The status of the work on the web accessible database for IEC 60617 Graphical symbols for diagrams
We have received many enquiries on how to get access to the IEC 60617 database with "Graphical symbols for diagrams" recently. The present situation can shortly be described as follows:
1. The work on the database has now been going on for over a year, as a united effort between the IEC Central Office, the Loading Team, the Validation Team and the Secretariat of TC3.
In short, the conversion of the sequential presentation in the printed publication of IEC 60617 Ed. 2, Parts 2 to 11, into a structured database has required more work and been more time-consuming than expected from the beginning.
Likewise, the validation, the assurance that the content of the database really corresponds to the original one, has taken time and involved many experts, representing the National Committees, mostly working electronically, but also in "physical meetings". However, today only a few symbols are still to be officially "released" in the database, and is expected to be entirely finished before the end of March.
2. The database will then be officially released (as a whole), and the content of the database be the officially valid IEC standard, replacing the existing IEC 60617 Ed. 2, Part 2 to 11. The functionality of the database will replace Ed. 1 of Part 1.
Part 12 and 13 are not yet part of the database and will therefore remain for the time being.
3. Access to the database is planned to be granted on a subscription basis. Full information on how this is done will be provided in connection with the release.
In addition dated "printouts" from the database will also be available.
4. The future standardisation of graphical symbols will follow a special process in which the National Committees are represented through their appointed experts in the Validation Team. This process uses the database as a repository, not only of the standardised result, but also of the process, i.e. drafts, comments, votes, etc.
What does the database offer?
1. The database contains approximately 1400 internationally standardised graphical symbols for diagrams.
2. The symbols can be retrieved in a number of ways (click for larger size):
- Free text search, based on the names and/or descriptions
- Through a number of "views":
- By symbol number of the old printed Publication IEC 60617
- By Keywords (in English and French)
- By Shape (dominating graphical shapes of the symbol)
- By Function (classification according to IEC 61346-2)
- By Application (intended use of the symbol: kind of diagram)
- By SymbolID (the identity number in the database)
- By Status (Released and Withdrawn standards are available; for the standardisation process also: Proposed, Accepted for work, Rejected)
3. A symbol will be presented as follows (click for larger size):
The symbol is displayed by:
- Graphical presentation
- Name
- SymbolId
- Status (used i.a. for the Status view)
- Publication reference (used for the (old) Publication view)
- Keywords (used for the Keyword view)
- Application not(s) (links to textual application application notes)
- Applying (links to other symbols used in the present one)
- Applied in (links to other symbols in which the present one is a constituent)
- Shape class (used for the Shape view)
- Function class (used for the Function view)
- Application class (used for the Application view)
- Symbol restrictions (if any)
- Change request (for the standardisation process)
- Remarks
Compared to a printed publication, the database form offers a number of advantages:
- Easy and more comprehensive search possibilities
- Of special interest might be "Applying" and "Applied in", illustrating very clearly the interdependence of the symbols, and expected to have a high pedagogical value for the application of the symbols.
/Per-Åke Svensson |
