Assign Datalinks to Templates and Seed Files

To assign or modify Datalinks to an AutoCAD Template or Seed drawing file the file first must be opened using AutoCAD.

Note:
Refer to Issues when Opening AutoCAD Drawings.

Refer to Templates List, Panel Board Templates List or Assign an Installation Detail Template for how to open a Template drawing file.

Refer to Seeds List, KOL/SLD Seeds List or Enhanced Cable Block Diagram Seeds List for how to open a Seed drawing file.

Use the Designer AutoCAD Menu

When assigning new Datalinks (or modify Datalinks already assigned) first ensure the AVEVA Electrical AutoCAD menu is loaded into AutoCAD. This menu should be automatically loaded when an AutoCAD drawing is opened from Electrical Designer.

Note:
If the 'AVEVA Electrical' menu is not auto loaded the it will need to be loaded manually (using the AutoCAD 'menu' command).
The menu files are located in the AVEVA Electrical program installation folder.

To Assign/Edit Datalinks

1. Once the AutoCAD AVEVA Electrical menu is loaded select AVEVA Electrical from the pull-down menus, then Edit Datalinks.

2. AutoCAD will prompt users to select objects.

3. Select a block with attributes, and then press enter. AutoCAD will display the Edit Datalinks window:

   

4. This window shows all the attributes and Datalinks defined for the selected block.

5. To assign a Datalink, either type in a valid Datalink in the Datalink field next to the appropriate Attribute field, or copy it from a Datalinks window (see Datalinks Window) which has been opened for a drawing that will use this Template or Seed.

6. To copy from the Datalinks window use the Windows copy and paste functions (Ctrl-C / Ctrl-V) or drag and drop (hold the Ctrl key and drag the report Datalink to the required field in the window above).

Copying Blocks with Datalinks in AutoCAD

Since Datalinks are defined as Extended Entity Data within AutoCAD, their behaviour is same as Xdata. That is, if a block is copied with Datalinks attached, the Datalinks are copied too. This can drastically reduce data entry when setting up Datalinks.

For example, required Datalinks can be attached to a block that may represent a Field Device. That block can the be copied to as many drawings as required, saving the effort of re-entering the Datalinks each time. Another example is the Title block used in all drawings. Set-up the first drawing with all Datalinks, and once it has been tested, copy that Title Block (which may contain multiple AutoCAD blocks) to the other drawings.

Auto-Erasing Blocks with Datalinks in AutoCAD

Designer provides an 'Auto-Erase' (or auto-delete) function where a block will be automatically erased from a drawing if a specific Datalink returns nothing. If a Datalink attribute is prefixed with <DEL> and AVEVA Electrical detects that the following Datalink has no value, then Electrical Designer will erase the block containing the <DEL> Datalink.

For example, it is required to erase a block if there is no tag number for {TAG10}. Entering: <DEL>{TAG10} in for an attribute in a block will tell AVEVA Electrical to erase the block if {TAG10} evaluates to nothing (i.e. there is no TAG10 for this drawing).