IN EPLAN, you can rotate and flip both graphical elements and symbols as well as macros. Graphical elements can be rotated and flipped by any rotation angle and mirror axis. Symbols and macros, however, can be rotated and flipped only in 90° increments, because these actions are based on the exchange of symbol or macro variants.
By rotating and flipping symbols and macros, you can create master data and partial schematics easily and quickly.
Rotate and flip symbols
When rotating and flipping symbols, there is an internal exchange of symbol variants. The property arrangement of the placed property texts (Displayed DT, Cross-references, etc.) is rotated or flipped as well.
This means that symbols can be rotated or flipped only in 90° steps. To ensure that the result of the rotation or flipping meets your expectations, the symbol variants must be set up accordingly in the master data. When you rotate, the variants A to D are taken into account.
In the following figure, the symbol variant A of a cylinder (symbol 675 / Z_ZUB_38 from symbol library HYD2ESS) is rotated in three 90° increments. In this example, the coordinate cross is the point around which the rotation is carried out.
When rotating the symbol variant A by 90°, the symbol variant B is used; when rotating by 180°, the symbol variant C and when rotating by 270°, the symbol variant D.
The flipped variants E-H are used for the symbol variants A-D for the purposes of flipping. The variant selected is always the one that is located on the other side of the mirror axis.
When flipping a cylinder (symbol variant A) across the mirror axis 1, a cylinder is created with the symbol variant E. But if the flipping is done across axis 2, the cylinder will have the symbol variant G.
Rotate and flip macros
Macros (symbol (*.ems) or window macros (*.ema)) are rotated and flipped on the basis of macro variants. In the process, all objects within a macro box are identified internally. In the respective action, the logical information (e.g., displayed DT, connection point designations, etc.) is preserved; all graphical information (e.g., position of the symbol graphic and property texts as well as the symbol variant) is imported from the respective macro variant.
If a necessary macro variant is not available for the respective macro box, the objects will be transformed (rotated/flipped) on the basis of existing symbols. In such a case (or when other inconsistencies occur), you will receive relevant information in the system messages.
Note:
If macros are to be rotated and flipped only on the basis of symbols, press the [SHIFT] key when executing the respective action. If you use the shortcut key [Ctrl] + [SHIFT], the action will be executed on the basis of symbols, while preserving the original macro.
Transformation point for symbol variants
The base point for rotating and flipping is generally the first connection point of a symbol. In the symbol editor, you can define a different base point – the so-called "transformation point" – for a symbol variant.
This will be of interest if, while executing one of these actions, you notice that a symbol variant has been set up inconsistently (e.g., the symbol graphic is offset against the connection points) or if you receive a corresponding system message (e.g., object in the wrong position) for a macro.
To define a transformation point for a symbol variant in the symbol editor, add to the symbol properties of such variant the Transformation point property (ID 16045) via the property selection.
Each symbol variant can have its own transformation point; symbol variants are distinguished via the index. The transformation point is entered as a coordinate, e.g., "2.0/2.0". The entry refers to the insertion point of the respective symbol variant.
See also