Unit and Field designation 

The elements Unit and Field designation (abbreviated to UFD) are used for forming groups within a project. Only one system and location identification is available per page and is assigned to all reference names (identification of the resource) of the page automatically. The identifiers = and + must be present so that it is possible to distinguish between reference names.

• The Unit designation is prefixed with an ‘=’.
• The Field designation is prefixed with an ‘+’.

There may only be Unit designation or only Field designation present, however both will usually be used. A complete reference name (see also DIN 40719, Part 2) however always consists of a Unit and Field designation and resource identification:

=1EB14+12A1E-F6

The length of a reference name is limited to 48 characters, even if the Unit and Field designation is only assigned virtually.

Hint

If you want to assign an UFD to a symbol, which differs from the default UFD assigned to this page, then you need only add the desired UFD to the reference name. However, it is crucial that the identifiers =, + and - are assigned at the same time. 

Only the different identification needs to be entered, thus only Unit, or only Field, or possibly also both if neither system nor location are identical to that of the page, or none if system and location of the page apply.

Example

Visible system location identifications are displayed using several lines. In this case, only that part of the UFD is shown which differs from the UFD which generally applies. 

Hint

Decide in advance whether you want to work with UFD.  Use the UFD on all  pages. It is easily possible to change an existing UFD while introducing it afterwards is substantially more difficult and more time-consuming.

You can also change an existing UFD later. With activated Contactor Manager, the contactor project list is likewise adjusted automatically just as the PLC project file is with active PLC Manager. Change the UFD on all pages and replace by means of the reference or in the Project Manager.

Hint

Do not use Delete Immediately or Delete/Move for removing  the UFD, otherwise you will bypass Contactor Manager and PLC Manager.

When working with Unit and Field designation, the local UFD is placed in front of the reference names of the symbols if no other UFD has been placed in front of the symbols manually. Complete references are always processed internally.

When changing an UFD, you must enter the portion which has to be replaced completely. For example, if you want to change  = Sys+Loc1 to = Sys+Loc2 on all pages, then you must also enter the leading system component at the same time. With the automatic functions, the Unit and Field designation act differently:

• Cross-reference to line: The Unit and/or Field designation of the destination are placed in front of the cross-reference text when these differ from the identifications of the source. Only the texts which differ are displayed, i.e. with the same system but different location, for example, the local identification only and not the system identification.
• Terminal diagram: The reference name of the terminal strip is output with the system and local identification. Destination designations with the same UFD as the terminal strip are output without the UFD.
• Material list: Unit and Field designation are placed in front of all reference names when the output is without a graphics form.
• Connection lists: System and location identifications are placed in front of all reference names.
• Separate reference: The complete reference name including the Unit and Field designation must be entered. Reference group: Complete reference name including the system location identification, without attached numbers, e.g. +Loc1-F for all safety devices with location identification Loc1.