Reference designators are sequenced comments and instructions that pertain to a component. For example, you may have drawings that clarify the assembly process for certain components, or further instructions for the use of a large quantity of the same component. You can specify whether to assign one reference designator for every usage of the component or assign any number of reference designators to the component.

Planning bills and model, option class, and planning components cannot have reference designators.

Reference designators are sorted in alphanumeric order on inquiries and reports. You can also specify a comment for each reference designator.

   To create reference designators:

1. Navigate to the Reference Designators window. Do this by choosing the Designators button from the Bills of Material window.

2. Indicate whether you want component quantity related to the number of reference designators.

   Off: Assign any number of reference designators to each component (the default). The number of reference designators is independent of the component quantity. With Quantity Related unchecked, if the usage quantity of the component is four, you could, for example, define six or more reference designators.

   On: Use one reference designator per usage of the component. The component usage quantity must be a positive integer in order for you to use this option. When the bill requires a quantity of four of a given component, you assign four reference designators to that component, one for each usage.

3. Do one of the following:

   • Enter a reference designator for the component. (A reference designator must be ten characters or less.)

   • Choose the Add Range or Delete Range button to open the Range window. Enter a prefix and a suffix for the range of reference designators to add or delete. For example, if you enter A as the Prefix, 1 and 4 as the starting and ending values, and XYZ as the Suffix; A1XYZ, A2XYZ, A3XYZ, and A4XYZ are the reference designators.

   • To number reference designators, use the Starting Value field to define the beginning value for a range of reference designators. Then either enter the number of values to add or delete, or define the ending value in the Ending field.

4. Save your work.