Electrical schematic creation tools.

Jason, the problem with most of the packages you list is that they are great for the task/project type they were designed for and very infuriating/inflexible on anything else. Remember that even if you find a package that can auto number wires and create a parts list you will still need to check it.. (some people don't!)

If you already have AutoCAD LT (we use AutoCAD2000) and are used to it - stick to it. It will give you DXF export and if you need to add the parts list thingy, I would try to buy add-ins (like Electrical) rather than change packages - from what you have posted, you would likely waste more time learning something new, than save time actually using it.

Cameron:-)

(same as RSWire)

There's also Schemelect - a French package - avoid !

Promis.E and RSWire are one and the same now, owned by Rockwell.

I use RSWire but it is an infuriating package with many bugs and strange idiosyncrasies. However, it does automate wire numbering and cross-referencing and it is worth having for that alone.

It's BOM and reporting features are clunky, it's symbol libraries are limited to Schneider and IEC - strangely no AB.

It does save hours over AutoCad when moving pages around, though. Overall it is better than plain AutoCad.

You can get a designer version with "built-in" AutoCad else you need a full AutoCad licence.

JPG

Promis-e and RSWire are NOT one and the same!!!! Rockwell does NOT own Promis-e. I don't think that RSWire is even licensed from ECT. If I remember correctly, RSWire was developed in-house at Rockwell Software. There is a HUGE difference between Promis-e and RSWire.

I would suggest that you check out Promis-e on the web. Or, check in one of the AutoCAD newsgroups and ask there. This may be a little touchy as AutoCAD now has a product that competes directly with Promis-e, AutoCAD Electrical. It used to be that Promis-e was an add-on to AutoCAD. ACAD-E is OK, but it is typical AutoDesk.

As I understand it from the UK guys at ECT (and from Schneider Electric), ECT are now owned by Schneider Electric. My understanding was that there are libraries for all the big name automation players (including AB) - we were very impressed with it (but then we currently use CATIA so it doesn't take much to impress us). We were told that RSWire was licenced from ECT.

There are (were) as others have said two versions of promis-e, a standalone version (incorporating some kind of Autocad 'runtime engine') and an add in for Autocad. They were (are) also working on a version to work with Visio.

HTH,

Chris

cross-referencing

The package "protel" noramlly used for electronic drawings is effectively adaptable for this task. For isntance a bus can be either a 16 bit data bus or a 3 phase or single phase power bus.

Some people swear by this package.

cross-referencing

In the UK, Rockwell definitely own ECT, perhaps not in other parts of the world.

RSWires macros all begin ECT_ - seems to me that either Promis-E and RSWire are one and the same, or RSWire is using much of ECT's code.

You missed PCschematic ELautomation.

The demo is functionally unlimited, so you can check out the automatic wirenumbering, creation of part lists, DXF-export and the automatic PLC functions, before buying