By Miles Nicholson
AutoCAD Electrical supports optional project-related files. These files provide various functions such as keeping a project consistent, helping update custom title blocks across a project, or providing custom settings for various tools such as the PLC I/O module insertion tool.
Note:
Text files created and managed by AutoCAD Electrical utilise the Unicode format and can be edited using Notepad or similar.
<project name>_CAT.MDB (Catalogue Lookup)
Project specific Access database for choosing catalogue part number assignments. It is also referenced when generating bill of materials reports.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>_CAT.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_CAT.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_CAT.MDB using search sequence "C"
<project name>_UPDATE.MDB (Project Task List Updates)
Project specific Access database for the Task List tool which processes pending updates on selected or all the drawings in a project. It is only within the project directory when pending tasks are available.
*.WDD (Description Defaults List)
Project specific component descriptions list for various standard component description selections, accessible by clicking Defaults on the Insert/Edit Component and Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog boxes.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- Component family-specific file with a .wdd extension (for example, "PB.WDD" for family “PB” push buttons)
- <project name>.WDD located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- WD_DESC.WDD using search sequence "A"
- Prompts for browsing to a .wdd description file
The following formats are supported:
- Single description text per line
- "|" character delimits consecutive DESCx value assignments. For example, an entry "SAFETY|OKAY" would put "SAFETY" into the first DESCx attribute and OKAY" into the DESC(x+1) attribute.
- ";" indicates a comment at the end of a line, for example "ARRET;Stop".
*.WDX (External Component List)
Component annotation in a text file such as tag, descriptions etc, accessed when you click External List on the Insert/Edit dialog box for schematic or panel layouts. Select a line of data and map the separate values to various attributes carried by the schematic component or panel footprint symbol being edited.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDX located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- Prompts for browsing to a file with a .txt, .csv or .wdx extension
WD_FAM.DAT (Family Tag Code Mapping)
Overrides the family tag code of the library symbols by mapping the codes to new values. The %F replaceable parameter in tagging formats uses the family tag code.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- WD_FAM.DAT using search sequence "A"
The text file follows this format:
- <old>, <new>
Example:
K, R - overrides the default family code K on relays with R
<project name>_FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB (Footprint lookup)
Database for graphical footprint assignments based on the catalogue part number assignments.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>_FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- FOOTPRINT_LOOKUP.MDB using search sequence "B"
<project name>_SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB (Schematic lookup)
Database for schematic components inserted from panel footprints.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>_SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- SCHEMATIC_LOOKUP.MDB using search sequence "B"
*.INST (Installation Codes)
Lists the default installation codes, accessible by clicking Project (Installation section of the Insert/Edit Component and Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog boxes)Include External List on the All Installations - Project dialog box.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.INST located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.INST located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.INST using search sequence "A"
*.LOC (Location Codes)
Lists the default location codes, accessible by clicking Project (Location section of the Insert/Edit Component and Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog boxes)Include External List on the All Locations - Project dialog box.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.LOC located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.LOC located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.LOC using search sequence "A"
*.WDL (Project Labels)
Customises the generic LINEx labels in the various title block and project information dialogue boxes.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDL located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_WDTITLE.WDL located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_WDTITLE.WDL using search sequence "A"
*.WDR (Rating Defaults)
Lists the default rating values, accessible by clicking Show All Ratings (on the Insert/Edit Component and Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog boxes)Defaults next to any rating.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDR located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- WD_RATINGS.WDR located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- WD_RATINGS.WDR using search sequence "A"
The following formats are supported:
- Single rating value per line
- "|" character delimits consecutive RATINGx value assignments. For example, an entry "30A|60A" would put "30A" into the first RATINGx attribute and "60A" into the RATING(x+1) attribute.
*.WDN (Real-Time Error Checking)
Text file used for excluding terminals for duplication checking in an audit. The default .wdn file contains the terminal number filers GND, PE, and E. They are ignored when checking for duplication and are not listed in the Electrical Audit report. Edit this file with an ASCII text editor, such as WordPad. Wildcards are supported.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDN located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDN located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDN located in the default project folder, C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\Proj
*.WDF (RSLogix Import)
Defines the optional mapping of RSLogix codes to AutoCAD Electrical symbol block names for an RSLogix file import.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDF located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_RSLOGIX.WDF located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT_RSLOGIX.WDF using search sequence "A"
*.WDI (Spreadsheet To PLC Tool)
Defines the settings for the AutoCAD Electrical Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility.
You are prompted to browse to a file with a .wdi extension. The default settings file is DEMOPLC.WDI.
*.WDT (Title Block)
The attribute name mapping support file for the AutoCAD Electrical title block update tool.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDT located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDT located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDT using search sequence "A"
*.WDA (User Defined Attributes)
A text file of attribute tag names used by reports to add fields to reports.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDA located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDA located in the base project folder
*.WDW (Wire Colour And Gauge Labels)
Maps colour and gauge wire descriptions based on wire layers.
The following naming convention and search sequence is used:
- <project name>.WDW located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDW located in the same folder as the .wdp file for the active project
- DEFAULT.WDW using search sequence "A"
WDSRCDST.WDD (Source/Destination Descriptions)
Lists the default description lines to assign to a source or destination arrow, accessible by clicking Defaults from the Source "To" Arrow or Destination "From" Arrow dialog box.
The WDSRCDST.WDD file is searched for using search sequence "A".
*.AEPX (Secondary Project File)
AutoCAD Electrical creates and manages a secondary project file, with an .aepx extension. Do not edit this file directly. If the .aepx file is deleted, it is recreated automatically. If you turn on electromechanical link for your project, the AEPX file will point to the correct database for synchronising between AutoCAD Electrical and Inventor.
Subdirectory search sequence "A"
- Full path (if full path name given)
- User subdirectory: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\User\
- Active projects .wdp file subdirectory
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\Support\{language code}\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\
- All paths defined under AutoCAD Options > Files > Support Files Search Path
Subdirectory search sequence "B"
- Full path (if full path name given)
- User subdirectory: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\User\
- Catalogue lookup subdirectory: C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs\
- Panel footprint library base subdirectory: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs\panel[_mm]\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\Support\{language code}\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\
- All paths defined under AutoCAD Options > Files > Support Files Search Path
Subdirectory search sequence "C"
- Full path (if full path name given)
- User subdirectory: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\User\
- Catalogue lookup subdirectory: C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\AeData\{language code}\Catalogs\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical {version}\{release}\{country code}\Support\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\Support\{language code}\
- AutoCAD Electrical support: C:\Program Files [(x86)]\Autodesk\AutoCAD {version}\Acade\
- All paths defined under AutoCAD Options > Files > Support Files Search Path