BBES The current design file is not an electrical design file

What you have to do is go to the electrical pull down at the top of the program, and select electrical, and the then select “Register Current Design File “from the pull down. This will set up a data base for the project, and other project parameters and allow you to use the electrical portion of the program.

just had that prompt.

Can you elaborate on 'data base' and 'project parameters'.

Or to be more precise - normally using only the architecture part of ABD - will this have consequences for other files? or after I have unloaded the Electrical part?

help! this didn't work.

I can load Electrical - and clicking 'place raceway' produces a dialog where I can select type and dimensions of the raceway - but as soon as I click in a View Window to place the raceway ABD gives me a sandglas at the pointer. And I can do nothing but close by force.

Using ss5.

Also when I open ABD I have a mini-Mechanical and mini-Structural Task. But no Electrical?

Hi Thomas,

The Register command creates a local project database (the _bbes folder) or if one already exists adds the active file to that database. So if you're able to use the Electrical tools then it would follow that the file is registered in the database. Does the problem you're seeing with Raceway happen with any of the other tools? Also, is this using the Ss5 SE dataset? Lastly, can you check that the active placement dialog isn't being hidden behind the ABD window?

Regarding your last question.... what is a "mini task"?

Well, now using ss6 I get the same 'BBES: The current design file is not an Electrical design file.'
Trying BUILDING DESIGNER>ELECTRICAL>REGISTER... gives nothing but the same message.

Well, now using ss6 I get the same 'BBES: The current design file is not an Electrical design file.'
Trying BUILDING DESIGNER>ELECTRICAL>REGISTER... gives nothing but the same message.

well - clicking the bbes.reg did work - so I get something working.
But the raceway was strange.

As Steve mentioned, make sure the Raceway dialog box hadn't just moved behind the other applications. The ABD Electrical dialog boxes are modal, meaning when they have the focus the other tools are unavailable until you dismiss the electrical dialog box. Looks like you have a that worked out Thomas.

Some of the electrical dialog boxes will have a ">CAD" button that will temporarily dismiss the electrical modal dialog box and allow you to use the view controls for example, a right-click takes you back to the electrical dialog box. Some electrical dialog boxes will have a "Select" button that will temporarily dismiss the electrical dialog box and you are picking a point in the model
(to define the height of the symbol for example).

On the Raceway placement - the raceway will attache itself to the last placed raceway component. You'll see a green triangle in the view, which indicates where the new segment is placed. There is a "Select Connection" button that allows you to set that triangle connection point to a different location (after you have a raceway model in progress there may be several points to choose from). The "Select Connection" button temporarily suspends the Raceway tool like the ">CAD" and "Select" buttons.

Taking the opportunity to disseminate some ABD Electrical information!

Thanks!