0700 Working With Macros - Macros

8/9/2019 0700 Working With Macros - Macros

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1 Creating Macro Projects...............................................................................3

2

Using Macro Boxes.......................................................................................5

2.1 Generate macros automatically from macro projects................................5

2.2 Recreate macros.......................................................................................9

2.3 Exchange macros ...................................................................................12

2.4 Select macro objects...............................................................................14

2.5 Assign individual objects to a macro box ................................................16

2.6 Move handles..........................................................................................17

3 Creating Placeholder Objects....................................................................20

4 Extending Placeholder Objects .................................................................25

5 Editing Placeholder Objects ......................................................................28

6 Inserting Macros .........................................................................................30

6.1 Insert window macros and symbol macros .............................................30

6.2 Insert page macros .................................................................................32

7 Creating Macros..........................................................................................35

7.1

Create window macros and symbol macros ...........................................35

7.2 Create page macros ...............................................................................39

8 Creating Macros from DXF / DWG Files....................................................44

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info


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1 Creating Macro Projects

You can use macro projects to manage and automatically create window macros.

Precondition:

You have created a basic project *.epb or project template *.ept .

Project > Management

1. In the Project management dialog you create a new project as describedunder Creating a Project from a Project Template or Creating a Project from aBasic Project.

EPLAN opens the Project properties: dialog.

2. In the Properties tab select the "Settings" category.

The "Type of project" setting will still be displayed.


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3. Click here in the Value column on the associated field and select the "Macroproject" setting from the drop-down list.

4. Click [OK].

The new macro project is created and can be edited like a "normal" project.

Notes:

• Creating a new project is not the only way to create macro projects. You canalso first create a schematic project, prepare corresponding schematics cut-outs for the macros to be generated, and then convert to a macro project bychanging the project properties. To do this you only have to change the projectsetting "Type of project" to "Macro project" as described in step 3.

• Macro projects do not contain cross-references, and connections are notgenerated.



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2 Using Macro Boxes

Use the macro boxes to specify the outline and data for the macros to be generated.

You can then use the EPLAN utilities to automatically generate macros from theseprepared macros.

When writing window or symbol macros a macro box is also saved in the macro forthe specified cut-out. If you insert the macros on project pages, you will have theoption of inserting the macro box as well. To do this you have to select the Insertmacro boxes too check box (under Options > Settings > Projects > "Projectname" > Graphical editing > General). The inserted macro boxes are placed on acertain layer (EPLAN308 = Symbol graphic.Macro.Macro boxes). In layermanagement you can then specify the settings for this layer.

Special program functions in the macro box enable you to retroactively change theobjects associated with an inserted macro and thus exchange variables for a macro,for example.

Notes:

• A macro box cannot be located within a macro box. The inner box is deletedwhen the macro is written.

• There are no macro boxes in a page macro. The macro name, version, source,etc., are stored on all of the pages available. You can find this data in the page

properties under the "Macro" category.

• When compressing projects, there is a setting available for deleting all of theinserted macro boxes in a project. To do this, select the Macro boxes checkbox (in the Remove placed functions compression settings) and execute thesubsequent compression (see also Compress project).

2.1 Generate macros automatically from macro projects

You can use macro boxes to automatically generate macros in macro projects.

Preconditions:


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• You are in a macro project.

• You have inserted objects on at least one page (e.g., schematics cut-outs,graphics, etc.), from which macros are to be automatically generated.

1. Select Insert > Box / connection point / mounting panel > Macro box.

2. Click with the mouse to determine the first corner of the box (request displayedin the status bar).


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3. Use the mouse to drag the frame around the desired objects.

4. Click once more with the mouse to determine the second corner of the box.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 until all macro boxes are drawn.

6. Finish this action via the Popup menu > Cancel action.


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7. Double-click a macro box.

EPLAN opens the Properties dialog.

8. In the Macro box tab specify the data for the macro to be generated. In orderto create a macro, you have to specify at least one macro name in the Name field.

9. Click [OK] to confirm your entries and close the Properties dialog.

10. Repeat steps 7-9 for all other macro boxes.

11. Select the menu items Utilities > Generate macros > Automatically frommacro project.

The areas identified above the macro boxes are written as window macros

(*.ema) in specified directory (default is :


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2. Click the associated macro box.


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3. Select the menu items Popup menu > Create macro.

EPLAN opens the Save as dialog. The file name and variant of the macroare predefined.

4. Click [OK] to confirm the overwrite.

5. Confirm the prompt regarding overwriting the macro variant with [Yes].


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2.3 Exchange macros

Using a macro box inserted with the macro you have the option in the schematic ofreplacing an inserted macro with a different one–for example a different variant – tobe swapped.

Preconditions:

• Under Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Graphical editing >General, you have defined that macro boxes must also be inserted.

• You are in a schematic project and have inserted a macro.

1. Click the desired macro box.


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2. Select the menu items Popup menu > Exchange / rotate / update macro.

EPLAN opens the Macro file selection dialog. If the selected macro is in apre-defined directory, then the file name is already predefined.

3. Here you select another macro, variant, or nothing. In the latter case themacro is updated.


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4. Click [Open].

The macro inserted previously into the schematic is deleted and the newmacro is attached to the cursor.

5. Position the new macro with a click at the desired position.

Additional dialogs are possible afterwards, if you insert window macros and symbolmacros.

2.4 Select macro objects

If you would like to check whether objects belong to a macro (to which a macro box isassigned), there is a function that enables you to do this.

Preconditions:


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• Under Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Graphical editing >General, you have defined that macro boxes must also be inserted.

• You are in a schematic project and have inserted a macro.



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2. Select the menu items Popup menu > Select associated objects.

All objects belonging to the macro are selected.

You can then copy, move, or edit all of the macro objects in a table, for example.

2.5 Assign individual objects to a macro box

Normally, all objects located in a macro box belong to one macro. In a macro projectyou have the option of changing this macro object assignment.

Preconditions:


• You have inserted one or more objects in a project page, from which a macro isto be automatically generated, and you have defined the plan of the macro tobe created, using a macro box.

1. Select the objects that should belong to the macro. When doing this you canalso select objects that are not within the macro box, or exclude objects thatdo lie within the macro box.


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2. Click the desired macro box and select the menu items Popup menu >Assign objects to macro box.

The objects are assigned to the macro. You can check the assignment byselecting Popup menu > Select macro box for the respective macro box.

By making this assignment the Individual object assignment check box will beselected in the Macro box tab in the properties dialog. If you want to remove theindividual object assignment, you have to deselect the corresponding check box. Theassociated objects in the macro box will then be back in the future macro.

2.6 Move handles

The handle is defined as the point where the cursor "sticks" when the macro isinserted. Normally, the macro hangs at the "top left" on the first insertion point. Usethe macro box to define the position of the handle.

Preconditions:


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• You have inserted one or more objects in a project page, from which a macro isto be automatically generated, and you have defined the plan of the macro tobe created, using a macro box.


2. Select the menu items Popup menu > Move handle.


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3. Move the cursor to the desired position and with a single mouse click definethe position where the contact point of the macro is to be located.

When generating macros automatically from the macro project, the handleis also written to the macro with the macro box.



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3 Creating Placeholder Objects

To insert placeholder objects, i.e., to define variables, proceed as follows:

Precondition:

You have opened a page in the graphical editor.

Insert > Placeholder object

1. Drag a frame around the objects for which you wish to define placeholders.

2. In the Placeholder dialog, specify a name for the placeholder object in theName field.

3. Select the Show preview check box if you would like to display the graphicalpreview of the selected elements.

4. In the Assignment tab select the Category of elements (for example, devicesor revision data) to be displayed.


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8. In the Name new variable dialog specify the name of the new variable.EPLAN will automatically check whether the specified name is valid.

The new variable is inserted as a new cell below the Variable columnheading.

9. Select Popup menu > New value set.

10. Specify the new value set in the newly created column.

11. Repeat these steps for all additional variables and value sets to be generated.


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12. Change back to the Assignment tab.

13. In the Placeholder field, click the desired schematic objects with the rightmouse button in order to open the popup menu and select Popup menu >Select variable.

14. In the subsequent dialog select the desired variable and click [OK].

The variable is inserted into the selected column in the form.

15. Repeat this variable assignment for all desired schematics objects.

16. Click [OK].

The new placeholder object is automatically placed on the left above thepreviously marked area.

Note:

• If you marked nothing when you called the Insert > Placeholder object menu

items, you first have to determine the desired object (for example via Edit >


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Select > Area) (request displayed in the status bar).

• If you have selected individual schematic objects instead of an area, then youmust next define the position of the placeholder object with a mouse click(request displayed in the status bar).



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4 Extending Placeholder Objects

In order to expand placeholder objects, select other objects that should also belong

to the placeholder object.

Precondition:

The cursor is positioned on a placeholder.

1. Select Popup menu > Select associated objects.

The schematics elements that belong to the current placeholder object areselected.


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2. Select other objects to be assigned by holding the [Ctrl] key.


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3. Right-click the placeholder object and select Popup menu > Assign objectsto placeholder object.

The selected objects are assigned to the placeholder object (new).



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When leaving the cell and closing the dialog with [OK], every specified value isverified for validity for the properties in question. If an error occurs, a message willappear. This check only takes the data type into consideration. This check also takesplace after editing a placeholder assignment, but only when the correspondingvariable is not empty.

Note:

• It is not possible to block edit multiple placeholder objects.

• When compressing projects there is a compression setting available thatenables you to delete all placeholders from a project. To do this, select thePlaceholder object check box (in the Remove placed functions compression settings) and execute the subsequent compression.



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6 Inserting Macros

Macros can be inserted on project pages as window or symbol macros. New project

pages are created when inserting page macros.

The macros are generally broken up when inserted, but it is still possible to changedata via the placeholder objects.

6.1 Insert window macros and symbol macros

Preconditions:

• You have opened a project page.

• Under Options > Settings > User > Display > General you have selected theOpen value set selection dialog for placeholders when inserting macros check box.

1. Select the menu items Insert > Window macro or Insert > Symbol macro.Window macros can also be inserted via Popup menu > Insert macros.

EPLAN opens the Select macro dialog.

2. Select the desired macro. If a selected macro has variables, you can use theVariant drop-down list to specify which variant should be inserted.


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3. Click [Open].

The macro is attached to the cursor and can be positioned wherever youwant (one click).

If value sets are available, select a suitable value set for the placeholder inthe Value set selection dialog. The inserted components contain the datafrom the value set.

If there are device tags in the macro, and you have selected the Withprompt check box under Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >Devices > Numbering (online) in the On insertion of macros and copies group box, EPLAN opens the Insertion mode dialog.Specify here how the device tags in the inserted macro should be numbered.

4. The macro is still attached to the cursor. Insert the macro again if you want.

5. Press [Esc] to finish the action.

Note:

• When positioning the macro with the mouse you can also use the additionalfollowing keys:[Y] + mouse movement: The macro can only be moved horizontally on itsoriginal position.[X] + mouse movement: The macro can only be moved vertically on its originalposition.[Y] + [X]: The macro is fixed to its original position and cannot be moved.

• If there are variants in a macro, you can select among the different variantswhen positioning the macro with the mouse. To do this press [Ctrl] and movethe cursor in a circle. The various macro variants are displayed.

• If you return to inserting macros, the most recently selected macro is selected bydefault in the Select macro dialog.

• Below the graphical preview of the dialog is a comments field . For window andsymbol macros, the source project from which the macro originates isdisplayed here along with the description, if available. For window macroscreated from DXF / DWG files this field only displays a note regarding their"source" ("DXF" for macros from DXF files; "DWG" for macros from DWG


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files).

• If the macro box should be inserted with the macro when inserting window orsymbol macros, you have to select the Also insert macro boxes check box inthe settings (under Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >

Graphical editing > General).

6.2 Insert page macros

1. Select the menu items Page > Page macro > Insert.

EPLAN opens the Select macro dialog.

2. Select the desired macro. When doing this you can select window (*.ema) orsymbol macro file types (*.ems) in the Files of type field in addition to pagemacros (*.emp).


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3. Click [Open].

EPLAN opens the Adjust page structure dialog.

4. Here you specify the placement of the new pages in the page structure of yourproject.

5. In the Adjust page structure dialog, click [OK]. The continuation of thisprocess is the same as for copying pages (see Adjusting the Page Structure).

The pages are created or overwritten.

Note:

• If you return to inserting macros, the most recently selected macro is selected bydefault in the Select macro dialog.

• Up to 12 pages are shown for page macros in the graphical preview of thisdialog. The source project from which the macro originated is displayed below

this graphical display in a comments field along with the description and thenumber of pages, if available.

• The special property "Macro: Inserted by" is available in the page properties forinserting page macros (Category: "Macro"). When manually inserting a pagemacro, the user who inserted the macro is automatically entered here.

Tip:

You can insert macros using drag and drop, by dragging a selected file from the


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Windows Explorer into the graphical editor or the page navigator of your project.



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7 Creating Macros

In EPLAN you have the option of saving certain selected elements or areas of project

pages as window or symbol macros. In addition, you can save one or more pages aspage macros if you have either selected them in the page navigator or opened themin the graphical editor. For all these actions, stored image files are saved along withthe macro.

7.1 Create window macros and symbol macros

Precondition:

You are in graphical editing and have either selected the area on the page that

contains the elements you want, or selected individual elements ([Ctrl] + mouseclick).

1. Select the menu items Edit > Create window macro or Edit > Createsymbol macro. The menu item Create window macro is also available as anoption in the Popup menu after you have selected the elements on the page.

EPLAN opens the Save as dialog. In the Directory field, the default targetdirectory is displayed.


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2. In the File name field, enter the name of the macro. Click [...] to select anothername and / or another target directory.

3. If necessary, select one or more variant designations for the macro in theVariant field. This is an interesting option if you want to create differentvariants for one macro. By default, one macro is saved as "variant A". You cancreate up to eight variants for one macro under the same file name.

4. If desired, enter a description of the macro into the Description field. The textentered here is displayed in a comments field when inserting macros and

simplifies the selection for you.

5. If the page scale should be taken into consideration when inserting macros,you have to select the To page scale check box.

6. Click the Handle button if you want to manually determine the point in themacro on which the cursor depends when inserting.


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The Save as dialog will close briefly as it waits for a selection.


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7. Move the cursor to the desired position and specify the new location of thehandle with a mouse click.

The Save as dialog will open again.

8. Click [OK].

The macro is saved to the specified directory under the name .ema (window macros) or .ems (symbol macros). EPLAN checks whether avariant already exists under the specified name. If so, you will be requested todecide whether the old macro variant should be overwritten or not.

Notes:

• If nothing is selected on the page, you can still select that area / individualelements after selecting the menu item (request displayed in the status bar).

• Angular and other macro variations are not created automatically, but must bemanually generated by you on the project pages, and then finally stored underthe same name with a different variant designation. If you have createddifferent variants of a macro, then you can choose between the variants when


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inserting.

• The macro box is saved in the window or symbol macro according to thespecified cut-out.

7.2 Create page macros

If the cursor is on a project page in the graphical editor, you can only save relatedpages in a page macro. On the other hand, you also can't write unrelated pages intoa page macro in the page navigator.

Precondition:

You have opened the page navigator.


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1. Select the desired page(s) in the page navigator.


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2. Select the menu items Page > Page macro > Create. Page macros can alsobe created via Popup menu > Create page macro.

EPLAN opens the Save as dialog. In the Directory field, the default targetdirectory is displayed.


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3. In the File name field, enter the name of the macro. Click [...] to select anothername and / or another target directory.

4. If desired, enter a description of the macro into the Description field. The textentered here is displayed in a comments field when inserting macros andsimplifies the selection for you.

5. If necessary, in the Number of pages field specify the number of pages to bewritten into the macro. The default in this field can only be changed if you havenot selected more than one page in the page navigator.

6. Click [OK].

The macro is saved in the specified directory under the name .emp and EPLAN checks whether a macro with the specified name already exists. Ifso, you will be requested to decide whether the old macro should beoverwritten by the new one or not.


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Tip:

You can create page macros with drag and drop, by dragging selected pages fromthe page navigator of your project into the Windows Explorer.



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8 Creating Macros from DXF / DWG Files

Utilities > Generate macros > From DXF / DWG files

1. In the DXF / DWG files selection dialog select the desired DXF / DWG files.

2. Click on [Open].

3. In the DXF / DWG import dialog select the desired scheme and specify thetarget directory.

4. Click [OK].


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The selected files are saved in the specified directory (default is:\Macros\) as windowmacros .ema and can be inserted like "normal" windowmacros in EPLAN. When inserting the resulting window macros, a "DXF" isdisplayed for macros from DXF files and a "DWG" is displayed for macros

from DWG files.


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0700 Working With Macros - Macros

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