Design Templates Introduction

8/7/2019 Design Templates Introduction

1/85

Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS

Design TemplatesVersion 11.6SP1

pdms1161/Design Templates Introductionissue 260605

www.cadfamily.com EMail:[email protected]

The document is for study only,if tort to your rights,please inform us,we will delete
http://www.cadfamily.com/


2/85

AVEVA Solutions Ltd, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HB, UK

PLEASE NOTE: AVEVA Solutions has a policy of continuing product development: therefore, theinformation contained in this document may be subject to change without notice. AVEVA SOLUTIONS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO

THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIEDWARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULARPURPOSE.While every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this document, AVEVASolutions shall not be liable for errors contained herein or direct, indirect, special,incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance oruse of this material.

This manual provides documentation relating to products to which you may not haveaccess or which may not be licensed to you. For further information on which Productsare licensed to you please refer to your licence conditions.

Copyright 1991 through 2005 AVEVA Solutions LimitedAll rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of AVEVASolutions.The software programs described in this document are confidential information andproprietary products of AVEVA Solutions or its licensors.

For details of AVEVA's worldwide sales and support offices, see our website athttp://www.aveva.com


http://www.aveva.com/engineeringit/world/http://www.cadfamily.com/http://www.aveva.com/engineeringit/world/


3/85

Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design Templates Revision History-iVersion 11.6SP1

Revision History

Date Version Notes

October 2003 11.5 Updates for this release.

August 2004 11.6 Updates for this release plus some general fixes.

June 2005 11.6SP1 Corrections for this release.




4/85

Revision History

Revision History-ii Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design TemplatesVersion 11.6SP1




5/85

Contents

Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design Template Contents-iVersion 11.6SP1

Contents

1 Read This First..............................................................................................1-1

1.1 The scope of the Guide .............................................................................................................1-1 1.1.1 Intended audience ......................................................................................................1-1 1.1.2 Assumptions ...............................................................................................................1-2 1.1.3 About the tutorial exercise ..........................................................................................1-2 1.1.4 Further reading ...........................................................................................................1-2

1.2 Text conventions........................................................................................................................1-2 1.3 Terminology ...............................................................................................................................1-3 1.4 How the Guide is organised.......................................................................................................1-3

2 Introducing VANTAGE PDMS ......................................................................2-1

2.1 Introducing the structure of PDMS.............................................................................................2-1 2.2 The strengths of PDMS .............................................................................................................2-1

3 Getting Started.............................................................................................. 3-1

3.1 Logging in ..................................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 Using the mouse ........................................................................................................................3-1 3.3 Using forms................................................................................................................................3-2

3.3.1 Using text boxes .........................................................................................................3-2 3.3.2 Using drop-down lists .................................................................................................3-3

3.4 The PDMS startup display .........................................................................................................3-4 3.5 Using menus ..............................................................................................................................3-6 3.6 Using the tool bar .......................................................................................................................3-6 3.7 Using the Design Explorer .........................................................................................................3-7 3.8 Using the status bar ...................................................................................................................3-8 3.9 More on using forms ..................................................................................................................3-9

3.9.1 Using option buttons...................................................................................................3-9 3.9.2 Using check boxes .....................................................................................................3-9

3.9.3 Using scrollable lists .................................................................................................3-10 3.9.4 Using action buttons .................................................................................................3-10

3.10 Responding to alert forms........................................................................................................3-10 3.11 Using on-line Help....................................................................................................................3-10

4 Creating a Simple Template.........................................................................4-1

4.1 The basic concepts ....................................................................................................................4-1 4.2 Creating an initial template design.............................................................................................4-1 4.3 The Design Template hierarchy.................................................................................................4-5 4.4 Copying Design geometry into a template .................................................................................4-6 4.5 Event-driven graphics mode ......................................................................................................4-7 4.6 Modifying the template geometry...............................................................................................4-9

5 Setting Template Properties and Rules ......................................................5-1

5.1 Defining the template properties................................................................................................5-1 5.2 Defining a template rule .............................................................................................................5-4 5.3 How template data is accessed in the Design hierarchy ..........................................................5-5 5.4 Defining more template rules .....................................................................................................5-6




6/85

Contents

Contents-ii Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design TemplatesVersion 11.6SP1

6 Adding a Template into a Catalogue Specification.................................... 6-1

6.1 How a template is accessed via a Specification ........................................................................6-1 6.2 Setting a template reference in a Specification .........................................................................6-2

7 A More Advanced Example.......................................................................... 7-1

7.1 Building up a Design from subsidiary parts ...............................................................................7-1 7.2 Restricting property values for use in a Design .........................................................................7-3 7.3 Adding Design Points.................................................................................................................7-5 7.4 Assigning local names to template elements ............................................................................7-7 7.5 Specifying priorities for evaluating rules ....................................................................................7-8 7.6 Setting references to sub-equipments .....................................................................................7-12 7.7 How rules associated with valid values are stored ..................................................................7-177.8 Adding vessel supports............................................................................................................7-18 7.9 Showing dimensions on template designs ..............................................................................7-19 7.10 Testing your design template...................................................................................................7-23

8 Some Further Information for Template Designers ................................... 8-1

8.1 Using pseudo-attributes for accessing data ..............................................................................8-1 8.2 Associating a plotfile with a design template .............................................................................8-2

9 Hints and Tips ...............................................................................................9-1

9.1 Preliminary planning ..................................................................................................................9-1 9.2 Some specific points to remember ............................................................................................9-1

9.2.1 Get the template origin right .......................................................................................9-1 9.2.2 Get the template orientation right ...............................................................................9-2 9.2.3 Use a consistent naming convention..........................................................................9-2 9.2.4 Do not use external values directly in rules ..............................................................9-2 9.2.5 Consider adding extra design points ..........................................................................9-2 9.2.6 Consider the units of measurement ...........................................................................9-3 9.2.7 Consider associated negative geometry ....................................................................9-3

9.2.8 Always test a new template in a Design .....................................................................9-3

A Other relevant documentation........................................................................ 4

A.1 On-Line Help.................................................................................................................................4 A.3 PDMS Reference Manuals ...........................................................................................................2




7/85


8/85

Read This First

1-2 Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design TemplatesVersion 11.6SP1

1.1.2 Assumptions

For you to use this guide, the sample PDMS project, Project SAM, mustbe correctly installed on your system, and you must have read/write

access to the project databases.It is assumed that you know:

where to find PDMS on your computer system

you know how to use the Windows operating system installed on yoursite.

Contact your systems administrator if you need help in either of theseareas.

1.1.3 About the tutorial exercise

All the steps of the exercise are numbered sequentially throughout theguide. The start and end of each part of the exercise is marked by linesacross the page to separate them from the general information sections,like this:

1.1.4 Further reading

You can find a list of relevant AVEVA documentation in the appendicesof this guide.

1.2 Text conventions

This guide uses the following text conventions:

Serif for the majority of the text.

Bold to highlight important information, and to introducespecial terminology.

Serif italic to denote internal cross references and citations.

Sans-serif to denote keys on your keyboard.

Sans-serif bold for menu names and options, and for the names of forms.

Typewriter for text within a form, including text that you enteryourself using the keyboard.




9/85

Read This First

Introduction to VANTAGE PDMS Design Templates 1-3Version 11.6SP1

1.3 Terminology

You can switch rapidly between the different parts of the program, sothat the distinctions between them become almost imperceptible, but you

need to recognise what is happening when you select from the differentfunctions available to you from the various menus.

The following terms are used throughout this guide to describe whataction to carry out:

Enter Type text into the specified dialogue box, then press theEnter (or Return) key to confirm the entry.

Click Place the mouse cursor over a specified point, thenquickly press and release the designated mouse button. Ifno button is specified, use the left-hand mouse button.

Pick Click on the required item to select it.Drag Place the mouse cursor over a specified point, then press

and hold down the required mouse button while movingthe cursor to a second specified point. Release the buttonover the second point.

Double-click Place the mouse cursor over a specified point, then clickthe left-hand mouse button twice in quick succession.

1.4 How the Guide is organised

This guide contains the following chapters and appendices:Chapter 1 introduces this guide and summarises its scope.Chapter 2 introduces PDMS.Chapter 3 explains how to log in to PDMS and gives a general guide

to using the PDMS graphical user interface, including anexplanation of how to access detailed on-line help.

Chapter 4 first introduces the concept of design templates. It thendescribes the geometric design of a simple templaterepresenting a structural penetration hole surrounded by

a kickplate assembly.

Chapter 5 explains how to set up the properties and rules toparameterise the design template dimensions so that itcan be used in subsequent design operations.




10/85

Read This First


Chapter 6 summarises the steps needed to include the designtemplate in a PDMS catalogue, so that it can be selectedby a designer via a specification.

Chapter 7 further illustrates the principles by means of a morecomplex example representing an equipment vessel withuser-selectable end configurations.

Chapter 8 gives some additional information which you might findrelevant as you gain experience of template design.

Chapter 9 lists some points to remember to ensure success whendesigning templates.

Appendix A identifies other sources of information which supplement,and expand upon, the brief details given in this guide.

The guide concludes with an Index, allowing you to refer back to any

specific topics about whose details you need to be reminded.




11/85


2 Introducing VANTAGE PDMS

This chapter provides: an introduction to PDMS

an explanation of the structure of PDMS

the strengths of PDMS

template design features

2.1 Introducing the structure of PDMS

PDMS comprises the following functional parts:

modules

applications

A module is a subdivision of PDMS that you use to carry out specifictypes of operation. This guide covers the following modules:

Design, which you use for creating the 3D design modelAn application is supplementary program that has been tailored toprovide easy control of operations that are specific to a particulardiscipline. The applications you will use for template design work in thisguide are:

Equipment

Design Templates

You can switch quickly and easily between different parts of PDMS.

2.2 The strengths of PDMS

In VANTAGE PDMS, you have a powerful suite of facilities for themodification, design validation and documentation of logicallyinterconnected steelwork and/or concrete structures.

The emphasis is on maximising both design consistency and designproductivity:

The design modelling functions incorporate a degree of apparent

intelligence that enables them to make sensible decisions about theconsequential effects of many of your design choices. This allows youto implement a sequence of related decisions with a minimum ofeffort.




12/85

Introducing VANTAGE PDMS


You can incorporate modifications into your design at any stagewithout fear of invalidating any of your prior work, because dataconsistency-checking is an integral part of the product. PDMSautomatically manages drawing production, material take-offreports, and so on, by reading all design data directly from a common

set of databases, to prevent errors from being introduced bytranscribing information between different disciplines.

The applications let you check all aspects of your design as workprogresses. This includes on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, sothe chances of errors and inconsistencies reaching the finaldocumented design are reduced to an exceptionally low level.

The applications are controlled from a graphical user interface. Thismeans that all design, drawing and reporting operations are initiatedby selecting choices from menus, and by entering data into on-screenforms. For ease of use, many common actions are also represented bypictorial icons.

On-screen help is available to assist you whenever you need help.




13/85

3 Getting Started

This chapter explains:

how to log in to PDMS how to use the windows, menus and forms that comprise the PDMS

graphical user interface

on-line help

3.1 Logging in

This is the first step of the tutorial exercise. If you do not know where thePDMS program is stored on your system, you will have to contact yoursystem administrator at this point.

Exercise begins:

1. Start PDMS by double-clicking on the PDMS icon.The VANTAGE PDMS Login form that appears requires you to specifya number of details at the outset of your session.

Ignore any entries currently shown in this form. The next sectiondescribes how to complete the boxes, and the exercise continuesafterwards.

3.2 Using the mouse

You use the mouse to steer the graphics cursor around the screen and toselect or pick items by using the mouse buttons. The buttons perform





14/85

Getting Started


different tasks depending on the type of window, and where the cursor ispositioned in it. The appearance of the cursor changes according to thetype of display item underneath it.

The left-hand mouse button has three functions:

On a graphical view, clicking the left-hand button with the cursorover a design element results in that element becoming the currentelement (that is, the design item on which you want to carry out thenext operation).

In a sequence of menus, dragging with the left-hand button activatesthe command represented by the highlighted menu option when thebutton is released.

On a form, the effect varies according to what you select.

The middle mouse button is used primarily to manipulate a graphicalview; the right-hand button is used to access the menu options specific tothe graphical view window.

Note: the right-hand mouse button menu will henceforth be referred to as theshortcut menu.

3.3 Using forms

Forms can include any of the following:

text boxes

drop-down lists

option buttons

check boxes

scrollable lists action buttons

Text boxes and drop-down lists are explained below; the remainder areexplained later in this chapter.

3.3.1 Using text boxes

Text boxes are the areas where you type in alphanumeric data such asnames or dimensions. A text box will usually have a label to tell youwhat to enter.

When you first open a form which contains text boxes, the first text-box

on the form is current and a text editing cursor (a vertical bar) isdisplayed in the box. A text-box often contains a default entry (such asunset) when first displayed. Some text boxes accept only text or onlynumeric data, and entries with the wrong type of data are not accepted.




15/85

Getting Started

To enter data into a text box:

Click in the box to insert the text editing cursor.

Type in the required data, editing any existing entry as necessary.(You may need to delete the existing entry first.)

When you have finished, confirm the entry by pressing the Enter(orReturn) key. Any text box with an unconfirmed setting is highlightedby a yellow background.

3.3.2 Using drop-down lists

Drop-down lists let you choose one option from a multiple selection. Thelist will usually have a label to tell you what you are setting and willshow the current selection.

They typically have the following appearance:

To change the setting, click on the down arrow or button face to revealthe full list of available options, and then pick the required option.

Exercise continues:

2. Click on the VANTAGE PDMS Login form to make it active.3. Give the name of the Project in which you want to work: enter SAM.4. Give your allocated Username: enter CATS. This username has

been set up so that you will have Read/Write access to a Cataloguedatabase, as well as to a Design database. This is necessary so that

you can add your new template into a Specification at a later stageof the exercise.

5. Give your allocated Password: enter CATS.6. Give the part of the project Multiple Database (MDB) you want to

work in: enter CATS.

7. Give the name of the module you wish to use: select Design.Make sure that you leave the Read Only box unchecked, so thatyou can modify the database as you work.

You must specify which files to load at startup. You can chooseeither the application default settings (Load from Macro Files)or a customised setup saved during an earlier session (Load fromBinary Files). Design templates are stored in a Design databaserather than in a Catalogue database, so enter the Design module byloading its appware from Macro Files.





16/85

Getting Started

When you have entered all the necessary details, the form lookslike this:

Click on the button.

3.4 The PDMS startup display

When PDMS has loaded, your screen looks like this:





17/85

Getting Started


Comment [ JPM1]: Screenshot needs updating to reflectthe latest version of thedesign Explorer.

As labelled above, the display comprises the following:

Title BarThis shows the current PDMS module, and its sub-application ifapplicable.

Main Menu BarThis is the area you use to make menu selections.

Main Tool BarThis has a number of icon buttons and drop-down lists that offershortcuts to a selection common PDMS operations and standardsettings.

Design ExplorerThis shows your current position in the PDMS database

hierarchy. To move to a different point in the database, you clickon the appropriate item in the list. By default, the tree will havethe current element selected.




18/85

Getting Started

3D Graphical ViewThis is the window in which you display the design modelgraphically as you build it. A pop-up menu (which you accesswith the right-hand mouse button) enables you to control how themodel is represented. This window also has its own tool bar.

Status BarThis displays information about the current status of youroperations.

You can reposition or minimise these windows at any time usingstandard window management facilities.

3.5 Using menus

Menu options in pull-down or pop-up menus can be in any of three

formats:Standalone options initiate an action immediately.

Options followed by three dots display a form.

Options followed by a pointer, display a subsidiary menu that

offers a further range of options.

Throughout this guide, related selections from menus are abbreviatedform using the > symbol as a separator. For example:

Select Position>Move>Distance means:

8. Select Position from the bar menu.9. Select Move from the resulting pull-down menu10. Move the cursor to the right and select Distance from the resulting

submenu.

3.6 Using the tool bar

The tool bar is displayed immediately below the main menu bar in theapplication window. It contains a number of icon buttons which let youcarry out common tasks without searching for the options in the menus.

The actions of the buttons are explained in the on-line help. If you pausethe cursor over a button, a tool-tip pop-up box will remind you of thefunction of the button. To activate a button, you click on it.

Note: The tool bar can be switched off or modified using the options on the

shortcut menu in the toolbar area.





19/85


20/85

Getting Started

You can drag-and-drop elements within the DesignExplorer to copy them,or you can drag-and-drop from the Explorer to add elements to the 3Dview and My Data.

The Current Element is highlighted in the tree view and the CurrentElement will change to follow selections made elsewhere, even if theExplorer is not the active window. If you set the Expand to CE check box inthe Explorer Settings, the tree will automatically expand to show theCurrent Element if it is not currently in view.

The Current Element is also the displayed in the History List, which youwill find by default on the main menu bar. However, you can undock theHistory List and have it as a free-floating window. The figure belowshows the History List as a free-floating window.


Comment [ JPM4]:A properscreen shot is probablyrequired here for PDMS 11.6

You can make another element the Current Element using the HistoryList by:

typing the elements name into the combo box;

selecting a previously typed in element from the combo-boxs pull-down list. Note that if you dock the window vertically, it will notdisplay the combo-box;

navigating through the history one element at a time using thebackwards and forwards buttons;

selecting elements from anywhere in the History List using the

drop down lists on the backwards and forwards buttons;

3.8 Using the status bar

The status bar displays messages telling you what actions theapplication is carrying out. You should look at it frequently, especially ifthe system appears to be waiting for you to do something, since it willalways prompt you for any input or action which is required to carry outthe next step of your current activity.

If the prompt lets you repeat a task an unspecified number of times, suchas picking a selection of items using the cursor, you must press theEscape key when you have finished indicating that you are ready tomove to the next operation.




21/85

Getting Started

3.9 More on using forms

Forms are used both to display information and to let you enter newdata. Forms typically comprise an arrangement ofbuttons of varioustypes, text-boxes, and scrollable lists. Input to a form is usually via acombination of mouse and keyboard.

While you have access to a form, you can change a setting, return to theinitial values, accept and act on the current data, or cancel the formwithout applying any changes, according to the nature of the form.

You were introduced to text boxes and drop-down lists in Section 3.3; thissection describes the remaining boxes, buttons and lists:

option buttons

check boxes

scrollable lists

action buttons

3.9.1 Using option buttons

Option buttons are used to select one, and only one, from a group ofoptions. The selection is mutually exclusive, so that selecting one optiondeselects others in that group automatically.


Option selected

Option not selected

To change the selected option button in a group, click the requiredbutton.

3.9.2 Using check boxes

Check boxes are used to switch an option between two states, typicallyset and unset. Unlike option buttons, they do not interact, so that youcan set any combination of check boxes at the same time.


Set

Unset

Introduction to V AGE PDMS Design Templates 3-9ANTVersion 11.6SP1




22/85

Getting Started

3.9.3 Using scrollable lists

A scrollable list is displayed as a vertical list of options within the form,with vertical and horizontal scroll bars along its sides. To select anoption, click on the line you want. The selected line is highlighted.

Some scrollable lists let you make only a single selection, so thatselecting any option deselects all others automatically. Other lists let youmake multiple selections, with all selected options highlightedsimultaneously. You can deselect a highlighted option in a multiple-choice list; by clicking on it again (repeated clicks toggle a selection).

3.9.4 Using action buttons

Most forms include one or more action buttons. You use these to tellPDMS what to do with the details you have entered in the form.

The common action buttons are:

Tells PDMS to accept the current form settings, and closes the form

Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and closes the form

Tells PDMS to accept the current form settings, and leaves the form

displayed for further use

Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and leaves the form

displayed for further use

Closes the form, keeping the current settings

Some forms contain more specific types ofcontrolbutton which carry outparticular command options. The action is indicated by the name of thebutton (such Add or Remove).

3.10 Responding to alert forms

Alert forms are used to display information such as error messages,prompts and requests for confirmation of changes. You should respond bycarrying out the task prompted for, or by clicking on the control buttonson the form (usually an OK or Cancel button).

3.11 Using on-line Help

Most bar menus end with a Help option. Where available, on-line helpgives detailed instructions on how to use the forms and menus fromwhich you control each application.





23/85

Getting Started

Choosing one of the Help options will bring up the Help window. Thepicture below shows a typical example of what you will see:

The pane on the right shows by default a clickable image of the mainPDMS Design window. If you click on an area of the image, the imagewill be replaced by text that describes the part of the image you clickedon.

The left pane contains a set of tabs that allow you to use Help in differentways. Choosing one of the options described below activates the relevant

tab for you so it is at the front when the Help window comes up.

The Help option gives you the following choices from its submenu:

Help>Contents

This displays the Help window so that you can find the required topicfrom the hierarchical contents list.

Help>Index

This displays the Help window with the Index tab selected, so that youcan browse for the topic you want to read about from the alphabetically-arranged list. You can locate topics quickly by typing in the first fewletters of their title.

Help>SearchThis displays the Help window with the Search tab at the front so thatyou can find all topics containing the keywords you specify.





24/85

Getting Started

Help>About

This displays information about the current operating system on yourcomputer and about the versions of PDMS and its applications to whichyou have access.

Pressing theF1 key at any time will display the help topic for thecurrently active window.

Exercise continues:

11. Experiment with each of the Help options until you understand thesearch and navigation facilities for finding specific items ofinformation. Use the F1 key to read the help texts for any formsthat you can currently see on your screen.

12. When you are ready to continue, close any forms which you havebeen experimenting with as follows:

If a form has a Dismiss button, click this button. If a form has its own menu bar, select Control>Close from that

menu. Close any Help windows which are displayed by double-

clicking in the control box in the top left-hand corner of eachwindow. Alternatively, select File>Exit from the Help windowmenu bar.

Do not close the Design Explorer or the 3D View windows, because you willuse these in the next parts of the exercise.

You are advised to make full use of the on-line help facilities wheneveryou want clarification of any operations during the later steps of theexercise.





25/85


26/85

Creating a Simple Template

Positive Box

First Negative Box

Second Negative Box

Overall

Width

OverallLength

OverallHeight

PanelThickness

WallThickness

When the design template is used in a design, its dimensions will bespecified by reference to a set of predefined properties. It is important,therefore, that you have thought carefully about which dimensions are tobe parameterised before you create the design template (just as youwould normally sketch out a new catalogue component before starting tobuild it up in Paragon).

In our present example, we will define five properties representingoverall length, overall width, overall height, wall thickness for thekickplates, and the panel thickness for the penetration hole below the

kickplate assembly, as shown on the preceding diagram.

Exercise continues:13. The Design Templates application makes the assumption that a

new template will be based on an existing set of design elements (oron a predefined design template), so we will first use the Equipmentapplication to create the positive box and the first negative box. (Wewill see later why the second negative box, representing the panelpenetration hole, cannot be created at this stage.)

Select Design>Equipment to enter the Equipment application.

14. From the Equipment Application menu, select Create>Site and namethe new site /TMPLSITE.

15. Below this site create a new Zone named /TMPLZONE and below thisan Equipment named /Kickplate. Leave the equipment Positionat the default of 0,0,0.





27/85


It is this equipment element which will own the BOX, which will inturn own the first NBOX, which will be used as the basis for thedesign template.

16. Select Create>Primitives and use the Create Primitives form to createa Solid Box.On the Create Box form, set the following data:

Enter the Name as /Kickplate-Outer.

Set Y-length to 1000, X-length to 500 and Z-length to 250. Thesedimensions give a starting point for the design, so that you can seeit in the graphical view: the template derived from this box willredefine the dimensions in terms of parameterised rules.

Leave the Position at the default of0,0,0 and the Orientation atthe default ofY-Axis North and Z-Axis Up.

17. Using the same procedure, create a Negative Box with Name/Kickplate-Inner, Y-length 950, X-length 450, Z-length 250, defaultPosition and Orientation.

Note that the X and Y dimensions of the NBox are smaller thanthose of its owning Box by an amount corresponding to twice thewall thickness, but the Z dimensions of both boxes are the same.

18. Use the following settings for viewing the results: Click the Walk to Draw List button ( ) on the 3D View Tool

Bar (note that the Kickplate has already been added to theDraw List. You can view the Draw List by choosing the menuoption Display>Draw List from the main menu bar.)

Set the view direction to Iso 2 by selecting Isometric>Iso 2from the 3D View shortcut menu.

Set the Representation (Settings>Graphics>Representationfrom the main menu) to Holes Drawn Off (not ticked).

If you currently have a colour-shaded view, switch to awireline view (View>Settings>Shaded from the 3D View menu,or press F8).





28/85


The result should look like this:

Try some other view settings if you wish.

The Design Explorer should now show the following elements:


Comment [ JPM5]: Screenshot will need to be updated toreflect the new appearance ofthe Explorer.

Save your design changes (Design>Save Work).

That ends the creation of the basic design, which will be copied to form

the design template.In the next part of the exercise we will create a suitable hierarchy underwhich to store the template and will then create the template itself.




29/85


4.3 The Design Template hierarchy

Design Template (TMPL) elements are stored in a separate part of theDesign DB under an administrative Template World (TPWL), which is

itself divided into administrative Template Areas (TMAR).When you are working in the Design Templates application, you need tobe able to navigate concurrently in two different parts of the Designdatabase: the area which holds the design data on which the templatesare to be based, and the area which holds the templates themselves.Template creation involves, among other steps, copying data from theformer area to the latter.

Navigation in the design area is carried out via the Design Explorer in theusual way, while navigation in the template area is carried out via aseparate Template Browser form.

The hierarchy with which we will be concerned in the next part of the

exercise is as follows:

World (/*)

SITE

ZONE

EQUI

BOX

NBOX

TMPL

TPWL

TMAR

BOX

NBOX

Copy

Exercise continues:19. In order to create the design template elements, we must first

change from the Equipment application to the Design Templatesapplication. To do so, select Design>Design Templatesfrom theEquipment Application menu.

You will see the Design Templates Application menu bar plus theTemplate Browser form. The latter lists all of the design templateswhich have been supplied as part of the sample project. During thecurrent exercise, we will add the templates which we will createunder a new top-level Template World.

20. From the Design Templates Application menu, select Create>TemplateWorld. Set the Name to /TESTTPWL and set the Description toTemplate World for exercises.

The new template world will be created immediately below Worldlevel at the top of the current design hierarchy, regardless of the





30/85


level of your current design element. Notice that Template Browsershows the elements description, whereas the Design Explorer showsits name (you will not see the latter yet unless you navigate to it).

21. Select Create>Template Area and name the template area/TESTTMAR. Enter its description as Template Area forexercises.

4.4 Copying Design geometry into a template

We are now going to create a design template whose geometry will bebased on a copy of the equipment element which we have alreadycreated, namely a positive box with a negative box inside it. Later, wewill modify this design within the template by adding another negativebox; this will not affect the original equipment in any way.

Exercise continues:22. When you create a design template (TMPL), it will copy its

geometry from the current design element, so first navigate to theEquipment (indicated by the symbol) Kickplate in the DesignExplorer and then select Create>Template from the Design TemplatesApplication menu.

Notice how the Box and its subsidiary NBox are highlighted (in red,by default) in the 3D View. The prompt asks you to confirm that youwant to use the highlighted item as the basis of the new template.Click Yes.

You will now see a Create Template form and a Positioning Controlform.

The Original Item data at the top of the Create Template formshows the name of the current design item (in this case, theequipment /Kickplate).

Set the following Template Information:

Name Kickplate-1

Purpose Leave as Unset

Description Protected floor penetration

Function Rectangular

Generic Type PENH (Penetration Hole)

(This data is optional, but is helpful when the template is to beselected for use in a design. In some cases the generic type will be





31/85


deduced automatically from the original design item, but this is notpossible in our current example.) Do notOK the form yet.We will set the position of the templates Origin by picking it in the3D View. To do this, you need to understand the concept ofevent-driven graphics. This is explained next.

4.5 Event-driven graphics mode

Before we begin the next part of the exercise, it is necessary tounderstand how to use the cursor to pick points in the graphical view.Whenever the status line immediately below the menu bar of the 3DView shows a prompt other than Navigate, as now, the graphical view isswitched automatically into event-driven graphics mode. This meansthat when you pick a point in the displayed graphics, your action is

interpreted in whatever way is appropriate to your current designoperation (i.e. the current event) rather than simply as a request tonavigate to a new current element. In this example, picking in event-driven graphics mode will be used to specify a position.

The position derived from your cursor pick can be the exact point atwhich you have placed the cursor or, more commonly, it can be a positionwhich is related to the picked point in a specified way. The main conceptinvolved in structural applications is that of the snap function, whichautomatically chooses the nearest Start, End or (optionally) SecondaryNode position to the picked point, so that you do not need to be veryaccurate when positioning the cursor.

The full range of options available for identifying positions is extensive.We will use it in the exercise simply to pick a p-point which is already atthe required position.

Exercise continues:23. The current position of the design template origin, relative to the

template geometry, is at the centre of the box, as shown by the

Template Origin label ( ) which you will now see in the 3DView (rotate the view if necessary to see the position properly; thelabel may be difficult to read because the equipment origin islabelled at the same location).

In order to provide a more convenient datum point for positioningthe kickplate assembly relative to the surface of a panel, we willredefine the origin as being at the centre of the lower face of thebox.





32/85


To do so, we will enter the Origin data on the Create Template formby picking an existing p-point at the required position. We arealready in event-driven graphics mode (as shown by the 3D Viewstatus line which says Defining a Template Snap).

On the Positioning Control form, set the Pick Type (left-hand box) toPpoint and the Pick Method to Snap. This constrains the system toallow you to pick only p-points. Move the cursor into the 3D View,hold down the left-hand mouse button, and move the cursor over thebox (click on any edge of the box if you are using a wireline view).The p-points appear as dots in the view and the cursor shape

changes to when it is over a p-point. The name of the selectedpoint is shown in the status line. Release the mouse button whenthe cursor is over P6 of BOX /Kickplate-Outer.

Notice how the Origin coordinates are now shown in the CreateTemplate form as East 0, North 0, Down 125 and how the

labelling has changed in the 3D View.24. Leave the Create List buttons (Properties and Points) bothunselected andOK the Create Template form. The Template Browsershould now show the following elements:

The 3D View will now show both the original equipment and thetemplate derived from it (offset by the amount by which the originhas been repositioned). From the Template Browser menu, selectDisplay>Selected Template. The draw list will be emptied and willthen be reset, together with the global limits, to show just thecurrent template. You may find this facility useful at future stagesin the exercise to reset a confusing display.





33/85



4.6 Modifying the template geometry

In order that the template can penetrate a panel on which it is positionedwhen instanced in a design, it must include a second negative box owned

by the TMPL. A negative box owned by the positive box will not have therequired effect, which is why we did not create it in the originalequipment.

25. The new NBOX must be created below the TMPL. To achieve this,you must first navigate to the TMPL in the Design Explorer. Theeasiest way to do this is to check the Template Browser's Navigateon selection checkbox and then reselect the TMPL in thebrowser list. This element will become current in the DesignExplorer automatically.

Alternatively, if you have the Draw List window open, you candouble-click on the TMPL entry, or use the right-mouse button and

choose the Navigate To option from the popup menu that appears.From the Design Templates Application menu, select Create>Primitives. Create a Negative Box.

Set the Name to /Panel-pene.

Set the Y-length to 950, X-length to 450 and Z-length to 100.

Leave the Orientation at its default setting.

We want to position the new NBOX so that its upper face iscoplanar with the lower faces of the existing BOX and NBOX. Toachieve this, we must move it down by half its Z-length, so set thePosition to North 0, East 0, Down 50.

We have now completed the required design template geometry, asillustrated in the diagram near the start of Section 4.2. In the nextchapter we will see how to allocate properties and rules to the template,so that its geometry may be parameterised and adjusted to suit specificuse in design contexts.




34/85






35/85

5 Setting Template Properties and Rules

Although we set the dimensions and relative positions of the Box andNBoxes to specific values to give a meaningful representation in thedisplayed view, these settings are largely irrelevant for the template.When the template is used in a design application, the dimensions andpositions of the primitives will be reset by reference to a set ofparameterised rules which adjust the geometry to suit the localcircumstances. These rules are defined in terms of the templatesproperties, which we will now define.

5.1 Defining the template properties

Each property represents an attribute of the template which is to beadjusted by reference to the parameterised rules when used in a designinstance. In the current example, we need to define five propertiescorresponding to the following dimensions:

WIDT

LENG

HEIG

PTHK

WTHK

LENG = Overall lengthWIDT = Overall widthHEIG = Overall heightWTHK = Wall thicknessPTHK = Panel thickness

The template properties are stored in Design Data (DDAT) elements,

owned by a Design Dataset (DDSE), which is itself owned by the TMPLelement. When we created the template, we could have created an emptyDesign Dataset by setting the Create Lists: Properties button to Onin Step 24. Instead, we will create one now and then define its DesignData members.





36/85

Setting Template Properties and Rules


Exercise continues:26. Check that the selected element in the Template Browser is the

TMPL and then select Create>Property Definitions. A DDSE elementwill be created automatically (check the Design Explorer) and you

will see a Define Template Properties form which lets you set up therequired list of properties.

The upper part of the form lets you specify the details for a singleproperty, while the lower part displays a list of all of the propertieswhich are currently defined. The list is empty at this stage.

Define the first property as follows:

Enter the Description as Overall length and the Key as LENG. The Definition option specifies how the value of the property

will be derived when the template is used in a design. Thechoices are:

Design Parameter Value taken from design data entered

when template is instancedAttribute Value taken from named attribute

(Short Key is set to attribute name)Expression Value is result of evaluating expression

(as typed into text-box immediatelybelow the option list)

Plotfile Name of plotfile to be displayedSpecification Ref Allows SpecRef (e.g. Profile) to be set

when template is instancedSub Element Ref Allows pointer to subsidiary element

(e.g. Sub-Equipment) to be set when

template is instancedWe will set the first four dimensional properties as DesignParameters, so select this option for the Definition field. In theNo text-box, enter 1 for the first design parameter.

Set the Data Type option to Distance. The Default text-box lets you specify the value which will be

used if the correct value cannot be derived at any intermediatestage of the design process. Enter a default length of1500.

The Range text-boxes let you specify acceptable minimum(From) and maximum (To) values for the property value whichcan be entered in the design. Leave these unset. (Ignore the

greyed-out Display button for now.)The settings should now look like this:




37/85


Click the Include button to create the currently defined property

in the list (there is no separate Apply button on this form).

27. Repeat the process to add the following property definitions to thelist:

Description Key DesPar No Default Distance

Overall width WIDT 2 750

Kickplate height HEIG 3 300

Wall thickness WTHK 4 50

(You will notice that the application adds parentheses round the

default value automatically. It is optional whether or not you enterthese when you type in the default value.)

28. The fifth property, namely the thickness of the panel which thesecond NBOX is to penetrate, will be derived from the actual panelthickness as defined in the design. To achieve this, we will definethe property as an expression which represents this thickness.

Enter the Description as Panel thickness and the Key asPTHK.

Set the Definition option to Expression and type the followingexpression into the expr text-box:

HEIG of PLOO 1 of PANEL(since the panel thickness is represented by the Height attribute ofthe Panel Loop element owned by the Panel).

Set the Default Distance to 100. Leave the Range limits unset.





38/85


Notice that the Display button is now selected. Its settingdetermines whether or not the value of this property will be shownon the data-entry form when the template is instanced in a design.Leave the button selected. (The property value will be shown forreference only, since it is derived automatically via the expression

and cannot be set explicitly by the designer.)

The final Currently Defined Properties list should look likethis:

Click the button to remove the form.

5.2 Defining a template rule

So far, we have simply defined the properties of the template which musthave their values set when the template is instanced in a design. We

must now define the rules which define how the geometry of the templateinstance is to be parameterised in terms of those properties.

Exercise continues:29. Check that you are still at the TMPL in the Template Browser and

then select Modify>Parameterisation. You will see a Parameterisationof Members form listing the primitives which make up the currenttemplate.

In the Template Members list, select the BOX. Notice how theDefined Rules list automatically shows those attributes of theselected element for which you can set rules.

In the Defined Rules list, select X length. You will see a RuleDefinition (X length) form ready to accept data relevant to theselected type of attribute. In the X length text-box, enter thefollowing expression:





39/85



CDPR LENG

This means: Set the X-length to the value of that property of thecurrent template whose key is LENG (as defined in Step 26). Thisexpression will be explained more fully in the next section.

To see the effect of this rule, click the Preview button and studythe 3D View. Because no real design data has yet been created, the Xlength of the box has been set by the rule using the default value ofthe LENG property (which we specified as 1500).

Click OK to accept the rule. Notice how it is now shown in theDefined Rules list on the Parameterisation of Members form.

5.3 How template data is accessed in theDesign hierarchy

In order to understand how template data is accessed via specific cross-references in the Design database, we will consider what happens whenthe kickplate template which we are creating is used in the design of apanel.

To use the template, the structural designer will create a Panel Fitting(PFIT) element at the required position on the Panel and will then setthe PFITs Specification to point to the Design Template.

Note: To make the template accessible to the designer, it must have been included

in a Specification in a Steelwork Catalogue database. We will see how to

do this later in the exercise. The designer then selects from the specification

in the usual way; there is no distinction between a catalogue componentand a design template as far as the designer is concerned.

When the Specification Reference of the panel fitting is set to the designtemplate, the TMPL is copied into the PFITs members list (that is, aninstance of the template is created automatically). The resulting Designhierarchy includes the following:




40/85


PANEL

TMPL (copy)

BOX

NBOX

PFIT

NBOXDDSE

DDAT

DDAT

DDAT

Properties

Design

Parameters

...

PLOO

PAVEs

Consider the following:

From PFIT level, you can query the properties data held in theDDATs of its TMPL by reference to a pseudo-attribute PROP whosesetting is identified by the corresponding short key. For example, toquery the X-length (which has the short key LENG), the command isQ PROP LENG. The system navigates down automatically via theTMPL and its DDSE to find the required property. Query>TemplateProperties lists all such properties.

From BOX level, you can query the properties data held in theDDATs of its parent TMPL by reference to a pseudo-attribute CDPR(Current templates Design PRoperty). The system navigates up tothe owning TMPL and then down via that templates DDSE. It is thissetting which we used in the expression for the X-length rule in Step29.

5.4 Defining more template rules

We will now continue by defining the remaining rules for the Box.

Exercise continues:30. Select Y length in the Defined Rules list and define its rule as

CDPR WIDT.

31. Select Z length. To demonstrate how you can copy an existing rulefor editing, rather than retyping the whole rule, click the Pick

button on the Rule Definition (Z length) form. You will see a Rulesform listing all currently defined rules (there are only two so far).Pick either rule to copy it into the Rule Definition (Z length) form.Edit the rule to say CDPR HEIG.





41/85


Note that the Rules form has no action buttons. It is dismissedautomatically when you OK its parent Rule Definition form.

(Although this example is trivial, you can imagine the convenienceof using this technique when you are defining very complex rules.)

32. Leave the Orientation rule unset (i.e. None). This means that theorientation must always be set by the designer to suit the localrequirements when the template is instanced.

33. Select Position. Notice how the Rule Definition (Position) form hasdata entry gadgets relevant to the type of property being set.

Remember that the box origin is at its centre. We want to set theposition such that the kickplate assembly is positioned with thebottom face of the box coplanar with the surface of the panel. To dothis, we must move the box up by half its height with respect to thePFIT.

Click on the Focus button closest to the Up/Down pull-down list.Click Pick and copy the Z length rule. Edit this to say CDPR HEIG/ 2 (note the spaces before and after the / operator).

Leave the East and North coordinates undefined (they will alwaysbe zero relative to the PFIT position) and OK the rule definition.

The Defined Rules list for the Box should now appear as follows:

34. In the Template Members list on the Parameterisation of Membersform, select the NBOX owned by the BOX (indented relative to theBOX in the list).

In the Defined Rules list, select X length. We will start bycopying the rule for the X length of the Box, as set in Step 31. Clickthe Pick button; you will be prompted by the event-driven graphicsstatus line to Pick item rule is to be selected from. Pick the box in

the 3D View to display its list of rules. Select theX length

rule(namely CDPR LENG) to copy it into the Rule Definition form. (Thisdemonstrates how you can copy rules between different componentsof a design template; again useful when dealing with very complexrules.)





42/85


The required X length of the NBOX (/Kickplate-Inner) is equal tothe X length of the Box (/Kickplate-Outer) minus twice the wallthickness (see diagram in Section 5.1). To achieve this, edit the Xlength rule to

CDPR LENG - 2 * CDPR WTHK

Preview and then OK the rule.

35. Using the copying technique, set the Y length rule toCDPR WIDT - 2 * CDPR WTHK

Set the rule for the Z length of the NBOX so that it has the sameheight as its owning Box.

Because the NBOX is positioned with respect to its owning Box, itselevation will already be correct: you do not have to move this oneby half its height. Therefore, leave both the Position andOrientation rules unset.

The Defined Rules list for the NBOX should now appear as:

The Box and NBOX together represent a rectangular kickplateassembly positioned on the surface of the panel. In the next step we

will set the rules for the second NBOX (/Panel-pene), owned bythe TMPL, which is to penetrate the panel below the kickplateassembly.

36. Set the rules for the X length and Y length of the second Nbox tobe the same as those for the first NBox.

We want to set the Z length of the second NBox to the thickness ofthe panel which it is to penetrate. To achieve this, set the Z lengthrule to CDPR PTHK (remembering that PTHK is itself derived fromthe panel thickness, as specified by the property definition in Step28).

The position of the second NBox is to be such that its upper face iscoplanar with the lower face of the Box, which means that it mustbe moved down by half its height. Set an appropriate rule to do this.The Defined Rules list for the second NBox should now appearas:





43/85


That concludes the definition of the kickplate design template. Check the3D View to ensure that the geometry looks correct. If not, correct theerrors before finally saving the design.

In the next chapter we will add the template into a catalogue databasespecification for panel fittings, so that it can be referenced for inclusion

in a structural design model.





44/85






45/85


6 Adding a Template into a CatalogueSpecification

In order to make a design template available for selection by a user, forincorporation (as an instance) into a design model, the template must bereferenced from a Catalogue Specification. This chapter summarises howto achieve this.

6.1 How a template is accessed via a Specification

When a designer selects a catalogue component via a Specification(SPEC), the specification Selectors (SELEs) are searched in turn, using a

question/answer sequence, until a SpecificationComponent (SPCO) isfound which matches all of the specified design criteria. The cataloguecomponent selected is the one to which the Catalogue Reference attribute(CATREF) of that SPCO points.

Following exactly the same principle, a SPCO can refer instead to adesign template by setting its Template Reference attribute (TMPREF)to point to a TMPL.

The only differences are:

The catalogue component is stored in the Catalogue database,whereas the design template is stored in the Design database.

When a catalogue component is selected, only the CATREF setting(or, more strictly, the SPRE setting) is stored in the design data.When a design template is selected, an instance of the designtemplate is copied by the application into the design data, addingnew elements into the design members list.

This can be illustrated as follows, using the selection of our kickplatetemplate for addition to a panel (in the form of a panel fitting) as anexample:




46/85

Adding a Template into a Catalogue Specification

PANE

PLOO

PAVEs

TPWL

TMAR

TMPL

BOX

NBOX

PFIT

NBOX DDSE

In Design DB:

... ...

...

In Catalogue DB:

SPEC

SELE

SPCOSPCOSPCO

SELE

(SPREF)

(TMPREF)

The SPREF of the PFIT leads to a SPCO which has its TMPREF pointingto the TMPL. This causes an instance of the TMPL to be copied below thePFIT, leading to:

PANE

PLOO

PAVEs

TPWL

TMAR

TMPL

BOX

NBOX

PFIT

NBOX DDSE

In Design DB:

... ...

...

TMPL

BOX

NBOX

NBOX DDSE

...

6.2 Setting a template reference in a Specification

We will now enter the PDMS Catalogue Construction module, Paragon,and modify an existing Specification by adding a new SpecificationComponent. We will then set the TMPREF of this SPCO to point to ournewly created design template.





47/85



Exercise continues:37. If you are still in Design, select Design>Modules>Paragon> Macro

Files to change to Paragon. If you have left PDMS, log back in toproject SAM as user CATS, as in Step 2, but this time load module

Paragon from macro files. You will see the Paragon GeneralApplication menu bar and the Members List.

In the current version of PDMS, the Paragon graphical userinterface has not yet been extended to include facilities formodifying specifications, so select Display>Command Line to displaya Command Input & Output window.

Using the Members List, we will navigate to the existing SELE inwhich we will create the new SPCO

38. Go to the SPWL /SAMPLE/PENI/SPEC.From the main menu bar, select Query>Attributes to list the

attributes of the current Specification World within the Query form.Note that the Description is set to Structural and the Purposeis set to STL (Steel), showing that these specifications are intendedfor use in structural designs.

39. Go to the SPEC /SAMPLE/PENH/PIPE/PFIT.This specification is intended for panel fittings which representpenetration holes through which pipes can pass.

40. Go to SELE 1 (there is only one SELE under this SPEC).41. Go to SELE 3.

You will see that this SELE already holds two SPCOs:

SAMPLE/PEN/PFIT/PENH/FITT/RECTSAMPLE/PEN/PFIT/PENH/FITT/RECT2

Go to either of the SPCOs and query its attributes (if you still havethe Query form on display the SPCOs attributes will automaticallyappear within it, otherwise select Query>Attributes again). Note thatits Catalogue Reference (Catref) is set to point to a cataloguecomponent (/PENH/FITT/RECT or /PENH/FITT/RECT2), while itsTemplate Reference (Tmpref) is not set (Nulref or =0/0).

42. To create a specification component for selecting the kickplatetemplate, type (on the command line)

NEW SPCO /TMPL/SAMPLE/KICKPLATE

To set its Template Reference, type

TMPREF /Kickplate-1

(this is the name which we allocated to the template in Step 22).




48/85



Query the attributes of the new SPCO, checking that its Catref isset to Nulref (or =0/0) and its Tmpref is set to /Kickplate-1.

43. Save your catalogue changes and exit from Paragon. You can eitherchange back to Design if you want to continue with the exercises, or

leave PDMS if you want to take a break.

That completes the first introductory exercise for the creation of a designtemplate. The template now exists in the Design database and a newspecification component, pointing to the template, has been added intothe Catalogue database.

If you want to see the effect from a designers point of view, enter theDesign Panels & Plates application and create a Panel Fitting byselecting the kickplate from the available Fitting specifications. If youhave not yet used this application, it is suggested that you work throughthe exercise in the guide Structural Design Using PDMS, but select thenew template rather than the suggested manhole when you reach therelevant part of the exercise.

The next chapter will introduce some additional concepts, illustratingthem with a more complex example.




49/85

7 A More Advanced Example

To illustrate the principles of design templates more fully, particularlythe ways in which rules defining property values can be specified, thischapter continues the exercise using a more complex example.

7.1 Building up a Design from subsidiary parts

In the preceding part of the exercise, the whole of the design modelrepresented by the template was derived from a single Equipmentelement which owned three member primitives. For more complex items,it is often better to divide the design into subsidiary parts (representedby, say, Sub-Equipment elements), each of which is referenced from a

parent design template.

Consider, for example, a cylindrical vessel with selectable endconfigurations and a set of supports. If the end configurations and thesupport set are defined as subsidiary designs, they can be re-used for arange of vessels. We will create a template for the following equipmentdesign (typical end types shown for illustration only):


Main Body

SupportsOrigin

Dished End

(EQUI)

(SUBE)

(SUBE)

Positioningdatum level

LENG

DIAM

CHEI

Coned End(SUBE)

Exercise continues:44. Restart PDMS if necessary and load the Design Equipment

application.




50/85

A More Advanced Example


Navigate to the Zone which you created for these exercises (i.e.TMPLZONE).

45. Create an Equipment element named Test-Vessel comprising: a cylinder with its Z-axis pointing North (i.e. the cylinder

will be horizontal), and with Height (Length) 1500 andDiameter400;

a negative cylinder with its Z-Axis pointing Up(remember that this orientation is defined with respect to theowning cylinder, whose Z/Up direction is already set to North),and with Height (Length) 1500 and Diameter 380.

46. Change to the Design Templates application.In the Template Browser, navigate to the Template Area which youcreated for these exercises (i.e. Template Area for exercises).In the Design Explorer, navigate to the Equipment on which thetemplate is to be based (i.e. Test-Vessel).

Select Create>Template to create a design template copied from theequipment.

Set the following Template Information:

Name Vessel-Main-Body

Purpose Unset

Description Vessel main body

Function VESSEL

Generic Type VESS

Leave the Origin at (0,0,0).

Select both Create List option buttons, Properties andPoints,so that a Design Dataset (to hold design properties) and aPointset (to hold design points) will be created ready for later use.

Click OK to complete the template creation. Select Display> SelectedTemplate to show the new template in the 3D View.

47. Select Modify>Property Definitions to display the Define TemplateProperties form (remember that you created the Design Dataset inthe preceding step).

We will first create those properties which define the dimensions ofthe main body of the vessel and its position. We will later create

some other properties which identify the subsidiary items which areto be merged with this body in the final design; namely the sub-equipments representing the vessel ends and the supports.

Before we begin, we will look at ways of restricting the optionsavailable to a designer when they create a template instance.




51/85


7.2 Restricting property values for use in a Design

When we set the properties for the kickplate, in the earlier steps of theexercise, we did not impose any restrictions on the dimensions which adesigner could apply when using the template. The design parametersrepresenting the kickplates length, width, height and wall thicknesscould be set to any values.

As a template designer, you can restrict the values which a user can setin one of two ways. These are controlled by the Range/Values optionnear the centre of the Define Template Properties form, and act as follows:

Range lets you specify minimum and maximum values for a designparameter. These are stored in the MinMax attribute of the DesignData (DDAT) element corresponding to that property. When used in

a design, only values in the specified range will be accepted.

Values lets you specify a list of discrete values for a designparameter. These are stored as the ValidV attributes of Valid Value(VVALUE) elements owned by the DDAT corresponding to thatproperty. When used in a design, only these values will be availablefor selection from a list.

We will use both of these methods in the following steps.

Exercise continues:48. We will set the first property to represent the outside diameter of

the vessel body. Enter the following data:

Description: Diameter of Vessel

Key: DIAM (it is good practice to use common keys inall equipment and sub-equipment templates tomake their rules consistent)

Definition/No: Design Parameter 1

Data Type: Distance

Default: 1000 (making this larger than the originalequipment diameter of 400 lets you see thechange take effect in the 3D View)

We will restrict the users choice of diameter values to some explicitdimensions. To do so, select the Values option and click thebutton to the right of that row of gadgets. The resulting Set ValidValues form contains a text-pane into which you can type your list ofvalid diameters. Enter the following values:





52/85


53/85



50. Create a third property representing the wall thickness of the vesselbody. Enter the following data:

Description: Thickness of Vessel

Key: THKN


Data Type: Distance

Default: 20

This property will have no restrictions on its values, so keep theRange option selected and delete the entries from the From and Tofields.

51. Create a fourth property representing the height of the vesselscentreline above the floor (the latter level will be correspond to thetemplates origin; see diagram at the beginning of this chapter).Enter the following data:

Description: Centreline Height

Key: CHEI


Data Type: Distance

Default: 600

This property will have no restrictions on its values, so leave theRange option as it is.

7.3 Adding Design Points

To provide convenient reference points for the relative positioning ofitems which make up the design template model, a design point can becreated at any required location.

A design point, owned by a Design Pointset (DPSE), can be specified inthree ways:

A Cartesian Point (DPCA) is specified in terms of its coordinatesonly.

A Cylindrical Point (DPCY) is specified as a position on the surface of

a cylinder at a given position and with given dimensions. A Spherical Point (DPSP) is specified as a position on the surface of a

sphere at a given position and with given dimensions.




54/85



Each design point, like a p-point, has both a position and an orientation.(The on-line help includes diagrams illustrating these concepts; refer tothese if you need further clarification.)

For convenience when positioning the sub-equipments which willrepresent the ends of the vessel, we will create a design point at thecentre of each end of the vessel body.

Exercise continues:52. Set the view direction to Look>East. Check that the Vessel Main

Body template is the current element. Notice that this already ownsan empty Design Pointset (DPSET 1) which was created in Step 46.Select Modify>Points. You will see a Design Points form showing thatno points have yet been defined.

53. From the Design Points menu bar, select Create>Cartesian Point. Onthe resulting form enter the following data:

Number: 1 (set automatically)

Description: Datum Point 1

Function: SUBE

Point Direction:

Direction of Design Point (Z) N

Normal direction (Y) E

(This orientation will not be rele

Documents

Design Templates Introduction