Black Boxes

EPLAN Training 1

Black Boxes
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 2


1 Inserting Black Boxes ..................................................................................3
2 Editing Black Boxes .....................................................................................5
3 Inserting Device Connection Points............................................................6
4 Editing Device Connection Points...............................................................8
5 Evaluating Device Connection Points.......................................................10
6 Grouping Components...............................................................................12
6.1 Group components through the graphical position within a box..............12
6.2 Group components through manual allocation of the appropriate DT.....13
6.3 Group components using DT adoption ...................................................13

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 3

1 Inserting Black Boxes
A black box represents a physical item composed of several graphical elements, all
of which are within the black box rectangle. When a black box is created, EPLAN
allocates a DT to it.
Precondition:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
Insert > Box / connection point / mounting panel > Black box
1. Draw the rectangle representing the box.

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2. Enter the item data in the black box specific Properties dialog.

3. Click [OK].

4. Proceed in a similar manner for all black boxes that you would like to insert.

5. Select Popup menu > Cancel action to terminate the action.

The black box is inserted into the project with all its properties.
Note:
If grip-snap is switched on (Options > Snap to grid) then a newly created black box
will be exactly on the grid on which it is placed. If grid-snap is not active, the black
box can be drawn at any desired position next to the grid.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 5

2 Editing Black Boxes
Preconditions:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
The page contains at least one black box
1. Double-click the black box that you would like to edit. (Or select Popup menu
> Properties, in this case you can select more than one black box.)

2. Edit the desired data in the Properties dialog.

3. Click [OK].

The data is rewritten into the project.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 6

3 Inserting Device Connection Points
Precondition:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
1. Select the menu item Insert > Box / connection point / mounting panel >
Device connection point or Insert > Box / connection point / mounting
panel > Device connection point (two-sided).

The symbol for the device connection point hangs on the cursor.

2. If required, use the [Ctrl] key to browse the existing connection point variants.

3. Click the left mouse button to place the connection point symbol on the page.

4. Define the device connection point data in the Properties dialog.

5. Click [OK].

6. Proceed in a similar manner for all further device connection points.

7. Select Popup menu > Cancel action to terminate the action.

The connection points with their device tags and connection point designations are
inserted into the page.
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Note:
Two sided device connection points only have a common connection point
designation (as with terminal numbers in terminals). They are represented by a
symbol with which you can distinguish between the external and internal sides. The
symbol has four variations accordingly. The associated function definition has the
following properties (Connection point logic dialog):
Transfer potential: Yes
PLC target tracking: No
One direct connection point each for the internal side, and a general connection point
for the external side.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 8

4 Editing Device Connection Points
Preconditions:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
The page contains at least one device connection point.
1. Double-click the device connection point that you would like to edit. (Or select
Popup menu > Properties, in this case you can select more than one
connection point.)

2. Edit the desired data in the Properties dialog.

3. Click [OK].

The data is rewritten into the project.
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Notes:
For device connection points with only one connection point, no relationship to
other device connection points can be defined; for this reason, the fields used
for defining the connection point logic are grayed out.
Device connection points lying within a box, and which have no DT of their own,
are always auxiliary functions. Cross-references are never displayed for these,
since the cross-reference to the box is sufficient.
Device connection points that are not within a box are cross-referenced. The
main function can be a device connection point or a box.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 10

5 Evaluating Device Connection Points
As with all "normal" functions, device connection points also have a DT, a connection
point designation, connection point description, and other properties. As with all other
(normal) functions, it is also possible to enter the connection point designation into
the Displayed DT field of the Properties dialog for device connection points.
Preconditions
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
The page contains at least one device connection point.
1. Double-click the device connection point that you would like to edit. Or select
Popup menu > Properties, in this case you can select more than one
connection point.

2. In the Displayed DT field of the Device connection point tab in the
Properties dialog, enter (e.g.) -H4.

EPLAN interprets this entry as a device tag without a connection point
designation.

3. Change your entry to -H4:1.

The string after the (first) ":" character (1 in the example above) is entered
into the Connection point designation field.

4. Change the entry in the Displayed DT field one more time, by entering the
same data without the colon.

The entry in the Connection point designation is removed again.

5. Click [OK].

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The string from the Displayed DT is displayed at the appropriate device connection
point on the schematic page (assuming it is not set to Invisible in the Display tab).
Note:
The full DT contains no connection point designation.
This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info
Black Boxes
EPLAN Training 12

6 Grouping Components
Black boxes provide grouping of components (connection points, functions, or
devices). The allocation of a component to a device can occur in a number of
different ways:
Through the graphical position within a box
Through manual allocation of the appropriate DT
Through the "acquisition from left (or above)" an existing component with a DT
that is located there.
A component that is located outside the box, or is not allocated to a device, or for
which no "acquisition from left (or above)" is possible, has no DT. A component
without its own DT that is located within a black box and is then subsequently "pulled
out" of the box and becomes a component without a DT.
6.1 Group components through the graphical position
within a box
Precondition:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
1. Move the component into a black box.

The component is automatically nested.

2. Move a component without a DT into the black box.

The component receives the DT of the black box.

Example:
Move the lamp -H1 into the black box -U1. The lamp automatically becomes the
nested lamp -U1-H1.
Move a lamp without a DT into the black box -U2. The lamp receives the DT of the
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box, i.e. -U2.
6.2 Group components through manual allocation of the
appropriate DT
Preconditions:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
You have activated nesting for the respective component (using Popup menu >
Project Properties > Structure > Separator > [...] from the Page Navigator).
1. Insert a component into a black box.

The component is automatically nested.

2. Insert another component outside the box.

3. Allocate this new component to the DT of the previously nested component
(the Displayed DT field in the <Function Category> tab of the Properties
dialog).

Both components are cross-referenced by their DT.
Example:
Insert the lamp -H2 into the black box -U1. The lamp automatically becomes the
nested lamp -U1-H2. Insert another lamp outside the box, and allocate this new lamp
the DT -U1-H2.
6.3 Group components using DT adoption
When a symbol without its own DT is located within a box, it receives the DT of the
box. Devices outside of the box are not taken into consideration.
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Example:

The lamp in -U1 is thus called -U1, and the lamp in -U2 is called -U2. If the box -U2
did not have its own name, then it will be called -U1 (i.e. it would assume the DT of
the box to the left), and the lamp within will also be called -U1.
Note:
The insertion point of the boxes must be at the same height.
Precondition:
You have opened a project and are viewing a schematic in the graphical editor.
1. Draw two black boxes (Insert > Box / connection point / mounting panel >
Black box), whose insertion points are at the same height.

2. Allocate the left-hand box to a DT using the Black Box tab of the Properties
dialog in the Displayed DT field.

The Full DT is adjusted accordingly.

3. Open the Properties dialog for the box on the right.

The Full DT is identical.

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4. Click [OK].

Only when you allocate the right-hand box with its own independent Displayed DT,
will the Full DT be updated; and only when the two device tags are different will they
be displayed with the respective boxes.
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