From-To List
The From-To List is an Excel
spreadsheet that defines:
Electrical connection data for each wire in a
routed cable assembly.
Components, such as connectors, terminal blocks,
and ring terminals, to which the wires connect.
With a from-to list, you can import both the connection data and the
component data into a new or existing route sub-assembly. Alternatively,
you can import only the connection data (no component data) or only component
data (no connection data). You are not required to use a from-to list
- you can also enter the connection data and insert components manually
when you create a route.
After importing a from-to list,
you can display guidelines that show the connections of the wires that
need to be bundled into finished routes. In the Auto Route PropertyManager,
you can select options for converting guidelines into routes.
To create a from-to list, do one of the following:
You can also use the Routing Electrical Library
Wizard to help you create, edit, and import from-to data.
You can import net lists from several 3rd-party
electrical schematic packages to drive the creation of an electrical route
in SolidWorks. You can import the data by clicking Start
By From/To 
(Electrical toolbar) or by dragging the
net list into an assembly. Supported packages include AUCOTEC,
AutoCAD Electrical,
E3, IGE+XAO,
Mentor (VeSys),
and QC Pro.
When you use a from-to list, you also need a Cable/Wire
Library and a Component
Library.
The from-to list contains the following fields.
|
Field |
Description |
|
Wire name |
A descriptive identifier for the wire, such as T2
Signal or GND1. This field
is for information only; the value is not used by the software.
|
|
From reference |
The reference name for the first component to which the wire is connected,
such as motor1 or con3.
When you use Insert Component
 to place the components after data import, the placed
component is automatically renamed to this reference. |
|
From pin |
The pin number/name to which the wire is connected. This field is for
information only; the value is not used by the software. |
|
Part number |
The part number of the connector for this component reference, such
as db9-plug or 5pindin-plug.
The value in this field must match a value in the Part
number field in the Component Library,
to cross-reference to a SolidWorks part document for the component. |
|
To reference |
The reference name for the second component to which the wire is connected,
such as motor1 or con3.
|
|
To pin |
The pin number/name to which the wire is connected. This field is for
information only; the value is not used by the software. |
|
Part number |
The part number of the connector for this component reference, such
as db9-plug or 5pindin-plug.
The value in this field must match a value in the Part
number field in the Component Library,
to cross-reference to a SolidWorks part document for the component. |
|
Cable name |
If this wire is a core in a cable, the name of the cable. Leave blank
for individual wires. |
|
Core name |
If this wire is a core in a cable, the name of the core in the cable.
Leave blank for individual wires.
The value in this field must match a value in the Wire
name field in the Cable/Wire Library. |
|
Color |
(for future use) |
|
Wire spec |
The part number of the wire or cable.
The value in this field must match the value in the Part
number field in the Cable/Wire Library. |
|
Other |
Header names for user-defined attributes. |
To manually create a from-to Excel file:
Create an Excel file containing the fields listed in the table above.
Keep the following in mind:
The data must start in column A, but does not
need to start in the first row.
Wire name
must be the first field, and must be in column A. The order of the remaining
fields is unimportant, except as noted here:
The two Part
number fields can have the same name in the Excel spreadsheet.
In this case, they must appear after the From
reference and To reference
fields respectively.
The From
pin and To pin fields can
have the same name in the Excel spreadsheet. In this case, they must appear
after the From reference and To reference fields respectively.
You can use different header names for the fields
in the Excel file and cross-reference the names to the header definition
fields when you import the Excel file.
If you import only connection data (no component
data), you can omit the Part number
fields.
If you import only component data (no connection
data), you can omit one reference field (From
Reference or To reference)
and one Part number field.
For information on importing data using a from-to list, see Importing a From-To List to
Create an Electrical Route.