Workdesk design serves as a source for outputs such as nailboards, cable drawings, and reports.
The workdesk environment consists of the navigation panel, the working window, the properties panel, the command bar, the Tasks list, and the corresponding menus and toolbars.
Navigation panel
It is displayed in the left-hand side bar (default) and contains the following tabs:
Working window
This is the place where wire harnesses are designed. It is situated in the center of the EPLAN Harness proD Studio screen (default) just below the tab of the currently opened library item.
To pan, zoom and rotate objects and view them within the 3D working window it is possible to use a 3D mouse such as SpaceTraveler, SpacePilot, SpacePilot PRO, or SpaceExplorer.
Properties panel
It is displayed in the right-hand side bar (default) and shows the properties of the currently selected objects. These can be edited to better suit your needs.
Command bar
While placing objects into the workdesk or using commands (e.g. the Move and Rotate commands etc.), the corresponding options are available in the command bar.
Tasks list
The Tasks list is available in the workdesk environment to manage errors.
Global grid
The global grid is displayed in the workdesk working window. Objects placed into the workdesk are snapped to the grid. The Global grid object is available in the Environment node in the tree view.
Global grid name, distance, color, line type, line thickness, and line color can be specified in the properties panel. Changes made there are immediately applied to the workdesk working window. The global grid property defaults can be determined in the workdesk settings (under Tools > Settings > Workdesk > Global grid).
Local radial grid
The Local radial grid object is available in the Environment node in the tree view. Once selected, you can define the following properties in the properties panel:
- Name: Determines the name of the radial grid.
- Number of segments: Determines the number of sectors of the radial grid.
- Stepping option: This drop-down list offers the two options Fixed distance for determining the distance of each circle of the radial grid from the next one and Relative to initial distance for determining the number of circles between two neighboring control points when using the Move wire harness segment command.
- Fixed no. of circles: If the Stepping option is set to the Fixed distance option, you can determine the distance between each circle of the radial grid in this field.
- Number of circles: If the Stepping option is set to the Relative to initial distance option, you can determine the number of circles in relation to the given diameter of the radial grid. The diameter of the radial grid is specified by the start and end control points of the path being placed (bundle, cable, wire, surface protection, etc.).
- Color: Determines the background color of the radial grid.
- Line type: Determines the style of the radial grid lines.
- Line thickness: Determines the thickness of the radial grid lines.
- Line color: Determines the color of the radial grid lines.
The radial grid becomes available if you switch to a polar coordinate system in the command bar while placing objects such as bundles, wires, cables, surface protections, etc. and also when you use the Move wire harness segment command. The local radial grid property defaults can be determined in the workdesk settings (under Tools > Settings > Workdesk > Local radial grid).
Active dimensions
Active dimensions are placed within objects such as (rapid prototyping) wires, (rapid prototyping) cables, (rapid prototyping) ribbon cables, bundles, and surface protections. They can be modified in the workdesk settings (under Tools > Settings > Workdesk > Active dimensions) or the properties panel.
The following properties can be modified in the properties panel if you select the Active dimensions entry in the Environment node:
- Selectable: If this check box is activated, the active dimensions are selectable in the workdesk working window.
- Color: Determines the color of the active dimensions in the workdesk working window.
- Line thickness: Determines the line thickness of the dimension and the dimension help lines of active dimensions.
- Font group box: Determines the settings of font, font size, and font style for active dimensions.
- Displayed value group box: Provides the Length of a path segment option (default setting) if the active dimensions are to display the real length of the path segment. In this case the value of the active dimension is enclosed in square brackets. As an alternative you can select the Distance between control points option if the active dimensions are to display the length between the control points of the path segment.
In addition, each individual active dimension can be modified in the workdesk working window.
Coordinate system
While placing objects such as (rapid prototyping) wires, (rapid prototyping) cables, (rapid prototyping) ribbon cables, bundles, and surface protections, you can switch between the Cartesian and polar coordinate systems in the command bar.
Measurement
While placing objects such as (rapid prototyping) wires, (rapid prototyping) cables, (rapid prototyping) ribbon cables, bundles, and surface protections, you can switch between absolute and relative measurements in the command bar.
Z axis
Since the workdesk environment imitates a 2D manufacturing drawing, a typical workflow is to work in the 2D space with the X and Y axes being available for placing objects and the Rotate, Move and Move wire harness segment commands.
The Z axis is, however, available in the Position section of the properties panel where you can define the [x,y,z] values for position and rotation. In addition, you can rotate the scene (as in the 3D space) in the workdesk working window.