Adding a Category (Family Table) to the Catalog Database

This command is a little hidden. It’s under the Other Tools drop down off of the Project tab.

 

In this post I’ll add a category named AT for my “test.” First we confirm that AT is missing from the category drop down. (Image on left)

 

The command first asks what database you wish to modify. Choose your current default_cat.mdb.

Type in the new Category code and its description. This will create the table as well as modify the _FAMILY_DESCRIPTION table.

  

And of course we need to verify that the new category is actually there…

Adding the Missing Manufactures to AutoCAD Electrical’s Catalog Database

This question keeps coming up. It’s on the Autodesk Discussion Groups, its a call I have answered several times on IMAGINiT’s support desk, and it was just posted on our own discussion group… Productivity Now Discussion Forum - Electrical Product Catalog Post

The default install of AutoCAD Electrical only includes a few manufactures. If pressing the catalog Lookup button only shows a few manufactures, my guess is the others aren't installed.

Go to the “uninstall a program” dialog from Windows Control Panel. Select AutoCAD Electrical and the press Uninstall/Change.
  

Shown below are the dialogs for both Electrical 2013 and 2014. Press Add or Remove Features.
   

Select all desired manufactures and then press Next through the next few dialogs. Be prepared to insert the media or point the installer to the downloaded (and extracted) files.
   

Easy Simplified Catalog Database – AutoCAD Electrical

This question just came in… “Stan is there a way to export all the parts currently in a drawing set into its own small data base because we use the same parts over and over, and the ACAD Electrical data base is just to big to be searching over our network.”

This is not the first time I have been asked this. And in fact there is a neat little utility that does just this. It’s kind of hidden under the Other Tools drop down.
 

 

It will create ALL of the family tables even if no catalog entries are needed. The default location is the active project file. However this file could just as easily replace your default catalog.

Hope this helps.

Controlling What Table Is Selected For Catalog Lookup

Seen this before? My symbol is a push button so why doesn't Electrical automatically go to the push buttons? What actually drives what table is used?

The catalog database has many different tables. AutoCAD Electrical determines which table to use based on either the block name or the value contained in the WDBLKNAM attribute in the block. WDBLKNAM takes precedence over the block name. If no attribute named WDBLKNAM is present, AutoCAD Electrical defaults back to the block name. Either way, the following rules apply. For this test lets assume the block name is HPB12_Stan:

1. The leading direction character is removed (H or V) and the database is searched for a table named PB12_Stan.
2. If no table was found and the name is longer than seven characters, Electrical will begin removing characters from the right side until only seven characters remain. In this example, the tables PB12_Sta, and PB12_St would be searched for in descending order.
3. If no table was found, Electrical searched for the family specific table. The family is based on the 2^nd and 3^rd digits in the block name.
4. If no family specific table was found, Electrical checks the projects properties so see if this project allows searching the miscellaneous table. If so the MISC_CAT table is used.
5. If all of these methods fail, the search ends and Electrical prompts the user to begin a new table for this new component type.
   • Here the user must choose between making a new table based on the family, (2^nd and 3^rd digits) or making a new table based on the block name.

Note: Be sure to include an H or V in the front of the value used in the WDBLKNAM since the same rules apply. Using LT1_Test will take you to the T1 (Terminals) table because in step 1 the first character is removed.