Components

Components are schematic drawings of electromechanical parts or sub-assemblies. A component has a graphical symbol drawing and a set of defining parameters, such as name, type, and reference designator. Each component also contains a set of predefined attach points called nodes. You can retrieve components either from user-defined libraries, or, if you have a Pro/LIBRARYACCESS license, from the Creo Parametric library of electrical symbols.

Connectors

Diagram connectors are schematic drawings of physical connectors. The display of the connector can be either through a fixed shape symbol (fixed connector) or through a parametric definition where a standard connector shape is determined from specified parameters (parametric connector). Parameters include the number of pins to show, pin sequence, gender, partial or full display, size, and orientation.

Pins (Nodes)

Valid wire attach points on components and connectors are called nodes or pins. A pin must have a unique ID within the component/connector symbol. A pin can contain parameters that define which conductors are connected to it. Pins display as green dots in the symbol.

Wires

Wires are used to connect nodes on connectors and components. Wires may be routed between different sheets or as unattached. Wire paths update automatically when the components and connectors are moved. You can also modify the wire paths by moving wire segments or vertices.

Cables

Cables are multiple wires, intended to be routed together. Cables can contain any number of wires. Cables can be distinguished from wires with a symbol that surrounds the wires that the cable contains.

Conductors

Conductors are schematic representations of physical conductors. They can be individual wires, or wires that are added to a cable. Conductors in cables are the individual wires of varying properties that are added to the cable in the spool definition.

Spools

All wires and cables are added to the diagram from predefined wire or cable spools. Properties defined in the spool such as thickness, color, min bend radius and so on are passed to the wire or cable when it is added to the design. The properties may then be modified for each cable or wire as necessary. Cable spools have values for the external appearance and overall minimum bend radius, as well as values associated with each of the assigned 'conductors' within the cable.

Highways

Highways are paths in a Diagram drawing in which any number of wires or cables can be routed. This simplifies the final drawing by allowing multiple wires to be represented graphically by a single path. This option is for display purposes only. It has no physical significance.

Rails

Rails are used to represent ground or power busses or conductive strips. You can route rails between components, connectors, or other rails, or leave the ends unattached.

Splices

The Splice functionality lets you splice wires together. Two types of splices can be created: a butt splice and a through splice. When a butt splice is placed on a wire, the wire is split into two separate wires with different reference designations. When a through splice is placed on a wire, the wire is not split. Once a splice has been placed, additional wires can be routed to the splice.