This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

Placing Empty Cables

A cable is an assembly of one or more conductors or fiber optic strands, often within a protective sheath.

An empty cable is a fully defined cable with unspecified (latent) wire connections. A typical scenario for using empty cables is the placement of the whole insulation structure into the workspace / workdesk and in the second step the activation of the wire connections via the Import wires command. The wires can be activated manually by using the Activate wire popup menu command.

Empty cables can be pulled through bundles (including those with surface protections) and leading parts. Ties can, however, not be placed on cables.

Place empty cable in workspace

  1. Click the (Place empty cable based on library part) button on the toolbar.

    The Part navigator dialog is opened.
  2. Select the desired cable and click [OK].

    The Part navigator dialog is closed.
  3. Click in the working window to determine the first end point of the cable's top-level subpart (insulation or twisted layer).
  4. Note:

    If you click on a grouped pin (or a connectable object with a grouped pin) or a connection pin, the whole cable content (i.e. all its components) will be connected to this "pin".

  5. Determine the other control points of the cable by clicking anywhere in the working window, or switch to the command bar and determine their coordinates.
  6. Right-click to finish placing the top-level cable layer (or click on a grouped pin or connection pin to connect the whole cable content).
  7. After finishing the top level, continue with placement of the lower levels in the same way. Note that any level of a multi-level cable can be ended on a grouped pin / connection pin or in space.
  8. Note:

    The end point of a superior level from which the lower-level part originates is always highlighted.

Place empty cable in workdesk

  1. Click the (Place empty cable based on library part) button on the toolbar.

    The Part navigator dialog is opened.
  2. Select the desired cable and click [OK].

    The Part navigator dialog is closed.
  3. In the command bar, you can switch between the Cartesian and the polar coordinate system in the System section.
  4. You can also switch between absolute and relative coordinates in the Measurement section of the command bar.
  5. Enter the desired values, or place the cable freely.

    While placing the empty cable, the dimensions are shown according to the current settings in the command bar.

    Start, end and control points are automatically snapped to the global grid in the workdesk working window.
  6. If you accidentally place an unwanted control point, press the [Backspace] key to remove it.

    The command remains active.
  7. Click [Finish] to place the empty cable.

    The so-called "active dimensions" are inserted within the empty cable. You can edit their values, and the empty cable changes accordingly.

See also