Control Circuit 2026 › Tutorial › Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Symbol Library PDF Export

Goal Export a Symbol Library, or one Category of it, to a professionally laid out PDF, and brand it with your own titles, logo, colour theme, watermark and footer.

Where we are

With a Pro licence we can export our Symbol Libraries to PDF in a professional format. It is good for customer review and for internal documentation.

A page of an exported Symbol Library catalogue: a title and subtitle at top left, a logo and page number at top right, a blue Coils/Contacts category banner, and symbol cards in two columns showing each symbol's graphic, name, ID, tag, pins and size

With this tool we have access to a great many settings and customisations, such as branding, logo and colour themes.

Part 1: Layout and Content

To get started we need to be in the Symbol Editor. Select the library you want to export, then choose File › Export Library to PDF…

The Export Symbol Library to PDF dialog on its Layout and Content tab, showing the library scope, layout style, orientation, page size, content checkboxes and the destination file

On the first tab, Layout & Content, we have these granular controls.

  1. Scope

    We can export the entire library, or just one Category within it. The drop down shows how many symbols each Category holds.

    The Category Only drop down open, listing Coils/Contacts, Control, Instrumentation, Pneumatics, Power, Power Supply, Protection, Safety, Signalling and Terminals, each with a symbol count

  2. Layout

    We can set the Layout Style as required: Visual Cards in two columns, Visual Cards in three columns, or a Table List. You can also choose the page Orientation and Page Size.

    The Layout Style drop down open, offering Visual Cards (2 Columns), Visual Cards (3 Columns) and Table List

  3. Content

    We can choose which aspects of the symbol data to include: the preview graphic, pin labels, tags, fields and contacts, the name, ID, tag and type defaults, pin information, keywords and dimensions.

    The Symbol Content and Details checkboxes: Symbol Preview Graphics, Show Pin Labels, Tags Fields and Contacts, Symbol Name, Symbol ID, Tag and Type Defaults, Pin Information, Keywords and Dimensions

  4. Destination

    And of course we can set the destination file path and filename, and whether the PDF opens when the export completes.

Part 2: Branding and Appearance

On the second tab, Branding & Appearance, we have additional options and customisations.

The Branding and Appearance tab with the Document Header Titles section outlined, showing a Title and a Subtitle text box, followed by Company Logo, Theme and Watermark, and Custom Footer sections

Use the Document Header Titles as required for your own purposes. The Title and Subtitle appear at the top left of every page.

Company logo

In the Company Logo section you may Browse to your own logo image or mark, which will be displayed in the top right corner of every output page. Clear takes it back out again.

The Company Logo section with the Image File box showing the default ControlCircuit App Logo, and Browse and Clear buttons

If you do not choose an image, the default Control Circuit logo is displayed instead.

Accent theme

You may select a colour theme. It colours the title, the Category banners and the edges of the symbol cards, so it is a subtle touch, but a choice nonetheless. There are ten to pick from, ending with a high contrast Monochrome that suits a black and white printer.

The Accent Theme drop down open, listing Steel Blue (Default), Navy Blue, Teal, Forest Green, Industrial Amber, Crimson Red, Royal Purple, Corporate Slate, Silver and Monochrome (High Contrast)

Watermark

With the Document Watermark you can set custom text to be applied like an angled stamp across every page. There are also some default values in the list to choose from, such as DRAFT, FOR REVIEW and CONFIDENTIAL, or you can type your own.

The Document Watermark drop down open, listing None, DRAFT, FOR REVIEW, PRELIMINARY, CONFIDENTIAL, INTERNAL USE ONLY, SUPERSEDED and OBSOLETE

Footer

The Custom Footer is a copyright or company note, printed at the foot of every page alongside the date and page number.

Remembered The dialog remembers your choices, so next time you export it opens as you left it.

Part 3: Export

Finally, tap the Export PDF button to generate the report.

What you just did

Next

That is a quick introduction to the Symbol Library PDF Export. In the next chapter we look at Terminals and Terminal Instances, a foundational subject on which to build your circuit design.