Cable Manager (Detail Design)

The Cable Manager enables you to manually or automatically route cables based on equipment objects and raceway objects.

Accessed from:

Equipment and Cable > Cables Tool Group

Attention: To populate the Cable Manager, you will need to launch the Collaboration Manager (accessed from the Ribbon menu) and request a lock for the design files to display.

Cable Manager Structure

Cables are loaded in the Cable Manager. Cable Manager consists of Ribbon Interface with properties panel displaying cable properties, equipment properties and routing properties of the cables. The cables listed can be selected using the check box available.

Note: You can select individual cable by clicking on the checkbox corresponding to each cable. To select all the cables simultaneously, click the first check box at the topmost row.

When a cable is selected, the corresponding Cable, Equipment, and Routing properties are displayed in the Property Panel.

Cable Manager Ribbon

The following tools are available on Cable Manager ribbon

Setting

Description

Manage

Collaboration Manager -Opens Collaboration Manager dialog which enables you to check out design files and panels
Device Manager -Opens Panel Manager which defines new devices or panels and the cable connection to them
Status manager -Opens Status Manager dialog which is used to change the status of the cable
Display Manager -Opens the Display Manager dialog, which controls the visibility of raceway system

Cable

Auto Connect -Calculates the nearest orthogonal distance between the source and target. The connections between the Source and Target objects are made automatically, using the imported XLS files. This is usually done before Auto routing the cables. This determines the shortest possible route and will not necessarily be the final route once the Auto Routing function is executed.
Entry Points -Opens the Auto Routing Entry Points dialog. Adjusts auto routing entry points to ensure cables can find raceway systems to enter.
Pre-Check Auto Routing Entry Points -This function allows you to check the selected cables in respect to their connected equipment and their Auto Routing Entry Points, before starting the automatic routing, thus, reducing the number or routing failures later in the routing process.
Update dividers - Refreshes the divider information based on the last routing result in cable manager
Update length - Updates the length information to apply the calculated 3D cable length in cable manager.
Add Cable - Define a new cable with Source and target
Delete Cable - Deletes the selected cable(s)
Cable Sizing - Updates the cable sizing for selected cables. shows the Cable Browser with information about each cable.
Cable size Look up dialog - Opens the Cable Size Lookup Tablesdialog, which defines cable size specification. Tables for the interpretation of cable types and cross-sections (display).
Acknowledge- If any changes were made to the cable lists, possibly having cables deleted, or properties changed, this option accepts the changes and applies the changes when you click OK to close the Cable Manager
Reject Delete-If an updated cable list was imported this will reject any request to delete a cable that previously existed.

Route

Auto Route – Automatically routes the connection between the source and target equipment components
Select Raceway - manually select each raceway segment to define a route for the selected cable
Route Raceway- select the beginning and end raceway segment and the system will automatically define a complete route for the selected cable
When manually routing cable between two locations with option, you are prompted to select two raceway component going into the To connection and going into the From connection.
Update Route-If any changes to a route are made in the Cable Manager, this option updates the route in the drawing with those changes.
Delete Routes - Deletes the routing information for selected cables
Routing Options-
- Calculate optimized route-When enabled, the Routing Manager tries to use the shortest possible route during the routing process.
- Routing Diagnostics -When enabled, this option collects all necessary information to provide full information for Routing results comprehensive report (Detail_Cable_Route_List_III). By default, basic information is included after the routing process (Example: No raceway path found). However, for a more detailed analysis (which will display why the length of a route is not the shortest for example), another routing process is performed and the results reported.
  Having this option turned may increase the routing process time.
  
  For some information (e.g. it displays the reason why the length is not shortest length) this analysis requires an additional(3rd) routing process which increases routing time over all. This is the reason why we made "Routing Diagnostics" optional. The "Info" field always provides the routing information and the Element ID which can be detected in the base routing process. (e.g "Cable and raceway routing filter mismatch.(CTSegment 7 [951]).
- Route cable with low priority-
  If cables with a higher priority are added to the raceway, you can select the option to automatically remove all smaller cables and make space for larger cables with higher priority. This is optional setting that will increase autorouting time.
  
  If an originally routed cable is removed from the route to provide space for cable with higher priority, that cable will be labeled in cable manager as "removed from the route".

Routing Model

Refresh Model – Refreshes the routing model to include the latest information
Changes made in the Cable Manager need to be updated in the Routing design file. Update the Routing Model and visualize colored raceway routes. Color visualization in Routing Model shows the Spare of raceway parts:
- red line: Spare is less than 1%
- yellow line: Spare is 25% to 50%
- green line: Spare is 50% to 100%
- white line: Spare is 100%
Visualize – Allows you to Visualize a selected Cable or route in the design file.
If the optimal route was not used when the cable was routed you will be prompted with the following message when visualizing a cable:

If you click Yes then the actual route is displayed in a Magenta color while the optimal route is displayed in Red:

If you reference your raceway model into your routing model and Visualize a cable route, the raceway(s) the cable was routed through will also be highlighted.
Zoom – Zoom into the model when visualizing a cable route
Raceway Fill Info -Select the raceway to review the Raceway Fill Information

Output

Cable Reports –
- Cable drums-Shows the Cable Drums Browser for selected cable with information about each cable and drum
- Cable Pull cards draft-This option creates a draft version of the Cable Pull Card explained below. When the report is created in the EXCEL file, a draft watermark is placed on it identifying it as such.
- Cable pull cards-Cable Pull Cards - This option allows you to save cable/route information to an MS-EXCEL (.xls) format, which can be printed and used in the field when routing the cable. How To
Export – Export the existing view in the cable manager to excel.

Create 3D Cable - Creates a 3D visualization of cables routed in the model. Select the 3D Cable option from the ribbon to create a 3D visualization in the model as shown in the example below:

After visualizing routed cables you can now use the Update Length option to update the calculated lengths to include the bend radius.

The 3D Cable consists of the following three options as follows:

Setting	Description
3D Cable Solid	Creates a realistic looking 3D cable and requires the most time to generate. It is recommended to use this option when you are ready to create your final deliverables.
3D Cable Center Line	Represents the cables using the center line of the cables and can be generated more quickly for design reviews.
3D Cable Center Line Without Layout	Represents cables as basic lines and can be generated the fastest in order to perform design reviews.

Cable, Equipment and Routing properties

By clicking on a cable the related cable, equipment and routing properties can be displayed in the Properties Panel

Cable Properties

Displays the following list of properties:

Setting	Description
Node ID	An internal ID number which defines the device number, connection number and cable number (0001,0001,0001).
Name	The name is the identification number/name for the cable. The name field allows you to modify the cable name.
ID	This displays the assigned ID number for the cable and is read only.
Status	This indicates the design status of the cable. By default, if set to Design, New or Active, then the cable is able to be edited and included in the Auto Routing process. If the status is marked as Released, Build, Review or Final, then the cable will be ignored if the Auto Routing process is executed.
Cable Length	Lists the shortest possible length of cable needed to connect the two equipment components as determined by the AutoConnect function. Once the cable has been Auto Routed through the actual raceways, this length will be adjusted and the actual length of the routed cable is displayed. If minimum bend radius values have been defined for cables that are routed, the length can be recalculated after creating 3D visualization of the cables which will adjust for the minimum bend radius value.
Load	The cable Load is used to help determine the size of the cable, as well as the length. The cable sizing is usually defined by the users and stored in the CableSizing.xls file.
Cable Code	The Cable Code is a rule used for sizing cables by using the Load and Length to determine the size. Usually each company defines their own codes and are stored in the CableSizing.xls file.
Cable Type	The cable type is defined in the CableList. All cable types are defined and stored in the LIB_Cable.xml file which is found in the Projects\Datasets\Imperial\Std_Dataset\Metadata directory.
Add Length 1/2	When making a connection to a piece of equipment, usually a little more cable is needed than what is calculated using the AutoRouter procedure. When placing an equipment component, you can define the extra length need to connect to the terminal. Since connections are made between two equipment components, there are two Add length fields to accommodate both connections. Note: If the Additional Length is not defined for the equipment, you can add and define the field for the equipment using the Create/Modify tab in the Equipment Manager.
Routing Filter	This filter uses the criteria defined in the Options > Cable Routing > Cable Laying tab for specific Cable Methods. By default BRCM applies the Multi Layer cable laying method with no filter.
Voltage Level	Lists the Voltage Level of the cable. This can be used as a filter when defining Cable Laying Methods in the Options dialog.
Cable Laying Method	This item is not assigned on the cable itself as it may be defined differently in Conduits and Raceways. If you click on a Route node in the Cable Manager, the Raceway/Conduit information contains the Cable Laying Method you can review.
Cable Group	Certain types of cable can be assigned a group number in the CableList.xls file. When cables are assigned to a group, when they are Auto Routed, the cables will be routed together through the same raceway. For example, if there is a piece of equipment that has terminal connections which require 6 different cables, then all of these cables should be routed together. Therefore, you could assign them to a group so they will not be routed through different raceways.
Priority Number	Defines the routing priority when Auto Routing cables. Cables with a priority of 1 would be the highest routing priority and routed first, where a 9999 value would be the lowest priority.
Circuit Number	Circuit Number is similar to the Cable Group in such as a equipment component may have 3 different circuits which require the cables for each circuit to be routed together. Like the Cable Group the Circuit number are defined in the CableList.xls file. Note: Note that you can group multiple Circuit Numbers into a Cable Group to be routed together.
Design Sync Status	Design Sync Status property field, lists the type of change that has been made. The following status types are available New: A new cable has been added to the cable list. Modified: The cable has been modified in some capacity. Pending Deletions: This occurs when the cable has been deleted in the imported cable list. However,since it still exists in the project, it is not automatically deleted.

Equipment Properties

Displays the following list of properties:

Setting	Description
ID Source	The number of the equipment source where the cable routes from. This cannot be edited.
ID Target	The ID Target is the terminal connection on the equipment component the cable is routed to. If the equipment component has multiple terminal connections, you can select a different ID Target from a drop down list. Note: You can also define a new target source in the Object Target field. This allows you to manually select a new equipment component to route to. Once you do this, then the ID Source will be updated.
Object Source	This is just a unique GUID number for the object source and cannot be edited.
Object Status	Defines the status of the equipment object which is not commonly used at this time. (Read Only).
Description	This is a basic description of the Object Source taken from the equipment definition. (Read Only)
From XYZ	This is the XYZ coordinates of the Object Source. (Read Only)
ID	Lists the ID of the Object Source. (Read Only)
From Include/Exclude AREPs	The From Include/Exclude fields let you manually pick certain raceways to either Include or Exclude for the selected cable run when performing the Auto Routing function. These apply to the raceways coming from the Equipment object. Ordinarily these are defined for the equipment object in the Auto Router Entry Points dialog. However, you can defined them on a specific cable if desired. To pick the raceways, click the Browse icon in the field and manually pick the raceway in the drawing. Once you do this, the ID and # fields will display the information from the selected raceway.
Object Target	Lists the Equipment component where the cable is routed to.
To Include/Exclude AREPs	The From Include/Exclude fields let you manually pick certain raceways to either Include or Exclude for the selected cable run when performing the Auto Routing function. These apply to the raceways going to an Equipment object. Ordinarily these are defined for the equipment object in the Auto Router Entry Points dialog. However, you can defined them on a specific cable if desired. To pick the raceways, click the Browse icon in the field and manually pick the raceway in the drawing. Once you do this, the ID and # fields will display the information from the selected raceway.

Routing Properties

Displays the following list of properties:

Setting	Description
Routing Mode	Routing mode can be set to either Auto or Manual. If set to Manual, then the cable will be ignored during the Auto Routing process. If you manually route the cable using the this field will automatically be changed to Manual and will not be rerouted if the Auto Route option is executed.
Percentage	The percentage reflects how efficiently the cable has been routed in regards to the length of the route. 100% means the cable has been routed using the shortest possible route. If the percentage is above 100%, it means the cable route is longer than it could be. This allows you to review the route and see if any changes can be made. This field is read only and automatically populated once the Auto Routing process has been complete.
AutoRouting Status	Displays the routing success of the cable. If the cable has been Auto Routed successfully, then the value reads Success.
Info	Information regarding the Success or Failure of a route is displayed in the Info field. If the routing process has failed, this field will display the reasons for the failure. If a cable routing fails, the information displayed in this field will include the raceway segment ID and element ID which caused the failure. This will help identify the issue with cable route. A message similar to the example below will display: `Raceway capacity exceeded with no alternative route found.Please consider changing raceway size or adding additional raceway to accomodate those cables:(<racewaysegment> <Element ID>)` Tip: Element ID in the info, is unique to each raceway so you can easily identify the raceway segment responsible for failed cable routing.
Owner	This lists the user who worked on the project and routed the cable.
Time	This just notes the time the cable was routed/modified.
Routing Note	An area to add notes if desired.
Exclude Raceway Segments	This option lets you exclude certain raceway segments from the Auto Routing process for the selected cable. Click the Browse icon in the field then select the raceway to exclude in the drawing. Once you pick a raceway segment in the drawing, then the segment ID and segment # fields will be populated with the information from the selected raceway.

Cable Manager Data Grid

Note: You can change the sequence of the columns by clicking on column header and dragging it to desired location. Select a column header and right-click, which allows you to show/hide any column.

Setting	Description
Flags	Flags are displayed for each cable depicting the cable status. -Routing status flag for the cable if cable is successfully routed. -Routing status flag for the cable if cable is not routed. -Warning status flag for the cable if target equipment for the cable not placed in the model. -Locked status flag for the cable. It is set in the Status Manager. For certain status the cable will be locked and will not be routed. -Modified status flag for the cable if cable is modified after second import. -Deleted status flag for the cable if cable is deleted after second import.
Device	Devices are listed in second column and represents piece of equipment that cable(s) are connected to.
Connection	Displays connection names. Connection is a terminal connection or slot on each device which are listed in second column. Each device can have up to 1000 terminal connections. Each terminal connection can have multiple cables connected.
Name	Displays cable names.
Status	Displays cable status.
Cable Length	Displays cable length. Cable manager has color coding for different cable lengths The orthogonal length obtained after auto-connect get displayed in Black The routed length obtained after automatic-routing get displayed in Green The 3D cable length obtained after creating 3D cable get displayed in Blue.
Cable Type	Displays type of cable
Voltage level	Displays Voltage level for cables
id Source	Displays id Source of Cable
id Target	Displays id Target of Cable
Routing Mode	Displays Routing mode auto/manual
Auto Routing Status	Displays Autorouting status pass/success
Info	Displays information about cable

Grouping in Cable Manager

The cables available in the cable manager can be grouped based on the column header by dragging any column header and placing the header in the row above the column header entries.

For instance, cables can be grouped by the Device, Connection point and other column headers.

Custom View Creation Cable Manager

Based on the grouping, Custom views can be created and saved. For instance for grouping by voltage level, custom view 'Voltage' can be created.

Click on icon as shown in image and it opens Saved Views dialog.

New:-Opens a dialog where you enter a name for the new custom view.

Rename:-Renames custom view.

Delete:-Deletes selected custom view.

The Saved Views can be switched as per requirement from the Default view.

Design Sync Status

If changes were made to cables in the cable list, the next time you import the cable list and check them out into the Cable Manager, the cables are displayed in red to notify you that modifications have been made.

If you look at the Design Sync Status property field, it will list the type of change that has been made. The following status types are available:

New: A new cable has been added to the cable list.
Modified: The cable has been modified in some capacity.
Pending Deletions: This occurs when the cable has been deleted in the imported cable list. However, since it still exists in the project, it is not automatically deleted.

The Design Sync Status functions to notify you of changes in the imported cable list. The Cable Manager provides the opportunity to either accept or reject the changes in the project. The Cable Menu provides two options to let you accept or reject the changes:

Acknowledge: Select a cable, or all the cables can be selected by clicking the check box at the topmost row and click Acknowledge from ribbon menu to accept the change(s). The Design Sync Status will changed to Acknowledged.
Reject Delete: This option applies to cables which are Pending Deletion. It allows you to reject the deletion and keep the cable in the project. The Design Sync Status will change to Acknowledged when you select this option as well.

Note: You can use the Filter option to filter the display according to the Design Sync Status if desired.

Cable Laying Methods

Using the Cable Manager

How To Visualize AutoRouting Entry Points

How To Edit AutoRouting Entry Points

How To Calculate Length and Size of Cable Drums

Key-in: RCMCABLEMAN