The name of the placeholder of the macro must have a specific syntax so that the value sets of a macro can be used in the Designer. This means that the placeholder object is referenced with a macro variable. The available value sets are then displayed in a drop-down list in the Designer.

Preconditions:

• You have opened the library in which the macro is located.
• The macro contains a placeholder object.

Procedure:

1. Open the macro in the graphical editor.
2. Double-click the "anchor" symbol of the desired placeholder object.
3. Enter a name for the placeholder object in the Name field in the Properties <...>: Placeholder object dialog. Use the following syntax for the name of the placeholder: #<Name>. The string that you enter for Name stands for the name of the variable that is displayed to you in the Designer.

4. Call up the Designer dialog.
5. Select the Macro-Typical that you wish to edit in the sidebar.
6. The view switches to the editing mode.

6. In the Macro navigator mark the macro that you want to add to the Macro-Typical.
7. Click the Add macro button in the workspace.
8. The macro is added at the end of the list of Elements.

8. Click the path of macro to extend the view.
9. The placeholder object of the macro is displayed in the extended view under Variables. The available value sets are then displayed in a drop-down list.

9. Select the desired value set from the drop-down list.
10. The corresponding value set is used for the referenced variables of the placeholder object. The available value sets are not displayed in the Project Builder.

or

9. Select no value set.
10. The available value sets are displayed in the Project Builder.

Generating a configuration variable from a placeholder object

After you have added a macro that contains a placeholder object with value sets to a Macro-Typical, you can generate a configuration variable fully automatically from the placeholder object. The configuration variable subsequently contains the available value sets as predefined values.

Preconditions:

• You are in the editing mode of a macro typical.
• The Macro-Typical contains a macro that contains a placeholder object with value sets.

Procedure:

1. Click the path of macro to extend the view.
2. The placeholder object of the macro is displayed in the extended view under Variables. The available value sets are then displayed in a drop-down list.

2. Click the button next to the input field for the corresponding placeholder object.
3. A configuration variable with the name of the placeholder object is generated in the upper section of the workspace.
4. The available value sets are added to the list of the predefined values.

Read more

Editing a Macro-Typical

Configuration variables: Basics

EPLAN Help > Working with Macros > Macros > Basics > Placeholder Objects: Structure and Operation

EPLAN Help > Working with Macros > Macros > Proceed as Follows > Creating Placeholder Objects