Symbol Editor

Symbol Editor

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor

Editing Connection Points ...........................................................................3

Editing Symbol Library Properties ..............................................................7

Working with Symbol Variants ....................................................................9

3.1

Generate symbol variants .........................................................................9

3.2

Delete symbol variants............................................................................11

3.3

Toggle symbol variants ...........................................................................11

Creating Symbol Libraries .........................................................................13

Editing Symbol Libraries............................................................................15

Documenting Symbol Libraries .................................................................17

Importing / Exporting Symbol Libraries....................................................19

7.1

Import symbol libraries............................................................................19

7.2

Export symbol libraries............................................................................19

Copying Symbol Libraries..........................................................................21

Closing Symbol Libraries...........................................................................23

10

Creating Symbols .......................................................................................24

11

Editing Symbols..........................................................................................27

12

11.1

Insert symbols in the graphical editor......................................................27

11.2

Edit symbols in the symbol editor............................................................28

Importing / Exporting Symbols..................................................................31

12.1

Import symbols........................................................................................31

12.2

Export symbols .......................................................................................32

13

Copying Symbols........................................................................................35

14

Deleting Symbols........................................................................................37

15

Scaling Symbols .........................................................................................38

16

Checking Symbols......................................................................................40

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor

Editing Connection Points

Precondition:
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Open
1. Select the menu items Utilities > Number connecting points.

2. In the Sequence group box specify whether the connection points should be
numbered according to the "from top to bottom and left to right " method or the
"from left to right and top to bottom" method.

3. Click [OK].

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor
4. Select Insert > Connection point " Direction".
The connection point arrow hangs on the cursor.

5. Place the connection point.

Or, before placement, press [Ctrl] and move the mouse to switch back and
forth between the connection point directions.
Or press the [TAB] button to rotate the connection point counterclockwise
through the possible directions.

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor
6. In the Connection point number field in the Connecting point dialog specify
the connection point number (or use the "Next free number" default).

7. Select the desired Connection point direction from the drop-down list.

8. From the drop-down list on the left select one or more of the property sets
(Connection point designation and Connection point description).

9. Specify the settings for the corresponding texts in the field on the right of the
dialog.

10. Click [OK].

11. Proceed in a similar way for any additional connection points.

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor
12. Select Popup menu > Cancel action to terminate the action.

Warning:
Multiple symbol connection points can't be located on top of another.

Connection point data will be applied according to your settings for the symbol. The
graphic for the connection point will indicate the connection point direction explicitly,
but later on it is not an integral element of the symbol.
If you have already drawn connection points, and then have inserted the basic
symbol graphic via Insert > Basic symbol, the connection points inserted via the
basic symbol will be renumbered according to the existing connection points (i.e.
counted upwards).
Notes:
The menu items View > Properties as numbers displays the property text

(device tags, function text etc.) to be switched in order to make the display
clearer.
To display and switch between the Connection point designation /

Connection point description property sets, use the menu items View >
Non-rotated connection point designations or View > Rotated connection
point designations.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor

Editing Symbol Library Properties

The Symbol Library Properties - <Library Name> dialog is automatically opened

after creating a symbol library. It can also be opened later for a symbol library.
Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Properties
1. If you have more than one symbol library open, go to the Symbol library
selection dialog to select the symbol library whose properties you would like
to edit.

2. Click [OK].

3. In the Symbol library properties - <Library name> dialog use the drop-down
list to select the library you would like to use as the basic symbol library.

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor
4. In the Category drop-down list select the category (data, revision, etc.) whose
properties should be displayed in the lower section of the table.

5. Assign values to the desired properties by entering text in the Value cell or
selecting a value from the drop-down list, etc. Please note read-only properties
cannot be edited.

6. Use the
(New) and
(Delete) buttons to add additional properties to the
list or delete unnecessary ones. Deletions are also limited to certain
properties.

7. Use the Popup menu to translate texts, configure the display sequence, etc.

8. Click [OK].

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor

Working with Symbol Variants

A symbol can have up to eight variants with names from A to H, a contact image
variant, and a variant for point wiring whereby all variants for a symbol all have
common properties. The variants all behave identically and they each represent the
same function. This way they always have the same number of connection points
and are only different in their graphical configuration of the connection points.

3.1

Generate symbol variants

Precondition:
You have opened a project and are editing a symbol in which all of the variants do
not exist yet.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > New variant
1. In the Create variant dialog select the target variant that you would like to
generate from the list of variants that are not available yet.

EPLAN Training

Symbol Editor
2. In the subsequent Create variant dialog select the variant that is to be used
as the Source variant. In this dialog only the already available variants will be
listed as possible target variants.

3. In the Rotate by field select how many degrees the source variant should be
rotated in order to generate the new variant.

4. Select the Mirror graphic across Y-axis check box if the graphic for the
symbol should be mirrored across the Y-axis (through the point of origin).

5. Select the Rotate connection point designation check box if the text for the
connection point designation should be rotated.

6. Select the Rotate placed properties check box if placed properties should be
rotated.

7. Click [OK].

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Symbol Editor
The variant is generated and displayed on a new page <Symbol
Library>;<Symbol Name>:<Symbol Number>;<Variant Designation>

(e.g. new.test:1;A for variant A for the test symbol with the internal symbol
number 1 in symbol library new.slk). On the Symbol editor toolbar the button
for the new variant will be switched on so that it is easy to move back and forth
between the variants of a given symbol.

Note:
If all variants have been generated, the New variant function is inactive.

3.2

Delete symbol variants

To delete symbol variants, proceed as follows:

Precondition:
You are editing a symbol for which at least one variant exists, in which you have
activated the graphical view of the variant to be deleted.
1. Select the menu items Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Delete variant.

2. Answer the prompt.

Depending on your response, the variant is deleted.

3.3

Toggle symbol variants

To toggle between graphical views of symbol variants, proceed as follows:

Precondition:
You are editing a symbol for which at least one variant exists.

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Symbol Editor
1. Open the Symbol editor toolbar if it is not already displayed (Popup menu >
Symbol editor in the EPLAN main menu or on any toolbar).

2. Click the variant button for the graphical view you would like to display.

3. If necessary, answer the prompt if changes were made on the current page
that have not yet been saved.
The selected symbol variant is displayed.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

Creating Symbol Libraries

Precondition:
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > New
1. In the Create symbol library dialog select a drive and a directory where you
would like to save the new symbol library from the Save in drop-down list.

2. Overwrite the preset file name <New symbol library.slk> with a name of
your choice.

3. If you have changed the drive and directory, but you would like to return to the
EPLAN-specific setting or the setting under Options > Settings > User >
Management > Directories, click the menu items Popup menu > Go to
default in the Path field.

4. Click [Save].

5. If a symbol library with that name already exists in the selected drive and
directory, reply to the prompt regarding overwriting the file.

6. In the Symbol library properties- <Library name> dialog select the basic
symbol library and assign values to the desired properties.

7. Click [OK].
The new symbol library is created, added to the list of open symbol libraries
and can now be edited. The EPLAN then extracts the company code,
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Symbol Editor
workstation number, and the short name of the employee from the system and
user settings and stores this data in the symbol library.

Note:
A project configuration (Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >
Management > Symbol libraries) can be used to assign an arbitrary number of
symbol libraries to a project. The symbol libraries selected are then stored in the
project.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

Editing Symbol Libraries

Precondition:
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Open
1. In the Open symbol library dialog select the desired symbol library from the
list. Multiple selection is possible.
Once a symbol library is selected in the list on the left, information including
comments, date of creation, creator, company, and the number of symbols is
displayed on the right.

2. Click on [Open].

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Symbol Editor
3. In the subsequent Symbol selection dialog select the symbols you would like
to open.

4. Click [OK].
Every opened symbol is shown in a separate symbol editor and can be
edited there.

Note:
A project configuration (Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >
Management > Symbol libraries) can be used to assign an arbitrary number of
symbol libraries to a project. The symbol libraries selected are then stored in the
project.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

Documenting Symbol Libraries

Symbol library documentation can be generated either in the original project or in a

separate project. In a separate project you are allowed, for example, to add plot
frames or edit text information, but you can't edit the symbols!
Proceed as follows to generate a symbol overview, i.e. the index of symbols for a
symbol library:
Preconditions:
You have opened a project and haven't opened the symbol editor.
You have selected a form via Options > Settings > Projects > "Project Name"

> Reports > Graphical output > Symbol overview and specified the settings
for the pages you would like to create.
Utilities > Reports > Generate
1. If the symbol overview is not listed under the reports, click [New].

2. In the Select report dialog select the Symbol overview report type.

3. If necessary, change the settings for Output project, Created by, and
Created on.

4. Select the Manual selection check box if all of the symbol overviews should
not be automatically documented.

5. Click [OK].

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Symbol Editor
6. If you have selected Manual selection then you have to specify in the Manual
selection which symbol libraries should be taken into consideration: Use the
arrow buttons to make a selection from the available libraries.

7. Click [OK].

8. In the Symbol overview dialog specify the settings for the pages to be
generated.

9. Click [OK].
The symbol overview is generated but this process depends on the size of
the selected symbol libraries and may take some time.

10. Exit the Reports dialog by clicking [Close].

The generated report pages are inserted into the specified target project.
The list of reports is extended with the level Symbol overview and, under
this, with the list of documented symbol libraries.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

Importing / Exporting Symbol Libraries

7.1

Import symbol libraries

Precondition:
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Import
1. In the Import symbol library dialog select the desired symbol library (*.esl)
from the list. Multiple selection is not possible.
Once a symbol library is selected in the list to the left of the dialog,
information including comments, date of creation, creator, company, and the
number of symbols is displayed on the right-hand side.

2. Click on [Open].

3. In the Create symbol library dialog select a drive and a directory where you
would like to save the imported symbol library from the Save in drop-down list.

4. Overwrite the file name if you would like to.

5. Click [Save].
The symbol library is imported and can now be edited in the current project.

7.2

Export symbol libraries

Precondition:
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Symbol Editor
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Export
1. In the Export symbol library dialog select the symbol library (*.esl) to be
exported from the list. Multiple selection is not possible.
Once a symbol library is selected in the list to the left of the dialog,
information including comments, date of creation, creator, company, and the
number of symbols is displayed on the right-hand side.

2. Click on [Open].

3. In the Create export file dialog select a drive and a directory where you would
like to save the exported symbol library from the Save in drop-down list.

4. Overwrite the file name if you would like to.

5. Click [Save].
The export file is generated with the name provided in the designated drive
and the directory.

Tip:
You can import symbol libraries using Drag & Drop by dragging the selected symbol
library from Windows Explorer and dropping it into the Pages - <Project name>
Navigator dialog of your project.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

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Symbol Editor

Copying Symbol Libraries

Precondition:
You have opened a project.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Copy
1. In the Copy symbol library dialog select the file to be copied. Multiple
selection is not possible here.

2. Click on [Open].

3. In the Create symbol library dialog select a drive and a directory where you
would like to save the copied symbol library from the Save to drop-down list.

4. If necessary, overwrite the preset file name of the original with a name you can
recognize.

5. Click [Save].

6. In the Symbol library properties - <Library name> dialog, select the basic
symbol library and assign (new) values to the desired properties of the copied
symbol library.

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Symbol Editor
7. Click [OK].
The copy of the new symbol library is generated, added to the list of open
symbol libraries, and can now be edited.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

Closing Symbol Libraries

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol library > Close
1. If multiple symbol libraries are open, select the one(s) you would like to close
in the Symbol library selection dialog and click [OK].
If only one symbol library is open, this one will be closed without any further
prompting.
If changes have been made to a symbol and would be lost if the library is
closed, you are prompted whether to save the page or not.

Note:
If the Close / Save action is canceled for a symbol, the symbol library will also not be
closed.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

10

Creating Symbols

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > New
1. If multiple symbol libraries are open, select the symbol library in which you
would like to create the new symbol in the Symbol library selection dialog.

2. Click [OK].

3. In the Create variant dialog select which symbol variant you would like to
create.

4. Click [OK].

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Symbol Editor
5. In the Symbol properties - <Library name> dialog, specify the data for the
symbol to be generated. The next available number will be assigned as the
Symbol number.

6. In the Function definition field click [...] in order to specify the symbol logic in
the Function definitions dialog.

7. Select the Basic symbol preview check box to display the appropriate basic
symbol for the function definition in the preview area.

8. Click [OK].
You will return to the Symbol properties - <Library name> dialog.

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Symbol Editor
9. Click [OK].

10. Click [Basic symbol] (toolbar Symbol editor) or select Insert > Basic
symbol.
The basic symbol hangs on the cursor.

11. Now place the symbol in order to insert its graphic and use it as a basis for
further editing.

12. Select Popup menu > Cancel action to terminate the action.
The symbol is created and opened in a separate graphical editor so it can
be edited directly. Please note that the insertion point can only be moved, and
can't be deleted.

Notes:
The symbol number "0" is offered as the starting value in an empty symbol.
Negative values and values that exceed the maximum number of 32,000 are not

allowed as symbol numbers.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

11

Editing Symbols

11.1 Insert symbols in the graphical editor

Preconditions:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
You are on a schematic page.

Insert > Symbol

1. In the Symbol selection dialog, select the symbol(s) you would like to insert.
The preview on the right of the dialog shows the graphic for the selected
symbol as well as all available variants.

2. For faster selection, click [...] in the Filter field if necessary, and then select
the filter criteria or create new ones.

3. Or, enter a character string in the Direct entry field in the list view.
The cursor jumps to the first symbol matching your entry as soon as you
enter a single character, and selects it.

4. In the Tree view select Popup menu > Function-oriented if the hierarchical
display of the symbols should not be performed according to the symbol
library, but according to their functional Category (such as "Coils and
contacts", "Signal devices", etc.).

5. In the list view select Popup menu > Configure columns if you would like to
change the display and / or the order of the symbol properties in the list.

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Symbol Editor
6. Click [OK].
The symbol hangs on the mouse pointer.

7. Place the symbol using the mouse.

8. Specify the device-specific properties in the Properties <...> dialog.

9. Click [OK].

10. Proceed as follows for every placement of the selected symbol.

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

11.2 Edit symbols in the symbol editor

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Open
1. In the Symbol selection dialog select the symbol(s) you would like to edit.
The preview on the right side of the dialog shows the symbols marked; if you
have selected a node in the tree view, for instance, then all of the elements
under it are shown graphically. (For space reasons, the display of the available
variants is omitted in this case.)

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Symbol Editor
2. For faster selection, click [...] in the Filter field if necessary, and then select
the filter criteria or create new ones.

3. Or, enter a character string in the Direct entry field in the list view.
The cursor jumps to the first symbol matching your entry as soon as you
enter a single character, and selects it.

4. In the Tree view select Popup menu > Function-oriented if the hierarchical
display of the symbols should not be performed according to the symbol
library, but according to their functional Category (such as "Coils and
contacts", "Signal devices", etc.).

5. In the list view select Popup menu > Configure columns if you would like to
change the display and / or the order of the symbol properties in the list.

6. Click [OK].

7. Edit the symbol graphic, i.e. by adding connection points and other graphicand function-relevant information.
Every open symbol is displayed in a separate graphical editor, whereby the
first available symbol variants are always taken into consideration. Use the
Clipboard to exchange data between multiple open symbols.
The defaults for line properties (type, thickness, color, etc.) as well as the
display-specific properties from the connection point designation and the
connection point description are extracted from the corresponding layers
(Options > Layer management > Symbol graphic or Options > Layer
management > Property placement).

Notes:
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Symbol Editor
The grid used is saved in the symbol library properties and applies to all symbols

in this library.
The insertion point for a symbol can be moved but not deleted because it marks

the location where the symbol hangs on the cursor when being placed. The
insertion point is also decisive for the symbol position and therefore also for
the cross-reference.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

12

Importing / Exporting Symbols

12.1 Import symbols

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Import
1. If multiple symbol libraries are open, select the symbol library to which you
would like to import the new symbol in the Symbol library selection dialog.

2. Click [OK].

3. In the Import symbol dialog select the desired symbol (*.esl) from the list.
Multiple selection is not possible.
Once a symbol is selected in the list on the left of the dialog, information
including description, date of creation, creator, company, and the number of
variants is displayed on the right.

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Symbol Editor
4. Click on [Open].

5. In the Symbol properties - <Library name> dialog you specify data about the
symbol that is to be imported and the following defaults will be shown:
Symbol number: next available number
symbol name: "<name of the original>" if this is not already available in the
current symbol library,otherwise "<name of the original> (copy)"
function definition: function definition of the original.

6. Click [OK].
The symbol is imported and can now be edited in the current project.

12.2 Export symbols

You can export symbols in order to import them into other symbol libraries.
Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Export

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Symbol Editor
1. In the Symbol selection dialog select the symbol to be exported. Multiple
selection is not possible.

2. Click [OK].

3. In the Export symbol library dialog select a drive and a directory where you
would like to save the new symbol from the Save in drop-down list.

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Symbol Editor
4. Overwrite the file name if you would like to.

5. Click [Save].
The export file is generated with the name provided in the designated drive
and the directory.

Note:
During the export all existing variants of the symbol are also taken into consideration.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

13

Copying Symbols

When copying symbols an exact copy of the original symbol is created and it is
possible to transfer symbols from one symbol library to another.
Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Copy
1. In the Symbol selection dialog, select the symbol(s) you would like to copy.
Multiple selection is possible here.

2. Click [OK].

3. In the Copy symbols dialog under Target select the symbol library to which
you would like to copy the symbols: Open the drop-down list in the Symbol
library field.

4. In the Number field overwrite the default or open the drop-down list of
unallocated numbers.

5. In the Name field enter the symbol name by overwriting the default
(<Original name (copy)> for copies in symbol libraries where this name
already exists or <Original name> if no symbol exists with this name).

6. In the Description field enter a descriptive text for the symbol.

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Symbol Editor
7. If necessary, select Popup menu > Multi-line input to open the Multi-line
editing dialog and enter the desired text using [Ctrl]+[Enter] to create line
breaks.

8. Or select Popup menu > Line break to insert a line break in the field at the
current cursor position.

9. Select the check box in the With variants field if the symbol should be copied
together with its existing variants . If the check box is deselected, then only the
first existing variant will be copied.

10. Click [OK].

The symbols are copied.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

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Symbol Editor

14

Deleting Symbols

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Delete
1. Select the symbol to be deleted in the Symbol selection dialog.

2. Click [OK].

3. Answer the prompt.

The symbols are deleted.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

EPLAN Training

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Symbol Editor

15

Scaling Symbols

Precondition:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
Utilities > Master data > Symbol > Open
1. In the Symbol selection dialog select the symbol(s) you would like to edit.
The preview on the right side of the dialog shows the symbols marked; if you
have selected a node in the tree view, for instance, then all of the elements
under it are shown graphically. (For space reasons, the display of the available
variants is omitted in this case.)

2. Click [OK].

3. Select the menu items Edit > Scale in the symbol editor.

4. Click once with the left mouse button in the editing window to specify the
starting point for the frame around the elements to be scaled.

5. Move the mouse pointer in the direction you would like to stretch the frame
around the elements to be scaled.
The rectangle lines "move" with the mouse.

6. Click a second time with the mouse to snap the end point of the rectangle.
The selected symbol parts will be colored.

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Symbol Editor
7. Click in the symbol editor.

8. Enter the desired value into the Scaling factor field of the Scale dialog.

9. Click [OK].
The symbol will be scaled according to the specified value.

This functionality is only available for certain module packages. Info

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Symbol Editor

16

Checking Symbols

The following problems can occur when editing symbols:

Double connection point numbers: automatically corrected by the system

during editing

Gaps in the connection point numbers: automatically removed by the system

during verification

Differing number of connection points in the variants: documented in message

management

Differing number of connection points in the symbol and the function definition:
documented in message management

Overlapping connection points: automatically corrected by the system during

editing

Referencing symbols are not broken up: automatically broken up by the

system during verification

User-defined layers in the symbol: automatically converted during verification

to the "EPLAN300" layer.

You can also start the check function manually in order to verify the quality of a
certain symbol. Proceed as follows:
Preconditions:
You have opened a project and at least one symbol library.
You have opened the symbol to be checked in the symbol editor.

Utilities > Check symbol

1. Confirm the prompt regarding the quality of the symbol: Click [OK].

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Symbol Editor

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