Menu: Advanced Tools>Rack Functions>Rack Builder

Default command line shortcut: rb

  The Rack Builder tool is not available in XL Free mode

The Rack Builder tool utilizes information in the Project Systems table and the global equipment library to place and populate rack elevation views. This process may be run repeatedly as the project progresses.

Applies To:

XLT PRO

Related Settings:

Default Rack Height

Top Down Racks

The Rack Builder tool relies on three key pieces of information. First we need the SysName of the device to add to the rack. From the SysName we retrieve the equipment manufacturer and model. Second, using the equipment manufacturer and model, we get the global equipment definition from the global equipment database. If the global equipment definition is complete it will contain either a reference to a front panel dwg file (BlockRef) or dimensional data. If either of these are missing the Rack Builder tool will flag that equipment definition as requiring more information. The Rack Builder tool will perform a preflight check of all data and let you know what you are missing.

Assuming all of the data fiddly-bits are in the right place, the Rack Builder tool will populate the drawing with one locator grid per location selected. A locator grid is an array of point entities that are spaced horizontally and vertically based upon your selection in the preferences.

Next the Rack Builder tool, based on the Mechanical View Rule, will place either the front panel file or a block created from the dimensional data at the location point defined in the Project System entry.

The locator grids facilitate location aware movement of the devices placed on the grid

You may manually place devices created from the equipment library in Front Panel mode on the locator grids

To move a device within the rack elevations, select the device, grab it by its grip and move it to the desired location.

Note: It is desirable to turn on End Point snap and possibly Node Snap while moving devices

WireCAD will notify you of the location change and update the databases immediately to reflect the change.

It will not update the remainder of the drawing set until you click save.

Once changes are made across the drawing set you will be notified of the changed drawings

Controls

The [Basic] tab allows you to select the locations to include in the Rack Building function. Use the > >> and << selector buttons to move items from the left-hand list to the right-hand list.

Include hashes

This will normally be checked unless you are rebuilding a drawing that already has the locator grids.

Spacing DU

Sets the location grid spacing in Drawing Units

Systems Involved list

Displays a list of all the systems that will be placed in the created drawing.

The [Advanced] tab exposes properties that control the behavior of the utility.

Chassis Width

Sets the width of the chassis in DU

Height in RU

Sets the height of the locator grid in Rack Units (RU = 1.75 inches or 4.445cm)

Slot Count

Sets the number of slots per locator grid. This is used to position items that may not be located at the insertion point of the rack unit.

Slot Delimiter

WireCAD searches the Elevation field for numeric values first then for the slot delimiter if found it parses the the data into two values the elevation and the slot, or in other words how far up in the rack and how far over.

Insertion Point

Where to start the whole process

Attribute Height

If view rule is not ShowDWGInPath, sets the attribute height of the displayed text.

View Rule

ShowDWGInPath = use the dwg file found in the equipment definition BlockRef.

CreateFromDimensions = use the dimension data from the equipment definition to create a 3D rack block.

CreateFromDimensionsIfNotFound = Use dimension data if the BlockRef is not found.

Place Text If Item    Cannot Be Created

If the item cannot be created due to lacking data, place a text marker in the drawing at the location.