The functionality of the defined working sections is used for the division of projects into subprojects. Before you can create subprojects for a project, you / the administrator has to specify the defined working sections by means of the Define working sections as project administrator dialog. The sections defined here represent possible subprojects. After that you have to activate selected defined working sections using the following commands: File > Collaboration > Command group Defined working sections > Activate > Check box Activate selected defined working sections.
Concerning the generation of subprojects, defined working sections must not overlap. "Overlap" means that certain objects (e.g. pages, layout spaces, or pre-planning segments) exist in several defined working sections. Objects that exist in several defined working sections could otherwise cause problems when storing projects.
Icons in the Status column of the dialog Define working sections as project administrator indicate whether the defined working sections are clearly separated from each other.
Notes:
- Renaming or moving of the original project / subprojects is not permitted because the association between the original project and the subproject is otherwise lost. Therefore a corresponding security warning with the possibility to abort the corresponding action is displayed in the case of renaming, moving or deleting of original projects or subprojects (for example from the project management).
- The projects contain many data and settings that exist only once and therefore apply for the entire project. After subprojects have been created, these data and settings may not be changed either in the original project or in the subproject. This also applies to the master data.
Therefore do not change the properties, settings and master data of the original project again until after all the subprojects have been stored. You can subsequently file off the subprojects again. Previous changes can cause unexpected results and errors.
Further division of subprojects
The division of a subproject into further subprojects is possible. To do so you have to specify defined working sections for the subproject as well and activate a defined working section.
In a subproject the defined working sections have been reset to the original state. This means that you have to define new defined working sections in order to divide a subproject further. In the case of such a "sub-subproject" the subproject number (for example 002) is separated by a further underline and attached with supplementary zeroes (for example ESS_Sample_Project#003#002).
Cross-references to the original project
In a subproject the cross-references to the counterpieces located in the original project are stored in the Cross-reference (external) property. After a subproject has been filed off, this property is displayed automatically on the first tab in the properties table at the respective objects with cross-references (for example interruption points, PLC connection points, coils, etc.).
The following has to be taken into account for the displayed values of this property:
- The "@" in the value of this property stands for the position of the respective cross-reference in the cross-reference list.
- If there are several cross-references to different objects in the original project, the external cross-references are listed in several lines.
- An external cross-reference to a contact image contains information about the contact image symbol including the connection point designations, in addition to the cross-reference.
In order to differentiate the cross-references to the original project from the other cross-references, you can specify a prefix in the form of any character or string for these cross-references. The Prefix for cross-reference (external) input box is available to this purpose in the project-specific settings for the cross-references. (The command path for the corresponding settings dialog is: File > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Cross-references / contact image > General.)
See also