Importing EPLAN Electric P8 Data into Workspace / Workdesk

To import data from EPLAN Electric P8 into a workspace / workdesk, either an EPLAN Electric P8 project *.elk or an EPLAN Harness proD *.hpdex file can be used. To export the *.hpdex file from EPLAN Electric P8, select the Project data > Connections > Export > Wire harness data menu items. For more information on wire harness data export from EPLAN Electric P8 please consult the help documentation of EPLAN Electric P8.

All objects imported from EPLAN Electric P8 into a workspace / workdesk have the EPLAN export checkbox activated in the Properties panel.

Prerequisite:

A workspace / workdesk is opened.

Importing EPLAN Electric P8 project directly / using a *.hpdex file

Go to Workspace / Workdesk > Platform integration > Import from Platform.
The Import from EPLAN Platform wizard is opened.
Select the EPLAN project option to directly import data from an EPLAN project, and browse to the *.elk file.
Activate the Use rapid prototype parts checkbox to use rapid prototype parts for parts that have no part number in the EPLAN master data database.
Select the type of license to be used when importing data from the EPLAN Electric P8 project by selecting it in the Select license type drop-down list. Depending on the licensed and installed products on your computer, the following licenses may be available:
- EPLAN Electric P8
- EPLAN Pro Panel
Click [Next].
Select the appropriate license when the Select license dialog comes up.
In the Data filter step of the wizard, select the All wire harnesses option to include all wire harnesses, or simply select the desired wire harnesses to be imported individually from the list.
Activate the Include objects unassigned to any wire harness checkbox to also import parts which do not have any wire harness assigned.
Activate / deactivate the Include direct connections checkbox to include / exclude direct connections; note that direct connections are imported as wires.
Click [Finish].

Importing different *.hpdex files

If one *.hpdex file was imported and parts were placed and a *.hpdex file from a different EPLAN Electric P8 project is imported, the [Delete] or [Replace] (if they have the same name) button becomes available in the EPLAN import panel for the parts which are not part of the original EPLAN Electric P8 project / *.hpdex file. Unplaced parts are removed directly from the EPLAN import panel.

Wires / cables table

If the AutoPlace wires checkbox is activated and suitable connectable objects are placed, the wires and cables are automatically placed. If a cable has a shield, the cable and the shield have to be placed manually (see below).

Placing cables

To automatically place cables, activate the AutoPlace wires checkbox and place the source / target connectable objects. The cable is placed with end points at a specified distance from the connectable objects. This distance can be set in the Workspace or Workdesk section of the settings, under the Control points node. In the workspace, the cable is placed in the direction which the pins face. In the workdesk, the cable is placed in the direction of the opposing connectable object.
To place a cable with all its components (shields, twists), click the button within the cable. This button becomes available once the source / target connectable objects are placed into the workspace / workdesk. If this button is used, the cable wires become automatically connected regardless of whether the AutoPlace wires checkbox is activated or not. If the cable does not have a shield, it is placed automatically. Cables with a shield have to be placed manually. Once the shield is placed in the workspace / workdesk, the cable wires are automatically placed. The shield does not have to be placed visibly.
To place an empty cable, click the button within the cable. It does not matter if the source / target connectable objects were placed before placing the cable. If the source / target connectable objects were placed after placing the empty cable, the wires are connected if the AutoPlace wires checkbox is activated.
To place multiple cables at the same time, use the Auto place function. To do that, select cables that are to be placed in the Wires / cables table, right-click any of the selected cables and select Auto place. The selected cables are imported without user interaction. The source and target connectable objects must already have been placed for the function to work. Please, note that only cables that exist in the active library will be placed. The Auto place function does not prompt the user to replace cables that were not found in the active library, such cables need to be placed manually.

Note:

If a cable component is connected to a different grouped pin or connection pin than in the source project, cable wires cannot be automatically connected and are deactivated.

Placing rapid prototype parts

If the object is not a rapid prototype object and is found in the active library, it can be placed. Optionally, a part can be changed to "rapid prototype" by activating the Rapid prototype checkbox. As a rapid prototype part, the following part types can be placed from the EPLAN import panel: connectors, connectable objects, terminals, cables, wires.
If the object is a rapid prototype object, rapid prototype object placement is activated.
If the object is not a rapid prototype object and is not found in the active library, the Part navigator dialog is opened for you to select and place the desired object.
Connector and cable rapid prototypes can be placed as ribbon connectors and ribbon cables by activating the Ribbon connectable object and Place rapid prototype ribbon cable checkboxes in the Rapid prototype command bar.

Note:

Once a cable is placed as a rapid prototype ribbon cable, it will be marked as a ribbon cable in the EPLAN import panel even if it is deleted from the workspace. To change it back to a regular cable reload the project using the button.