Electra® Help:

Generating, Importing and Exporting Reports

Generating Reports

Most reports can be generated inside a drawing, exported to Excel (.xls, .xlsx) or exported as tab separated values (.tsv). To generate a report inside a drawing, simply drag and drop a report symbol from the Report stencil, then right click and select Generate.

Report symbols can be resized by dragging on their handles and when a report is generated, Electra automatically create additional report symbols if the content overflows a single symbol. Columns in report symbols can be resized by clicking on the report symbol, then on any column, and dragging on the handles. Some columns may contain options to hide a column, simply right click on a column when it is selected, and choose Hide/Show column.

Choosing An Export Format

By default, Electra will export reports into Excel. To choose exporting reports as tab separated values (.tsv), click on menu Electra | Document Options | Export Format, and select tab separated values. Electra will then export reports to the format of your choosing.

Cross Reference Report

The cross reference report list all references, descriptions, symbol master and their locations.

Material Reference Report

The material reference report list all references, grouping, component information and descriptions.

When exporting Material Reference, the Reference tab will be shown. By default, all references will be exported. Users can click on the references selectively, to export a smaller set of references. Multiple references can be selected by pressing the CTRL key or the SHIFT key and clicking on multiple references. Export a smaller set of references for editing in an Excel or .tsv file, and use the same file to be imported back into the drawing.

Importing Material Reference

To import a Material Reference report into a drawing:

  1. First, export a Material Reference report.
  2. The report MUST be exported with ALL fields for it to be successfully used as an import file.
  3. After report generation, add in rows of components by following the format in the report, delete or modify component information as required, then save the report.
  4. Then click on menu Electra | Import | Material Reference and select the file to be imported (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv).
  5. Then click the import button.

The ability to import Material Reference report allows users to edit component information in batches, in a familiar spreadsheet environment, where these information can be easily copied from manufacturer's website and pasted into the spreadsheet. Once editing is complete, all these component information including dimensions can be easily imported back into a drawing.

Bills of Materials Report

The Bill of Materials report list all components used in a schematic, including component information, subtotals and totals.

Cable Reference Report

The cable reference report list all cables used on a drawing, including cable information, core name, wire name and their locations.

Connections (From/To) Report

The connections report list all wires in your schematics, their location, cable information and their connections, including exactly which symbol the wire is connected to, their references, location and pin names.

Exporting Stencils

Once a symbol is created and saved on a stencil, users will need to use menu Electra | Tools | Stencil Browser to edit symbol and component information. To edit these information in batches, use Export Stencil to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.

To export a stencil:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Export | Stencil
  2. Select the stencil to export.

Importing Stencils

After editing exported symbol information from a stencil, these information can then be imported back into Electra.

To import a stencil:

  1. Click menu Electra | Import | Stencil.
  2. Select the target stencil to import to.
  3. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv).
  4. Click OK.

Exporting Component Database

In Electra, users can click on menu Electra | Component Database and be able to add, edit and delete component information from the database. To edit component information in batches, use Export Component Database to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.

To export the component database:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Export | Component Database.

Importing Component Database

After editing exported component database information, these information can then be imported back into Electra.

To import component database:

  1. Click menu Electra | Import | Component Database.
  2. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv).
  3. Click OK.

Exporting Cable Database

In Electra, users can click on menu Electra | Cable Database and be able to add, edit and delete cable information from the database. To edit cable information in batches, use Export Cable Database to export data into your favourite spreadsheet for editing, before importing back into Electra.

To export the cable database:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Export | Cable Database.

Importing Cable Database

After editing exported cable database information, these information can then be imported back into Electra.

To import cable database:

  1. Click menu Electra | Import | Cable Database.
  2. Select the source file to import from (.xls, .xlsx, .tsv).
  3. Click OK.

Export Symbols on Drawing

Schematic symbols on drawings can be exported so that their references, descriptions and pin names can be edited in batches before being imported back into drawings.

To export symbols on drawing:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Export | Symbols on Drawing.

Import Symbols on Drawing

After editing references, dessctiptions and pin names for symbols on drawings in a spreadsheet, these information can then be imported back into a drawing.

To import symbols on drawing:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Import | Symbols on Drawing.

Export Wires on Drawing

Wire names on drawings can be exported so that their names can be edited in batches before being imported back into drawings.

To export wires on drawing:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Export | Wires on Drawing.

Import Wires on Drawing

After editing wire names on drawings in a spreadsheet, these information can then be imported back into a drawing.

To import wires on drawing:

  1. Click on menu Electra | Import | Wires on Drawing.

Generating Table of Contents

To use Table of Contents:

  1. Users must use the "Title" Automatic Text block from the Title Block stencil.
  2. Insert the "Title" Automatic text into your Title Block and create your own title block, or use a title block supplied by Electra.
  3. Drag and drop title blocks on all pages in your drawing.
  4. Drop Table of Contents (TOC) report from the Reports stencil onto your drawings.
  5. Right click and select "Generate Report" and Electra will automatically scan every page to create a Table of Contents.
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