Create Symbol

October 2020

In this tutorial we'll create a basic electrical symbol, add wire-nodes (smart connections that Circuit can evaluate with automatic wiring) and then add Component Data (the bits you'll want for your Bill of Materials) into that symbol.

Finally, we'll save that symbol so that it can be recalled from a library whenever you need it.

To start, just re-open the project we created previously, then go into Edit Mode (Hit F10), turn on the Grid View (Hit F2) and finally select the rectangle tool...

Find somewhere on the canvas to click down and drag out a small rectangle... we're going to create a simple relay symbol...

Next, select the Line tool...

And add a couple of lines to represent the symbol...

Wire Nodes

Now we'll add the wire-nodes... so click the Node Tool on the floating toolbar...

..and the the North node button...

Select a grid point just 1 click up, and outside of the rectangle, and click down to place the node...

Now select the South node button and place the node under the rectangle...

If you mis-placed the node, just turn on Insertion Point view (Hit F3).. select the node to move, then use your keyboard arrows to move it around, one grid step at a time...

Node Texts

Now we can add useful texts to the nodes, so as a typical relay coil may have A1 and A2, let's use those as an example... select the Insertion Point of the north node we added...

Then right-click and select Text properties...

Single click the "text" item row, and then enter "A1", press [Apply], and [Apply] again to complete...

The text looks a little tight here, so edit the Text properties again and adjust the offsetX to 10, and the offsetY to -10 for a clearer display...

..the result should look as follows...

Now add the "A2" text to the south node to complete the symbol graphics.

Adding A Gene

Component data is not added to the graphical object per se, but to a Text object associated with the graphical object which has a special feature - a Gene of $device.

A gene, as the name suggests, is a fundamental element that defines how a text object is evaluated and understood by Circuit.

When we add a gene of $device to a text object, we can then add other data, such as components and attributes, for example to define the text object as the "main" part of a component, as in a relay which may have child components such as contacts.

Let's work through an example... select the text object tool and click down near our symbol...

Firstly, add a text value of "MyRelay", or whatever you prefer... then click the gene row item... and then click the $device option...

With this added, our text object will now have additional properties and methods we can use - one of which is to add component data, press [Apply] to proceed...

(Note: Genes have many and various purposes, some of which are for user application, and others are used by Circuit automation - more details will be in a later chapter.)

Before we go though, as we are creating a main coil relay symbol, enter "K" as the "type" and the "main" as the element...

Okay, now press [Apply] to finish...

Adding Component Data

(Note: This is entirely optional. Data does not need to be saved when creating a symbol - it can be added later when the symbol becomes in use.)

Now that we have a gene of $device - we can now add component data to our text object (then later we will add our text object to our symbol and save.)

Right click on your "MyRelay" text object and choose Data...

The Data form will display...

Click any column on the row to initiate it...

Then enter a Quantity, Part Code and Short Description... let's just throw in some random text for now...

Now the most important step - after completing a row you must press [Enter] or click to the next empty row with the (*) to persist your changes.

Finally, when you're done, press the [Commit] button to save the data into the text object...

Create Symbol

We now need to block the graphical objects together, including the text object that has the data stored within it.

Just drag over all the objects from top left to bottom right...

Then choose Symbol > Create Symbol...

When prompted, choose whether to save Part Code data with your symbol...

When prompted, save your symbol with a meaningful name into your chosen Symbols Folder.

View Symbols

To see the symbol reflected under Symbols in the Project Folder, choose Options > Update Libraries..

To view a symbol just single-click it's name in the Symbols Folder on the Project Explorer...

Summary Notes

Wherever the symbol is originally located on the drawing canvas - that is where it will be saved, and subsequently loaded to that location when used, meaning that if you want your symbol to be imported later at the top left of the canvas - then it should be saved in that position from the outset.

When creating symbols it's probably best to create a "Symbols Project" then edit and save each unique symbol from there - rather than create a separate project for every symbol!

Symbols can be much more complex graphical objects including images, have as many wire-nodes and as much component data attached as you require.

Importantly, each symbol must only have ONE text object with a gene of $device, and that text object alone can contain data.

That's an introduction to creating your own symbols.