Connection Planning Objects

The connection planning objects (piping planning objects, cable planning objects) are managed in parallel to general planning objects, and behave in a way similar to them. External documents / pages, parts and function templates can be stored at a connection planning object, but not PLC addresses or macros.

Like a connection, a connection planning object must have a source and a target. The specification of the source and target can be carried out in the property dialog of a piping planning object by using the two fields Source segment and Target segment and in the property dialog of a cable planning object by using the two properties of the same name.

Connection planning objects can be drawn or placed in the graphical pre-planning as open polylines on pre-planning pages. In the process the source and target segment are taken from the start and end point of the polyline from the graphical editor. If a connection planning object is placed on a pre-planning page as a polyline, the source and target segment can no longer be edited in the property dialog. However, the source and / or target of the connection planning object can be modified further by means of a graphical modification of the respective polyline.

With the command Exchange source and target you can exchange source and target at connection planning objects selected in the pre-planning navigator (command path: Tab Connections > Command group Connections > Source and target). This way the specifications for the source and target segments in the property dialog and the graphic on the pre-planning pages are adjusted accordingly.

The check run "028026" can be used to check whether the source or target of a connection planning object are missing.

Cable pre-planning with cable planning objects

The cable planning objects placed in the graphical pre-planning allows you to specify first cable data at an early stage in the planning without a detailed planning already existing. Such a cable pre-planning is, for example, of interest when the cabling of all the power and control technology components are spread across the entire plant like a network.

For a later determination of the total cable lengths you enter the respective cable length in the Cable length property at a cable planning object.

By using the "Pre-planning: Planning object overview" report you can then determine and report source and target segments, required time (planning / construction), first costing data (prices) and also overall cable lengths.

In addition to the cable length, you can also store values for the Cable type and No. of conductors properties in the first tab of a cable planning object. In the process the cable type at the cable planning object as well as at the function can be selected by means of a part selection. If a corresponding function (for example cable definition line) is placed for a cable planning object in the detailed planning, the data of these properties is assigned to the corresponding properties at the function.

Property at the cable planning object	Property at the function	Field in the property dialog of the function ("Cables" tab)
Cable type (ID 44094)	Cable / Conduit: Type	Type
Cable length (ID 44095)	Cable / Conduit: Length with unit	Length
No. of conductors (ID 44096)	Cable / Conduit: Number of connections	Number of connections

It is also possible to assign the cable planning objects to the cables in the schematic. This allows the values entered in the pre-planning to also be transferred into the detailed planning, displayed and reported.