Design Reference Manual

Design Reference Manual
General Commands
AVEVA Solutions Ltd
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First published September 2007
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DESIGN Reference Manual
Contents
Page
General Commands
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
About the DESIGN Reference Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Organisation of the DESIGN Reference Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
Organisation of this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:1
How to Use the Syntax Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1

Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:2
Command Arguments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:2
Standard Syntax Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:3
Universal Expression <expr> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:4
Date/Time <date>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:4
Physical Dimension <uval> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:5
Design Element Identity <gid> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:6
D Design Points <marke> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:8
Axial Position <pos> <axes> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:9
D Position <bpos> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:10
D Axis Direction <dir>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:11
D Direction <bdir> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:12
Selection <selatt>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:13
Command Input Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:14
General Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Entering DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
12.0
Saving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Saving DESIGN Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Alpha Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Saving the Alpha Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1
Clearing the Alpha Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:2
Leaving DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3

Changing Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3
Exit from DESIGN without Saving Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3
Setting Working Units and Tolerances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3

Setting Working Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:4
Setting Output Precision of Distance Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:5
Switching between Actual and Nominal Bores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:6
Audible Error Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7

Switching Text Output Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7
Giving Operating System Commands from PDMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:8
General Querying Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:8
Querying Your Current Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:8
Querying Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:9
Querying Your Current Output Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:10
Querying the Command Implementation Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:10
Asking for a Unique Workstation Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:10
Querying Elements and Attributes in DBs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:10
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
Adding Elements to the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:1
Selecting Graphics Colours Automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:3
Removing Elements from the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:5
Defining Colours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:6
Element Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8

Setting Tube Representation for Piping Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9
Setting Profile Representation for Steelwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:9
Setting Drawing Level Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:10
Setting Obstruction & Insulation Representation for Piping Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:11
Setting Obstruction Representation for Steelwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:12
Setting P-Point Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:13
Setting Structural Node Representation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:14
Setting P-Line Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:15
Setting Holes Representation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:16
ii
12.0
Setting Arc Tolerance Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17

Refreshing the Graphical View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17
Specifying Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18

Graphical Labelling of Design Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:19
Using Design Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:19
Highlighting Components in the Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:22
Spatial Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:23
Checking the Spatial Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:23
Creating or Updating Spatial Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:24
Interacting with a Graphical View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Identifying Displayed Items and Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1
Identifying Displayed Elements using the Cursor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identifying Tube using the Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identifying Displayed Points using the Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identifying Items with a 2D Pick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D Pins
5:1
5:2
5:2
5:4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:4
Setting a Pins Position and Direction Explicitly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Making a Pin Visible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Locating a Pin by Copying or Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving a Pin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Pin Moves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5:5
5:5
5:6
5:7
5:7
Constructs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:8
ISODRAFT Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:10
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1
iii
12.0
iv
12.0
General Commands
12.0
ii
12.0

Introduction
Introduction
1.1
About the DESIGN Reference Manual

The AVEVA PDMS DESIGN Reference Manual describes all the DESIGN commands in
detail. It also describes how the DESIGN database is structured.
DESIGN is normally used interactively. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) provides
discipline-based applications which help you to create, check and report on the model. How
to use the applications is described in user guides.
This manual is written for experienced users of AVEVA PDMS DESIGN who need to use
commands; for example, to write batch macros or to customise the GUI. If you are going to
customise the GUI, you will also need to refer to the Software Customisation Guide and
Software Customisation Reference Manual for information about PML, the AVEVA
programming language.
1.2
Organisation of the DESIGN Reference Manual

The DESIGN Reference Manual has three parts:
1.3
Part 1 (this volume) describes general DESIGN commands, which are used, for
example, for setting up the display, and querying and navigating around the DESIGN
database. It also describes how to use the command syntax graphs, which are used to
show all the options available for each command.
Part 2, Creating the Model, describes the commands for creating database elements
and setting their attributes.
Part 3, Utilities, describes the DESIGN Utilities for data consistency checking and clash
detection, and for exporting DESIGN data to programs such as Review.
Organisation of this Manual

This manual, Part 1, is divided into the following chapters:
Chapter 2 describes How to Use the Syntax Graphs, and also shows the standard
syntax graphs which are often referenced from other graphs.
Chapter 3, General Commands, describes commands used for saving work, setting
units and tolerances, and handling alphanumeric output. These commands are
common to several PDMS modules, but are included here for convenience.
Chapter 4, Display, describes how to control the way the model is displayed in a
graphical view.
Chapter 5, Interacting with a Graphical View, describes how commands can accept
input from picked items in the graphical view, and how to define construction aids and
label the design elements. Note that the commands in this chapter have generally been
1 1:1
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Introduction
superseded by newer graphical facilities available from the GUI, and are only included
as information for users maintaining older code.
Chapter 6, Error Messages, explains some of the error messages which may be
generated by DESIGN.
1 1:2
12.0

How to Use the Syntax Graphs

The commands described in this chapter are presented in the form of syntax graphs.
Syntax graphs are read from top left to bottom right. The start point is shown by >, and
you can follow any path through the graph until the exit point, shown by >, is reached.
Points marked with a plus sign (+) are option junctions which allow you to input any
one of the commands to the right of the junction. For example:
>----+--- ABC -----.

|
|
|--- PQR -----|
|
|
-------------+--->
means you can type in ABC or PQR or just press Enter to get the default option.
Text in angle brackets <. . . > is the name of another syntax graph. This convention is
used for syntax which occurs in many places. The graphs referred to are described at
the end of this section. For example:
>----+--- ABC -----.

|
|
|--- PQR -----|
|
|
|--- <dia> ---|
|
|
-------------+--->
means you can type in ABC or PQR or any command allowed by the syntax given in
diagram <dia> or just press Enter to get the default option.
Points marked with an asterisk (*) are loop back junctions. Command options
following these may be repeated as required. For example:
.-----<-------.
/
|
>---*--- option1 ---|
|
|
|--- option2 ---|
|
|
--- option3 ---+--->
means that you can enter any combination of option1 and/or option2 and/or option3,
where the options can be commands, other syntax diagrams, or command arguments.
The simplified format:
1 2:1
12.0

.----<------.
/
|
>---*--- name ----+--->
2.1
means that you may type in a list of PDMS names, separated by at least one space.
Commands
Commands
These are shown in a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, where the capital
letters indicate the minimum abbreviation.
Note: This convention does not mean that the second part of the command must be typed
in lowercase letters; commands may be entered in any combination of uppercase
and lowercase letters.
For example, the command
CONStruct
can be input in any of the following forms:
CONS
CONST
CONSTR
CONSTRU
CONSTRUC
CONSTRUCT
Commands shown in all uppercase letters cannot be abbreviated.
2.2
Command Arguments
Command arguments
These are shown in lowercase letters. These are just descriptions of what you need to enter.
The most commonly used descriptions are as follows:
integer
A positive or negative whole number. For example:

2 -5 25
value
A signed number with or without a decimal point. For example:

2.5 5 -3.8
letter
A single alphabetic character
word
A sequence of up to four letters, e.g. GATE WN P (may be

longer in some cases, but only the first four characters are
significant).
text
A string of alphanumeric or symbol characters, which may

include spaces, enclosed between single closing quotation
marks or | characters. This is normally used to add descriptive
material to an appropriate attribute.
For example: DUTY Low Pressure
1 2:2
12.0

space
The space bar (not usually specified unless of special

significance)
name
A sequence of characters preceded

representing a PDMS Element name.
by
slash/and
For example:
/BRANCH7
/305.ABC
/P4/NOZ
Note: A name should always be followed by a space (unless at

the end of a line).
filename
An external file name of the form/filename
varid
An identifier (for use with the VARIABLE command within

macros) of the form
!name
where name is a text string.
For example:
!COUNTER,
comma
!height
The , character, which can be used to concatenate DESIGN

commands.
For example:
NEW FLANGE SELECT WITH STYP WN, CONNECT

plus minus star
slash
These are the + (add), - (subtract), * (multiply) and / (divide)

operators, which can be used in arithmetic expressions.
For example:
(1 + 2), (1 - 2), (1 * 2), (1 / 2)

Note that there must be a space before and after each of these
operators.
Note: PML 1 expressions and variables are explained in the Software Customisation
Reference Manual.
2.3
Standard Syntax Graphs

If a syntax graph refers to a second syntax graph, the name of the second graph is shown in
angle brackets. This convention is usually used for standard syntax graphs which are widely
used.
These syntax graphs are summarised below, and then shown in detail.
<expr>
Mathematical, textual or logical expressions
<uval>
Physical dimension specification
<snoun> or <noun>
Design element type
<gid>
Design element identity
1 2:3
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2.3.1
<expr>
Mathematical, textual or logical expressions
<marke>
3D Design points
(P-points, pins or P-lines)
<pos> or <axes>
Axial position
<bpos>
3D position
<dir>
Axial direction
<bdir>
3D direction
<selatt>
Selection
Universal Expression <expr>

If a value given in a command needs to be calculated from other known values, you can
enter an expression, which is evaluated by DESIGN as it executes the command.
You will find details of PML 1 expressions in the Database Reference Manual. On-line help
describing expressions syntax is available from within DESIGN applications.
2.3.2
Date/Time <date>
<date> has the general format Time Day Month Year.
Time has the format hour:mins. If no Time is given, the default is 23:59.
Day is a single or two-digit integer. If no Day is given, the default is today. If no Time is given,
Day must be specified.
Month may be entered as a word, or as a number surrounded by spaced / characters. If no
Month is given, the default is the current month.
Year may be entered as four digits or as two digits. Two-digit years are interpreted within the
date window
current_year - 99 to current_year
For example, in the year 2004:
03
means
2003
04
means
2004
05
means
1905
If no year is given, the default is the current year.
Examples:
12:00 22 August 1999
9:30 29 / 8 / 99
Note spaces in numeric date format
1 2:4
12.0

Examples:
2.3.3
10:30
Assumes current date
22 / 8 / 1999
Assumes time to be 23:59
22 August
Assumes current year and time 23:59
Physical Dimension <uval>

This syntax allows you to override the working (default) units for dimensions .
>--+-- value ----.
|
|
-- <expr> ---+-- EXponential value --.
|
|
-----------------------+-- MM ------.
|
|
|-- Metres --|
|
|
|-- INches --|
|
|
|-- FT ------|
|
|
|-- FEet ----|
|
|
|-- text ----|
|
|
------------+-->
Examples:
in current working units
EX3
5500
5.3/4
5.75
5 feet
(only use when working units are FINCH)
56
5 feet 6 inches
56.3/4
5 feet 6.75 inches
5 INCHES
5 inches
(regardless of current working units)
5 M
5 metres
56.3/4 IN
5 feet 6.75 inches
(5 + 2) IN
7 inches
Note: Values are always held within DESIGN as metric units. When output, values are
rounded as follows:
Millimetres to the nearest millimetre
1 2:5
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2.3.4
Inches to the nearest 1/32 or 0.1 inch
Design Element Identity <gid>

This syntax identifies a Design Element. The main syntax graph is <gid>, shown below. The
sub-graphs follow.
<gid>
.-------------------------------.
|
|
>----+-- <nexid> ------------+-------|
|
|
|
|-- <snoun> -+----------|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- <next> -+- OF --
|
|
|
|
|
---------.
|
|
|
|
-- <id> ------------|
|
|
|-- <othid> ----------------------|
|
|
|-- <id> -------------------------|
|
|
-- <clos> -----------------------+----->
Direct identification:
By reference to name/reference number <id>, hierarchy <othid>, or to a point selected from
display <curid>:
<id>
>--+-- name ---.

|
|
-- refno --+-->
<othid>
>--+-|
|-|
|-|
--
<curid>
>-- IDentify --+-- <snoun> ---.

|
|
|-- Tube ------|
|
|
--------------+-- @ -->
CE ---------.
|
SAMe -------|
|
ELEMent ----|
|
<curid> ----+-->
Indirect identification:
By reference to other elements, parts of elements or adjacent members in the database
hierarchy
<nextid> >-+|
||
||
|-
HEad ----.
|
TAil ----|
|
ILeave --|
|
IArrive -+-- <tubid> ---.
1 2:6
12.0

<tubid>
<next>
|
|-|
|-|
->-+-|
->-+-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|
|
--
|
<next> -- <snoun> -----|
|
OWNer -----------------|
|
END -------------------+--->
TUBe--.
|
ROD --+-->
LAst -----.
|
FIrst ----|
|
PREvious -|
|
NEXt -----+-- integer --.
|
|
-------------+-- MEMbers--.
|
integer -----------------------------+-- OF ->
Identification by physical position in the design model:

.----<----.
/
|
<clos> >- CLOSest -*- <snoun> -+- WITH <expr> -.
|
|
---------------+- UP ----.
|- DOWN --|
|- EAST --|
|- WEST --|
|- NORTH -|
- SOUTH -+-.
.----------------------------<--------------------
-+- EXTENT <expr> -.
|
|
-----------------+- AFTER <expr> -.
|
|
----------------+- FROM <bpos> -.
|
|
---------------+->
WITH
specifies rule restricting choice of element (default is no restriction);
EXTENT
specifies how far to search before giving up (default is 10 metres);
AFTER
specifies that search is to start after given distance in given direction

(default is zero);
FROM
specifies reference position from which search is initiated (default is CE).
Examples:
/EQUIP10
Named design Element
SAME
Previous Element accessed
1 2:7
12.0

Examples:
OWN
Owner of Current Element
GOTO SPRE
Specification of Current (piping) Element
NEXT 2
Second Next Element at same level
Fourth Member of Current Element
LAST 3 MEM
Third Last Member of Current Element
END
Next element up in hierarchy
SITE
Site above Current Element
ZONE 3
Third Zone
NEXT 2 PIPE
Second Next Pipe
PREV BOX
FIRST ZONE OF /SITE 5
PIPE OF /VALV101
FIRST MEM OF BRAN3 OF /PIPE10
HEAD OF FIRST BRAN
Closest valve to current element in East direction in
design model (note that syntax accepts only
cardinal directions, which must be entered in full)
CLOSEST VALV EAST
CLOS VALV NORTH FROM E10 Closest valve in North direction starting from given
0 N200 U300
position (valves found before this position are
ignored)
2.3.5
D Design Points <marke>

This syntax describes 3D Design Points and their Attributes. A Design Point is:
A P-point
A temporary Pin
A cursor position
Pin:
>-- PIn integer -->

P-point:
>--+-- PArrive ---------.

|
|
|-- PLeave ----------|
|
|
1 2:8
12.0

|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
--
PHead -----------|
|
PTail -----------|
|
HHead -----------|
|
HTail -----------|
|
Ppoint integer --+-- OF <gid> --.
|
|
---------------+-->
Cursor:
>-- IDPpoint @ -->
Examples:
2.3.6
P3
P-point 3 of Current Element
PL OF PREV
Leave P-point of previous element
PH
Branch Head P-point
HT OF /HANG5
Hanger Tail P-point of named Hanger
IDP @
Cursor pick
Axial Position <pos> <axes>

This syntax specifies a 3D position in space in terms of an axial coordinate system.
>-- <pos> --+-- <axes> --.

|
|
------------+-->
where:
<pos> = >--+-- <nsy> --+-- <udz> ----- <ewx> ---.

|
|
|
|
|-- <ewx> --+-- <udz> ---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------|
|
|
|
|
------------------------|
|
|
|-- <udz> --+-- <nsy> ----- <ewx> ---|
|
|
|
|
|-- <ewx> --+-- <nsy> ---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------|
|
|
|
|
------------------------|
|
|
-- <ewx> --+-- <udz> ----- <nsy> ---|
1 2:9
12.0

|
|
|-- <nsy> --+-- <udz> ---|
|
|
|
|
------------|
|
|
------------------------+-->
and where:
<nsy> = >--+-- North --.

|
|
|-- Y ------|
|
|
-- South --+-- <uval> -->
<udz> = >--+-- Up ----.
|
|
|-- Z -----|
|
|
-- Down --+-- <uval> -->
<ewz> = >--+-- East --.
|
|
|-- X -----|
|
|
-- West --+-- <uval> -->
<axes> = >--+-- WRT --.
|
|
-- IN ---+-- <gid> -->
Examples:
2.3.7
E1000
East 1000
Z10
Up 10
E30 D10 S20
East 30 Down 10 South 20
E0 IN SITE
East 0 in Site
D Position <bpos>
This syntax provides a 3D position in terms of a specified coordinate, a known identity or
point, or a cursor position.
General axial position:
(see previous subsection)
>-- <pos> --+-- <axes> --.

|
|
------------+-->
3D Design point:
<marke>
(see above)
General element identity:
<gid>
(see above)
Cursor position:
>-- @ -->
1 2:10
12.0

Examples:
E300 N1000 U2500
Coordinate position
PIN6
Pin position
/VESSEL10
Origin of /VESSEL10
Working grid position closest to the crosshair position and

through the Current Element Origin plane
Note: Cursor positioning (e.g. AXES AT @) can only be carried out in orthogonal views.
2.3.8
D Axis Direction <dir>

This syntax provides a 3D direction expressed in terms of a coordinate system.
>-+-<nsy>-+-<exp_val>-+-<ewx>-+-<exp_val>-+-<udz>-+-<exp_val>---.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-<udz>-+-<exp_val>-+-<ewx>-+-<exp_val>---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
|
-----------------------------------------|
|
-----------------------------------------------------|
|-<udz>-+-<exp_val>-+-<nsy>-+-<exp_val>-+-<ewx>-+-<exp_val>---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-<ewx>-+-<exp_val>-+-<nsy>-+-<exp_val>---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
|
-----------------------------------------|
|
-----------------------------------------------------|
|
|
-<ewx>-+-<exp_val>-+-<nsy>-+-<exp_val>-+-<udz>-+-<exp_val>---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
|
|
|
|-<udz>-+-<exp_val>-+-<nsy>-+-<exp_val>---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
---------------------|
|
|
---------------------------------|
|
-----------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------------+-->
where:
<nsy> = >--+-- North ---.
|
|
|-- Y -------|
<ewx> = >--+-- East --.

|
|
|-- X -----|
1 2:11
12.0

|
|
-- South ---+-->
|
|
-- West --+-->
<udz> = >--+-- Up -----.

|
|
|-- Z ------|
|
|
-- Down ---+-->
<exp_val> = >--+-- <expr> --.

|
|
-- value ---+-->
Examples:
2.3.9
East
E45N
East 45 North
W-33D
West 33 Up
North
N45E33D
North 45 East 33 Down
N10E10
North 45 East
D Direction <bdir>
This syntax provides a 3D direction by making use of a specified axis direction, a design
point, or two 3D positions.
General axial direction:
>-- <dir> --+-- <axes> ---.

|
|
-------------+-->
(See previous subsections for <dir> and <axes>).

(see above)
3D Design point direction:
<marke>
3D position direction:
>--+-- FRom <bpos> TOwards <bpos> -->

|
-- TOwards <bpos> -->
(see above for <bpos>)
Examples:
N45E
Axis direction
PL
Design point direction
TOW E0 WRT SITE
From Current Element Origin to SITE origin
FROM PIN6 TO PIN7
From Pin 6 to Pin 7
1 2:12
12.0

2.3.10
Selection <selatt>
This syntax lets you describe elements you want to include in, or exclude from, operations.
Typically, the following criteria are used to define a selection:
A class of elements or element types to be selected. You can specify whether all
members are to be included, or whether only items (the lowest level components in the
hierarchy below a given element) should be included. See <selcla> below.
A logical expression to be satisfied for all selected elements. These expressions

return either True or False, and are usually used to check the values of attributes. See
the Plant Design Software Customisation Reference Manual.
A physical volume in which all selected elements must lie. This volume is always
orthogonal to the World coordinate axes. You can specify this in terms of two diagonally
opposite points of an enclosing box, or as a volume around an element (with an
optional clearance around the element selected). See <selvol> below.
A point in the hierarchy below which all selected elements must lie. You can follow this
with an exclusion list to exclude elements from the selection. See <selhie> below.
A list (or collection), such as a drawlist, obstruction list or claimlist, of which the
selected elements must be members.
All of these criteria are optional, except for class. If all element types are valid, this should
be ALL.
If you specify more than one criterion, the specifications must be in the above order, as
shown by the following graphs:
<selatt>= >-+- ALL -----------------------.
|
|
|
.------<-----.
|
|
|
|
|
- <selcla> -*- <selcla> -
|
|
|
----------------+--.
|
.-----------------<------------------------
|
+- WIth --.
|
|
|- WHere -+- <expr> -.
|
|
--------------------+- <selvol> -.
|
|
------------+- <selhie> -.
|
|
------------+- <selfrom> -.
|
|
-------------+-->
where <selcla> gives the class of items to be selected:

<selcla>=
>--+-- <noun> ---.

|
|
--- <gid> ---+-- MEMbers --.
|
|
|-- ITEms ----|
|
|
-------------+--->
<selvol> allows you to specify a volume to be selected:

<selvol>= >-+- WITHIN -----------.
|
|
- EXCLusive WITHIN -+-- VOLume - <gid> -+- <expr> -.
|
|
|
|
--------|
|
|
- <bpos> - TO - <bpos> -------+->
1 2:13
12.0

<selhie> gives the point in the hierarchy below which elements are to be selected:
<selhie>=
>-- FOR -- <gid> --+-- <gid> ------------.

|
|
-- EXCLude - <gid> --+-->
<selfrom> limits the elements available to those in a specified list or collection:

<selfrom>=
>-- FROM --+-|

|-|
|-|
--
!VAR -------.
|
DRAWLIST ---|
|
OBSTLIST ---|
|
CLAIMLIST --+-->
Examples:
ALL
Selects all elements
ALL FRMW
Selects all framework elements
ALL BRANCH MEMBERS
Selects all piping components
ITEMS OF EQUI /VESS1
Selects all primitives below /VESS1
(/PIPE1 /PIPE2)
Selects just /PIPE1 and /PIPE2
ALL WITH (XLEN GT

1000)
Selects all elements where XLEN is greater than

1000mm
ALL WITHIN
W8000N17000U1000 TO
W1400N13500U1200
Selects all elements within the defined volume
ALL PIPE WITHIN

VOLUME /PIPE1 1500
Selects all piping elements within a volume defined as a

box drawn around /PIPE1, with a clearance of 1500mm
between the edges of /PIPE1 and the volume box.
You can minimise the time taken for any selection operation by making the selection criteria
as specific as possible, so that only relevant parts of the databases are searched for the
required elements. Where known, specify the element type (e.g. ALL BOX ...), the database
element under which the search is to be restricted (e.g. ALL BOX FOR /ZONE1 ...), the
volume in which you are interested (e.g. ALL BOX WITHIN N5000 E5000 U0 TO N10000
E12000 U8000 ...), and so on. If you do not do this, all databases in the current MDB will be
searched, whether or not they contain relevant types of element, and performance will be
impaired.
2.4
Command Input Modes

Generally, in DESIGN you are able to access the full range of DESIGN command syntax.
However there are two modes where the syntax is restricted to commands only relevant to
that mode. The modes are:
MDB mode allows you to change or query databases during a DESIGN session. Refer
to the Database Management Reference Manual for more information.
1 2:14
12.0

DESCLASH mode allows you to check the design for clashes. Described in the
DESIGN Reference Manual Part 3: Utilities.
To return to normal Design mode, enter the command EXIT.
1 2:15
12.0

1 2:16
12.0

General Commands
General Commands
3.1
Entering DESIGN
Keyword:
DESIGN
Description:
Use the DESIGN command to enter Plant DESIGN. These command are available
throughout PDMS.
3.2
Saving
3.2.1
Saving DESIGN Work

See Database Reference Manual Section 7
3.3
Alpha Display
3.3.1
Saving the Alpha Log

Keywords:
ALPHA LOG
ALPHA FILE
Description:
Lets you save the alpha display information to a text file. Two types of output are available,
depending on the command used.
ALPHA LOG enables the contents of either or both of the COMMANDS and REQUESTS
alpha regions to be written to a file.
ALPHA FILE enables the contents of the REQUESTS regions only to be written to file.
The ALPHA LOG and ALPHA FILE commands may be used to save data such as the
results of a data consistency check, or be used as a general output facility.
1 3:1
12.0

General Commands
Note: After an ALPHA file has been opened, subsequent output will be directed to both the
file and the screen until the file is closed, or until you change to another PDMS
module.
Examples:
Log information displayed in the COMMANDS region
in file /LF1
ALP LOG
/LF1 COMMANDS
ALP LOG
/LF1 OVER COMM Log information displayed in the COMMANDS region

in file /LF1. Any existing file /LF1 will be overwritten.
ALP LOG
ALP FILE
/LF2
/LF2
ALP LOG END

ALP FILE END
Log information displayed in both alpha regions in file

/LF2
Log information displayed in REQUESTS region only
Finish logging data
Command Syntax:
>-- ALPha --+-- LOG --+-- name --+- OVERwrite --.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- APPend -----|
|
|
|
|
|
|
--------------+-- COMMands -.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-- REQuests -|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------|
|
|
|
|
-- END --------------------------------|
|
|
-- FILE --+-- name --+-- OVERwrite --------------|
|
|
|
|
|-- APPend -----------------|
|
|
|
|
---------------------------|
|
|
-- END --------------------------------+->
3.3.2
Clearing the Alpha Views

Keywords:
ALPHA CLEAR
Description:
Each alpha region may be cleared by using a variation of the ALPHA command.
Examples:
ALPHA COMMANDS CLEAR
Clears the text from the COMMANDS region only.
ALPHA REQUESTS CLEAR
Clears the text from the REQUESTS region only.
1 3:2
12.0

General Commands
Command Syntax:
>-- ALPha --+-- COMMands --.

|
|
-- REQuests --+-- CLEAR -->
3.4
Leaving DESIGN
3.4.1
Changing Modules
You can change to another PDMS module by typing the name of the module. DESIGN
automatically saves your work before changing module.
3.4.2
Exit from DESIGN without Saving Changes

Keywords:
QUIT FINISH
Description:
QUIT exits from DESIGN without saving any changes or the display setup. QUIT has the
effect of deleting any changes made since the last SAVEWORK, module change or MDB
change.
FINISH also exits from DESIGN without saving any changes, but in this case you are taken
directly to the operating system of your computer.
Examples:
QUIT
Exit from DESIGN (and enter Monitor)
QUIT ISODRAFT
Exit from DESIGN and enter Isodraft
FINISH
Exit from DESIGN to the operating system
Command Syntax:
>-- QUIT --+-- modulename --.

|
|
----------------+-->
>-- FINISH -->
3.5
Setting Working Units and Tolerances

These functions let you set the dimensioning units and precision for design placement and
element searching operations. The designer can choose at any time to work with metric or
imperial units and can differentiate between the units used for nominal pipe bores and for
general linear dimensions. Tolerance settings are available for general 3D positioning, plus
special tolerance controls for pipe and structural steelwork layouts. A search radius (the hit
radius) can be specified for cursor picking operations.
1 3:3
12.0

General Commands
3.5.1
Setting Working Units

Keywords:
MILLIMETRE
MM
INCH
FINCH
Description:
You can choose to work with units for nominal bores and dimensions other than those
specified in the Catalogue. The PDMS default is to work in millimetres for nominal bores and
distances. However, the Catalogue can contain company-specific instructions that alter the
defaults; say, feet and inches. After the units setting is changed, all input and output will take
place in the new units unless specifically stated.
Examples:
MM BORE
All bores will be input and output in mm
FINCH DIS
All distances and coordinates will be input and output in feet

and inches
UNITS /PERCHES
All distances and coordinates will be input and output in the

units defined in the units definition element /PERCHES in the
Properties Database
UNITS DEF
Uses the default Catalogue database units
UNITS
Standard PDMS units
Note: 3 feet 6 inches must be input as 36 when using FINCH units.

Command Syntax:
>--+-|
|-|
|-|
--
MILlimetre --.
|
MM ----------|
|
INch --------|
|
FInch -------+-- BOres ------.
|
|
-- DIstances --+-->
>-- UNITS --+-- <id> -----.

|
|
|-- DEFault --|
|
|
-------------+-->
1 3:4
12.0

General Commands
Querying:
Q UNIts
Q DISPLAY
3.5.2
Gives tolerance and level settings, as well as unit settings
Setting Output Precision of Distance Units

Note: You must not change the precision if you are customising the AVEVA
Applicationware. You should only use this command if you are writing a completely
new application.
Keywords:
PRECISION
Description:
Output dimensions, in the current units, are normally rounded to the following degrees of
precision:
Millimetres
To the nearest mm (e.g. 316)
Inches
To the nearest 0.1 inch (e.g. 38.8)
Feet and inches
To the nearest 1/32 inch (e.g. 37.15/32)
Output for setting variables defaults to the following, higher, precisions:

Millimetres
To two decimal places (e.g. 316.25)
Inches
To two decimal places (e.g. 38.75)
Feet and inches
To the nearest 1/64 inch (e.g. 37.31/64)
You may control the output precision of distances in some modules by using the
PRECISION command. This allows you to specify the number of decimal places for MM or
INCH output, or the largest fraction denominator for FINCH output. Precision levels for
general output and for the setting of variables are specified separately.
To specify the output precision, use the command:
PRECision opt1 DIstance opt2 value opt3

where the command options (opt1, opt2 and opt3) are as follows:
opt1 defines how the specified precision is to be applied. It is one of the following:
OUTput
For general dimensions
VARiables
For setting variables
If opt1 is omitted:
Both Output and Variables are set if opt2 is DEFAULT
Output only is set if opt2 is TO
1 3:5
12.0

General Commands
opt2 defines whether you are changing to a newly-defined precision or back to the default
settings. It is one of the following:
TO
DEFault
If opt2 is omitted, TO is assumed.
opt3, which only applies if opt2 is TO, qualifies the number specified by value. The available
choices are:
DECimals
Decimal places
DPls
Decimal places
THs
As in 64ths
NDs
As in 32nds
If opt3 is omitted, value is assumed to apply as follows:
If current units are MM or INCH: value is Decimals
If current units are FINCH: value is THs or NDs
Examples:
3.5.3
PREC OUT DI DEF
Set default precision for output
PREC VAR DEF
Set default precision for variables
PREC DI DEF
Set default precision for output and variables
PREC DI 1 DP
Set output to 1 decimal place (MM or INCH units)
PREC OUT DI 4 DEC
Set output to 4 decimal places (MM or INCH units)
PREC VAR DI 3 DP
Set variables to 3 decimal places (MM or INCH units)
PREC DI 64THS
Set output to 1/64 inch precision (FINCH units)
Switching between Actual and Nominal Bores

The PRECISION command also allows you to output actual bore dimensions (rather than
Nominal bore values) when required.
To switch to output of actual bore dimensions, use the command:
PRECISION BORE ACTUAL

To switch back to using nominal bore values:
PRECISION BORE NOMINAL
1 3:6
12.0

General Commands
3.6
Audible Error Trace

Keywords:
ALARM
Description:
When a macro error occurs, there is an audible alarm at the workstation to signal that the
error has occurred. Occasionally, macro errors can be anticipated and no audible warning is
required. This command allows the audible warning to be switched on or off either
interactively or via a macro.
If the audible warning is ON, it will sound whenever an error alert is displayed. The default
setting is ON .
Examples:
ALARM ON
Sets the audible tone to be on.
ALARM OFF
Suppresses the audible tone until it is turned on again.
Command Syntax:
>-- ALARM --+-- ON ---.

|
|
-- OFF --+-->
3.7
Switching Text Output Off

Keywords:
TRACE
Description:
This command, applicable in TTY mode only, controls the automatic output of the Current
Element name and attributes. When macros are being run, TRACE is always set to OFF
automatically.
Examples:
TRACE OFF
Stops the automatic output of Current Element name.
TRACE ON
Restarts automatic output of Current Element name.
Note: ON is the default setting.

Command Syntax:
>-- TRAce --+-- ON ---.

|
|
-- OFF --+-->
1 3:7
12.0

General Commands
3.8
Giving Operating System Commands from PDMS

Keywords:
SYSCOMmand
Description:
PDMS normally assumes that any command input in response to its prompt character (*) is
an instruction to the current module, and will check its validity on that assumption. You can
issue an operating system (OS) command to the host computer from within PDMS by
entering the SYSCOM command followed immediately (without pressing Return) by the OS
command enclosed between apostrophes () or vertical bars (|). The effect applies only to
the single command line; as soon as the OS command has been executed, control is
returned to PDMS.
Note: Do not try to issue OS commands which might disrupt PDMS operations; for
example, commands which would close or amend files currently in use by PDMS.
Example:
SYSCOM 'dir'
3.9
Lists directory from which you entered PDMS.
General Querying Facilities

You will often find, when working in PDMS, that you need to check existing information
about some aspect of the programs operations; for example:
Current usage in terms of users, modules and DBs.
The currently selected output device.
The unique code which identifies the process you are running and the station you are
running it from (useful for generating unique workfile names).
The current setting, perhaps the default setting, of a command option.
The contents of part of a particular DB; for example, the current setting of an attribute
or the list of member elements owned by a specific element.
The elements which match specific selection criteria entered by you.
To ask for such information from within DESIGN, type
Query(almost always abbreviated to Q)

followed by the relevant querying option as described in the following sections. (You also will
find more specific querying syntax throughout this set of manuals.)
3.9.1
Querying Your Current Module

To check the version number or revision date of your current module, enter one of the
following:
Q BANner
Q BANner FULL
This will cause PDMS to redisplay the banner which was shown when you first entered
DESIGN.
1 3:8
12.0

General Commands
Design Mk11.3.1 (WINDOWS-NT 4.0) (29 Feb 2000 : 22.40)

(the FULL option will also display data about the software components used by DESIGN).
3.9.2
Querying Your System

To ask about your current MDB, enter
Q MDB
To output all valid teams for the current user, enter
Q TEAM
To output the current PDMS user name, enter
Q USER
To output your login name, enter
Q LOGIN/NAME
To output the value of an environment variable, enter
Q EVARiable <evar>
Note: If the environment variable name contains any non-letter characters, it must be
enclosed in quotes.
To output information about a file, enter
Q FILE <filename> <att>

To output information about an open file, enter
Q OPENFILE <token> <att>

with the file identified by <token>. The information returned is governed by the attribute
<att> which can be:
NAME
The name of the file as typed in the OPENFILE Command
MODE
The mode as given in the OPENFILE command
FULLName
The fully specified filename
ENTRY
The entry name of the file (i.e. without directories)
SIZE
The size of the file in bytes when it was last closed (it does not increase
as it is written to)
DTM
The date and time the file was last modified
OWNER
The owner (creator) of the file
LOCK
Indicates if the file is locked (valid only for OPENFILE)
SORT
Type: File, Directory or Other (e.g. a link)
Note: In all the above, environment variables in filenames are always expanded, even for
NAME.
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General Commands
3.9.3
Querying Your Current Output Devices

To check the current types of alphanumeric and graphics devices to which DESIGN is
expecting to send your output, especially if you have not changed the default settings, enter
Q DEVice
To check either type of device separately, enter one of the following:
Q DEVice ALPha
Q DEVice GRAphics
To check the current settings for your graphics device, enter any of the following (the list is
not comprehensive):
3.9.4
Q SETPens
Gives all logical pen settings
Q SETPens number
Gives setting for logical pen number
Q LINESTyle
Gives line type (dotted, dashed etc.)
Q COLours or Q COLORs
Gives colours of all logical colour numbers
Q COLours number
Gives colour of logical colour number
Q COLours BACKground
Gives colour set for display background
Q COLours ALPHa
Gives colour set for alphabetic characters and so on.
Querying the Command Implementation Mode

To check the current state of the command implementation mode, that is, whether you have
Actions On or Off , enter
Q ACTions
3.9.5
Asking for a Unique Workstation Code

To generate a unique string, based upon your current process and workstation in use, enter
Q UNIQueid
This returns a unique string, which is machine dependent. This is useful for generating
workfile names that will not clash with names generated by other users.
3.9.6
Querying Elements and Attributes in DBs

To check what the current element is, enter
Q CE
To check the membership list of the current element, enter
Q MEMbers
The members will be listed in the order of their positions in the membership list.
To find out which element owns the current element (the inverse of the preceding example),
type
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General Commands
Q OWNer
To ask what types of element may legally be members of the current element, type
Q LISt
To ask whether an element exists, type
Q EXISTS <element name/refno> [<type>] [UPDATE]

The optional <type> lets you check whether the identified element is of a given type. The
optional UPDATE can be used to tell you whether the identified element can be updated or
not.
The responses to this query are:
TRUEA
If you did not specify <type> and the element exists.
TRUE
If you specified <type> and the element exists and is also of the given
<type>.
TRUEC
If the element exists and can be updated.
FALSEA
If the element does not exist.
FALSEB
If the element exists but is not of the given <type>.
FALSEC
If the element exists but cannot be updated (if UPDATE was used).
To ask what elements match specified criteria, enter
Q ALL <select>
where <select> is the selection expression. All elements matching your entered selection
criteria will be output. For example
Q ALL BRANCH WHERE (HBORE GT 100) FOR /ATEST

will output all branches in the element /ATEST which have values greater than 100 for the
attribute HBORE.
To check the settings of all attributes of the current element, type
Q ATTributes
(Any user-defined attributes (UDAs) will be output at the end of the attribute list.)
To check the setting of an attribute of a specific element, type
Q (<attribute> OF <id>)
For example:
Q (XLEN OF BOX1)
To check the settings of specific attributes only, query them by name, thus:
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
XLEngth
BORe
POSition
ORIentation
:TESTED( where :TESTED is a UDA)
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General Commands
and so on.
You may query several specified attributes in a single command line. For example,
Q POS ORI XLEN YLEN ZLEN :TESTED

To query the contents of part of an array, enter
Q arrayname[index]
For example:
Q DESP[10]
To query the PDMS version from which the current DB was created, enter
Q CRINFO
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Display
Display
The commands described in this chapter control how the items are displayed in a 3D
(Volume) View. For information about creating View windows, see the Software
Customisation Guide and the Software Customisation Reference Manual.
4.1
Adding Elements to the Display

Keywords:
ADD COLOUR
Description:
Allows selected Design items to be added to the Draw List, which defines which elements
are to be displayed. If an element is to be displayed in a colour which is different from the
default colour, this can be specified as part of the command line.
Items added to the display are added to all volume views with the scale and view direction
appropriate to that view.
The syntax applies to views attached to a Global drawlist.
The Draw List can contain significant elements only. The following is a partial list of
significant elements as an example:
EQUI SUBE DATU GRDM PTRA BOUN BRAN HANG PVOL* RPLA* STRU SUBS SCTN
PNOD PALJ PANE (* only if directly below a Site or Zone.)
If an element below a significant element (i.e. a primitive) is added, then the whole
significant element will be added as well. If an element above a significant element (e.g. a
PIPE) is added, then all significant elements owned by that element will be added; not the
high-level element itself.
Only significant elements (e.g. an EQUI) appear in the drawlist. What appears in the 3D
view are all the primitives (e.g. BOX, CYLI, ...) that are owned by the significant element.
ADD ONLY will add the significant element to the drawlist but only add the given primitive(s)
to the 3D view rather than all the primitives below the significant element.
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Examples:
ADD ONLY /VESS1/N1
adds /VESS1 to the drawlist but only nozzle /

VESS1/N1 to the 3D view
ADD /P100A
/P100A is added to the Draw List
ADD CE
The current element will be added to the Draw

List
ADD /ZONE1 /ZONE2 COLOUR 5
/ZONE1 and /ZONE2 will be added in colour 5.

If you wish to add items in other colours, you
must use separate commands.
Command Syntax:
>-- ADD --+-- Only --+
.----<-------.
|
| /
|
----------*-- <selatt> ---+-- COLour <colno> -->
|
-->
where:
<colno> =
>--+-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
--
integer --.
|
ACTive ---|
|
VISIble --|
|
CE -------|
|
CLASH ----|
|
OBST -----|
|
AIDS -----+-->
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Display
Querying:
4.1.1
Q DRAW
Queries the contents of the Draw List
Q DRAW COUNT
Queries the number of items in the Draw List
Q DRAW FULL
Queries the contents of the Draw List and the colour

with which each Draw List member was added
Q DRAW r COLOUR
Queries the colour number of the referenced item, r. It

returns unset if the item is not in the Draw List.
Q DRAW r TRANSLUENCY
Queries the translucency number of the referenced

item, r. It returns unset if the item is not in the Draw List.
Selecting Graphics Colours Automatically

Keywords:
AUTOCOLOUR
Description:
Lets you define a set of rules for automating the selection of colours for items added to
graphical views. Each rule consists of a set of selection criteria for particular types of
element, together with an associated colour (which may be an explicit colour number or an
expression).
When an element is added to the drawlist, the selection rules are scanned in sequence until
a rule is found to be true for that element. The element is then added in the colour
corresponding to that rule. If the colour is invalid, the search is continued. If no rule is true
for the element, the default colour is used. The order in which the rules are set up is
significant, since the first rule found to be true determines the colour.
Automatic colour selection may be switched on or off as required. If it is on, the colour
specified by the rule is used rather than any other colour entered as part of the ADD
command. If dynamic autocolouring is specified, the autocolour will be checked every time
an attribute is changed and, if necessary, the relevant element will be re-added in the
current colour.
Each autocolour may be drawn either as a solid colour (default) or as a translucent shade. If
using translucency, you can also specify whether or not the edges of an item should be
drawn (as in wireline mode) to give a more distinct outline.
Examples:
AUTOCOLOUR ALL EQUI COLOUR 4 All Equipment items to be added in colour 4

AUTOCOLOUR ALL EQUI COLOUR 4 All Equipment items to be added in colour 4
TRANSLUCENCY 25 EDGES ON
with 25% translucency and edges drawn.
All Branches with head bores greater than 100
to be added in colour 10.
AUTOCOLOUR ALL BRAN WITH

(HBORE GT 100) COLOUR 10
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Examples:
AUTOCOLOUR ALL SCTN COLOUR

(:COLOUR OF SPRE)
All Sections to be added as defined by the

UDA :COLOUR derived via their SpecRefs.
AUTOCOLOUR ALL COLOUR

(:COLOUR)
Uses the UDA :COLOUR to denote the colour

for all displayed elements. If you enter this as
the final rule, it will provide a default colour if all
other rules prove false.
AUTOCOLOUR ON
Colours will be chosen according to autocolour

rules. If Off (the default), colour specified in the
ADD command will be used.
AUTOCOLOUR DYNAMIC ON
Updates autocolour each time an attribute

changes. (Use with care!)
AUTOCOLOUR RESET
Clears all current autocolour rules.
AUTOCOLOUR REMOVE 2
Removes the second rule from the current list.
AUTOCOLOUR REORDER 2 TO 4
Moves rule number 2 to position 4 in the list.
Command Syntax:
>- AUTOCOLOUR -+- selection_rule - COLOUR - expression -+->
|
|
| .-----------------------<--------------'
| |
| '- TRANSLucency - expression -+->
|
|
|
'- EDGES - ON/OFF ->
|- ON/OFF ->
|
|- DYNAMIC - ON/OFF ->
|
|- RESET ->
|
|- REMOVE - integer ->
|
- REORDER - integer1 - TO - integer2 ->
Note: The expression for Translucency must be in the range 0-99: the actual translucency
will be set to the nearest of 12, 25, 37, 50, 62, 75 or 87
(99 = transparent; 0 = opaque).
AUTOCOLOUR ON must be in force to see the effect of AUTOCOLOUR DYNAMIC
ON.
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Querying:
4.1.2
Q AUTOCOLOUR NUMber
Gives number of colour rules.
Q AUTOCOLOUR MODE
Queries autocolour mode; i.e. On or Off.
Q AUTOCOLOUR integer
Gives selection criteria for rule integer.
Q AUTOCOLOUR DYNAMIC
Checks whether dynamic updating is on or off.
Q AUTOCOLOUR FOR id COLOUR
Queries colour that would be selected for

identified element (this is of most use for batch
testing).
Q AUTOCOLOUR FOR id
TRANSLUCENCY
Queries translucency setting for identified

element.
Q AUTOCOLOUR FOR id EDGES
Queries whether or not edges are to be drawn

for identified element (only relevant if
translucency is being applied).
Removing Elements from the Display

Keywords:
REMOVE
Description:
These commands remove elements from the Draw List and the display.
Examples:
REMOVE ONLY /VESS1N1
removes only nozzle /VESS/N1 from the 3D view
REMOVE /BRANCH1
BRANCH1 will be removed from the Draw List and

the display
REM SITE /PIPING
The site /PIPING will be removed
REM ALL
All items in the Draw List, and on the screen, will be

removed
Note: If an element below a significant element (i.e. a primitive) is removed, then the
whole significant element will be removed as well. To avoid this behaviour the
Remove ONLY command should be used. REMOVE ONLY will not remove the
significant element but only remove the given primitive from the 3D view (the
primitives that have been added/removed can be seen on the primitives tab of the
drawlist form). (Note: if the element being added/removed is significant or above a
significant element then ADD/REMOVE ONLY will have the same effect as ADD/
REMOVE).
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Display
Command Syntax:
>-- REMove --+-- Only --+
|
|
----------+ -- <selatt> ------>
4.1.3
Defining Colours
Keywords:
COLOUR
ACTIVE
CE
VISIBLE
CLASH
OBST AIDS
Description:
These commands allow colours to be defined so that different types of item in the display
may be distinguished by means of colour. Certain items such as current element and active
element colours have default settings, but these may also be redefined.
The colours may be assigned by using the COLOUR command to define the Red-GreenBlue mix for a colour number or to assign a predefined colour mix by name. DESIGN allows
the use of 115 user-definable colours, plus some specific ones which are assigned to items
which need to be readily distinguishable in the display.
Definitions:
The Active element is the significant element (and its components) being worked on.
The Current Element (CE) is the actual element currently being accessed.
The Visible design consists of the design elements which you wish to be displayed
(but which you are not currently working on).
A Clashing element is an element whose current position and geometry are being
tested for interferences against other elements in the design and which has been found
to clash (see Design Reference Manual Pt 3: Utilities).
An Obstructing element is any of the elements in the design against which a clashing
element is being tested for interferences and which has been found to clash (see
Design Reference Manual Pt 3: Utilities).
An Aid includes tags (markers), axes and other graphical annotations.
The predefined colour mixes which you may specify by name are as follows:
Predefined Colour Mixes
black
pink
darkgreen
beige
white
salmon
cyan
wheat
whitesmoke
orange
turquoise
tan
ivory
brightorange
aquamarine
sandybrown
grey
orangered
blue
brown
lightgrey
maroon
royalblue
khaki
darkgrey
yellow
navyblue
chocolate
darkslate
gold
powderblue
darkbrown
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Display
Predefined Colour Mixes

red
lightyellow
midnight
blueviolet
brightred
lightgold
steelblue
firebrick
coralred
yellowgreen
indigo
darkorchid
tomato
springgreen
mauve
dimgrey
plum
green
violet
coral
deeppink
forestgreen
magenta
indianred
lightblue
limegreen
mediumaquamarine sienna
slateblue
The default colour assignments are:
Colour No
Colour
Active design
orange
Current element
yellow
Visible design
lightgrey
Clashing element
red
Obstructing element
tomato
Aids
blue
grey
red
orange
yellow
green
cyan
blue
violet
brown
10
white
11
pink
12
mauve
13
turquoise
14
indigo
15
black
16
magenta
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Display
Examples:
Colour 5 will be changed to dark green
COL 5 DARKGREEN
COL 3 MIX RED 50 GRE 50 BLU 5 Colour 3 will change to the specified mix of
red, green and blue
Sets the colour for displaying active elements
to bright red
COL ACTIVE BRIGHTRED
Note: When colours are mixed in their Red, Green and Blue constituents, the command
line must contain values for all three constituents in the correct order. The numbers
entered for the relative proportions of the basic colours must each be in the range 0100, but they are not percentages of the overall colour and so do not need to add up
to 100.
Command Syntax:
>- COLour -+- integer -.
|
|
|- ACTive --|
|
|
|--AIDS-----|
|
|
|- VISIble -|
|
|
|- CE ------|
|
|
|- CLASH ---|
|
|
- OBST ----+-- colour_name --->
|
-- MIX RED integer GREen integer BLUe integer ->
where colour_name is the name of any of the predefined colour mixes listed above.
Querying:
>-- Q COLour --+-|

|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
--
4.2
integer -----.
|
CE ----------|
|
ACTive ------|
|
VISIble -----|
|
CLASH -------|
|
OBST --------|
|
AIDS --------+-->
Element Representation
There are a number of options which determine how items in the graphical display are to be
shown on the screen. These are controlled by the REPRESENTATION command.
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Display
4.2.1
Setting Tube Representation for Piping Components

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION TUBE CL (CENTRELINE)
Description:
The REPRESENTATION command allows tubing to be represented in a centreline or as a
solid tube. In some cases, it helps to switch between the two representations to simplify an
otherwise complicated view.
TUBE and CENTRELINE representation are not instantly updated on the screen. To see the
effects of a representation change, use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make
any changes visible.
Examples:
REPR TUBE ON CL OFF
Sets tubing representation as solid tube.
REPR CL ON TUBE OFF
Sets tubing representation as centreline.
REPR TUBE ON CL ON
Sets both types of representation on (but centreline will

not be visible in colour-shaded mode, as it will be hidden
by solid tube).
Command Syntax:
.-----------------------<---------------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- CL -------------------------.
|
|
|
|
|-- CENTreline -----------------|
|
|
|
|
-- TUbe -----------------------+-- ON ---|
|
|
-- OFF --+->
Querying:
Q REPR TUBE
Q REPR CL
Q REPR PROF
Q REPR
4.2.2
Queries all Representation options.
Setting Profile Representation for Steelwork

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION PROFILE
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Display
Description:
The REPRESENTATION PROFILE commands allow structural steel profiles to be
represented in a centreline or solid profile format. In some cases, it helps to switch between
the two representations to simplify an otherwise complicated view.
TUBE and CENTRELINE representation are not instantly updated on the screen. To see the
effects of a representation change, use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make
any changes visible.
Examples:
REPR PROF ON CL OFF
Sets profile representation as solid profile.
REPR PROF CL ON TUBE OFF
Sets profile representation as centreline.
REPR PROF ON CL ON
Sets both types of representation on.
Command Syntax:
.---------------------<-----------------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- PROFile --+-- CL -----------.
|
|
|
|
|-- CENTreline ---|
|
|
|
|
|-- OBSTruction --|
|
|
|
|
-- INSUlation ---+-- ON ---|
|
|
-- OFF --+->
Querying:
Q REPR PROF TUBE

Q REPR PROF CL
Q REPR
4.2.3
Queries all Representation options.
Setting Drawing Level Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION LEVEL
Description:
This command enables individual drawing levels to be specified for the display of piping,
nozzles, structural elements and other design database elements.
Every basic primitive shape in the design has an associated drawing level range attribute
(for piping and structural steelwork components, these are stored in the Catalogue). If the
specified drawing level coincides with this range, the 3D object will be drawn when it is
added to the Draw List.
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Display
The practical effect of this facility is that it allows you to minimise visible detail when
representing Design items. For example, at drawing level 3 steelwork may be represented
as single line only, whereas at level 1 the full detail may be visible. Level 3 may well be
adequate for design purposes.
LEVEL manipulation is not instantly updated on the screen. To see the effects of a level
change, use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make any changes visible.
Examples:
REPR LEVEL PIPE 5
Sets piping level to 5. All pipes which are added after this
command will be drawn at level 5. Those already in the view
will remain unchanged.
REPR LEVEL NOZZ 1
Sets Nozzle level to 1
REPR LEVEL 2
Set level for all other Component types to 2
Command Syntax:
.-------------------<-------------------.
/
|
>- REPResentation --*-- LEVel --+-- PIPE -------.
|
|
|
|
|-- NOZZle -----|
|
|
|
|
|-- STRUcture --|
|
|
|
|
---------------+-- integer --+->
Querying:
4.2.4
Q REPR
Lists all REPRE options
Q REPR LEVEL
Lists levels at which other Components are drawn
Q REPR LEV PIPE
Gives the level at which pipes are drawn
Q REPR LEV NOZZ
Gives the level at which Nozzles are drawn
Q DISPLAY
Gives units and tolerance settings, as well as representation

levels
Setting Obstruction & Insulation Representation for Piping

Components
Keywords:
REPRESENTATION OBSTRUCTION INSULATION TRANSLUCENCY
Description:
Component Obstructions are often given LEVELS or TUBE and CENTRELINE settings
which render them invisible. Setting the Representation of OBST On forces the system to
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Display
override normal LEVEL and TUBE settings and show all of the primitives, regardless of the
other settings.
Setting the Representation of INSU On or Off determines whether or not insulation is shown
on primitives.
These have the effect of considering all primitives which have an obstruction level greater
than zero and all primitives which are affected by insulation parameters. The graphics
display is not updated instantly. Use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make any
changes visible.
To avoid obscuring the view in colour-shaded mode, obstruction and/or insulation can be
shown as translucent, the degree of translucency being controllable.
Examples:
REPR OBST ON INSU OFF
REPR INSU ON
REPR INSU ON TRANSLUCENCY 25
Command Syntax:
.------------------------------<---------------.
/
|
>- REPResentation -*- OBSTruction -.
|
|
|
|
- INSUlation --+- ON --+------------------------|
|
|
|
|
'- TRANSLucency - value -|
|
|
- OFF --------------------------+->
Note: value must be in the range 0-99: the actual translucency will be set to the nearest of
25, 50, 75 or 87 (99 = transparent; 0 = opaque).
Querying:
4.2.5
Q REPR
Lists all Representation settings
Q REPR INSU
Queries if insulation is ON or OFF
Q REPR OBST
Queries if OBST is ON or OFF
Q REPR INSU TRANSL
Queries translucency setting for insulation
Setting Obstruction Representation for Steelwork

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION PROFILE OBSTRUCTION ON/OFF TRANSLUCENCY
Description:
Structural Steel Obstructions are often given LEVELS or TUBE and CENTRELINE settings,
which render them invisible. Setting the Representation of OBST On forces the system to
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Display
override normal LEVEL and TUBE settings and show all of the primitives, regardless of the
other settings.
Setting the Representation of INSU On or Off determines whether or not insulation is shown
on primitives.
These have the effect of considering all primitives which have an obstruction level greater
than zero and all primitives which are affected by insulation parameters. The graphics
display is not updated instantly. Use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make any
changes visible.
To avoid obscuring the view in colour-shaded mode, obstructions can be shown as
translucent, the degree of translucency being controllable.
Examples:
REPR PROF OBST ON
REPR PROF OBST OFF
REPR PROF OBST ON TRANSLUCENCY 25
Command Syntax:
> REPResentation--PROFile--OBSTruction -+- ON - TRANSLucency - value --.
|
|
- OFF ------------------------+->
Note: value must be in the range 0-99: the actual translucency will be set to the nearest of
25, 50, 75 or 87 (99 = transparent; 0 = opaque).
Querying:
Q REPR PROF OBST TRANSL
4.2.6
Queries translucency setting for obstructions
Setting P-Point Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION PPOINTS LENGTH NUMBERS
Description:
P-point representation may be set to ON or OFF. The default setting is PPOINTS OFF,
although p-points will be shown automatically as part of an identification operation.
When p-points are on, they are drawn as small arrows with a cross at the p-point position
and with the arrow indicating the p-point direction. The size of the arrow is controlled by the
LENGTH option. P-point numbers may also be displayed, as controlled by the NUMBERS
option.
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Display
As with changes to other representation settings, the graphics display is not updated
instantly. Use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make changes to the display of ppoints visible.
Examples:
REPR PPOINTS ON
Sets the p-point representation to ON
REPR PPOINTS LENGTH 5
Sets size of p-point arrows
REPR PPOINTS NUMB ON
Shows p-point numbers
Command Syntax:
.----------<----------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- PPoints --+-- ON ---|
|
|
|-- OFF --+-->
|
|-- LENgth -- value -->
|
-- NUMbers --+-- ON ---.
|
|
-- OFF --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR PPOINTS
4.2.7
Setting Structural Node Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION
PNODES
SNODES
Description:
These options allow Primary and/or Secondary Nodes on structural steelwork items to be
shown on the display in specified colours and sizes.
By default, both types of node are shown in the current visible colour, with a size equivalent
to 10mm diameter.
Examples:
REPR PNOD ON
Only Primary Nodes will be shown in the display.
REPR SNOD OFF
The display of Secondary Nodes will be suppressed.
REPR PNOD COL

BRIGHTRED
Primary Nodes will be shown in bright red colour.
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Examples:
REPR SNOD COL 12
Secondary Nodes will be shown in the currently defined mix

for colour number 12.
REPR PNOD SIZE 15

REPR SNOD SIZE 6
Primary Nodes will be emphasised by being drawn at 15mm

diameter, while Secondary Nodes are drawn at only 6mm
diameter.
Command Syntax:
.------------<----------------------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- PNODes --. .-------------------. |
|
|/
| |
-- SNODes --*-- ON ---------------| |
|
| |
|-- OFF --------------| |
|
| |
|-- SIZe <uval> ------| |
|
| |
-- COLour <colour> --+--+-->
Querying:
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
4.2.8
REPR
REPR
REPR
REPR
REPR
REPR
PNOD
PNOD
PNOD
SNOD
SNOD
SNOD
SIZE
COL
SIZE
COL
Setting P-Line Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION PLINES LENGTH PKEY
Description:
P-line representation for structural Sections may be set to ON or OFF. The default setting is
PLINES OFF.
When p-lines are on, the size of the arrow showing their direction is controlled by the
LENGTH option. P-line identifiers, in the form of the settings of their PKEY attributes (TOS,
BOS, NA, etc.) may also be displayed, as controlled by the PKEY option.
As with changes to other representation settings, the graphics display is not updated
instantly. Use the REPResentation UPDATE command to make changes to the display of plines visible.
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Examples:
REPR PLINES ON
Sets the p-line representation to ON
REPR PLINES LENGTH 6 Sets size of p-line arrows

REPR PLINES PKEY ON
Shows p-line identifiers (settings of PKEY attributes)
Command Syntax:
.---------<----------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- PLINes --+-- ON ---|
|
|
|-- OFF --+-->
|
|-- LENgth -- value -->
|
-- PKEY --+-- ON ---.
|
|
-- OFF --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR PLINES
4.2.9
Setting Holes Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION HOLES
Description:
Determines the appearance of holes in volume views. ON gives a more realistic view of a
hole, with objects behind the hole being visible through it. OFF represents holes as
patterned regions on the surface of the component.
Example:
REPR HOLES ON
Sets the holes representation to ON
Command Syntax:
.---------<----------.
/
|
>-- REPResentation --*-- HOLes ---+-- ON ---|
|
|
-- OFF --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR HOLES
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Display
4.2.10
Setting Arc Tolerance Representation

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION
DARCTOLERANCE
Description:
Controls the arc tolerance used when representing certain curves as polygon segments or
faceting planes. The smaller the arc tolerance, the smoother the curve drawn, but the slower
the graphical performance.
The tolerances used for most curve drawing in DESIGN are controlled automatically by the
graphical system. The REPRE DARC command controls the following aspects only:
Filleted vertices used in the representation of extrusions; for example, Section Profiles from
the Catalogue, Panel Loops, etc.
Items which include holes (but only when REPRE HOLES is set to On; see Setting Holes
Representation).
The default setting is 10 mm. The minimum permitted setting is 1mm.
Example:
REPR DARC 5
Sets the arc tolerance to 5 mm.
REP DARC DEF
Resets arc tolerance to 10 mm.
Command Syntax:
>-- REPResentation -- DARCtolerance --+-- <uval> ---.

|
|
-- DEFault --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR DARC
4.2.11
Refreshing the Graphical View

Keywords:
REPRESENTATION UPDATE
Description:
Lets you refresh the graphical display, after modifying any of the representation settings,
without having to remove and add back all items in the drawlist.
Example:
REPR UPDATE
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Display
Command Syntax:
>-- REPResentation -- UPDATE -->
4.3
Specifying Axes
Keywords:
AXES
Description:
Lets you specify and position a set of axes on the display. The axes represent the compass
directions of the World co-ordinate system and may be positioned anywhere on the display.
Axes remain visible until they are switched off or deleted. Switching axes off renders them
invisible, whilst deletion removes them altogether. Switched-off axes can be made visible
again by switching them back on.
Examples:
AXES AT @
Positions a set of axes at the graphics cursor
AXES HEIGHT 300 AT @ Positions a new set of axes at the graphics cursor, with a
height of 300mm (default size is 1000mm)
AXES OFF
Removes axes from the screen (although they still exist)
AXES ON
Redisplays axes as previously shown.
AXES DELETE
Deletes axes (i.e. AXES ON will have no effect)
Command Syntax:
.---------<---------------------------.
/
|
>-- AXEs --*-- HEIght value -----------------------|
|
|
|-- AT <bpos> --------------------------|
|
|
|-- AT POLar <bdir> DISTance <uval> ---'
|
|-- AT @ ----.
|
|
|-- ON ------|
|
|
|-- OFF -----|
|
|
|-- DELete --|
|
|
------------+----------------------------->
1 4:18
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Display
4.4
Graphical Labelling of Design Elements

Keywords:
MARK
UNMARK
Description:
This facility allows specific design elements or lengths of Tube to be labelled in the display.
Frequently referenced items may be marked with a constant graphic label which will stay
with that item even if it is moved or rescaled. Items can also be unmarked (which removes
the label).
Labels are shown in all permitted regions where the items origin is within the current subview. The label always points to the origin or, in the case of a Branch or Hanger, to its Head
or Tail (where the name will be suffixed with + or - respectively).
You can specify selection criteria for marking, and specify any textual expression for the
marker.
Examples:
MARK /DATUM5
Element /DATUM5 will be labelled with its name.
UNMARK /DATUM5
The specified element will cease to be labelled.
MARK WITH Outer

Boundary ID @
Labels the picked element with the given text.
MARK WITH NAME ALL

BRAN
Labels all Branches with their PDMS names.
MARK WITH NAME OF

SPREF ALL VALVE
WHERE PBORE GT 100
Labels all valves larger than the specified bore with their
specification references in the catalogue.
UNMARK ALL
Removes all marking from the screen.
Command Syntax:
>-- MArk --+-- WITH -- text expression --.

|
|
-----------------------------+-- <selatt> -->
>-- UNMark -- <selatt> -->
4.5
Using Design Aids

Keywords:
AID LINE ARROW CEARROW ARC SPHERE BOX CYLINDER
1 4:19
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Display
Description:
This facility lets you incorporate lines, arrows, arcs, spheres, boxes or cylinders in a view to
help you with the design construction. Design aids can be grouped together (using the
NUMBER option) and given a number for identification.
Aid lines are drawn between two defined 3D positions. The linestyle can be solid, dashed,
dotted or dash-dot, and you can label them with text markers at defined positions.
Aid arrows are used to complement lines for showing dimensions etc. You can control both
the overall height of an arrow and the proportion of its height occupied by the conical arrowhead, thus changing its emphasis.
A special aid arrow, the CEArrow, is positioned automatically to point to the current element.
You can specify whether the arrow points to the Origin (default), P-arrive or P-leave of the
current element.
Note: These terms relate primarily to piping components. For other element types, they are
interpreted in a logical way. For example, for a SCTN, Origin = P-arrive = POSS, Pleave = POSE; for a PANE, Origin = Vertex 1; for a VERT, Origin = vertex position;
etc.
Aid arcs are defined in terms of two points at their extremities and either a third 'through'
point or a tangent point through which a second-order Bezier curve is constructed.
Aid spheres are defined by the position of the centre and the radius.
Aid boxes are defined in terms of their position, orientation, and X,Y,Z dimensions. They
may be drawn in wireline mode (like penalty volumes or clipping boxes) or in solid mode
(like box primitives).
Aid cylinders are defined in terms of their position, orientation, diameter and height. They
may be drawn in wireline or solid (filled) mode.
Examples:
AID LINE E1200S3500U0 TO

E760N1200U50
Draws a line between the two 3D positions.
AID LINE NUMBER 5

E1200S3500U0 TO E760N1200U50
LINESTYLE DOTTED
Groups the new line with other such lines

with the same number (5 this example) and
draws it in the dotted linestyle.
AID CLEAR LINE 5
Deletes line number 5
AID ARROW AT E760N1200U50 DIR

E HEI 100 PROP 0.5
Positions 100mm arrow with given position

and direction; arrow head is 50mm long.
AID BOX POS PIN 6 ORI X IS UP

Y TOWARDS /PUMP1 XLEN 200
YLEN 200 ZLEN 200 FILL OFF
Positions a wireline cubic box, with 200mm

sides, at Pin 6 with the specified orientation.
AID CLEAR SPHERE UNNd
eletes all unnumbered aid spheres.
Command Syntax:
>- AID LINE -+--------------.
|
|
1 4:20
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Display
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
>- AID
- NUMber int -+- <bpos> TO <bpos> -+- LINEStyle -+- SOLId ---.
|
|
|
->
|- DASHEd --|
|
|
|- DOTTEd --|
|
|
- DASHDot -+->
TEXT - NUMber int - text_expression - AT <bpos> ->
ARROW -+--------------.
|
|
- NUMber int -+-- AT <bpos> -- DIRection <bdir> -.
|
.----------------------------------------------
|
- HEIght val -+------------------.
|
|
- PROPortion val -+->
CEARROW -+- ON/OFF ->
|
'- HEIght val -+------------------.
|
|
- PROPortion val -+- ARRIVE -.
|
|
|- LEAVE --|
|
|
'- ORIGIN -+->
ARC -+--------------.
|
|
- NUMber int -+- <bpos> TO <bpos> -+- TANPoint <bpos> -.
|
|
'- THRU <bpos> -----+->
SPHERE -+--------------.
|
|
- NUMber int -+- <bpos> - DIAmeter <expre> ->
BOX -+--------------.
.-------------------.
|
| /
|
- NUMber int -+-*- POSition <bpos> ---|
|
|
|- ORIentation <ori> -|
|
|
|- XLENgth <expre> ---|
|
|
|- YLENgth <expre> ---|
|
|
|- ZLENgth <expre> ---|
|
|
- FILLed -+- ON --. |
|
| |
- OFF -+--+->
CYLinder -+--------------.
.-------------------.
|
| /
|
- NUMber int -+-*- POSition <bpos> ---|
|
|
|- AT <bpos> ---------|
|
|
|- ORIentation <ori> -|
|
|
|- DIAmeter <expre> --|
|
|
|- HEIght <expre> ----|
|
|
- FILLed -+- ON --. |
|
| |
- OFF -+--+->
CLEAR -+- ALL-------------------------.
|
|
|- LINE -----.
|
|
|
|
|- ARROW ----|
|
|
|
|
|- CEARROW --|
|
|
|
|
|- ARC ------|
|
|
|
|
|- SPHERE ---|
|
|
|
|
|- BOX ------|
|
|
|
|
'- CYLInder -+- int --------. |
1 4:21
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Display
|
| |
|- ALL --------| |
|
| |
- UNNumbered -+--+->
Querying:
>- Q AID -+|
||
||
||
||
||
'-
LINE -----.
|
ARROW ----|
|
CEARROW --|
|
ARC ------|
|
SPHERE ---|
|
BOX ------|
|
CYLInder -+- integer ----.
|
|
|- UNNumbered -|
|
|
- ALL --------+->
Note: Q AID ARC lists arcs using the THRU (not TANP) definition, since all arcs may be
represented in this way.
>- Q AID - NEXT -+|
||
||
||
||
'-
LINEnumber -----.
|
ARROWnumber ----|
|
ARCnumber ------|
|
SPHEREnumber ---|
|
CYLIndernumber -|
|
BOXnumber ------+->
(Gives next available aid number for specified type)
4.6
Highlighting Components in the Designs

Keywords:
ENHANCE
UNENHANCE
SOLELY
Description:
This facility lets you highlight components visually in the design. For example, all sections of
implied tube and rod could be highlighted, all piping components and so on.
A particular use of this facility would be to highlight components which fail error checking.
The SOLELY keyword clears all previous highlighting before highlighted the defined
components.
You can also highlight specific lengths of tube or rod.
1 4:22
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Display
Examples:
Highlights all RED components that match the
ENHANCE SOLELY ALL REDU
WITH (ABOR GT 10) COLOUR 13 selection criteria with colour 13 (turquoise)
ENHANCE /PIPE1 /PIPE2

COLOUR 5
Highlights PIPE1 and PIPE2 in green
ENHANCE LENGTH 20 OF LEAVE

TUBE COLOUR 7
Highlights 20mm of LEAVE TUBE in blue
Command Syntax:
>-- ENHANCE --+-- SOLELY ---.
.--------------.
|
|
|
|
-------------+-- <selatt> --+-- <selatt> --
|
|
|
-- COLour -- <colno> --.
|
|
+- LENGth - <uval> - OF -.
|
|
|
|
- TOTAl ----------------+- <hlid>-----+-->
Where <hlid> is:
>--+|
||
||
-
LEAVE --.
|
ARRIVE -|
|
HEAD ---|
|
TAIL ---+- ROD --.
|
|
- TUBE -+- OF - <gid> -- COLour -- <colno> -->
.--------------.
|
|
>-- UNENHANCE ---+-- <selatt> --+-- <selatt> --
|
|
+- <HLID> -----+-------------------+--->
4.7
Spatial Maps
Spatial maps of the model are based on the obstruction limit boxes surrounding each
Design element, rather than using fully detailed geometric representations. The spatial
maps allow faster data access, and they are used for tasks such as clash detection where
fast data access is required and where the simplified representation is adequate.
Spatial maps are maintained automatically as the design model is updated, but may need to
be rebuilt explicitly if the Catalogue data, from which the map geometry is derived, is
changed.
4.7.1
Checking the Spatial Maps

Keywords:
MAP CHECK
1 4:23
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Display
Description:
You can check one or more of the spatial maps to ensure that they accurately reflect the
current state of the design. To avoid spurious results, it is advisable to do this before
carrying out a clash check. This is particularly important if the geometry of any geometry
elements has been modified.
Examples:
MAP CHECK MDB
Checks the spatial maps for all DESIGN DBs within the
current MDB against the current design and catalogue
data. If there are any discrepancies, appropriate
messages are output; you should then rebuild the map
(see Creating or Updating Spatial Maps)
MAP CHECK PIPES/AREA1 Checks the up-to-date status of the spatial map for the
named DESIGN DB only.
Command Syntax:
>--- MAP CHEck ---+--- MDB -------------------------------.
|
|
|
.-----------<---------. |
|
/
| |
--- word ---*--- name --+-- word --- |
|
|
--------------+--->
where word and name define the full name of a current DESIGN DB.
4.7.2
Creating or Updating Spatial Maps

Keywords:
MAP BUILD
Description:
Lets you update existing spatial maps to take into account all design and catalogue changes
which have taken place. This is only necessary if the MAP CHECK command (Checking the
Spatial Maps) shows that the map is out of date.
Examples:
MAP BUILD MDB
Updates the spatial maps for all DESIGN DBs within the
current MDB.
MAP BUILD STEEL/AREA2 Updates the spatial map for the DB STEEL/AREA2.
Command Syntax:
>--- MAP BUIld ---+--- MDB --->

|
|
1 4:24
.-----------<-----------.
12.0

Display
|
/
|
--- word ---*--- name ---+--- word ---
|
--->
where word and name denote the full name of a current DESIGN DB.
1 4:25
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Display
1 4:26
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Interacting with a Graphical View

Note: The commands described in this chapter should not be used very often. Most of the
functionality they provided has been superseded by Event-driven Graphics, and they
are included here for compatibility with earlier versions of PDMS.
5.1
Identifying Displayed Items and Points

A displayed element from the visible model can be accessed directly by moving the cursor
over it and clicking the left-hand mouse button. The following sections describe the different
ways of selecting database elements from the display by using the cursor. These
commands let you use the visible design in order to move to elements in the DESIGN
hierarchy and points in 3D space.
In each case, an appropriate prompt is displayed.
5.1.1
Identifying Displayed Elements using the Cursor

Keywords:
IDENTIFY
Description:
If a particular type of element is to be located, a selective search can be made using the
IDENTIFY command followed by a keyword identifying the element type. If a specific
element type is not requested, the element hit will always be a geometric primitive or
component. Any displayed line or p-point of an item may be hit. To abort, press the Cancel
button on the displayed form.
Examples:
ID @
Pressed Enter (or Return), move the cursor over the desired
item and click the left-hand mouse button. The name of the
element under the cursor is displayed on the command line.
The picked element becomes the current element and is
displayed in a different colour. (This is the general response
to all variations of the IDENTIFY command.)
ID EQUIP @
As above, but the search is restricted to EQUI elements.
1 5:1
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Command Syntax:
>-- IDentify ----+-- <snoun> --.

|
|
-------------+-- @ -->
5.1.2
Identifying Tube using the Cursor

Keywords:
IDENTIFY TUBE
Description:
Variable length Tube (and Rod) from the visible design can be accessed by picking with the
cursor. As Tube is not an element in the DESIGN hierarchy, it cannot be accessed. Instead,
the component on the upstream side of the Tube (downstream if routing backwards) will be
accessed. This means that the next component to be created will be inserted in the picked
Tube. Any visible Tube can be picked regardless of whether it is shown in single or double
line representation.
Example:
The name of the component on the upstream side of the Tube under
the cursor is displayed on the command line.
ID T @
Command Syntax:
>-- IDentify Tube @ -->
5.1.3
Identifying Displayed Points using the Cursor

Keywords:
IDPPOINT
PPOINT
Description:
The cursor can be used to pick any p-point in the visible design or any mapping pin. This
form of picking will not change the current element.
Note: IDPPOINT cannot be used in isolation. It must be used with another command.
Only those p-points which are defined in the Catalogue as being visible in DESIGN
will be available for picking in this way.
1 5:2
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Example:
Q IDP @
Press and hold down left-hand mouse button when cursor is over
element. Element will be highlighted with p-points visible and cursor will
change to a square shape. With left-hand mouse button still held down,
move cursor over required p-point. When over a p-point, cursor will
change to a square shape with crosshairs. Release the button to select
the p-point
Command Syntax:
.-----<-----.
/
|
>-- Query <marke> --+--*-- <ppatt> --+-->
|
|-- <axes> -->
|
-->
<ppatt> = >--+-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
|-|
--
CONnection --------------.
|
BORe --------------------|
|
OD ----------------------|
|
POSition ---.
|
|
|
DIRection --|
|
|
|
East -------|
|
|
|
X ----------|
|
|
|
West -------|
|
|
|
North ------|
|
|
|
Y ----------|
|
|
|
South ------|
|
|
|
Up ---------|
|
|
|
Z ----------|
|
|
|
Down -------|
|
|
|
GRADient ---|
|
|
|
BOP --------|
|
|
|
TOP --------+-- <axes> --|
|
|
------------+-->
1 5:3
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5.1.4
Identifying Items with a 2D Pick

Use a working plane in preference to this older functionality.
Keywords:
TWODPLANE TWODPICK
Description:
This facility lets you define a plane which is normal to the view direction. You can then use
the cursor to pick a point in an orthogonal view such that the third coordinate of the required
point is derived automatically from this plane.
The TWODPLANE command defines the 2D picking plane in terms of a point within the
plane.
The AT TWODPICK @ command may then be used to request a cursor position which
identifies a point within the 2D picking plane. The plane is generated dynamically from the
TWODPLANE point and the view direction.
Examples:
TWODPLANE E 1000 N
2000 U 500
Defines 2D picking plane which passes through given point

and which is normal to view direction
AT TWODPICK
Using the preceding 2D picking plane definition, a cursor hit

at E 1234 N 5678 in a plan view will return the position E
1234 N 5678 U 500 in World coordinates
Note: Cursor positions are always returned in World coordinates. In order to obtain the
correct result, the 2D picking plane must therefore be set to an absolute World
position.
Command Syntax:
>-- TWODPLane -- <bpos> -->

>-- AT TWODPick @ -->
Querying:
>-- Q -- TWODPLane -->
5.2
D Pins
The Design pins are a set of ten temporary marker points which have a 3D position and
direction. They can be moved around using positioning and orientation commands similar to
those available for permanent Design elements.
Once positioned, a pin may either be used as a static reference point or as a temporary ppoint.
The commands described here only show how to make pins visible and position and
orientate them. Once this has been done they can be used for positioning and orientating
Design elements in any command that uses point as an argument.
1 5:4
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5.2.1
Setting a Pins Position and Direction Explicitly

Keywords:
PIN AT DIRECTION
Description:
The position and direction of a pin can be set explicitly in the same way as an ordinary
design element. Unless stated otherwise, the positional parameters described below are in
the coordinate system of the current element.
Examples:
PIN 5 AT E1000
Pin 5 will be moved to the coordinate position East

1000 from the Site origin.
PIN5 DIR W WRT SITE
Pin 5 will be orientated in a direction West with respect

to the current SITE.
Command Syntax:
>-- PIn integer --+-- AT --+-- <bpos> ------------------------.
|
|
|
|
-- POLar <bdir> DISTance <uval> --|
|
|
-- DIRection <bdir> -----------------------+-->
Querying:
>-- Q PIn integer POSition <bpos> --+-- <axes> --.

|
|
------------+-->
>-- Q PIn integer DIRection <bdir> --+-- <axes> --.
|
|
------------+-->
5.2.2
Making a Pin Visible

Keywords:
PIN
Description:
This command allows a particular pin to be switched in and out of the Display.
When a pin is visible, it will be drawn as a numbered arrow marker which indicates its
position and direction in each volume view. Visible pins can be hit with the cursor during any
IDPPOINT operation. When a pin is switched off, it is erased from the display, but it still
exists and can be referred to by name.
1 5:5
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Examples:
PIN 5
Pin 5 will be drawn into all volume views, and can be hit by the
cursor.
PIN 5 OFF
Pin 5 will be erased.
Command Syntax:
>-- PIn integer ----+-- OFF --.

|
|
---------+-->
Querying:
(As in previous subsection.)
5.2.3
Locating a Pin by Copying or Connecting

Keywords:
PIN COPY CONNECT
Description:
A pins position and direction can be set by copying or connecting to any other p-point or
pin, the only difference being that the CONNECT operation orientates the specified pin in
the opposite direction (see examples below).
Examples:
PIN 5 C0PY IDP @
Pin 5 will be placed at the same position and orientation

as the p-point or pin hit by the cursor.
PIN 5 CONNECT TO PH
Pin 5 will be placed at the Branch Head, but pointing in

the opposite direction to HDIR (Head direction). This
command must be given at BRANCH level. Pin 5 can be
an existing pin or a new one.
Command Syntax:
>-- PIn integer --+-- Copy --------------.
|
|
-- CONnect --+-- TO --|
|
|
--------+-- <marke> -->
Querying:
>-- Q PIN integer --+-- POSition ---.
|
|
-- DIRection --+-- WRT --.
|
|
|-- IN ---+-- <gid> --.
|
|
----------------------+-->
1 5:6
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5.2.4
Moving a Pin
Keywords:
PIN BY THROUGH DISTANCE
Description:
These commands allow a pin to be moved from its current position in any axis direction or
along its own direction. If moved along its own direction, a specified distance can be given
or, alternatively, an intersection. (Moving in this manner is very similar to the pipe-routing
options.)
Examples:
PIN 6 BY E3000 N2000
Pin 6 is moved by the given directions and distances
PIN 6 DIST 600
Pin 6 is moved along its own direction by the given

amount
PIN 6 THR /NOZZ5
Pin 6 is moved along its own direction until it

intersects a plane through /NOZZ5
Command Syntax:
>-- PIn integer --+-- BY <pos> ---------.
|
|
|-- THRough <bpos> ---|
|
|
-- DISTance <uval> --+-- WRT --.
|
|
|-- IN ---+-- <gid> --.
|
|
---------------------+-->
Querying:
>-- Q PIN integer --+-- POSition ---.
|
|
-- DIRection --+-- WRT --.
|
|
|-- IN ---+-- <gid> --.
|
|
---------------------+-->
5.2.5
General Pin Moves

Keywords:
PIN
Description:
Pins may be moved in exactly the same manner as piping components, using the same
command options. The movement direction is always in the pin direction, so it is important
to ensure that this is appropriate before a move is attempted. As these commands are quite
extensive, they are not repeated here; see the pipe routing commands in Design Reference
Manual Pt 2: Creating the Model.
1 5:7
12.0

Example:
PIN 6 DISTANCE 600

INFRONT ID @
Pin 6 is moved along its direction until it is 600 distance units

in front of the item picked with the cursor.
Command Syntax:
>-- PIn integer <plane> -->
5.3
Constructs
Note: Use the Constructs options on the Utilities menu in preference to these older
facilities.
Keywords:
CONSTRUCT POSITION DIRECTION DISTANCE ANGLE LINE PLANE
Description:
The construction aids available in DESIGN let you display coordinates, directions,
distances, angles and plane definitions.
The constructed quantities are written out into the REQUESTS region of your display. These
quantities can be written into variables for later use. The commands used to define
constructed quantities make use of p-points, p-lines, pins, directions, positions and
orientations.
The different methods for constructing these entities are:
CONStruct Angle
position1 TO position2 TO position3
direction1 AND direction2
line1 line2
line plane
plane1 plane2
plane line
CONStruct DISTance
position1 TO position2
position TO line
position TO plane
line1 TO line2
projection of any of the above ALong a given direction
CONStruct Position
NEArest position ON line
NEArest position ON plane
INTersect plane1 plane2 plane3
INTersect line plane
INTersect line1 line2 (gives result on line1 if lines are skew or parallel) plane line
CONStruct DIRection
1 5:8
12.0

NORmal plane
ORTHogonal direction1 AND direction2
ORTHogonal direction AND line
ORTHogonal line1 AND line2
ORTHogonal line AND direction
position1 TO position2
plane
line
CONStruct LINe
JOIn position1 TO position2
direction THRough position
PARallel line THRough position
NORmal line THRough position
NORmal plane THRough position
PROJection line ON plane
INTersect plane1 plane2
CONStruct Plane
THRough position1 AND position2 AND position3
direction THRough position
direction THRough a p-point, pin or digitised point (optionally offset a given DISTance
or relative to existing geometry: INFront or BEHind an element, p-point or position:
FROm or TO a position)
Note: In all of the above, position, direction, line or plane is defined in normal PDMS
format, or by reference to a p-point, pin or marker, or picked from an appropriate
view.
Examples:
CONS POS P2 OF FLAN 4 OF BRAN / The intersection between the specified

PIPE1-1 TO PLANE PIN 7
point and the plane perpendicular to pin 7
is shown.
VAR 5 CONS POS PL TO LINE PA OF

NEXT
The closest point on the line from

PLEAVE to the intersection of the two
lines is placed in Variable 5.
CONS POS PIN5 TO PLA PIN6
The intersection between the direction of

pin 5 and the plane perpendicular to pin 6
is written out into the request region.
CONS DIR PL
The direction of the line is output in World

coordinates into the request region.
CONS DIST PA TO PL
The dimension from the first to the

second p-point of the current element is
written out into the Request region.
VAR 5 CONS DIST PL TO LIN PA OF

NEXT
The minimum distance between PLEAVE

of the current element and the specified
line will be placed in Variable 5
1 5:9
12.0

Examples:
5.4
CONS ANG PIN1 TO PIN2 TO PIN3
The angle between the three specified

points is written out into the Request
region.
CONS ANGL PL LIN PA OF NEXT
The angle between the lines from the two

specified p-points is written out into the
request region.
CONS LINE JOIN P0 TO P1
Constructs a line joining the two p-points,

displaying the line description in the
request region.
CONS PLANE P3 DIST 900
The plane perpendicular to the specified

point and 900 from it is written out into the
request region.
CONS PLANE PL THROUGH /NOZZ5
The plane perpendicular to the specified

point and intersecting /NOZZ5 is written
out into the request region.
CONS PLANE PA DIST 500 BEH /

COL19
A plane perpendicular to the specified

point will be defined and written out into
the request region. The plane will be
positioned 500 to the far side of /COL19.
ISODRAFT Mode
Keywords:
ISODRAFTMODE
Description:
Enables you to enter (a subset of) ISODRAFT syntax within DESIGN. You are thus able to
produce an Isometric plot without having to switch modules.
Note: This syntax is included here for completeness, but you would normally produce
check Isos in DESIGN using the GUI.
Command Syntax:
>-- ISODRAFTMODE --.

|
(Isodraft syntax available)
|
-- EXIT > (Return to Design syntax.)
1 5:10
12.0

Error Messages
Error Messages
This chapter lists error messages specific to DESIGN. These messages have a message
number beginning with 61. Any other messages that may be output are not described here
as they are not specific to DESIGN.
Note that in the following element_identifier denotes an element name or (for unnamed
elements) an element reference number. The latter is a system number which is assigned
automatically whenever an element is created.
(61:1)
Unable to calculate the orientation
(61:2)
element_identifier is not a piping or a hanger component or has not been

positioned oriented or selected.
(61:3)
element_identifier is not a branch or piping component
(61:4)
element_identifier is not a hanger or hanger component
(61:5)
Unable to position element_identifier
(61:6)
element_identifier does not have a position
(61:7)
Unable to orientate element_identifier
(61:8)
element_identifier does not have an orientation
(61:9)
Unable to set the head position of element_identifier
(61:10)
Unable to set the tail position of element_identifier
(61:11)
Unable to set the head direction of element_identifier
(61:12)
Unable to set the tail direction of element_identifier
(61:13)
Trying to connect element_identifier to itself
(61:14)
Unable to set the head reference of element_identifier
(61:15)
Unable to set the tail reference of element_identifier
(61:16)
Current element does not have a head or a tail attribute
(61:17)
Default orientation only available for piping and hanger components.
(61:18)
Default orientation cannot be found. Previous element either not positioned

and oriented or not selected.
(61:19)
Direction undefined for towards origin of current element
1 6:1
12.0

Error Messages
(61:20)
Current element type unsuitable for DIRECTION command
(61:21)
SPREF can only be selected for a piping or hanger component
(61:22)
LSTUBE can only be selected for a piping component
(61:23)
HSTUBE can only be selected for a BRANCH
(61:24)
LSROD can only be selected for a hanger component
(61:25)
HSROD can only be selected for a HANGER
(61:26)
TUBE can only be selected for a BRANCH or a piping component
(61:27)
ROD can only be selected for a HANGER or a hanger component
(61:28)
Only BRANCHs, HANGERs, and piping and hanger components can be

selected
(61:29)
element_identifier is not a SPEC
(61:30)
element_identifier is not a SPCOM
(61:31)
Cannot find SPCOM name
(61:32)
Appending name to specification name gives a name of more than 50

characters.
(61:33)
Angle attributes can only be given values between -180 and +180 degrees.
(61:34)
Degenerate orientation specified
(61:35)
Pins cannot be used for connecting piping or hanger components
(61:36)
Reconnecting element_identifier
(61:37)
Connection to element_identifier is invalid (HREF / TREF do not point back

to nozzle )
(61:38)
element_identifier is locked, reconnection fails
(61:39)
element_identifier is in a read-only database, reconnection fails
(61:40)
Plane parallel to movement direction
(61:41)
Default movement direction only available for piping and hanger

components.
(61:42)
Default movement direction not available. Previous element either not

positioned and oriented or not selected.
(61:43)
ARRIVE / LEAVE ppoint cannot be determined.

probably not been selected.
(61:44)
Default movement origin cannot be determined.
(61:45)
BOP and TOP can only be used with piping and hanger components.
(61:46)
DIRECTION command only operates on ppoints of the current element
(61:47)
Bad DIRECTION - zero degree angle specified
1 6:2
Current element has
12.0

Error Messages
(61:48)
Point set does not allow variable angle. Angle is unchanged, direction is in
correct plane.
(61:49)
Unable to achieve specified direction - probably due to unconventional

pointset
(61:50)
Pin numbers must be in the range 1 to 10
(61:51)
Unable to position pin integer
(61:52)
Unable to orientate pin integer
(61:53)
Unable to copy the marker
(61:75)
element_identifier is not a branch, reconnect fails
(61:76)
Connection to a database that is not open, reconnection fails
(61:77)
Cannot find P-point 1 - Nozzle catalogue reference probably not set
(61:78)
Reconnect not allowed at WORLD or GPWL level
(61:79)
element_identifier cannot own nozzles
(61:80)
Cannot access SPCOM from which to reselect
(61:81)
To position the HEAD / TAIL of a branch or hanger use POS / MOVE PH /

PT / HH / HT ...
(61:82)
BOP / TOP cannot be used on a HEAD / TAIL that has not been positioned
(61:83)
Default clearance is only available for piping or hanger components
(61:84)
Shear attributes can only be given values between -89 and +89 degrees.
(61:85)
element_identifier cannot be flipped - it does not have ARRIVE and LEAVE

attributes.
(61:86)
Warning - Angle is greater than maximum specified in SPREF
(61:87)
Warning - Angle is less than minimum specified in SPREF
(61:88)
SPREF not found or unset
(61:89)
element_identifier does not have a Local-axes attribute
(61:120)
Too many views shown
(61:121)
Form name too word for screen
(61:122)
Unable to set form gadget value or gadget not found
(61:123)
Form name not found
(61:125)
Gadget name not found
(61:126)
Item invalid as contents of view
(61:127)
Form name already shown
(61:128)
Form name may not be hidden
1 6:3
12.0

Error Messages
(61:129)
Cannot open Recreate file
(61:130)
File error while restoring data - RESTORE aborted
(61:131)
File error while restoring data - please exit from module and reenter
(61:132)
Unable to RESTORE - databases modified since module state SAVEd
(61:133)
Unable to SAVE - cannot access SAVE file
(61:134)
Unable to SAVE - SAVE file already in use
(61:135)
Unable to RESTORE - SAVE file already in use
(61:136)
Unable to RESTORE - cannot access SAVE file
(61:137)
Unable to RESTORE - cannot find SAVE file
(61:138)
Unable to RESTORE - current database files are not those which were in
use when module state SAVEd
(61:139)
Unable to RESTORE - module version number/screen size/font size is not

the same as SAVE file
(61:140)
Do you wish to save changes?
(61:150)
Only piping components, nozzles and equipments can be dragged
(61:151)
element_identifier is connected to element_identifier which is in a read only

database. This connection will be broken by drag.
(61:152)
element_identifier has a connection to an unknown element. This

connection will be broken by drag.
(61:153)
element_identifier is locked, drag aborted
(61:154)
The connection from element_identifier to element_identifier will be broken

by drag.
(61:155)
Attachment points can only be dragged if they have been positioned and
oriented
(61:160)
Spec is not set up correctly for CHOOSE command
(61:161)
element_identifier is not a piping component
(61:162)
SPEC does not contain word elements
(61:163)
SPEC does not contain correct bore structure for CHOOSE
(61:164)
SPEC does not contain elements matching given criteria
(61:165)
Previous component, element_identifier, has zero bore
(61:166)
Unforced Connections are word
(61:167)
Forced Connections are word
(61:168)
Connections are OFF
(61:169)
Warning - Requested bore value does not match current bore word
1 6:4
12.0

Error Messages
(61:175)
HOFFSET must be positive ( not zero )
(61:190)
Fatal error detected by Graphics Package forcing a return to MONITOR

module
(61:191)
Are your databases to be updated with the changes made this session
(Y or N)
(61:192)
Fatal error detected by SPLASH forcing a return to MONITOR module
(61:193)
WARNING - System storage area value % full. Remove items from drawlist
to avoid fatal error.
(61:194)
WARNING - Graphics storage area value % full.
(61:199)
Cannot access directory name
(61:201)
No more than 20 items can be given to AUTO
(61:206)
XR and YR values must be in the range 0 to 1.0.
(61:207)
Specified region is too narrow.
(61:208)
Illegal autolimits produced. ( Does it have any primitives? )
(61:209)
Mix values for colours are percentages ( 0 - 100 )
(61:211)
Only colours 1 to integer may be assigned to pens
(61:220)
Failed to connect.
(61:221)
Cannot calculate default orientation.
(61:225)
Usable colours are system colours plus user colours 1 to integer
(61:226)
Autolimits may only be set for graphic views, Please select a graphics view
and retry
(61:230)
Error reading from plotfile ..
(61:231)
Unrecognised code in plotfile
(61:272)
Already using file - name for alpha output
(61:273)
Cannot open alpha output file
(61:274)
No alpha output file in use.
(61:275)
Already using log file - name
(61:276)
Cannot open log file
(61:278)
No log file in use.
(61:303)
Direction cannot be calculated between two design points with the same
position - UP is assumed
(61:304)
Position cannot be calculated as lines are parallel - first point given is

assumed
(61:305)
Position cannot be calculated as line and plane are parallel - first point
given is assumed
1 6:5
12.0

Error Messages
(61:306)
Angle cannot be calculated as two points are coincident - zero assumed
(61:307)
Only significant and drawable elements can be tagged by type
(61:351)
The WORLD and GPWLs cannot be added / removed. SITEs can only be
added using ADD SITE in a setup context.
(61:355)
No more than ten elements can be added at one time
(61:357)
element_identifier is not a SITE
(61:358)
Only SITEs or ZONEs can be specified for ADD WITHIN. The default is all
sites in the multiple database.
(61:461)
Hit radius must be at least 1mm.
(61:462)
Hit radius must be no more than 100mm.
(61:463)
Working grid must be at least 1mm.
(61:471)
Cursor abandoned
(61:495)
Form name may not be changed
(61:499)
F&M: Cannot swap parent of a blocking form
(61:561)
Workstation screen is not available, using TTY
(61:564)
Cursor input not allowed on alpha device
(61:565)
Point entered is not in a suitable view
(61:599)
Forms may not be updated
(61:800)
Reference DETAIL not set
(61:820)
SKEY not set
(61:830)
SKEY TSFL is used with generic type TEE, not TRAP
(61:840)
SKEY element_identifier not known. Assumed to be user defined
1 6:6
12.0
Index
A
Accessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
Active element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
ADD command:drawlist . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:1
AID command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:19
Aids:graphical . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6, 1-4:19
ALARM command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:7
ALPHA CLEAR command . . . . 1-3:1, 1-3:2
ALPHA FILE command . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
ALPHA LOG command . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
ARC command:design aids . . . . . . . 1-4:19
ARROW command:design aids . . . . 1-4:19
Audible error trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:7
AUTOCOLOUR command . . . . . . . . . 1-4:3
AXES command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:18
B
BOX command:design aids . . . . . . . 1-4:19
BUILD command:spatial maps . . . . . 1-4:24
C
CEARROW command:design aids . . 1-4:19
Changing modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:3
CHECK command:spatial maps . . . . 1-4:23
Clashing element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
CLOSEST
command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:7
COLOUR command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
COLOUR command:displayed items . 1-4:1
Colour mixes:predefined . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:active element . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:clashing element . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:current element . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6

Colours:default assignments . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:defining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:graphical aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:obstruction element . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Colours:visible element . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Commands:input mode . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:14
CONSTRUCT command . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:8
Construction aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:8
Coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:9
Current element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
CYLINDER command:design aids . . . 1-4:19
D
Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:4
DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
Design aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:19
DESIGN command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
Design points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:8
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:5
Direction:axial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:11
Direction:general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:12
Draw list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:1
Drawing levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:10
E
Elements:identifying . . . . . . . . .1-2:6, 1-2:13
Elements:selecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:13
ENHANCE command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:22
Entering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:1
Errors:alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:7
Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:4
Index page 1
12.0
FINCH command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4

FINISH command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:3
PIN command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:5

Position:axial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:9
Position:general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:10
PRECISION command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:5
PRECISION command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:5
G
Graphical aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:19
axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:9
bdir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:12
bpos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:10
date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:4
dir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:11
expr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:4
marke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:8
pos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:9
selatt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:13
uval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:5
H
Highlighting graphical items . . . . . . . 1-4:22
I
ID @ command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:1
IDENTIFY command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:1
Identifying displayed items . . . . . . . . . 1-5:1
IDPPOINT command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:2
Imperial units:setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4
INCH command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4
INSULATION command . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:11
ISODRAFTMODE command . . . . . . 1-5:10
L
Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:3
LINE command:design aids . . . . . . . 1-4:19
1-2:4, 1-2:5, 1-2:8, 1-2:9, 1-2:10, 1-2:11, 12:12, 1-2:13
M
MAP command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:23
Mapping pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:4
MARK command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:19
Metric units:setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4
MILLIMETRE command . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4
MM command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:4
O
Obstructing element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
OBSTRUCTION command . . 1-4:11, 1-4:12
Q
QUERY command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:8
QUIT command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:3
R
REMOVE command:drawlist . . . . . . . . 1-4:5
REPRESENTATION command:CENTRELINE
1-4:9
REPRESENTATION command:DARCTOLERANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:17
REPRESENTATION command:HOLES 1-4:16
REPRESENTATION command:LEVEL 1-4:10
REPRESENTATION
command:OBSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:12
REPRESENTATION
command:OBSTRUCTION/INSULATION . . . . . . . . 1-4:11
REPRESENTATION command:PLINES 1-4:15
REPRESENTATION command:PNODES/SNODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:14
REPRESENTATION command:PPOINTS 14:13
REPRESENTATION command:PROFILE 1-4:9
REPRESENTATION command:TRANSLUCENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4:11, 1-4:12
REPRESENTATION command:TUBE . 1-4:9
REPRESENTATION command:UPDATE 14:17
S
Selection:of elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:13
SOLELY command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:22
Spatial map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:23
SPHERE command:design aids . . . . 1-4:19
syntax 1-2:4, 1-2:5, 1-2:8, 1-2:9, 1-2:10, 1-2:11,
1-2:12, 1-2:13
SYSCOMMAND command . . . . . . . . . 1-3:8
T
Text output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:7
TRACE command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3:7
TRANSLUCENCY command .1-4:11, 1-4:12
TWODPICK command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:4
Index page 2
12.0
TWODPLANE command . . . . . . . . . . 1-5:4
U
UNENHANCE command . . . . . . . . . 1-4:22
Units of measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:5
Units of measurement:setting . . . . . . . 1-3:3
UNMARK command . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:19
V
Visible element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4:6
Index page 3
12.0

Design Reference Manual - General Commands

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AVEVA Solutions Ltd

DESIGN Reference Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

How to Use the Syntax Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:1

Command Input Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:14

General Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

DESIGN Reference Manual

Saving DESIGN Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Alpha Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:1

Leaving DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3

Setting Working Units and Tolerances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:3

Audible Error Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:7

Element Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:8

DESIGN Reference Manual

Setting Arc Tolerance Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:17

Specifying Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:18

Interacting with a Graphical View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:1

Setting a Pins Position and Direction Explicitly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:1

DESIGN Reference Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

About the DESIGN Reference Manual

Organisation of the DESIGN Reference Manual

Organisation of this Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

DESIGN Reference Manual

How to Use the Syntax Graphs

>----+--- ABC -----.

>----+--- ABC -----.

The simplified format:

DESIGN Reference Manual

A positive or negative whole number. For example:

A signed number with or without a decimal point. For example:

A single alphabetic character

A sequence of up to four letters, e.g. GATE WN P (may be

A string of alphanumeric or symbol characters, which may

DESIGN Reference Manual

The space bar (not usually specified unless of special

A sequence of characters preceded

Note: A name should always be followed by a space (unless at

An external file name of the form/filename

An identifier (for use with the VARIABLE command within

The , character, which can be used to concatenate DESIGN

NEW FLANGE SELECT WITH STYP WN, CONNECT

These are the + (add), - (subtract), * (multiply) and / (divide)

(1 + 2), (1 - 2), (1 * 2), (1 / 2)

Standard Syntax Graphs

Mathematical, textual or logical expressions

Physical dimension specification

Design element type

Design element identity

DESIGN Reference Manual

Mathematical, textual or logical expressions

Universal Expression <expr>

If no year is given, the default is the current year.

Note spaces in numeric date format

DESIGN Reference Manual

Assumes current date

Assumes time to be 23:59

Assumes current year and time 23:59

Physical Dimension <uval>