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Symbol On The Fly allows a user to quickly add a temporary, one-time use symbol to a page without adding that symbol to the symbol library. It is an extremely limited function allowing only the most basic symbol options for a case where users do not intend to ever use that symbol again. It was designed to get something on the page quickly without making the symbol part of your library for future use, especially in cases where only certain users have rights to create symbols, but a project deadline needs to be met before the user with catalog editing rights has time to create a regular symbol. Then later, when the real symbol has been created in the library, the temporary Symbol on the Fly can be replaced with a proper symbol. Symbol on the Fly is limited to a rectangular box shape only, and allows a Device ID, a part number, and adding and removing Connection Points. If repeated use or more advanced capabilities are required, then users should create a regular symbol as part of the symbol catalog library using the Symbol Creation Wizard. Symbol On The Fly is a fly-out tool bar with three buttons for Inserting the Symbol, Inserting Connection Points and Deleting Connection points. Users can press and hold on the one visible button in the Task menu to see the other buttons of the fly-out tool bar.
To draw a Symbol On The Fly, from the Tasks area, select Design > *Components > Symbol On the Fly or select the first button on the Symbol On the Fly toolbar. When prompted, select opposite corners for the symbol box in the drawing. When the Device Properties dialog displays, enter a device tag for the symbol and select OK.
The default position for the device ID is just above the symbol. It can be moved by right-clicking on the ID and selecting Text Position from the pop-up menu.
The Symbol On The Fly connection points must be placed within the Symbol on the Fly boundary box. To add connection points to the symbol, select the Design > *Components > Symbol On the Fly > Insert Connection Point option (or the Insert Connection Point toolbar button.) Select the insertion point for the connection point inside the Symbol On The Fly box and then the position for the connection point text when prompted. Add additional Connection Points as desired using the same steps.
To delete the connection point of an on-the-fly symbol, you must select the Design > *Components > Symbol On the Fly > Delete Connection Point function (or the Delete Connection Point toolbar button). Then click directly on the connection point you wish to delete.
Connection points cannot be moved once placed. You will need to delete and reinsert them.
* is used to denote a menu selection that is not necessary in some versions or platforms.
Resize a Symbol On The Fly box