Plant 4D Athena SP2

S p e c i f i c a t i o n Ma na g e r
Ma nua l
Version 1.2
Copyright 1996-2007 CEA Technology B.V., The Netherlands


Table of contents
1. Introduction.......................................................................................2
1.1. Legal notice ......................................................................................................... 2
1.2. About Plant-4D .................................................................................................... 2
2. Plant-4D Specification Manager......................................................4
2.1. Starting the Specification Manager ....................................................................... 4
2.2. File Control .......................................................................................................... 4
2.3. Records 1/2 ......................................................................................................... 5
2.4. Records 2/2 ......................................................................................................... 7
2.5. Generate Spec..................................................................................................... 7
3. Database Structure.........................................................................10
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1 Introduction Legal notice Page 2 of 11
1. Introduction
1.1. Legal notice
This publication or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose
without the express written consent of CEA Technology.
CEA Technology makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to,
the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
CEA Technology, or any of its subsidiaries, shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental
or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. The name Plant-4D

is a
registered trademark of CEA Technology B.V., The Netherlands.
If you have any questions during the installation or operation, please contact your local Plant-4D dealer or
visit the CEA website for more information:
Copyright 1996-2007 CEA Technology B.V., The Netherlands
1.2. About Plant-4D
Plant-4D is a modern database-driven and object-oriented CAD system intended for the production of
P&ID and Piping drawings as well as the complete maintenance of the data related to all aspects of the
project work.
Database-driven means that both all graphics and primitives as well as data are stored in a relational
database (RDBMS). This approach has the following advantages:
The program can be run on a network by a group of engineers, or a single user can work with it on a
stand-alone machine.
The program can run simultaneously on AutoCAD and Microstation. Part of the drawing can be made
in Microstation, be revised in AutoCAD by another party, the drawing can be finished in Microstation,
and be delivered to the customer as an AutoCAD drawing, for instance. The CAD program is only
used to display the drawings, to serve as an interface where the drafting occurs, and to enter the
data through data entry windows. In other words, Plant-4D is CAD platform independent.
The drawing can be completely created or reworked by manipulating the data in the database.
Interfaces to simulation programs, such as ChemCAD exist.
Interfaces to instrumentation systems such as INtools exist.
Translation tools to import existing CAD drawings from non-database systems exist.
Interfaces to other database-driven CAD systems are feasible.
Interfaces to Plant Management systems are feasible.
Reporting is highly customizable through a variety of database reporting tools.
Object oriented means that the elements used for drawing (for instance symbols or lines) are stored
in the database as objects:
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1 Introduction About Plant-4D Page 3 of 11
- Creating your own symbols is extremely easy, and can be done from the CAD program or at the
database level
- There is no graphical storage. A large drawing or a model doesnt need to be saved, as every
object is saved to the database at the moment it is inserted in CAD. Any possible crash of
Windows or lack of power supply will not affect the work done so far.
- Objects can inherit properties. For instance, a control valve can inherit process and mechanical
data from the pipe it is located on. This means that less work is needed to complete all
necessary data.
- The object-oriented concept makes it easy to transfer the data and do the reporting.
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2 Plant-4D Specification Manager Starting the Specification Manager Page 4 of 11
2. Plant-4D Specification Manager
The purpose of the Specification Manager is to filter records from a catalogue and place them in a table in
the Plant-4D Specification Database. The Specification Manager helps to create, store and maintain the
selections.
The application consists of various tab pages, which will be explained, in the following sections of this
document.
This manual describes the functions of the Specification Manager application and is not intended to
provide information on the details contained in any Specification table.
2.1. Starting the Specification Manager
The Specification Manager is started from the 4D-Explorer.
Right click on the Specification Manager in the utilities tree under Specification and select Start
The Utilities tree is defined under the Tools section
2.2. File Control
When using the standard Plant-4D installation, the File Control Page looks as follows:
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In the File Control page the various specification tables that are required for Plant-4D Pipe projects are
maintained. Each specification table represents a set of filters that are be executed on the catalogue. From
here it is possible to open, copy and delete existing filters, or create a new set.
Warning: When no specification filter has been opened, the functionality of all subsequent pages will be
disabled!
2.3. Records 1/2
When opening this all input boxes are disabled until the New or Edit button is selected. If this is the
first filter being created for the current specification, an empty record is displayed. Select the New button
to add a record, alternatively, to modify an existing record select the Edit button. When a record is being
edited, with the exception of the Save button, all other buttons are disabled.
2.3.1. Catalog
In this field select from the catalogues displayed the catalogue that is to be used for the source data.
ANSI
ANSI-Imperial
DIN
Double click the field to confirm the selection. The Component field will now become enabled.
2.3.2. Component
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2 Plant-4D Specification Manager Records 1/2 Page 6 of 11
In this field the required component is selected. In the window at the bottom of the screen the component
translation table can be displayed. The translation table can be switched on or off by using the tick box
marked Translate. To confim component selection, double click in the field. The next valid field will
automatically become highlighted.
2.3.3. From / To
The range of available sizes of the component selected is determined in this area. The application skips
fields that are not valid for the chosen component, or automatically makes the selection for fields that have
only one option to choose from.
For example, if the selected component is a Pipe, the From/To fields titled Reduced and Branch would
automatically be skipped.
2.3.4. EndCondition
The end condition for the chosen component is stipulated here. If the component has a reduced side or a
branch the additional fields become enabled.
- BW Buttwelded
- FL Flanged
- SWM Socketweld male
- SWF Socketweld female
- SCM Screwed male
- SCF Screwed female
2.3.5. Type
In this field the component type is selected. If the has been set, the Specification Manager replaces the
three characters of the component type into three dashes.
2.3.6. Schedule / Material / Rating
The required schedule, materials or rating are selected from the ranges offered. If the has been set,
the Specification Manager replaces the three characters of the component type into three dashes.
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2 Plant-4D Specification Manager Records 2/2 Page 7 of 11
2.3.7. UserCode
This field can be used to identify components with a User Code. The user code is the last three characters
in the field CompomentIndex of the catalogue table.
When all the necessary filters have been set, the Specification Manager automatically saves the record
and adds the appropriate range of components to the Specification Table.
2.4. Records 2/2
The Records 2/2 page allows changes to be made to values that are stored in the catalogue. It is possible
to switch between this page and the Records 1/2 page when editing a record.
Alternative values can be entered for all the fields displayed, any changes made here will appear in the
Specification table being created and will have no effect on the original catalogue values. For example the
description of a piece of Pipe in the catalogue could be Pipe. By changing the Description field on this
page, a different description will be stored in the specification table. Alternatively, the ComponentTag field
could be used to store a Stockcode for this particular component. Use SAVE to store the settings.
When the EDIT button is pressed on either this page or the Records 1/2 page, both pages are open for
editing. The Save button also actions both pages.
2.5. Generate Spec
The Generate Spec page allows users to test the selections (individually or all at once), and to write the
selection to the Specification Database.
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By selecting the TEST CURRENT button, the current record(s) in the Records 1/2 page will be filtered
from the Catalogue and the resulting ComponentIndexes will be displayed. The TEST ALL button
performs the same operation on all the records.
When the GENERATE button is selected, the records will be written to the Specification Database, and the
SPECINDX.INI file will be updated. (For information about the SPECINDX.INI file refer to the Settings
section of this document and to the Pipe Manual).
When generating a specification table the following dialogue may be displayed:
This indicates that the specification table already exist in the Specification Database. If the Delete button is
selected the original Specification table will be deleted and replaced by the new version. If the Append
button is selected, any new records will be added to the existing Specification table. This option is useful
when additional diameter sizes are required for components previously identified.
Existing records will be retained, and only the records for the new diameters will be added.
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On the Settings page you can define the following settings:
Location of the SpecIndx.Ini: this setting specifies where the SPECINDX.INI file is located. This file
contains specification related information for the settings dialogue used in Plant-4D Pipe.
Catalogue Datasource: this setting is used to specify which ODBC Datasource should be used as
the original catalogue.
Warning: Changing this setting can cause the application to not functioning properly, and should only be
modified by experienced users with ODBC knowledge.
Specification Datasource: this setting is used to specify which ODBC Datasource the application
should be used to store the Specification tables.
Warning: Changing this setting can cause the application to not functioning properly, and should only be
modified by experienced users with ODBC knowledge.
Login name / Password
Used to add a login name and a password to your specification
Language
Used to select the language for the Specification Manager
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3 Database Structure Generate Spec Page 10 of 11
3. Database Structure
The Plant-4 Specification Manager has an MS Access database called SPECMAN.MDB. In this database
the various selections of filters are stored. The table DefSpec is used as the prototype, and should never
be removed! The structure of this database table is as follows:
Name Type Size
ID Number (Long) 4
FromCatalog Text 50
CompType Text 8
FromMain Number (Long) 4
ToMain Number (Long) 4
FromReduced Number (Long) 4
ToReduced Number (Long) 4
FromBranch Number (Long) 4
ToBranch Number (Long) 4
EndCond1 Text 6
EndCond2 Text 6
EndCond3 Text 6
Trim1 Text 3
Trim2 Text 3
Trim3 Text 3
Schedule Text 8
Rating Text 8
Material Text 3
UserCode Text 3
Trim1Clear Yes/No 1
Trim2Clear Yes/No 1
Trim3Clear Yes/No 1
ScheduleClear Yes/No 1
RatingClear Yes/No 1
MaterialClear Yes/No 1
UserCodeClear Yes/No 1
AltComponentDescription Text 50
AltShortComponentDescription Text 20
AltGroupID Number (Integer) 2
AltComponentCode1 Text 20
AltComponentCode2 Text 20
AltCatalogName Text 30
AltShopField Text 5
AltComponentTag Text 20
AltMeasureUnits Text 5
AltOperatorID Text 50
AltRevisionData Text 30
AltMaterial Text 50