Replacing/Swapping Connector

Michael Guza

• August 20, 2019 20:40

Right now I'm working on building a block diagram but some of the connectors haven't been finalized quite yet. Preliminarily, I just put a placeholder connector on the block and create my connections to get an idea of what the system will look like but if the design changes or as those connectors become known, is there an easy way to switch/swap out the placeholder connector and put in the right one? I'd like the block diagram to be more editable so that it can be a fluid ("constantly updating") document which would lend to the best overall design. As of now, it seems like you have to have most of the design finalized before starting on the block diagram. If anyone has any ideas on how to make a more general block diagram and to be able to more easily add in connectors as they become known, please let me know!

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  Paul Bloom

  • August 20, 2019 21:39

  I just did this so will try to help.  Are you referring to the connectors on the block becoming "known" or the connectors that mate to the block or perhaps both? 

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  Michael Guza

  • August 21, 2019 13:01

  I would say both. Just as component designs become more finalized, some connectors might change from what was initially proposed and so being able to edit the block diagram for the block connector as well as the mating connector in an easier way would be nice.

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  Paul Bloom

  • August 21, 2019 13:54

  Well, what I did is to create two 1-pin connectors in my library, "GenericConnector and GenericBlockConnector".  Then use can you use the Device Properites to swap in the new connector component when it is known/available. 

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  Darryl Bennett

  • June 12, 2020 15:16

  We do the same thing. We start with a drawing that uses the concise (single symbol / all pins) on a interconnect drawing between blocks, then create other drawings in the same project that show the individual pins, and other manufacturing details. We have had issues where changing the part number of the connector sometimes requires disconnecting the concise plug from the block receptacle before changing the part number via device properties. If you change to a connector with a different number of positions, that can cause issues as well, especially if you have made connections to individual pins.

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