Data Exchange with EPLAN Applications

This topic contains the following sections:

General information

Data exchange between cxE and the ECAD system can be:

Bidirectional - Data exchange between cxE and EPLAN Electric P8
Bidirectional means, you can not only import data from EPLAN Electric P8 but also write the corrected and completed (or newly added) terminal strips back to the EPLAN application for further processing. This way, you can concentrate on the functional design of your machines or cabinets in EPLAN and use cxE to select and include those physical devices that are best suited for this project.
You can either use the bidirectional data exchange and keep the connection open between cxE and the ECAD system, or you decouple the cxE project from the ECAD system and don't re-import the changed data. This can be defined with the export settings, but you can also decouple the project later on directly in cxE.
Unidirectional - Data exchange between cxE and EPLAN Pro Panel
The EPLAN Pro Panel data imported into cxE cannot be re-imported to EPLAN Pro Panel.

Depending on the data exchange settings (done in the ECAD system), terminal block definitions can automatically be replaced by suitable Phoenix Contact articles. The application can also automatically set bridges and add required accessories like end caps to a terminal strip.

Technical prerequisites

The required add-on must be installed separately. The installation/update file can be downloaded from the cxE product page. This link is also available in the backstage area of cxE (Options > Interface settings).

Once installed, the add-on will be available in the EPLAN application and data exchange can be started from the menu there.

What you can do/change in cxE after import

The following changes and corrections can generally be done in cxE and then sent back to the ECAD system (only possible for ECAD systems with bidirectional data exchange):

Actions in cxE Meaning

Complete the terminal strip with the required accessories Includes end brackets, covers and terminal strip markers. In the export settings you can define that auto-correction should automatically be started after import into cxE.

Assign additional accessories to Phoenix Contact terminal blocks Assigning the required accessories to an article is much easier done in cxE than in the ECAD system. Because the product relations are already there, the application can directly display matching accessories for an article.

Change the type of a terminal block cxE is able to find and replace equivalent terminal blocks based on their function definitions. This way you can, for example, easily and safely replace a terminal block with screw-in connection by a push-in terminal block). Any assigned accessories are also replaced accordingly.

Assign accessories to IEC symbols cxE can automatically assign real articles to the IEC symbols used in a the circuit diagram. This is done based on specific rules and using the function identifications of the IEC symbols. Once assigned, the information on the real article can be sent back to the ECAD system, where the IEC symbols get the article number of the real article.

Replace wire connections by plug-in bridges cxE can replace the wire connections of the ECAD system by matching plug-in bridges, based on the relations and the mechanical design of the terminal blocks and the plug-in bridges. So you don't need any in-depth knowledge about these things anymore.
The change is also reflected in the ECAD system after re-import: The plug-in bridge is listed as terminal block accessory and the wire connection is replaced by the respective plug-in bridge in the connection list.
In the export settings for the ECAD export to cxE, you can select to automatically have the connections replaced after import in cxE.

Create completely new terminal strips You can create completely new terminal strips in cxE (with all required accessories) and import these strips into the ECAD system. After the import, the terminal blocks are defined as “unplaced” there. The unplaced terminal blocks can then be used in the circuit diagram.

Import all devices from the circuit diagram for further use in cxE (no ECAD re-import) You can export all devices/articles of the circuit diagram and import them in cxE for further use there. In this case, you don't need to keep a connection between cxE and the ECAD system.
After import, all Phoenix Contact articles are displayed on individual virtual mounting rails. You can then place them on a real mounting rail, according to the functional requirements. Non-Phoenix Contact articles are handled and displayed as third-party articles with the measurements and equipment ID that was transferred from the ECAD system.

Actions in cxE	Meaning
Complete the terminal strip with the required accessories	Includes end brackets, covers and terminal strip markers. In the export settings you can define that auto-correction should automatically be started after import into cxE.
Assign additional accessories to Phoenix Contact terminal blocks	Assigning the required accessories to an article is much easier done in cxE than in the ECAD system. Because the product relations are already there, the application can directly display matching accessories for an article.
Change the type of a terminal block	cxE is able to find and replace equivalent terminal blocks based on their function definitions. This way you can, for example, easily and safely replace a terminal block with screw-in connection by a push-in terminal block). Any assigned accessories are also replaced accordingly.
Assign accessories to IEC symbols	cxE can automatically assign real articles to the IEC symbols used in a the circuit diagram. This is done based on specific rules and using the function identifications of the IEC symbols. Once assigned, the information on the real article can be sent back to the ECAD system, where the IEC symbols get the article number of the real article.
Replace wire connections by plug-in bridges	cxE can replace the wire connections of the ECAD system by matching plug-in bridges, based on the relations and the mechanical design of the terminal blocks and the plug-in bridges. So you don't need any in-depth knowledge about these things anymore. The change is also reflected in the ECAD system after re-import: The plug-in bridge is listed as terminal block accessory and the wire connection is replaced by the respective plug-in bridge in the connection list. In the export settings for the ECAD export to cxE, you can select to automatically have the connections replaced after import in cxE.
Create completely new terminal strips	You can create completely new terminal strips in cxE (with all required accessories) and import these strips into the ECAD system. After the import, the terminal blocks are defined as “unplaced” there. The unplaced terminal blocks can then be used in the circuit diagram.
Import all devices from the circuit diagram for further use in cxE (no ECAD re-import)	You can export all devices/articles of the circuit diagram and import them in cxE for further use there. In this case, you don't need to keep a connection between cxE and the ECAD system. After import, all Phoenix Contact articles are displayed on individual virtual mounting rails. You can then place them on a real mounting rail, according to the functional requirements. Non-Phoenix Contact articles are handled and displayed as third-party articles with the measurements and equipment ID that was transferred from the ECAD system.

Note
If you want to re-import the changes into the ECAD system, you must make changes that effect electrical functions or cannot be processed in the ECAD application (e.g., by adding markings, additional terminal strips, bridges or power supply components). Any change that affects electrical connections is only possible in the ECAD system.
cxE prevents you from making this type of changes as long as both projects are connected, i.e., re-import is possible.

Further Info
Data exchange settings
Sample workflow for EPLAN P8