Frequently Asked Questions for VIADirect UltraLITE

VIADirect UltraLITE Frequently Asked Questions

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Question: What are the differences Between VIA LITE and VIADirect UltraLITE?

Answer: Differences Between VIA LITE and VIADirect UltraLITE
26 August, 1999

Note: The complete VIA Parts Database (200,000+ items) is included with VIADirect UltraLITE.

VIADirect Schematic:

Differences between VIA Schematic LITE and VIADirect Schematic:

1. More descriptive prompts have been added to all VIA blocks. For example, when you edit a device--AutoCAD DDATTE command--you will see more descriptive labels such as Catalog Number: and Input Terminal Number: instead of CATNO: and TERM_IN:, respectively.

2. All blocks, motors, I/O modules have been changed from YELLOW to BLUE. There has always been a concern with the default symbol color for packages running inside of AutoCAD LITE. This is because the default background color for some versions is WHITE instead of BLACK. In an effort to simplify the installation procedure and avoid unnecessary duplication of files, BLUE was chosen for the symbols and RED was chosen for the attributes, as these colors may be displayed and viewed on either a WHITE or BLACK background. Furthermore, the user may easily change these defaults by simply modifying their AutoCAD template or prototype drawing.

3. DirectLogic and Allen-Bradley I/O Modules have been included (at no additional charge) with the VIADirect UltraLITE package.

VIADirect Panel Builder:

Differences between VIA Panel Builder LITE and VIADirect Panel Builder:

1. Ability to customize Parts Database using Database Editor—same as VIA Panel Builder LITE—although less fields are available with VIADirect Panel Builder. Only minimum fields have been provided: Catalog Number, Description, Template, Footprint size, etc.

2. Update drawings feature NOT AVAILABLE with VIADirect Panel Builder but is available with VIA Panel Builder LITE. Feature is designed to update schematic drawings when a change is made to a part or parts in the Panel Builder environment.

3. Edit Attributes—the ability to define which attributes are extracted from the schematics—is not available with VIADirect Panel Builder, but is available with VIA Panel Builder LITE). This allows the user to define which attribute tags are extracted (default are CATNO, DESCRIPTOR, PANEL, and DESCRIPTION). The ability to define which attributes to extract allows advanced users to use VIA Panel Builder LITE with their existing drawings.

4. Full-Scale Detailed Template drawings for the entire library of DirectLogic PLCs are included at no additional charge. This includes all aspects of the PLC, including self-contained PLCs (DL05 and DL105), individual cards, rack and CPU drawings (DL205, DL305, and DL405), as well as all specialty modules (specialty modules new with version 1.0a).

VIADirect Bill of Material:

Differences between VIA Bill of Material LITE and VIADirect Bill of Material:

1. Ability to customize Parts Database using Database Editor—same as VIA Bill of Material LITE—although less fields are available with VIADirect Bill of Material. Only minimum fields have been provided: Catalog Number, Description, Template, Footprint size, etc.

2. Export as CSV (Comma Separated Variable, registered by Microsoft and opened automatically by Microsoft Excel) (Feature NOT available with VIA Bill of Material LITE)

3. No ASCII Import like VIA Bill of Material LITE.

4. No Parts Database Import or Export like VIA Bill of Material LITE has. All editing of the parts database must be done through the database editor (one record at a time).

5. No ability to define which attributes are extracted from your AutoCAD drawings (i.e. no custom "Applications"). Feature not available with VIA Bill of Material LITE, but available with VIA Bill of Material (high end version).

6. No ability to modify layouts like VIA Bill of Material LITE. (i.e. No ability to define which columns show up on your BOM and what order they're in.)

7. No editing (in general) within the BOM environment (other than combining or splitting the BOM by catalog number). All editing must be done after the BOM is exported.

FAQ ID: 911