Dimensioning with Automatic Spec Search

Diagrams User Guide

Diagrams : Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) : Online Dimensioning and Specification Search : Dimensioning with Automatic Spec Search

To use the automatic spec search, the Spec Search > Use Specification default setting must be set to True.

A default pipe specification for a pipeline can be set up in the Create Pipeline dialogue when the pipeline is created.

The pipe specification works as a default value that is propagated to subordinate elements such as branches and inline parts as these are created within the pipeline. It is possible to subsequently change the specification reference for an individual fitting through the Shape Data window or Item List.

If the pipe spec is later changed in the pipeline properties dialogue, it will not affect existing inline parts within the pipeline, it will only be applied to new inline parts as they are added.

When a new branch is created, the boresize will be picked up from the default bore size that is set up in the current pipeline.

When inline parts such as valves, reducers etc. are dropped into a branch, the bore will be picked up from the upstream component and a specification search will be performed, provided that the Autoselect on Define default setting is set to True in Diagrams Options.

Figure 5:8.

Before valve is dropped

Figure 5:9.

After valve is dropped. The specification reference can be seen in the shape text, as this has been set up to show [SPRE.NAME].

In case a size-changing or branching component will be dropped, the system will prompt the user for a ‘Leave bore?’ or ‘Branching bore?’. In all other cases the system will automatically pick up the bore size from the element it will be connected to.

The Bore-question dialogue will present a dropdown list of valid boresizes picked up from the specification. In case a user will type in a bore size that does not match any of these, the application will round it up to the next defined bore size.

The result of the specification search will be that the specification reference (SPREF) will point to the matching SPCO element. In case no matching SPCO will be found, the SPREF will not be set.

The operation of the spec search is highly dependant on how the spec is organized in terms of the hierarchy of questions and answers. In case the spec search will not find the expected SPCO, please review the structure of the spec and modify if necessary.

The progress of the spec search is also presented in the Message Log window (refer to Message Log in Chapter Working with Diagrams). Successful spec search operations are logged as informational messages, while unsuccessful ones are logged as warnings.

All elements affected by an automatic spec search can also be left highlighted, depending on the value of the Keep highlight after dimensioning default setting.

Note:

When the automatic spec search is enabled, it is not possible to manually set catalogue references for the inline parts using the Catalogue Search function (please refer to Catalogue Search in Chapter Working with Diagrams).