{"id":7232,"date":"2017-04-12T12:05:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T10:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gemac-fieldbus.com\/?p=7232\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:45:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T11:45:02","slug":"can-symboleditor-manual","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/can-symboleditor-manual\/","title":{"rendered":"CAN Symboleditor Manual"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-7232'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-jj9qykyd-c0924da91dbbd10a9d0dcbf75d4afbf8 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1>CAN Symbol Editor Manual<\/h1>\n<p>The manual for CAN Symbol Editor is only available in German. So here is a short version with the main content in English to help all our non-German-speakers.<\/p>\n<h2>1 Overview<\/h2>\n<p>The CAN symbol editor is a program to create and edit symbol files which are used in CAN-Bus Tester 2, CANtouch and CANvision. These symbol files empower them able to interpret CAN messages and decode them into a human-readable form (symbolic decoding).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7233 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-200x300.png\" alt=\"can messages symbolic decoding\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-687x1030.png 687w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-1000x1500.png 1000w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-470x705.png 470w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en-450x675.png 450w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symbolfiles-prinziple-en.png 1111w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 200\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>2 Functions and control<\/h2>\n<h3>2.1 Symbol file structure<\/h3>\n<h4>2.1.1 Signals<\/h4>\n<p>Signals are the lowest level in a symbol file. They are used to describe the way, how an information is represented in a CAN message. This is, for instance, a physical parameter, presenting a value and a unit, but also status information.<\/p>\n<p>For a basic description you need:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li>the name<\/li>\n<li>the number of bits that the signal is using<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More detailed optional values can be:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\n<li>the byte order, big-endian (Motorola) or little-endian (Intel)<\/li>\n<li>type of value (signed or unsigned, for instance, float or double)<\/li>\n<li>number system of the display (decimal or hexadecimal)<\/li>\n<li>a unit<\/li>\n<li>scaling and offset<\/li>\n<li>range<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also, enumerations are possible, that&#8217;s descriptions of values (see 2.1.3 also).<\/p>\n<h4>2.1.2 Multiplexer<\/h4>\n<p>Multiplexers in the data field are used to transfer different data with the same CAN ID. The value sets how the following data bytes are assigned. For instance, in CANopen SDO the first 3 bytes define, which parameter of the index is transferred.<\/p>\n<p>In our CAN symbol editor, only one multiplexer per message is allowed. It can have a length from 1 to 64 bit and can be placed within the data field freely. Multiplexers also can have value descriptions (see 2.1.3)<\/p>\n<h4>2.1.3 Enumerations<\/h4>\n<p>Enumerations, that descriptions of values are making are possible to connect values of signals or multiplexers to a\u00a0string. While decoded, these strings are displayed. For instance, you can display &#8220;On&#8221; and &#8220;Off&#8221; to show the state of a switch.<\/p>\n<h4>2.1.4 Messages<\/h4>\n<p>Messages represent a CAN message with a certain ID and can contain a multiplexer and several signals. Because only within the message the position of a signal is defined and not within the signal, a signal can be used in different messages at the same time.<\/p>\n<h4>2.1.5 Watchlist<\/h4>\n<p>Watchlists are used to have related messages together. You can have often used messages in one list.<\/p>\n<h3>2.2 User interface<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7249 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-300x199.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-1030x685.png 1030w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-1500x997.png 1500w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-705x469.png 705w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3-450x299.png 450w, https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/symboleditor_window_en-3.png 1504w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>2.3 Generate a symbol file<\/h3>\n<h4>2.3.1 Import from CAN database (dbc)<\/h4>\n<p>The quickest way to generate a symbol file is to import a given Vector CAN dbc file. After importing you can manually edit every signal and message. See below.<\/p>\n<h4>2.3.2 Generate manually<\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li>Open a new file.<br \/>\nClick File and New.<\/li>\n<li>Create signals and enumerations<br \/>\nClick on the button\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7242 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/Toolbar_CANdbSignals_1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 16px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 16\/16;\" \/>\u00a0to add a signal and open its edit window. Give it a meaningful name and edit it.<br \/>\nTo use a value description switch value &#8220;display&#8221; to &#8220;value description&#8221; and click\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7244 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/CANdbValue_Add.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 16px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 16\/16;\" \/>. Now add your description.<\/li>\n<li>Create messages<br \/>\nClick the symbol\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7246 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.gemac-fieldbus.com\/2017\/04\/Toolbar_CANdbMessages_1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 16px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 16\/16;\" \/>\u00a0to add a new message. Give a name, type of CAN id and id as well as the length of the data field.<br \/>\nMove signals by using drag and drop into the window. Doubleclick to open the edit window where you can define start bit position. Decide if the signal is a multiplexer or not. If yes that set the multiplexer value.<br \/>\nTab Layout shows the message and where your signals are.<\/li>\n<li>Create watchlists<br \/>\nUse complete messages or signals only for your watchlists.<\/li>\n<li>Edit file description<br \/>\nThe description is used in CANvision, CANtouch and CBT2 to choose a certain symbol file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_third-0aa7055fe62c3622faec82866afbaeb2\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_third-0aa7055fe62c3622faec82866afbaeb2{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_third-0aa7055fe62c3622faec82866afbaeb2 av_one_third  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-4  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><div id=\"rpwe_widget-3\" class=\"widget clearfix rpwe_widget recent-posts-extended\"><style>.rpwe-block ul{\r\nlist-style: none !important;\r\nmargin-left: 0 !important;\r\npadding-left: 0 !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-block li{\r\nborder-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\r\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\r\npadding-bottom: 10px;\r\nlist-style-type: none;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-block a{\r\ndisplay: inline !important;\r\ntext-decoration: none;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-block h3{\r\nbackground: none !important;\r\nclear: none;\r\nmargin-bottom: 0 !important;\r\nmargin-top: 0 !important;\r\nfont-weight: 400;\r\nfont-size: 16px !important;\r\nline-height: 1.5em;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-thumb{\r\nborder: 1px solid #eee !important;\r\nbox-shadow: none !important;\r\nmargin: 2px 10px 2px 0;\r\npadding: 3px !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-summary{\r\nfont-size: 12px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-time{\r\ncolor: #bbb;\r\nfont-size: 11px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-comment{\r\ncolor: #bbb;\r\nfont-size: 11px;\r\npadding-left: 5px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-alignleft{\r\ndisplay: inline;\r\nfloat: left;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-alignright{\r\ndisplay: inline;\r\nfloat: right;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-aligncenter{\r\ndisplay: block;\r\nmargin-left: auto;\r\nmargin-right: auto;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-clearfix:before,\r\n.rpwe-clearfix:after{\r\ncontent: &quot;&quot;;\r\ndisplay: table !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-clearfix:after{\r\nclear: both;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.rpwe-clearfix{\r\nzoom: 1;\r\n}\r\n<\/style><h3 class=\"widgettitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/faq\/\" title=\"Back to FAQ overview\">Back to FAQ overview<\/a><\/h3><div  class=\"rpwe-block\"><hr>\r\n<h3>More in General<\/h3><ul class=\"rpwe-ul\"><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/can-bus-wiring-test\/\" target=\"_self\">CAN bus wiring test<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/can-symboleditor-manual\/\" target=\"_self\">CAN Symboleditor Manual<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/canbusview-xl-iii-can-quick-tester-c-qt15-and-devicenet-analyzer\/\" target=\"_self\">CANBUSview XL III, CAN Quick Tester C-QT15 and DeviceNet Analyzer<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/cantouch-vs-can-bus-tester-2-the-decision\/\" target=\"_self\">CANtouch vs. CAN-Bus Tester 2, the decision<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/detection-of-short-circuits-in-the-can-bus-error-patterns\/\" target=\"_self\">Detection of short circuits in the CAN bus &#8211; Error patterns<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/exchange_service\/\" target=\"_self\">Exchange service for fieldbus diagnostic devices<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/repair-complaint-customs\/\" target=\"_self\">Repair, complaint, customs<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/retaking-of-old-devices\/\" target=\"_self\">Retaking of old devices<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/suggested-bit-timing-and-bus-length\/\" target=\"_self\">Suggested bit timing and bus length<\/a><\/h3><\/li><li class=\"rpwe-li rpwe-clearfix\"><h3 class=\"rpwe-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/trunk-and-drop-line-lengths\/\" target=\"_self\">Trunk and drop line lengths<\/a><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><\/div><!-- Generated by http:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/recent-posts-widget-extended\/ --><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-7232'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,92,93,88,94],"tags":[125,177,188,337,307,340,404,403,341,336,426],"class_list":["post-7232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faq-cbt2-en","category-faq-cantouch-en","category-faq-canvision-en","category-faq-en","category-faq-general","tag-cantouch","tag-canvision","tag-cbt2","tag-decoding","tag-hex","tag-human","tag-monitor","tag-protocol","tag-readable","tag-symbolic","tag-values"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7232\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alt.gemac-fieldbus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}