1. AutoPLANT Piping - Tips and Tricks
Peter Alspaugh and Richard DeLong with Bentley Systems Inc.

2. Overview Projects Tools Databases Project Connectivity Tool
2D to 3D Consistency Reporter
Configuration Editor
Relationship Manager
Databases
Types
Projects
Specs
Schema
Compact and Repair (Access)

3. Overview Right-Click Options Trouble Shooting Debug Mode
Trouble shooting Isogen
AutoCAD commands

4. Project Connectivity Tool
Checks disconnects between drawings
Allows to Check for disconnects without opening drawings
Checks multiple drawings at once
Generates reports on which components have disconnects

5. Project Connectivity Tool (Cont.)

6. Project Connectivity Tool (Cont.)
Right click on the row and select ‘Get report details’ to view the report
The report appears like a table listing all the columns requested in the Preferences

7. Project Connectivity Tool (Cont.)
DOC_ID and COMP_ID will help determine what document contains the disconnected component and what component is disconnected
The PORT_ID tells which port is missing a connection
Press the [x] button to close the report

8. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter

9. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter (Cont.)
Compares 2d data with 3d data
Creates reports that show any inconsistencies in data
Checks across the entire project
Same tool that can be run inside the drawing in the 2d Browse
Allows viewing of components in the drawings (2d and 3d)

10. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter (Cont.)
Piping Components
Equipment/Nozzles
Consistency Status
Drawing Previews

11. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter (Cont.)
In this example, notice that the tag is in the 2d drawing but not in the 3d drawing. Hovering over component with the red 3, the message ‘Status: Missing in 3D’ will appear telling us that it is not in the 3d drawing.

12. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter (Cont.)
In this example, the component is in both the 2d and 3d drawings. It’s status will display as ‘Status: OK’ when hovering over the green check. Also, notice how there is information in the 3D Value column now.

13. 2D to 3D Consistency Reporter (Cont.)
Generating a Report is done by going to Reports pull down menu
The Reports are stored in the project’s ConsistencyReports.mdb file located under the Projdata folder in the Project Root
The two default reports are ‘ConsLog Results’ and ‘MapLog Results’

14. Configuration Editor

15. Configuration Editor (Cont.)
Similar to Project Administrator
Allows the creation of Configurations used with Drawing Access Mode (aka Briefcase Mode)
Includes the following areas for editing – System, Relationships, Model, Piping, Isometrics, Equipment, Isogen, and Reports

16. Configuration Editor (Cont.)
What is Briefcase Mode?
Briefcase Mode is like passing a single document over to a reviewer rather then the entire cabinet.
Why would any one need to use it?
It can be used in model reviews were only one, or even a few, models are needed but access to the project is limited or not available.
How does Configuration Editor relate to Briefcase Mode?
This is the tool that allows users to configure and customize the way Configurations work, similar to how Project Administrator allows the customization of Projects

17. Configuration Editor (Cont.)
Project Administrator
Can Copy Configurations
Can Create New Configurations
Doesn’t contain Tools pull down menu or Integrity Checker
Can Create Projects using settings from a Configuration
Can Create New Projects
Contains tools to help maintain and create database driven projects

18. Configuration Editor (Cont.)
Project
Does not use a Database
Multiple documents can be part of the same Configuration, but do not share data
Can be used so long as a copy of the configuration is located on the computer
Database Driven – either Access, Oracle, or SQL
All documents share database information
Must have access to the project’s database and location to use

19. Relationship Manager
Document Tools such as ‘Add Document to Project’, Import/Export, Backup, and Repair
Project tools such as Clean Registry and Tag Cleanup

20. Relationship Manager (Cont.)
Add Document
Import
Adds a specific document(s) to the project
Adds tag/relationship information from the document into the project
Useful in adding documents that are part of a configuration into a project
Brings in a copy of a document or group of documents from either a packaged file (zip) or from a project
Can bring over all tags from the source, including those not in the imported document(s)
Can Bring over specs and Configuration files

21. Relationship Manager Repair and Backup
Repair is available by right clicking on a document under the document’s node
It fixes relationships and other database issues that can be found in a document
Backup copies the document into a Backup folder under the project root

22. Databases
Types
Projects
Schema
Specs
Compact and Repair (Access)

23. Database Types Access SQL and Oracle
Places the database information into an access file (mdb)
Commonly used for all database files for Projects
Limited number of users when used as the Project database (max. 5)
Cheapest of the database types
SQL and Oracle
Can both be used for the Project, Specs, and Schema
Both handle a large number of users, then Access

24. Project Databases Type is picked during the creation of a Project
For Access, the project database is a file called Projdata.mdb
For SQL and Oracle, the project database is stored on a server and is linked to by a file called Projdata.adp

25. Schema Databases Built as an Access database during project creation
For Access, the project database is a file called Projdata.mdb
For SQL and Oracle, the project database is stored on a server and is linked to by a file called Projdata.adp
Used for some configurations in Project Administator such as TAG Types

26. Spec Databases
Typically Access type, but can be pushed to SQL or Oracle
With Access, the project points to the spec’s files’ location called the Master Spec Folder
SQL and Oracle are External Database that specs can be push into
Changed under the System>Main node in a Project

27. Compact and Repair
An access databases can grow large and unstable. To help with this, Access has a tool called Compact and Repair.
In 2007 Access, this is found under the Windows button under Manage
In 2003 Access and older versions, it is located under the Tools>Database Utilities

28. Right-Click Options In Model Space Drawing Preferences
Component Preferences
Spec Browser
Zoom to Selection
Highlight Selection
Highlight Mode On
Highlight Mode Off
‘Spec Name’ MENU (only visible with Spec Browser opened)

29. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
On a Component
Same as in Model Space, but includes the following
Delete Component
Edit Component
Zoom to Line
Highlight Line
Export Line to Isogen

30. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
Drawing Preferences
Component Preferences
Spec Browser
Each one of these launches the respective tool in AutoPLANT. This allows users to check settings quickly and use the features faster without having to go to the pull down menu.

31. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
Zoom to Selection
Zoom to Line
Allows for quick zooming to components, either by the selection or line number.

32. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
Highlight Mode
Off/On
Selection
Highlights current selected Components
Line
Highlights all components on the same line as the component that was right clicked on

33. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
Export Line to Isogen
Loads the Import/Export module and begins the process of generating an Iso of the Line that the current hovered over component is apart of. (One thing to note is that when the Import/Export module is loaded, some of the right click options in model space are removed.)

34. Right-Click Options (Cont.)
‘Spec Name’ - MENU
Only Visible when Spec Browser is opened
‘Spec Name’ is actually the name of the spec that is selected in the Component Preferences (Ex. CS150 – MENU)
Allows users to quickly select a component from a spec record and place it
Settings for the component are determined by what is in Component preferences

35. Trouble Shooting Debug Mode Trouble shooting Isogen AutoCAD commands
Removing hidden objects

36. Debug Mode AutoPLANT Setting Can be set in Component Preferences
Loads up the Bentley Script Editor
Shows what file is being used for the current operation

37. Debug Mode (Cont.)
To set it in Component Preferences, right click in the Data area and select ‘Add Component Preference’
In the Component Preference Editor, select the DEBUG_MODE under the Result Field section

38. Debug Mode (Cont.)
After add Debug Mode to the Component Preferences, just use the pull down to turn it ON/OFF
When the AutoPLANT Script Editor is up, pressing the ‘Start’ button to run the whole script, or the step feature to go in stages

39. Trouble Shooting Isogen
Three places that report errors in Isogen
Export Progress Dialog
Displays information during the process of the model, which can include location of outputted iso drawing, specifics on errors or points to the Message file for more information
Message File
Gives details on the processed iso file, includes if the process was a success and details on any errors that may have happened
Iso Drawing File
Two typical errors are displayed here, FAIL models, which usually points to something wrong with the component, and PASS error, which usually means a disconnection in the model and doesn’t place the BOM on the iso

40. AutoCAD commands Purge Audit Scale List Edit (SCALELISTEDIT)
Purges unused data from the drawing
Audit
Checks the xdata of the drawing for any damage
Scale List Edit (SCALELISTEDIT)
Removes redundant scales that can be added by attaching references
Recover/Recover all
Runs the Audit/Purge and a number of other fixes on model, it can also include the model’s references

41. Removing Hidden Objects
Old technique to remove objects that can’t be seen in model space
Steps to do this are:
Turn on/unfreeze/unlock all layers
Zoom to see the entire model
Enter the Erase command by typing e or hitting the icon
When it asks to Select objects, type all and hit enter ONCE
This will select all objects in the model, including those that you can’t see
Now remove all the visible objects from the selection by either typing r and hit enter, or by holding Shift, and making a selection box over all the objects
Make a note of the number of objects left, and hit enter

42. Conclusion
Any Questions?