Extensions for the Accessory Selection

The following extensions have been realized for the selection of accessories for this version:
- Automatically add required accessories when inserting devices
- Start device selection for selectable accessories
- Insert complete accessory list
- Multiple selection when selecting parts from an accessory list

Automatically add required accessories when inserting devices

If the required accessories are to be added to a device, you previously had to first insert the device, then call up the device selection and select the accessories there and finally place the accessories from the device navigator. So that accessory parts can be inserted automatically with the device in the future, the new Add required accessories automatically setting is now available in the project settings (command path: File > Settings > Projects > "Project name" > Devices > General).

Benefit:

A new project setting allows the automatic addition of all accessory parts marked as "required" when inserting or generating a device.

If this check box is activated, required accessories are added automatically when inserting or generating devices. Required accessories are (individual) accessory parts for which the Required check box has been selected in parts management on the Accessories tab. Accessories from required accessory lists are only taken into consideration if the new Insert complete accessory list property has been activated for the accessory list.

If a device is inserted in the graphical editor via the Insert center, for example, not only the functions of the device are offered for placement but also the functions of the required accessory parts.
When an unplaced device is, for example, generated in the device navigator via the New device popup menu item, the function templates for the required accessories are also added to the unplaced main function of the device.

After the device has been inserted or generated, the part numbers of the accessories are also entered in addition to the part number of the main function in the property dialog of the main function in the Part tab.

If the check box is deactivated, the device is inserted or generated as in the past without accessories. This is the default setting.

Start device selection for selectable accessories

In order to also support you in the insertion of devices with accessories, when the accessory of the device is not mandatory, the project-specific general settings for the device contain a further new setting Start device selection for selectable accessories. If the Add required accessories automatically check box is activated, you can use it to specify whether the device selection is to be started automatically for selectable accessories.

Benefit:

When inserting devices with selectable accessories, the device selection can optionally be started automatically.

Selectable accessories means that the part has at least one individual accessory part for which the Required check box is deactivated or that an accessory is an accessory list. Accessory lists generally allow you to select an accessory part from a list of possible alternatives. Required accessory lists for which the Insert complete accessory list property is activated are added completely directly without device selection.

If this check box is activated, the Device selection dialog is opened when devices are inserted or generated. The matching main part is already selected there. The associated accessory part(s) can be selected in the Accessories list by clicking in the Selection column and then clicking [...].

If the check box is deactivated, the device is only inserted with the required accessories, but without selectable accessories.

Insert complete accessory list

In the past an accessory list was a selection list for alternative accessory parts. During a device selection one or more matching accessory parts for the main part of the device can be selected from such a list. However, some users want all parts of an accessory list to be transferred during an accessory selection.

To make this possible the new Insert complete accessory list (ID 22987) property is now available for accessory lists in the parts management. This property is available for an accessory list in the Properties tab below the "Settings" category.

Benefit:

The new Insert complete accessory list property now allows accessory lists to be added completely and automatically without manual selection being necessary.

If this property is activated, clicking the [...] button in the Selection column in the Device selection dialog (in the Accessories table) does not open the Select accessories selection dialog, but immediately transfers all accessory parts into the Selected parts: Functions / templates field.

If the property is deactivated, the selection of accessories from an accessory list is carried out during a device selection as in the past.

In order for all parts of an accessory list to be automatically added when inserting or placing a device, the project setting Add required accessories automatically must also be activated. If the Insert complete accessory list property is activated and the accessory list for the part is marked as "required", the entire accessory list is inserted as well when the part is inserted as a device.

Multiple selection when selecting parts from an accessory list

If several parts are entered for an accessory list in the parts management and a part with such an accessory list is selected during the device selection, these parts previously had to be selected individually in the Select accessories dialog. Now a multiple selection is also possible in the Select accessories dialog.

Benefit:

The selection of several accessory parts at the same time is now possible in the Select accessories dialog.