Connecting Cable Elements to Inline Components, Actuators and Offline Instruments

Cable Elements can be connected not only to Equipment items, but also to Actuators, Offline Instruments and Inline components such as Valves, Fittings, HVAC Fittings . Such connections are possible for items with connection points dedicated to electrical connections. There are separate connection point types for power receivers and for power suppliers:

1. The power receiver connection point name should be Connections.CABLEIN_X, where X is the connection point number to make the name unique within the shape. When a connecting cable element with such a point on for example, valve, the cable ENDREF is set to the valve.

2. The power supplier connection point name is Connections.CABLEOUT_X. When a connecting cable element with such a point on for example, valve, the cable STAREF is set to the valve.

The appropriate type for a connection point can be assigned in two ways:

3. Using the Connection Points Editor accessible from the Import Shape Wizard or the Instant Define dialog for newly created shapes and from the Edit Master dialog for modifying masters already added to the stencil.

4. Directly in the shape sheet in Visio. This method would require to copy the shape to Visio, open its shape sheet and set the appropriate names to the desired connection points.

As stated above, items other than Equipment items can be connected by Cable Elements via dedicated connection points only. When trying to connect a cable to for example, a piping point on a valve, items are disconnected and an appropriate message is displayed in the message log.

Connections to valid points are done in the following way.

5. When the cable is being connected to for example, a valve on a ‘cable in’ point, Diagrams is trying to set STAREF of the cable so it references the valve. If this succeeds then also the ELCXRF pseudo attribute available for valve is returning the cable.

   

   In case STAREF is already pointing to another component, Diagrams assumes that you are trying to connect to ENDREF and a message that a different point type is needed is displayed in the message log.

   

6. A similar behavior is observed during connecting cable to the ‘cable out’ point of an element other than the equipment item, for example, an offline instrument. Diagrams tries to set the ENDREF of the cable to the item and if this is not possible assumes that you are trying to connect STAREF and message that there is not a matching point type is displayed in the message log.

Note:
Cable connections to non-equipment items are possible to set when working in Cable mode.