldirection.The cursor assumes the form of two arrows, indicating the direction setting.3. Press [<] once more to deactivate the orthogonal function.The cursor can be moved again in all directions.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info10 Displaying Insertion PointsTo edit the properties of symbols or texts, it is necessary to select their insertion points. The Display insertion points option makes it easier to find the insertion points: If this option is activated, the insertion points are highlighted from the symbols and text by a black square.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the menu item View > Insertion points, or press the [i] key.2. Select the menu item View > Insertion points, or press the [i] key again.The insertion points are hidden again.11 Displaying Connection Point Directions andDesignationsThe following features are available for working with connection points in the graphical editor.11.1 Display the connection point direction Precondition:You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.1. Select the menu items View > Connection point direction.2. In the Layer management - <Project name> dialog, open the Propertyplacement list.3. Select the Connection point designation and / or Connection pointdescription property placement options.4. Deselect the Visible check box to hide the elements in the graphical editor. 11.3 Rotating connection point designations anddescriptionsWhen creating symbols, two sets of connection point designations and descriptions can be defined: one non-rotated, and one with text rotated by 90 degrees. These are used for (e.g.) working according to DIN standards. To switch between the two sets, proceed as follows:Preconditions:•You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.•You have used the symbol editor to allocate both sets of connection point designations and descriptions to the symbol.1. Select the menu items Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >Graphical editing > General.2. Select the Display rotated connection point designation check box.3. Click [OK].This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info12 Using Zoom FunctionsThe zoom functions can be controlled using the mouse or the keyboard. An optional mouse wheel is also supported.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.12.1 Using window zoomView > Zoom > Window1. Draw a box over the desired area.The selected area is displayed at maximum size.If you would like to use the keyboard, then proceed as follows:1. Move the cursor to the upper left corner of the desired window area and press[Enter].2. Move the cursor to the lower right corner of the desired window area andpress [Enter].12.3 Using the quadrant zoom1. Press [+].The quadrant where the cursor is currently located is displayed at maximum size.2. Press [-].With the As for word processing option, the visible section is moved up / down.With the As in CAD option, the page is magnified / shrunk.2. Hold down the [Ctrl] key and scroll up / down with the mouse wheel.12.5 Use the pan function1. Hold down the middle mouse button and move the cursor in the desireddirection.The contents of the page are moved in the same direction.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info13 Editing ElementsWhen editing in the graphical editor, besides the usual Windows operating methods (first select elements, then call command), in most cases the operating methods familiar from EPLAN 5 (first call the command, then select elements) are also supported.Calling a command does not end the previous action in every case; if it is possible from a processing point of view, the first action is simply interrupted. For instance, the zoom function doesn't end the drawing of a line, but only interrupts that action. Once the zoom has been completed, the drawing of the line is continued at the point of interruption.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info14 Selecting ElementsAn element is selected when you click it; in the case of filled graphical elements, you can also click anywhere within the filled area.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.14.1 Select multiple elements individually1. Press [Ctrl] while selecting the individual elements.All elements lying within this frame are selected.Note:If you open the frame from left to right, only those elements are selected which lie completely within the frame. But if you open the frame from right to left,"partial" elements are also selected, which only partially lie within the frame.2.3. To remove a single element from this selected group, press [Ctrl] and click theelement at the same time.14.3 Select an area with the keyboardEdit > Select > Area1. Specify the first corner of the area to be selected using [Enter].2. Open a frame using the cursor keys. You can open the frame in any direction.3. You can use [Tab] to switch the cursor between the lower right corner and theupper left corner, in order to stretch the area in all directions.4. End area selection with [Enter].15 Copying, Cutting, and Pasting SchematicElementsEPLAN supports the familiar Windows commands for copying, cutting, and pasting of elements.Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the desired elements and select either the menu items Edit > Copy, orEdit > Cut.The selected elements are copied into the Windows Clipboard. When copying, the selected elements stay in their original position, while duringcutting, they are removed (deleted) from their original position.2. If you work with multiple clipboards (definable in the user settings), then in theClipboard dialog, enter a description for the content of the relevant clipboardand click [OK].3. If necessary, open a different page where you want to insert the copied / cutelements.4. Select the menu item Edit > Paste.If you work with multiple clipboards, then EPLAN opens the Paste dialog.Select the desired element and click [OK].5. Move the cursor to the position where you want to insert the elements andpress [Enter].The contents of the Clipboard are pasted into the currently open page.Notes:•Each call to Copy or Cut overwrites the current contents of the Clipboard, if you are only working with one Clipboard.•If you press [X] or [Y] when inserting, the elements will be positioned horizontally or vertically aligned with the original.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info16 Duplicating ElementsUsing the Duplicate command, you can insert multiple copies very easily at the same time. Duplication only works within a single page, not between pages. Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the element(s) to be duplicated, and select the menu item Edit >Duplicate.2. Place the first copy.3. In the Duplicate dialog, enter the total number of elements to be created.17 Deleting ElementsPrecondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Mark the desired elements and select the menu items Edit > Delete (or press[Del]).The elements are completely deleted.Unlike the Cut command, it is not possible to insert deleted elements into the page again, because they are not stored in the Clipboard. You can, however, use the Undo command to reinsert the elements.17.1 Delete areas1. Use the mouse to drag the frame around the desired elements.The elements within the area are completely deleted.Notes:•It is possible first to select the Delete command, then to select the elements to be deleted. In this case, you must select the elements using area selection.•If you want to delete the entire page contents, use [Ctrl] + [A] to select all elements on the page and then press [Del]. All components and graphicalelements will be deleted. Update the display if necessary using View >Redraw .This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info18 Moving ElementsPrecondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Mark the desired elements and select the menu items Edit > Move.Note:If you use drag and drop in combination with [Ctrl], the selected elements are not simply moved, but copied.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info19 Working with Element GroupsElements can be grouped together into groups which can then be edited together. Whether the groups or the individual elements are edited can be enabled and disabled as needed. It is thus necessary to break up a group if you want to edit an individual element of the group.19.1 Group elementsPrecondition:The option Consider groupings is selected.1. Hold down [Ctrl] and click the elements that you would like to group.(Alternatively, you can open a frame around the desired elements using themouse.)The selected elements are grouped together into a group.3. To move a single element of a group without removing the grouping, select theelement and then move it while holding down the [Shift] key.The element is moved but remains part of the group.Already grouped elements can also be combined into a new group. This allows the nesting of groups. A combination of grouped and ungrouped elements is also possible.19.2 UngroupPrecondition:The option Consider groupings is selected.1. Select the group you wish to ungroup.2. Select the menu item Edit > Other > Ungroup.Note:To move a single element of a group without removing the grouping, or to temporarily ignore the grouping, select the element and then move it while holding down the [Shift] key.If the option is deactivated, all elements are treated as individual elements. This makes it possible to edit, delete, move elements, etc. which are in a group. If such elements are copied, the new elements lose their group membership.If group consideration is deactivated, the Group and Ungroup commands can also no longer be executed.1. Select the menu item Options > Consider groupings to activate ordeactivate this option.Plot frames, symbols, and formsPlot frames, symbols, and forms are special elements.•Plot frames cannot be selected, and so it is also impossible to group elements with plot frames or to ungroup plot frame groups.•Forms cannot be selected, and so it is also impossible to group elements with forms or to ungroup form groups.•Symbols can be arbitrarily grouped. The symbol itself is the smallest possible unit. It is not possible to break a symbol down into pure graphics.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info20 Distributing Elements EvenlyUsing the Space evenly command, you can position multiple selected elements equal distances from one another in the horizontal or vertical direction. Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select the elements in question, and choose the menu item Edit > Other >Space evenly (horizontal) or Edit > Other > Space evenly (vertical).EPLAN determines the distance between the first and last elements and distributes all the others evenly between them.Note:The grid is not taken into account when distributing elements; if necessary, use the Align on grid command to place the elements back onto the grid.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info21 Moving Elements into the Foreground /BackgroundYou can use the two commands Bring to front and Send to back to influence the order of elements on the screen and the order of access. For instance, if multiple elements are on top of one another, then normally the element added last is on top. Precondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame or symbol.1. Select an element and choose the menu item Edit > Other > Bring to front,or Edit > Other > Send to back.22 Changing ElementsPrecondition:You have opened a page, form, plot frame, or symbol.22.1 Scale elements1. Mark the desired elements and select the menu items Edit > Scale.2. Specify the origin point for the scaling.3. In the Scaling dialog, select the scaling factor and click [OK].The selected graphic will be scaled relative to the point of origin. Texts can also be scaled; in this case, the font size is also changed.22.2 Rotate elements1. Mark the desired elements and select the menu items Edit > Rotate.2. Specify the point of origin for the rotation.3. Then rotate the selected elements around the point of origin with the mouse,and click the left mouse button on the page to end the rotation.Warning:If the selected element group contains a symbol, or if the selected element is a symbol, the action is not performed, since symbols cannot be rotated in EPLAN! If you need a rotated symbol, create an appropriate symbol variant in the symbol editor.22.3 Stretch elementsUsing the Stretch command, you can stretch a selected line to a free point, snap point, or an element (intersection). The line will be either lengthened or shortened. Edit > Stretch1. Open a frame around the desired element points in order to select them.2. Move the marked element points to the desired position.The line is lengthed or shortened to this point.This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info。
