Convert Assembly to Project
Convert a standalone assembly (built without a plan) into a full project. The conversion creates a plan from your assembly data, which becomes the source of truth.
When to Convert
Convert a standalone assembly when you want to:
- Organize with projects — group related assemblies under a single project.
- Use the plan canvas — visualize system-level topology with components, bundles, and branch points.
- Generate additional assemblies — create multiple harness variants from the same plan.
- Collaborate — share the project with team members.
Tip: Conversion is one-way. The new plan is independent — there is no ongoing connection back to the original assembly.
How to Convert
- Open the standalone assembly in the Harness Builder.
- Click the New button in the toolbar (the + icon).
- Select Convert to Project.
- Enter a project name and optional description.
- Click Convert.
The conversion runs and opens the new plan.
What Gets Converted
The conversion maps assembly elements to plan elements:
| Assembly Element | Plan Element |
|---|---|
| Connector (BOM entry) | Component node + BOM entry + pins |
| Splice (category = splice) | Branch point node + conductor splice |
| Wire (connection) | Conductor with endpoints, gauge, color, stripe |
| Cable (BOM + core connections) | Cable with core mappings + conductors per core |
| Twisted pair (twisted_pair_id) | Wire group (method: twisted) |
| Bundle properties (length, tolerance) | Bundle length and tolerance fields |
| Bundle accessories (heat shrink, sleeve, etc.) | Bundle accessories on bundles |
| Signal labels (label_end1 / label_end2) | Net entries with display names |
Wire Properties
Gauge, color, and stripe are preserved, including overrides. Color names convert to hex.
Topology
Topology is inferred from wiring:
- Wires between the same two connectors are grouped into a single bundle.
- Cables connecting three or more connectors create branch points at the breakout.
- Splices become branch points with conductor splice data.
- Flying leads become flying lead components with their termination properties (tinned, bare, heat shrink).
After Conversion
Once the plan is created:
- Review the layout — components inherit assembly positions. Rearrange as needed.
- Assign parts — replace any placeholders from the BOM panel.
- Add signals — nets are created from wire labels but signals are not assigned.
- Generate assemblies — select plan elements to generate new assemblies.
Conversion Warnings
The conversion may report warnings for edge cases:
| Warning | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Topology inference | No bundle segment data found — topology was inferred from connections (expected for manually-built assemblies). |
| Unresolved connector | A connection references a connector not found in the BOM. |
| Unresolved pin | A wire references a pin number that exceeds the connector’s pin count. |
| Cable core mismatch | A cable’s core connections couldn’t be mapped to a bundle. |
These are informational — conversion still completes. Review the plan to verify.