PDMS Pipe Work Spooling User Guide PDF

Pipework Spooling Using PDMS
User Guide
Version 11.6SP1
pdms1161/Pipework spooling User Guide

issue 280605
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Contents
1 Introduction to this Guide .....................................................................1-3

1.1 The Scope of the Guide ......................................................................................1-3
1.2 Learning to Use SPOOLER.................................................................................1-3
1.3 Further Training in PDMS....................................................................................1-4
1.4 Some Terminology ..............................................................................................1-4
1.5 How the Guide is Organised ...............................................................................1-5
1.6 Terms and Conventions ......................................................................................1-6
1.6.1 Instruction Terms .............................................................................................. 1-6
1.6.2 Conventions ...................................................................................................... 1-7
2 What PDMS SPOOLER Offers You .......................................................2-1

2.1 Pipework Spooling...............................................................................................2-1
2.2 Database Usage..................................................................................................2-1
2.3 3D Graphics ........................................................................................................2-2
2.4 Numbering...........................................................................................................2-2
2.5 Naming ................................................................................................................2-2
2.6 Spooling Volume Calculation ..............................................................................2-2
2.7 Drawing Output ...................................................................................................2-3
3 Controlling SPOOLER............................................................................3-1
3.1 Starting a SPOOLER Session.............................................................................3-1
3.2 Using the Mouse .................................................................................................3-4
3.3 Using Menus .......................................................................................................3-4
3.4 Using the Tool Bar Icon Buttons..........................................................................3-5
3.4.1 Tool Tips ........................................................................................................... 3-5
3.5 The 3D View Window ..........................................................................................3-5
3.6 The Status Bar ....................................................................................................3-6
3.7 Using Forms and their Controls...........................................................................3-6
3.7.1 Option Buttons .................................................................................................. 3-6
3.7.2 Check Boxes ..................................................................................................... 3-7
3.7.3 Using Text Boxes .............................................................................................. 3-7
3.7.4 Drop-Down Lists ............................................................................................... 3-8
3.7.5 Using Scrollable Lists........................................................................................ 3-8
3.7.6 Control Buttons ................................................................................................. 3-8
3.8 Alert Forms..........................................................................................................3-9
3.9 Accessing On-line Help .......................................................................................3-9
Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 1-1

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Introduction to this Guide
4 Setting Up the Database Hierarchy ...................................................... 4-1

4.1 How PDMS Stores Data ..................................................................................... 4-1
4.2 Creating Some Administrative Elements ............................................................ 4-3
5 Controlling the 3D View......................................................................... 5-1

5.1 Setting up a 3D View Window ............................................................................ 5-2
5.1.1 View Contents .................................................................................................. 5-2
5.1.2 View Limits ....................................................................................................... 5-3
5.1.3 Type of View..................................................................................................... 5-3
5.2 Manipulating the Displayed View........................................................................ 5-5
5.3 Saving and Restoring a View.............................................................................. 5-7
6 Preparing the Site for Spooling ............................................................ 6-1

6.1 Checking the Design Data .................................................................................. 6-1
6.2 Inspecting the Site .............................................................................................. 6-1
6.3 Measuring the Pipe Lengths ............................................................................... 6-3
6.4 Inserting Welds ................................................................................................... 6-5
6.4.1 Inserting a Weld at a Design Point ................................................................... 6-6
6.4.2 Separating the Header Pipe ............................................................................. 6-6
6.4.3 Splitting a Tube with a Weld............................................................................. 6-8
7 Spooling the Piping Network ................................................................ 7-1

7.1 Pipework Spooling .............................................................................................. 7-1
7.2 Spooling the Piping Network............................................................................... 7-2
7.2.1 Numbering the Spool Drawing ......................................................................... 7-4
7.2.2 Navigating Between the Databases ................................................................. 7-5
7.2.3 Selecting Adjacent Field Components ............................................................. 7-5
8 Advanced Spooler Features.................................................................. 8-1

8.1 Checking the Spool Size..................................................................................... 8-1
8.1.1 Selecting the Numbering Update Options........................................................ 8-2
8.2 Changing the Shop/Field Setting ........................................................................ 8-4
8.3 Forcing a Spool Break at a Joint......................................................................... 8-5
8.4 Forcing a Spool Break at a Specified Element Level.......................................... 8-6
9 Outputting Spool Data........................................................................... 9-1

9.1 Plotting the Spool Drawings................................................................................ 9-1
9.2 Isometric Drawing Contents................................................................................ 9-5
9.2.1 Drawing Annotations ........................................................................................ 9-7
Index i
1-2 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

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1 Introduction to this Guide
1.1 The Scope of the Guide
This guide introduces PDMS SPOOLER, AVEVA Solutions Ltd’s

pipework spooling module. The guide assumes that you are already
familiar with either pipework design or piping fabrication practices, but
does not assume any prior knowledge of computer-aided design systems.
The guide explains the main concepts underlying SPOOLER and shows
you how you can apply these to your own design projects, by getting you
to carry out a tutorial exercise. This guide does not give step-by-step
instructions on how to carry out specific spooling functions, since you can
access such information using the on-line help facilities incorporated
into the program’s graphical user interface.
1.2 Learning to Use SPOOLER
The aim of this guide is to help you to learn to use SPOOLER as quickly
as possible. Once you have grasped the basic principles, you will find that
most operations quickly become intuitive.
The best way to learn is to experiment with the product for yourself. To
facilitate this, the guide comprises two concurrent sequences of
information:
• Explanations of the concepts, given at the points at which each is
first encountered as the exercise progresses.
• A hands-on tutorial exercise, which gives a step-by-step practical
introduction to the ways in which you might use the application.
The tutorial is based on the sample project supplied with PDMS.
Experienced PDMS users will find that the early chapters of this guide are
common with PDMS Design. As such you may wish to look quickly through these
sections, just carrying out the tutorial steps in Chapters 3, 4 and 5. The main
part of the spooling tutorial begins in Chapter 6.

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The intention is that you should work progressively through this guide,
pausing to learn about each new concept as it is introduced and carrying
out the related steps in the tutorial, to reinforce the learning process.
The steps which make up the exercise are numbered sequentially
through the guide. The start and end of each section of the exercise are
marked by double lines across the page, to separate the tutorial from the
general information sections, like this:
1.3 Further Training in PDMS
Although this guide will teach you to understand the key features of
using SPOOLER, it cannot possibly show you all the facilities available,
nor can it identify the best ways in which you might use the program to
suit your own individual design practices.
To get the best out of PDMS and its supporting applications, it is
important that you receive proper training in its use from a qualified
instructor, who can answer your questions as they arise and give you
advice on tailoring your techniques to best match your objectives. A wide
range of training courses are provided by AVEVA Solutions Ltd, covering
all levels of expertise and all design disciplines. To arrange attendance
on such a course, contact your nearest AVEVA Solutions Ltd support
office for further details (see the copyright page at the front of this guide
for a link to our web site, which gives contact details).
1.4 Some Terminology
As you might imagine, a program with the wide-ranging power of PDMS

is necessarily large and, if you had simultaneous access to all of its
features, could be rather daunting. To make the whole program easily
controllable, it is subdivided into convenient functional parts. These are
referred to throughout this guide by the following terms:
• Modules are subdivisions of PDMS which you use to carry out
specific types of operation. This guide is concerned with the
SPOOLER module, used to divide pipework networks into spools for
fabrication.
• Applications provide interfaces to PDMS which are specific to
particular disciplines. For example, the Pipework Application is
used in PDMS to design the piping networks.

You can switch between the different parts of the program, so that the
distinctions between them become almost imperceptible, but you need to
recognise which facilities are available in which applications.
1.5 How the Guide is Organised
This guide is divided into a number of chapters, presenting the

information in a logical flow. There are also some appendices presenting
additional reference information. The contents of the chapters and
appendices are as follows:
• Chapter 1 - Introduction to this Guide (this chapter)
Summarises the scope of this guide.
• Chapter 2 - What PDMS SPOOLER Offers You
Gives a general overview of the pipework spooling application.
• Chapter 3 - Controlling SPOOLER
Gives you a general guide to using the SPOOLER graphical user
interface (GUI), including an explanation of how to access detailed
on-line help. If you are already familiar with similar forms and
menus interfaces, you should be able to read through this chapter
rapidly. Do not ignore it altogether, however, as it tells you how to
start the SPOOLER module.
• Chapter 4 - Setting Up the Database Hierarchy
Explains how SPOOLER stores its data and how the two databases
are linked.
• Chapter 5 - Controlling the 3D View
Describes how you can easily set-up and manipulate 3D Views.
• Chapter 6 - Beginning to Spool the Piping Network
Explains the key features of pipework spooling using the PDMS
SPOOLER module and describes what actions to take before you
begin the spooling and how to split a piping network into a number
of spools, using the default shop flag settings.
• Chapter 7 - Advanced Spooler Features
Describes the advanced features which affect the Design model and
database.
• Chapter 8 - Outputting Spool Data
Shows you how to generate isometric plots of the Spool Drawings,
using the ISODRAFT module. .
• Appendix A - SPOOLER Menu Hierarchies
Shows the complete menu hierarchy for the SPOOLER and
ISODRAFT modules.

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• Appendix B - Reference Information

Provides additional information on some aspects of the SPOOLER
program and describes some special cases.
• Index
1.6 Terms and Conventions
The following sections describe the terms and conventions used in this
User Guide.
1.6.1 Instruction Terms

The following terms are used throughout this guide, to describe what
action to carry out.
Term Description
Click Place the mouse cursor over the specified
point, then quickly press and release the
designated mouse button.
If no button is specified always use the left-
hand mouse button.
Double-click Quickly click the left-hand mouse button
two times over the designated object.
Pick Click on the desired element in the 3D
View window, to select it.
Drag Place the mouse cursor over the specified
point on the screen; then press and hold the
designated mouse button move the mouse
cursor to the required point. When the
mouse cursor is over the required point,
release the button.
Enter Type text into the specified dialogue box
and the press the Enter (or Return key).

1.6.2 Conventions
The following conventions are used throughout this guide, to enable you
to easily understand the instructions in the tutorial.
Item Convention
Control names The name for any control you must select is
shown in Narrow Bold text; e.g. the Apply
button.
Menu options Menus selections are shown in Narrow Bold
text with the > character used to separate
the levels; e.g. Display>Drawlist - means select
the Drawlist option from the Display menu.
Form names The name of any form is shown in Italic text;
e.g. Spooler Members list.

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2 What PDMS SPOOLER Offers You
SPOOLER is the pipework spooling module for AVEVA Solutions Ltd’s

Plant Design Management System (PDMS). It allows you to split the
pipework design into logical sections (spools) ready for fabrication. The
spool data can then be output as isometric drawings using ISODRAFT.
2.1 Pipework Spooling
SPOOLER works with Spool Drawings (SPLDRGs) , which are created by

selecting an interconnected network of piping components to be added to
the drawing. Once you have selected the elements, the application checks
that your selections form a valid piping network.
Spool Drawings contain a number of complete Spool and Field elements,
divided by Spool Breaks, where a SPOOL is defined as a run of piping
components and tube that will be connected during fabrication and a
FIELD is an individual or group of piping components that will be
connected on-site during the erection phase. Spools cannot be split across
Spool Drawings.
Spool Breaks are normally defined by the software, when the application
detects a change in the status of the Shop Flag (where the Shop Flag
indicates whether the component will be included in a fabricated
assembly (SHOP) or fitted during the erection phase (FIELD)). You can
also force spool breaks manually, at joints where the Shop Flags are the
same on all sides, and add Welds, to split pipes, in the design.
By setting the SFLimit (Spool/Field Limit) attribute for a SPLDRG to
either BRAN, PIPE, ZONE or SITE, a spool break will be enforced at any
change at the corresponding element level.
2.2 Database Usage
Spooler uses two databases:

Fabrication database - This contains all your spooling data.
Design database - This contains all the design data for the project.

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What PDMS SPOOLER Offers You
Spooler has full read/write access to the Fabrication database but has
only limited access to the Design database, only being allowed to change
attributes relevant to the fabrication of the pipework (e.g. specifying
Field Welds).
2.3 3D Graphics
The pipework design or spooling models can be viewed at any angle or

scale, including standard orthogonal and isometric views, in the 3D View
windows. The windows can be set to navigation only mode, allowing you
to move around the displayed model and select elements, or Design
mode, to carry out actions on the model. Design mode makes use of the
Event Driven Graphics (EDG) mode, which allows cursor picks to be
used interactively as part of an operation, rather than just for navigation
and element selection.
2.4 Numbering
Once you have defined the contents of your drawings, you can
automatically number: parts, welds, spools, fields, bends and non-welded
joints. The numbering always starts from one of the end spools; the start
point can be changed using the Reorder facility.
Part numbers can be created either across a complete spool drawing or to
individual spools.
2.5 Naming
Database elements can be given unique names using the Autonaming

facility. This recognises sets of rules which can be set up by a system
administrator, from the Main Menu options. You can use this facility to
both name new elements, as you create them, and to name existing
elements, retrospectively.
2.6 Spooling Volume Calculation
Spooler can calculate the shipping volume of a spool for you, enabling you
to easily check its size. This could be used to check that a spool is not
going to be too large for the fabrication plant or transportation.

2.7 Drawing Output
Once you have defined your spool drawings, you can produce them as
isometric plots, using ISODRAFT.

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3 Controlling SPOOLER
This chapter introduces the techniques for controlling SPOOLER using

the Graphical User Interface (GUI), which you see on your screen when
SPOOLER is started. To do this, we will begin the tutorial exercise by
starting PDMS and entering the SPOOLER module.
It is assumed that you are already logged in to your workstation and that
you know enough about its operating system to enable you to use the
mouse as well as opening and manipulating windows on your computer.
If not, you need to read the manuals supplied with your computer system
or seek advice from your computer systems department.
In order for you to follow the tutorial exercise, SPOOLER and the sample
PDMS project supplied must have been correctly installed and you must
have read/write access to the project databases. This procedure, which
should have been carried out by your PDMS administrator as part of the
product installation sequence, is beyond the scope of this guide.
3.1 Starting a SPOOLER Session
You can go directly to SPOOLER when you first start PDMS or you can
switch to it from another PDMS module. The method used to start PDMS
depends on your operating system.
We will now start PDMS and enter the SPOOLER module.
Exercise Begins:
1. Start PDMS, by selecting PDMS from the Start menu, Programs
sub-menu.

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Controlling SPOOLER
Figure 3-1 The PDMS Login Form
Clicking on the down arrows beside the Project, Username and

MDB fields displays a form listing the available options. Click
on the required option on these forms to select it.
Clicking on the down arrows beside the Module and Load from
drop down list boxes displays a list of the available options.
Click on the required option to select it.
To enter the password, click in the Password text box, type your
password and press Enter.
• For the tutorial project (SAM) you need to set the fields up as
shown in Figure 3-1 and enter the Password ‘PIPE’.
• Click OK to start SPOOLER.
The initial display uses two main windows, :
• Application Window - This window is divided into a number of sections:
• Menu bar
This bar is located directly under the title bar and displays the
names of the menus available in that module.
• Tool bars
The tool bars are located under the menu bar and display a
number of icon buttons and standard list boxes, enabling you
to easily and quickly carry out commonly used tasks. The top
bar is the general PDMS tool bar, this enables you to carry out
a number of standard PDMS tasks. The second row is the
module tool bar, the controls here enable you to carry out tasks
specific to the SPOOLER module.

Controlling SPOOLER
• Document display area

This area of the window contains any 3D graphical view
windows.
• Status bar
This bar, across the bottom of the window, displays status
information about any action that is being carried out at that
moment or the current element.
• Spooler Members List - This list allows you to navigate around the
databases and select the current element.
Figure 3-2 Application Screen
You can reposition or minimise these windows at any time by using the
standard window management facilities provided by your workstation
(but do not close them in this way).

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Controlling SPOOLER
3.2 Using the Mouse
You use the mouse to steer the graphics cursor around the screen and to
select or ‘pick’ items by using the mouse buttons. The buttons perform
different tasks depending on the type of window, and the position within
the window, where the cursor is positioned. The appearance of the cursor
will change according to the type of display item that is underneath it.
The functions of each of the buttons are introduced below.
Left-Hand Button:
The left-hand button is used for controlling the software and interacting
with a 3D design model.
• In a 3D View, the left-hand button can be used to select an element,
making it the current element (CE) or as part of a procedure.
• You can control the software by selecting menus options; activating
tool bar buttons and interacting with the controls (gadgets) on
forms.
Right-Hand Button:
The right-hand mouse button is used to display the pop-up menu in a 3D
View, known as the 3D View menu.
Middle Button:
The middle mouse button is used to manipulate a graphical view. The
manipulation mode (zoom, pan or rotate) must first be selected from the
right-hand button pop-up menu or by clicking the appropriate button at
the left-hand side of the 3D View.
3.3 Using Menus
There can be three types of option in a pull-down or pop-up menu:
CE
Options shown as plain text: selecting one
of these immediately performs that action.
Clashes...
Options followed by three dots: selecting
one of these displays a form, on which to
select options, enter data, etc.
Reports Options followed by a triangular pointer:
display a sub-menu, when they are
highlighted, allowing you to select one of
the options.

Controlling SPOOLER
Throughout this guide, related selections from menus are shown in an

abbreviated form using the ‘>‘ symbol as a separator. Thus, the sequence
Utilities>Reports>Create means ‘select Utilities from the menu bar, then
select Reports from the resulting menu, then select Create from the
resulting sub-menu'.
3.4 Using the Tool Bar Icon Buttons
The tool bars are displayed underneath the menu bar in the Application
Window. They contain a number of icon buttons and other controls to
enable you to easily carry out common tasks, without searching for the
options in the menus.
The roles of the icon buttons are explained in the on-line help. Tool Tips
pop-ups are also used to display the name of the button.
Note: The PDMS tool bar can be switched off, or displayed with
large icons, by selecting the relevant options from the System
Settings form. This is displayed by selecting Settings>System
from the main menu bar. The changes come into force the
next time the module is started.
3.4.1 Tool Tips

The tool tips give a brief description of the role of a tool bar button, for
example:
Figure 3-3 Example of Tool Tips Prompt
Pausing the mouse over the tool button will display the tool tip pop-up.
3.5 The 3D View Window
3D View windows may be used to display any part of the current project,
from a single element to the complete design. More than one 3D View
window may be open at any one time, where each window contains a
single view of the design; for example, you may wish to display a plan
view and an isometric view of the model.

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Controlling SPOOLER
Each view can be set-up to show either an orthogonal (from almost any
direction) or isometric view of the design. It can also be manipulated (by:
zooming, panning, rotating, etc.) to show any part of the design in more
detail.
You can control how the model is shown by using the options on the Right
Mouse Button Menu, referred to as the ‘3D View menu’. When you have
more than one view displayed, you can control any combination of them
from a single form. To do so, select Display>View Control from the main
menu bar to see a 3D View Control form.
3.6 The Status Bar
The Status bar displays the name of the current element or messages
informing you of actions that the software is carrying out.
You should look at the status bar frequently, especially if the system
appears to be waiting for you to do something, since it will always
prompt you for any input or action which is required to carry out the next
step of your current activity.
Note: Prompts for EDG actions are shown at the top of the 3D View
window.
3.7 Using Forms and their Controls
Forms are used both to display information and to let you select options
and enter data. Forms typically comprise an arrangement of: buttons, of
various types, text boxes, and scrollable lists. Input to a form is
usually via a combination of mouse and keyboard input; the mouse is
used to select appropriate controls and the keyboard to enter data.
While you have access to a form, you may change a setting, return to the
initial values, accept and act on the current data, or cancel the form
without applying any changes, according to the nature of the form.
This section describes how to use the principal types of controls (gadgets)
that you will see on the various forms.
3.7.1 Option Buttons

Option buttons are used to select one from a group of options. The
selection is mutually exclusive, so that selecting one option automatically
deselects the others in that group.

Controlling SPOOLER
Option Button ON
Option Button OFF
To change the selected option button, click on the required button.
3.7.2 Check Boxes

Check boxes are used to switch an option between two states, typically
On and Off. Unlike option buttons they do not interact; so that if you
have several check boxes you can select any combination that you require
and they do not effect each other.
The check boxes are shown as follows:
Check box ON
Check box OFF
To change the setting of a check box to its opposite state (i.e. switch it Off
if it is On, or On if it is Off), position the cursor over the box and click the
left-hand mouse button.
3.7.3 Using Text Boxes

Text boxes are areas where you type in alphanumeric data such as
names or dimensions. A text box will usually have a label to tell you what
to enter.
To enter data into a text-box:
• Click in the box to insert the cursor.
• Using the keyboard, type in the required data, editing any existing
entry as necessary. (You may need to delete the existing entry first.)
• When you have finished, confirm the entry by pressing the Enter (or
Return) key. Any text-box with an unconfirmed setting is
highlighted by a yellow background.
When you first open a form which contains text-boxes, the first text-box
on the form will be current and a text pointer (a vertical bar) will be
displayed in the box. A text-box often contain a default entry (e.g. Unset)
when first displayed. Some text-boxes will accept only text or only
numeric data, entries with the wrong type of data will not be accepted.

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Controlling SPOOLER
3.7.4 Drop-Down Lists

Drop-down lists let you choose one option from a multiple selection. A
list box usually has the currently selected option displayed, with a down
arrow to the right side.
Clicking on the down arrow displays the list of options from which you
can select the required option.
3.7.5 Using Scrollable Lists

A scrollable list is displayed as a vertical list of options within the form,
with vertical and horizontal scroll bars along its sides. To select an option
from a scrollable list, click on the line you want. The selected line will be
highlighted.
Some scrollable lists allow you to make only a single selection, so that
selecting any option deselects all others automatically. Other lists allow
you to make multiple selections, with all selected options highlighted
simultaneously. To deselect a highlighted option in a multiple-choice list,
click on it again (repeated clicks toggle a selection On and Off).
3.7.6 Control Buttons

Most forms include at least one control button which is used either to
enter the command option represented by the current form setting;
cancel any changes you have made to the form or to close the form.
The form control buttons are described in the following table.
Control Description
Button
Enters the current form settings as command
OK inputs and closes the form.
Enters the current form settings as command
Apply inputs.
Cancels any changes made to the form’s settings
Cancel and closes the form.
Reset Cancels any changes made to the form’s settings.
Dismiss Closes the form keeping the current settings.

Controlling SPOOLER
Some forms contain more specific control buttons; e.g. the Add and
Remove buttons on the Drawlist form.
3.8 Alert Forms
Alert forms are used to display information such as error messages and
requests for confirmation of changes. You should respond by carrying out
the task prompted for or by clicking on the control buttons on the form
(usually an OK or Cancel button).
3.9 Accessing On-line Help
The Main Bar Menu ends with the Help option. Where available, on-line
help gives detailed instructions on the use of the forms and menus via
which you control the module.
The Help menu gives you the following options:
• Help>on Context
This gives you help on any window currently visible in the display.
When you select this option, the cursor changes to a question mark
(?). Move the question mark into the window on which you want
help and click the left-hand mouse button.
• Help>Contents
This displays the Help window so that you can find the required
topic from the hierarchical contents list.
• Help>Index
This displays the Help window so that you can find all topics
relevant to a selected keyword.
• Help>About
This displays information about the current operating system on
your computer and about the versions of PDMS and its applications
to which you have access.
Pressing the F1 key at any time will display the help topic for the
currently active window (equivalent to Help on Context for the current
window).
You are recommended to make full use of the on-line help facilities
whenever you want clarification of any operations during the later steps
of the exercise.

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Controlling SPOOLER

4 Setting Up the Database Hierarchy
Before we start to create any spool data, it is important that you know
how such data is stored and accessed in the PDMS databases, so that you
will understand the terminology which you will encounter in the tutorial.
Spooler uses two databases:
• Fabrication database, which stores all the spooling data
• Design database, which holds all the design data for the project.
Spooler has full access to the Fabrication database allowing you to set-up
the hierarchy and add or delete elements at will. Whereas, Spooler has
only limited access to the Design database, to make changes that are
relevant to the fabrication of the piping.
4.1 How PDMS Stores Data
The PDMS databases have a hierarchic or ‘tree’ structure (analogous to a

filing room containing a number of cabinets, each of which contains
several drawers, each of which contains a number of folders, each of
which contains a set of individual data files).
The Fabrication database structure descends from the World level
(usually represented by the symbolic name /*). The administrative levels
below this (and their PDMS abbreviations) are Department (ISODEP)
and Registry (ISOREG).
The database level below Registry (and its PDMS abbreviation) is the
Spool Drawing (SPLDRG). This is the main operational unit of the
database. Each Spool Drawing can represent a continuous network of
piping components and tube within the overall piping design The Spools
and Fields that make up the Spool Drawing are held directly below it in
the database hierarchy.
The PDMS Design database also descends from the World level, below
which are the administrative sub-levels Site and Zone.
The names used to identify database levels below Zone depend on the
specific engineering discipline for which the data is used. In the case of
piping design data, which we require, the lower administrative levels
(and their PDMS abbreviations) are Pipe (PIPE) and Branch (BRAN).
Each Pipe can represent any portion of the overall piping network, but is

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Setting Up the Database Hierarchy
usually used to group items with a common specification. Each Branch

within a Pipe represents a single sequence of piping components running
between two points known as the Branch Head and the Branch Tail.
The data which defines the physical design of the individual piping
components is held below Branch level.
Together, these hierarchic levels give the following overall format:
Design Database Isodraft Database

WORLD (/*) WORLD (/*)
SITE DEPARTMENT (ISODEP)
ZONE REGISTRY (ISOREG)
PIPE SPOOL DRAWING (SPLDRG)
BRANCH Spool data defining individual

spools and fields
Design data defining individual

piping components
Figure 4-1 Database Hierarchies
All data is represented in the database thus:

• Each identifiable item of data is known as a PDMS element.
• Each element has a number of associated pieces of information
which, together, completely define its properties. These are known
as its attributes.
Every element is identified within the database structure by an
automatically-allocated reference number and, optionally, by a user-
specified name.
Additional items of information about an element which could be stored
as attribute settings include:
• Its type
• Its physical dimensions and technical specifications
• Its physical location and orientation in the design model
• Its connectivity

Some attribute settings must be defined by you when you create a new
element, others will be defined automatically by PDMS.
The vertical link between two elements on adjacent levels of the database
hierarchy is defined as an owner-member relationship. The element on
the upper level is the owner of those elements directly linked below it.
The lower level elements are members of their owning element. Each
element can have many members, but it can have only one owner.
When you are modifying a database (for example, when you are creating
new spools or changing the settings of their attributes), you can consider
yourself to be positioned at a specific point within the hierarchy. The
element at this location is called the current element (often
abbreviated to CE).
You can navigate from any element to any other, thereby changing the
current element, by following the owner-member links up and down the
hierarchy.
In many cases, commands which you give for modifying the attributes of
an element will assume that the changes are to be applied to the current
element unless you specify otherwise, so you must understand this
concept and always be aware of your current position in the database
hierarchy. The Spooler Members List (see Section 3.1) will always show
you this information.
4.2 Creating Some Administrative Elements
We will now create some administrative elements at the top of the

Fabrication database hierarchy, as explained in the preceding section.
Exercise continues:
2. Select Department from the drop-down list on the left of the
SPOOLER tool bar and click the Create button . A Create form is
displayed, allowing you to name the database element.
Note: This function can also be carried out by selecting
Create>Department from the main menu bar.
3. On the Create form:
• Click in the Name text box to select it and press the Backspace
key to delete the “Unset” text, (the background colour
changes).
• Type the name “Spooler_Site” and press the Return/Enter key, to
confirm the name.

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Note how the system automatically adds a ‘/’ prefix to the front
of the name to conform to PDMS naming conventions.
• Click OK to create the element.
Note that the new element appears in the Members list as the
current element.
4. We will now create two Registries, under Spooler_Site, by selecting
Registry from the drop-down list and clicking on the Create button.
Name this registry ‘Condensate_Pumps’ on the Create form.
5. Create another Registry and name it ‘Condenser_Network’.
Navigate back to Spooler_Site, by clicking on it in the Members list,
which should now look like this:
Figure 4-2 Database Hierarchy
Note: If you cannot see the complete names you can increase the
size of the members list using the Control>Resize option from
the Spooler Members form menu bar.
In the next chapter we look at setting up and manipulating the model in

the 3D View window.

5 Controlling the 3D View
3D View windows, see Figure 5-1, can be used to display all or part of the
design model. These windows are contained within the application
window, in a similar way to documents in a word processing program.
The view windows allow you to select an element by simply clicking on it,
which navigates to it in the database making it the current element (CE),
or use the cursor picks as part of an Event Driven Graphics (EDG)
routine.
More than one 3D View window can be displayed at any time, allowing
you to have different views of the model. The views can be controlled
individually using the menu and button options on the forms or more
than one view can be changed simultaneously from the View Control form.
Figure 5-1 3D View Window

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Controlling the 3D View
The 3D View windows have a:

• Prompt Bar, across the top of the viewing area, which is used to
display instructions on carrying out the EDG tasks (e.g. Click on the
element to add .....).
• View Control Buttons down the left-hand side, which can be used to: set
the view limits to the CE; change the middle mouse manipulation
mode for the view and save and restore a view of the model. The
buttons are shown in the on-line help.
• Information bar below the viewing window, which shows the current
view direction and settings of that window, for example:
w45n35d Parallel Model Zoom
indicates that: the view direction is set to half way between west
and north and is looking down at an angle of 35° (corresponding to
ISO2); the design is being shown as a Parallel view (rather than in
Perspective): the view is set to rotate about the Model, rather than
the view point (‘Eye’) and the middle mouse button mode is set to
Zoom.
5.1 Setting up a 3D View Window
When you first start SPOOLER or when you create a new 3D View, the
display window is empty. You must set it up to show the elements and
view you wish to see. This involves setting up 3 functions of the view:
View Function Menu Option
View contents Drawlist
View limits Limits
Type of view Look or Iso
The following sections describe how to set up these functions.
5.1.1 View Contents

The elements that are displayed in a 3D View window must first be added
to the Drawlist. This can be done as follows:
• Select Display>Drawlist from the main menu bar, to display the Drawlist
form and then add the required elements.
• Select the required element in the Members list and add them to the
Drawlist, using the Drawlist options in the Spooler Members menu.

• Select the required element in the Members list and then click the
Add CE button on the PDMS tool bar.

Note: Only one Drawlist can be defined, for all 3D View windows.
The elements are normally added to the Drawlist and displayed in the
colour defined by the ‘Autocolour’ rules. These can be set up by your
system administrator. Alternatively, you can add elements using specific
colours. This can be done by either clicking the Colour button on the
Drawlist form or by selecting Drawlist>Add CE with colour. This displays a
standard colour selection form allowing you to select the required colour.
Additionally, you can apply a transparency factor to elements you are
adding from the Drawlist form. This allows you to make buildings and
other structures semi-transparent, so that you can see items inside or
behind them. This can be done by selecting the required degree of
transparency from the drop-down list beside the Colour button on the
Drawlist form.
5.1.2 View Limits

How much of the Drawlist contents are actually shown in that window can
be controlled by setting the view limits. This can be set from the Limits
options on the 3D View menu. You can select anything from a single
element up to the complete Drawlist or explicitly define a 3D box, by
entering the co-ordinates of two opposite corners. Alternatively the limits
can be set to the current element by clicking on the ‘CE Limits’ button
on the left of the 3D View window.
5.1.3 Type of View

The type of view for that window, orthogonal or isometric, can selected
from the Look or ISO options on the 3D View menu. These allow you to
select from a wide range of orthogonal and isometric views or define a
particular view.
We will now set-up a view of the complete design model.
Exercise continues:
6. As the Fabrication database is empty at this time we need to switch
to the Design database to add elements to the Drawlist.

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• Select Control>Switch>Design from the menu bar at the top of the

Spooler Members window.
This switches you to the World (/*) level in the Design DB.
• Select ‘SPOOLER-SITE’ in the Members list, by clicking on it.
A list of all its member ZONES is displayed.
• Click on the Limits CE button on the left of the view

window, to set the view limits to enclose the complete site.
7. We will now add the base of the site to the Drawlist and display it.
• Before we display anything in the 3D View window we will
maximise it within the application window, by clicking on the
Control menu button (AVEVA Solutions Ltd logo) at the top left
of the viewing window and selecting Maximise.
• Click on ‘SPOOLER-CIVIL’ to make it the CE and then select
Drawlist>Add CE, from the Spooler Members form menu bar.
The base appears in the view window in the default colour and
orthogonal view.
• Select ISO>Two from the 3D View menu to set the required
viewing direction.
8. Now add the structures to the Drawlist using a different colour, to
help differentiate between the types of element, and set a degree of
transparency so that you can see other elements under and behind
the structures.
• Navigate to the ‘SPOOLER-STRUC’ zone, by clicking on
SPOOLER-SITE and then on SPOOLER-STRUC, making it
the CE.
• Select Display>Drawlist from the main menu bar, to display the
Drawlist form.
• Click on the Colour button to display a colour selection form and
select a suitable colour (e.g. Dark Grey; top row, fourth from
right) by clicking on it and then clicking Dismiss.
Note: By default, SPOOLER uses Cyan and Green to represent
Spools and fields, respectively. So these colours should be
avoided when adding elements.
• Set the transparency level by clicking on the drop-down list
beside the Colour button and selecting 50%.
• Click the Add CE button, to add the structures to the display
with the selected settings.
• Click Dismiss on the Drawlist form to close it.

9. You can now add the equipment (SPOOLER-EQUIP) and pipes

(SPOOLER-PIPES) to the display in different colours, using the
Drawlist>Add CE with colour option, from the Drawlist menu bar.
The complete site is now displayed in isometric view. The 3D View
should now look something like Figure 5-2, which has the main
equipment annotated.
Heat
Exchanger Surface
Condensor
Condensate
Pumps
Surge
Tank
Centre Line
Mounted Pumps
Figure 5-2 Isometric View of SPOOLER Sample Project
5.2 Manipulating the Displayed View
When a 3D View has been set-up it can be easily manipulated, using the
mouse (either by itself or in combination with the function keys), to show
exactly the view you require at any time. This includes tools for: zooming,
panning and rotating the model.
The condensate pumps piping network is located at the left side of the
model, as you now see it. We are going to manipulate the view so that
this network fills the window, giving us a much better view of it.

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Exercise continues:
10. Zoom in so the model fills the display window, as follows:
• Select zoom mode by: clicking the Zoom button , on the left
side of the viewing window, or pressing F2 or selecting View
Control>Zoom from the 3D View menu. Note the text in the
information bar, at the bottom of the window, changes to show
that you are now in zoom mode (instead of ‘Rotate’).
• Hold down the middle mouse button and move the cursor up
the view window. The display zooms in about its centre point.
Moving the cursor downwards zooms out.
11. To centre the outlet network in the view
• Select pan mode by: clicking the Pan button , on the left
side of the viewing window, or pressing F3 or selecting View
Control>Pan, from the 3D View menu. Use the middle mouse
button to move the model so that the piping network is
centred.
An alternative (and quicker) method of centring a particular
point in the view is to click the middle mouse button on that
point. This automatically centres that point in the view.
• Re-select zoom and increase the magnification of the piping
network.
12. To rotate the model, to show it from a better angle:
• Select rotate mode by clicking the Rotate button or pressing

F5 or selecting View Control>Rotate from the 3D View menu) and
use the middle mouse button to rotate the view.
• Play with the Zoom, Pan and Rotate controls until you are
satisfied with the view.
13. At this point it is not possible to see the complete piping network
clearly, because the pipe rack is in the way. To remove the pipe rack
from the view:
• Navigate to SPOOLER-STRUC in the Design DB and select
Drawlist>Remove CE from the Members list menu bar.
The 3D View should now look something like Figure 5-3.

Condensate Pumps
Heat Exchanger
Inlet Pipe
Outlet Pipe
Heat Exchanger
Condensate
Pumps
Outlet Pipes
Header
Condensate Pumps
Outlet Pipes
Figure 5-3 Condensate Pumps Piping Network
5.3 Saving and Restoring a View
PDMS allows you to save up to four views of the model, which can then
be restored by simply clicking on the appropriate view control button to
the left of the display.
We will now save two views of the model and then restore the view to its
current setting.
Exercise continues:
14. To save the current 3D view as View 1:
• Right click on the Restore view 1 button to the left of the

display.
• Move the mouse over the Save 1 pop-up, so that it is highlighted
and then release the mouse button.
The current view is now saved as View 1.
15. We will now change the view so that we can see the Condensate
pumps piping network from the other direction. This makes it easier
to see the inlet to the pumps and the outlet from the heat
exchanger.

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• Select Iso>Four from the 3D View menu. This shows the model
from the opposite direction to Iso 2.
• Manipulate the view so that you can clearly see the required
parts of the piping network. The view should now look
something like Figure 5-4.
Heat Exchanger
Outlet Pipe
Condensate
Pumps Inlet Pipe
Figure 5-4: Iso 4 View
• Save this view of the model as View 2.

16. Restore the view to the previously saved settings by clicking (with
the left mouse button) on the Restore view 1 button.
In the next chapter we will prepare the condensate pumps piping

network for spooling.

6 Preparing the Site for Spooling
Before you begin spooling a site you should always check that the design
data in the design model is consistent. It is also worth making any
changes to the design model (e.g. inserting shop or field welds) that will
obviously be needed, to save work later.
6.1 Checking the Design Data
The consistency of the data should have been checked before the model
was sent for spooling. But, you can also check it in SPOOLER.
Exercise continues:
17. To check the data:
• Navigate to the SPOOLER-PIPES zone in the Design
database.
• Select Utilities>Data Consistency, from the main menu bar. This
displays the Data Consistency Check form.
• Select Zone from the Check: scrollable list box and click Apply.
The main window will show the progress of the check,
including any errors or warnings.
SPOOLER will not run properly if there are errors in the consistency
check. Warnings will not affect the operation of SPOOLER.
6.2 Inspecting the Site
If you spool the site and then make changes to the model (e.g. inserting
field welds) you then have to update the numbering, some of which may
then not be in order. So, it makes sense to try and make any changes to
the model before spooling it, thus reducing the work involved.
The easiest way of doing this is to do a visual check of the site looking for
any possible problems (e.g. very long pipes or complex networks) and for
any parts you know will be wanted separately, for test purposes. You can

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Preparing the Site for Spooling
then insert any required welds and spool breaks before spooling the
network.
As the spools are completely assembled before they are shipped to the
erection site, they must be small enough to be transported. The
maximum acceptable size for this exercise is 12 x 2.5 x 2.5 metres. The
length of the supplied pipe is 6 metres, so any lengths greater than this
in one spool will have to be joined with a Shop weld.
We will now do a check of the condensate pumps piping network and
insert any welds that are obviously necessary.
Exercise continues:
18. To carry out a visual check of the site:
• Restore the view so that you can see the complete site, from
the ISO 2 direction.
Outlet Pipes
Header
Heat Exchanger
Outlet Pipe
Long Pipe
Figure 6-1 Visual Check of Spooling Site
A quick visual inspection of the network, see Figure 6-1, shows that:
• The heat exchanger outlet pipe (Pipe 2007) appears to be to
larger than our maximum shipping size.
• Also, the length of the bottom section of the heat exchanger
outlet pipe appears to be too long to be constructed from a
single length of pipe (6 metres).

Note: The measurements of these pipes can be checked using the

Measure facility, Section 6.3.
• We also know that the high pressure Outlet Pipes Header, see
Figure 5-3, will require testing as a separate unit before any
other pipes are added to it.
6.3 Measuring the Pipe Lengths
The visual check of the condensate pumps piping network showed the
probability that the heat exchanger outlet pipe (Pipe 2007) was:
• Too large to be shipped as a single spool.
• The bottom length of pipe between elbows 3 & 4 was too long to be
created from a single length of tube.
To check these assumptions and work out where to insert welds we need
to measure the pipe.
Exercise continues:
19. Restore saved view 2, so that you have a clear view of the heat
exchanger outlet pipe.
20. Click the Measure button , to activate the measure facility.

This displays the Measure and Positioning Control form and an EDG
prompt is displayed instructing you to pick the start point for the
measurement.
We will start by checking the length of the bottom length of pipe.
• Manipulate the view so that the lower pipe is clearly visible.
• Set the Type field, in the Positioning Control form, to Ppoint and
the Option field to Snap. The cursor changes to a small square.
• Pick point P1 of Elbow 4, see Figure 6-2.
A message showing the selected start point is displayed in the 3D
View and the EDG prompt changes, instructing you to pick the end
point for the measurement.

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Figure 6-2: Picking the Start Measurement Point
• Pick P2 of Elbow 3. The software calculates the distance and

displays it in the 3D View and in the Measure form.
This shows the length of the tube to be 7415.9 mm. Confirming
that it is too long to be fabricated from a single length of tube.
21. To measure the complete outlet pipe (Pipe 2007):
• Zoom out so that you can see the whole of the pipe.
• Using the same settings as for the previous measurement, pick
point P2 of Elbow 1.
• Change the Type setting in the Positioning Control form to
Graphics, allowing you to select any graphical element The
cursor in the 3D View changes to a standard arrow.
• Pick the very end of the outlet pipe, as shown in Figure 6-3.
The distance between the two points is shown in the view and
on the Measure form, along with the lengths in the X, Y and Z
directions.

Figure 6-3: Selecting the End of the Outlet Pipe
22. Comparing the two measurements we made shows that splitting the
bottom tube, at the end nearest the heat exchanger, will divide the
pipe into two manageable spools.
6.4 Inserting Welds
SPOOLER allows you to insert Shop and Field welds to split up the
piping network. Field welds can be used to cut a pipe into shorter lengths
or break up a network where there are no convenient joints, these welds
will be made at the erection site. Shop welds can be used to separate
parts or assemblies that need to be fabricated and tested before being
attached to other parts of the spool. Welds can be inserted to break a
piping network at a p-point of a particular component or at some defined
point along a length of a pipe.
Caution: Any welds you create are added to the Design database.

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6.4.1 Inserting a Weld at a Design Point

Where possible, welds should be inserted at a p-point (Design Point) of a
welded component, because the component is attached to the pipe by a
weld anyway, so it is not creating any extra work just moving the
location for the work from the Fabrication Shop to the Erection Site.
6.4.1.1 Design Points

In order that a component can be manipulated and linked to adjacent
piping components, all principal points needed to define its the position,
orientation and connectivity are identified by uniquely numbered tags.
These tags, which have both position and direction are called p-points
(or Design Points).
Each p-point is identified by a number of the format P0, P1, P2, etc.
Where, P0 always represents the component’s origin.
The principal inlet and outlet points for the flow direction through the
component are identified as p-arrive and p-leave, respectively. In
normal pipe routing mode (‘forwards’ mode) P1 is the same as p-arrive
and P2 is the same as p-leave.
For example a TEE component might be represented in the PDMS
catalogue, as shown in Figure 6-4. P3 in this case defines the orientation
of the side arm.
P0
P1 P2
P3
Figure 6-4 TEE Component P-Points (Design Points)
6.4.2 Separating the Header Pipe

We will now insert welds to separate the outlet pipes header from the
outlet pipes of the condensate pumps.

Exercise continues:
23. The header pipe (part of Pipe 2006/B1 & B2) consists of 3 TEE
components with two end CAPs. The header, together with its outlet
pipe, will be tested in the fabrication shop before shipping. It will
then be connected to its inlet pipes from the condensate pumps at
the erection site. Therefore we need to insert Field welds between
the inlet pipes and the header.
To insert a Field weld between the header and one of its inlet pipes:
• Zoom in so that the header pipe fills most of the viewing
window, see Figure 6-5.
• Select Create>Weld, from the main menu bar. This displays the
Create Weld form.
• Select Field from the Type drop-down and check that the At drop-
down is set to Design Point (p-point). Then click Apply.
The 3D View switches to the create weld mode and displays the
EDG instruction - ‘Pick a Design Point for WELD’. The mouse
cursor changes to a small square with a point in the middle.
• Position the mouse cursor over one of the inlet TEE
components (TEE 1 of 2006/B1 or TEE 1 of 2006/B2) then press
and hold the left mouse button.
The outline of the component is highlighted and the p-points
are shown as dots, see Figure 6-5.
• Move the cursor over a p-point. When you are exactly on top of
it, a highlighted message is appended to the instruction at the
top of the window telling you the name of the Design Point you
are over.
• Move the cursor over design point P3, see Figure 6-5, and
release the button. The CHOOSE form is displayed allowing you
to select the type of weld you wish to insert.

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Figure 6-5: Positioning a Field Weld on P3 of 2006/B2
• Select a suitable type of weld and click OK.

The weld is created at P3 and the 3D View window returns to
navigation mode.
Note: The Create Weld form remains displayed allowing you to easily
create further welds.
24. Now insert a Field weld on the P3 of the other inlet TEE.
6.4.3 Splitting a Tube with a Weld

If a pipe is too long to be fabricated from a single length of pipe, one or
more Shop welds are normally defined in its length to show the
fabricators where to join the lengths. Also, if a pipe has to pass through
an opening at the erection site it may need to be split with a weld.
The bottom tube of the heat exchanger output pipe (leave tube of ELBO
3) is longer than a standard length of pipe (6 metres) and the complete
outlet pipe is too large for a single spool. Splitting the bottom tube, at the
end nearest the heat exchanger, with a field weld will divide the pipe into
two manageable spools, that can then be joined at the erection site.

Exercise continues:
25. To split the heat exchanger outlet pipe (Pipe 2007):

• Select Field and In-tube on the Create Weld form. This activates
the Position in Tube frame, allowing you to set the position in the
tube you want to insert the weld.
• Select Behind Item in the drop-down list and enter the value
6000 into the distance text box and then click Apply.
The 3D View switches to EDG mode and prompts you to pick
the tube in which to insert the weld.
• Pick anywhere on that length of tube. You are then prompted
to pick the element from which to measure the distance.
• Pick Elbow 3 in Pipe 2007. This inserts the weld 6000
millimetres back from the elbow.
In the next chapter we will spool the condensate pumps piping network.

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7 Spooling the Piping Network
In this chapter we look at the principles of using Spooler and split the
pipes up the Condensate Pumps piping network into Spool Drawings,
using the default Shop Flag settings.
7.1 Pipework Spooling
SPOOLER works with spooling networks, which are created by selecting

pipework elements to be added to a spool drawing (SPLDRG) . The
selected elements must form an interconnected piping network but are
not limited to a single branch or pipe in the design model.
Spooling networks consist of interconnected spools and fields. Where a
SPOOL is defined as a run of piping components and tube that will be
connected during fabrication and a FIELD is an individual or group of
piping components that will be connected during the erection phase.
Spools and fields are defined by picking an element in the 3D View
window. If the element has been defined as a fabrication element (i.e. the
SHOP flag is true) it generates a SPOOL. Whereas, if the selected
element has been defined as being fitted on site (i.e. the SHOP flag is
false) it generates a FIELD.
When an element is picked, the software searches all connected piping
components and tube and then adds all adjacent components that have
the same SHOP flag status to that spool or field. The ends of the spools,
called SPOOL BREAKS, occur when the SHOP flag status changes.
You can also force SPOOL BREAKS by defining Field Welds or Joints at
the required point in the SPOOL. Field welds can be used to split a
piping section at a particular component or at some defined point along a
length of tube. The forced spool break is used to create a break at joint
that does not have a field element in it (for example: a flanged joint with
no gasket).
By setting the SFLimit (Spool/Field Limit) attribute for a SPLDRG to
either BRAN, PIPE, ZONE or SITE (the default is WORLD), a spool
break will be enforced at any change at the corresponding element level.
SPOOLING NETWORKS can be defined by picking each SPOOL and
FIELD in sequence, to add to the SPOOL DRAWING or by picking two
ends of a continuous piping network. Spooler checks that it is an

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Spooling the Piping Network
interconnected network before it adds all the spools and fields to the
SPOOL DRAWING.
7.2 Spooling the Piping Network
We will now create some spool drawings and spool the pipes between the
condensate pumps and the heat exchanger (Pipes 2004, 2005 and 2006),
into one of them.
Exercise continues:
26. Go to the Fabrication database, by selecting Control>Switch>Fabrication
from the Spooler Members form menu bar and navigate to the
‘Condensate_Pumps’ registry.
Now create three Spool Drawings, as follows:
• Select Create>Spool Drawing from the main menu bar (or select
Spool Drawing from the drop-down list and click the Create
button) and name the Spool Drawing ‘Inlet_Pipe’.
This becomes the Current Element (CE) in the Members list
and is displayed as the active spool drawing in the text box on
the SPOOLER tool bar.
• Now create two more Spool Drawings, named ‘Outlet_Network’
and ‘Heat_Exch_Outlet’.
27. We will now start to spool the piping network between the
Condensate pumps and the Heat Exchanger:
• Navigate to the ‘Outlet_Network’ Spool Drawing, making this
the CE.
• Zoom in on the condensate pumps outlet network, as shown in
Figure 7-1.
• Click on the Add to Spool Drawing button in the SPOOLER

tool bar.
Note how the mode of the 3D View window changes, as
indicated by the text in the prompt bar, see Figure 7-1.
The next element you pick in the 3D View will be added to the
spool drawing.
• Pick one of the flanges between the valve and the condensate
pump, as shown in Figure 7-1. The flange and its leave tube
change to the default spool colour and are added to the
Members list as SPOOL 1.

Figure 7-1: Adding the First Spool
• Pick the gate valve and then the elbow following the selected
flange in the pipe. They are added to the Spool Drawing as
FIELD 1 and SPOOL 1, respectively.
This shows the way that new elements are always added to the
top of the list.
These steps illustrate how items can be added sequentially to a Spool
Drawing.
• Click further along this piping branch before it reaches the
header pipe. The control valve and the complete length of the
pipe, as far as the Field weld you inserted in Section 6.4.2, are
added to the Spool Drawing.
• Pick the input pipe to the heat exchanger. The piping is now
spooled between the first condensate pump and the heat
exchanger, including the complete header pipe.
These steps show how the elements in between the existing spools and
the picked element are added automatically - as long as they form a
continuous network.
• Add the rest of the network from the header pipe to the second
condensate pump, to the Spool Drawing.

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7.2.1 Numbering the Spool Drawing

Spooler allows you to generate numbers automatically for spools, welds,
joints, bends and parts. The numbering is normally used to provide full
accountability and repeatability through design changes. The Parts
Numbers can be applied to complete spool drawings, the default setting,
or the parts can be numbered for each spool individually.
Although the spools and fields we have created are shown in the Members
list there is as yet no numbering applied to the components. We will now
generate the numbering for the spool drawing.
Exercise Continues:
28. To define what elements of the spools you wish to be numbered,
select Settings>Numbering from the main menu bar. This displays the
Numbering Settings form.
This form contains three frames allowing you to:
• Select what numbering data to maintain.
• Select the part numbering option and define a spool prefix.
• Select the default update numbering method.
We will leave the settings as they are at present, so close the form
by clicking on Cancel.
29. To generate the numbering, click the Update/Number button in

the SPOOLER tool bar (or select Numbering>Update from the main
menu bar).
The software carries out a check of the Spool Drawing numbering
(Note this will take a few seconds) and then displays the
Update/Number Spool Drawing form, with the results of the check
shown in the Status frame.
Note: The choices in the Update Choice Handling frame do not affect
us at this stage.
• To generate the numbers, click Apply. The numbering is
generated and the data in the Status frame is updated to show
the actions that have been carried out. Extra elements,
including the Weld and Joint groups, are added to the Members
list.
• Click Dismiss to remove the form.

Note: You should ALWAYS update the numbering after you have
defined or modified a spool drawing.
7.2.2 Navigating Between the Databases

Spooler maintains links between the design elements and their allocation
in spools or fields. This enables you to easily navigate between the
Design and Fabrication databases.
Exercise continues:
30. Return to navigation mode by clicking the Navigate button in the

SPOOLER tool bar. The Prompt bar indicates that you are in
Navigate mode.
31. Zoom in on the input pipe to the heat exchanger and pick the flange
where the pipe joins the heat exchanger. It becomes the Current
Element (CE) and is highlighted in the viewing window and the
Members list (FLAN 3), which now displays the Design database.
32. To return to the spool that is linked to that flange:
• Select Goto>SPOOL from the Spooler Members menu bar. This
returns you to the Fabrication database with the related
SPOOL selected.
Note: If you had selected a field element the menu option would
have displayed Goto>FIELD.
• If you then select Control>Switch>Design, from the Spooler
Members menu bar, this returns you to the Design database
with the last selected element (FLAN 3) still selected.
Note: Switching to the Design database always returns you to the
last selected or picked element.
7.2.3 Selecting Adjacent Field Components

Gaskets on the ends of pipes (e.g. between a flange and the nozzle of an
equipment) cannot be picked in the 3D View and therefore cannot be
manually added to a Spool Drawing. To overcome this problem, you can
automatically include adjacent field components, as separate FIELDs,
when you add a spool to a Spool Drawing.

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We will now use this option to add the gaskets at the ends of the pipes to
the Spool Drawing.
Exercise continues:
33. You will see GASKet 3 below FLAN 3 in the Spooler Members list.
Select the gasket and then select the Goto menu.
As you can see, the Spool/Field options are not available. This shows
that the Gasket is not included in any Spool Drawing.
This highlights the problem in dealing with Gaskets on the ends of
pipes - as they cannot be picked in the 3D View, they cannot be
manually added to a Spool Drawing.
34. We will now correct the missing gaskets from the end of the pipe.
This involves first removing that spool from the drawing and then
adding it with the adjacent gasket.
• Navigate back to the ‘Outlet_Network’ spool drawing.
• Click the Remove from Spool Drawing button , on the

SPOOLER tool bar. The text in the Prompt bar changes to
indicate the current operating mode.
• Pick anywhere on the pipe going up to the heat exchanger, to
removes it from the Spool Drawing.
• Select the Include Adjacent Field Components check box on
the SPOOLER tool bar.
Any spools you now add or remove from the spool drawing will
automatically add/remove any adjacent field elements, such as
the gasket on the end of the pipe.
• Click on the Add to Spool Drawing button and pick anywhere on
the pipe going up to the heat exchanger, again. The spool is
added and a FIELD is automatically created for the gasket.
• Update the Spool Drawing numbering.
• Navigate to the GASKet in the Design database and check that
it has been added to the Spool Drawing.
35. Correct the omission of the gaskets on the other ends of this piping
network (Pipes 2004/B1 and 2005/B1), adjacent to the Condensate
Pumps.
36. Now spool the inlet pipe to the Condensate Pumps and the outlet
from the Heat Exchanger into the appropriate Spool Drawings.

In the next chapter we will look at further ways that you can check and
change the spooling model.

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8 Advanced Spooler Features
In this chapter we look at the advanced features of SPOOLER that allow

you to check and make further changes to the spooling model.
8.1 Checking the Spool Size
While it may be logical to have a long pipe as one spool, if that pipe is too
large to be transported the spool may need to be split. The size of a spool
can be checked in SPOOLER by querying the spool shipping volume.
Exercise continues:
37. To check the size of SPOOL 1 of the ‘Inlet_Pipe’ Spool Drawing:
• Navigate to that spool in the Members list.
• Select Query>Spool Shipping Volume from the main menu bar.
This displays the Spool Shipping Volume form showing the name
of the selected spool and its dimensions, see Figure 8-1.
Figure 8-1 Shipping Volume of a Spool
This shows that the spool is too large to be transported

according to our specifications (12 x 2.5 x 2.5 metres) and will
need to be split into sections for shipping.

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Advanced Spooler Features
• Split the pipe by inserting a Field weld on Elbow 1, BUT do not

update the Spool Drawing at this stage.
8.1.1 Selecting the Numbering Update Options

The numbers shown in the Members list are for indication purposes only.
They only match the real spool numbers when the Spool Drawing is first
numbered. When you update the numbering after you have changed
something (e.g. inserted a field weld to split a spool) the members list
numbers get out of synchronisation with the real numbers.
For example; if you have set up the following spool drawing:
Members List Numbering
SPOOL 1 SPL1
FIELD 1
SPOOL 2 SPL2
FIELD 2
SPOOL 3 SPL3
and you then split ‘Spool 2’. When you update the numbering, it may look
like this (depending on the Update Choice handling option you have chosen):
Members List Numbering
SPOOL 1 SPL1
FIELD 1
SPOOL 2 SPL2
FIELD 2
SPOOL 3 SPL4
FIELD 3
SPOOL 4 SPL3
The three options available when updating the numbering are:
• Use first available data - The first spool in which the data has changed
will automatically pick up the first available number. When there
are no more existing numbers new data is generated for any
remaining spools. (See the example above.)
• Always generate new data - Existing numbers are ignored and new data
is generated for all affected spools. In the above example, SPOOL 2
would be SPL4 and SPOOL 3 would be SPL5.
• Manual data selection - A form is displayed allowing you to decide
which existing number to use for which of the affected spools or
whether to generate new data. You could decide that either SPOOL

2, SPOOL 3 or neither of them uses the existing number (SPL2) in

the above example.
These options can be set as a default, on the Numbering Settings form, or
for each time you use them, on the Update/Number Spool Drawing form
We will now update the numbering on the ‘Outlet_Pipe’ Spool Drawing.
Exercise continues:
38. You must now return to and Update the spool drawing.
• The WELD element is not in the Spool Drawing at this point,
so to return to the Spool Drawing, select Control>Switch>
Fabrication from the menu bar.
When you update the numbering, the Update Choice Handling
options, on the Update/Number Spool Drawing form, now become
important.
• Click the Update/Number button
• Select Manual data selection in the Update Choice Handling frame
and click Apply.
The software starts to update the numbering, then when a
choice has to be made the Select Data for Spool Elements form is
displayed allowing you to select the data to apply to which
spool.
Figure 8-2 Selecting Data for Updating Spool Numbering

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• To apply the displayed attribute data, select SPOOL 1 in the

Spool numbers window and select the data in the right hand
window, then click the Use Selected Data button.
You will see that a new FIELD and second SPOOL have been
created. The FIELD is the WELD element.
Note: In this case, once you have applied the data to SPOOL 1, the
software will automatically generate new data for SPOOL 2.
• Click OK on the Update Complete alert form.
8.2 Changing the Shop/Field Setting
When an element is picked, the software searches all connected piping

components and tube and adds all the components that have the same
SHOP flag status to that spool or field. The ends of the spool are called
SPOOL BREAKS and they occur where the SHOP flag status changes.
If the Shop flag is true the selected components are added as a Spool.
Whereas, if the Shop Flag status is false the components are added as a
Field.
The Shop Flag status for a piping component is normally set by its
attributes in the Design catalogue, but this may have been changed by
the designer or from within SPOOLER. This could be used to break up a
spool or to remove a spool break, where you want the whole assembly to
be fabricated as one piece in the shop.
Caution: Any changes you make to the Shop Flag settings are added
to the design model in the Design database.
The valves immediately after the Condensate Pumps are all welded and
are going to be assembled with the tubing in the fabrication shop, not on
site.
Exercise continues:
39. To change the shop flag status of the welded valves:
• Switch to Navigate mode and select one of the gate valves next
to a Condensate Pump, this becomes the CE.
• Select Modify>Shop/Field from the main menu bar, this displays
the Shop/Field form, which allows you to check and change the
Shop Flag setting for any element in the piping network.

The Piping component frame at the top of the form shows the
identity of the currently selected element and allows you to
scroll through the elements in the BRANch using the Right &
Left Arrow buttons. The Right Arrow button takes you to the Next
element in the list (downwards) and the Left Arrow takes you to
the previous element (upwards).
• Change the status of the Shop Flag by selecting Fabrication
Material from the drop-down list box and then clicking Apply.
• Use the Left Arrow button to move up the list and change the
Shop Flag of the control valve.
Note: The Shop Flag can only be changed on one piping component at a
time.
• Repeat this procedure for the valves next to the other
Condensate Pump.
• Update the Spool Drawing and note the colour of the valves
change to the spool colour and the associated fields disappear
from the Members list.
8.3 Forcing a Spool Break at a Joint
You can also split spools by defining SPOOL BREAKS at Joints in the
network, even though the Shop Flags on either side of the joint are the
same. e.g. a flanged joint with no gasket as shown in Figure 8-3.
All included in single Spool
CSFBREAK CSFBREAK
False False
Shop True Shop True
CSFBREAK CSFBREAK
True True
Spool X Spool Y
Spool Break
Figure 8-3 Example of Using a Forced Spool Break

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The Spool Break is forced by changing the CSFBREAK attributes for the
selected piping components to True. When SPOOLER finds two adjacent
True CSFBREAK or TSFBREAK attributes it inserts a Spool Break
between them.
This function could be used to split pipes at any component, BUT this
would create problems during the Erection phase because no method of
connecting the two parts would be shown on the drawings.
Caution: Any Spool Breaks you define changes the flags of those
components in the Design database.
Forced Spool Breaks can also be removed by selecting Delete>Spool Break
from the main menu bar. You are then prompted to select the two piping
components that you wish to reset the C/TSFBREAK attributes on.
8.4 Forcing a Spool Break at a Specified Element Level
To force a spool break at any change of Branch, Pipe, Zone or Site, set
the SFLimit (Spool/Field Limit) attribute for the SPLDRG to BRAN,
PIPE, ZONE or SITE, respectively. The default setting is WORLD.

9 Outputting Spool Data
Drawings have to be produced for the fabrication of the spools. This is

done using the PDMS ISODRAFT module which provides very powerful
facilities for plotting any specified isometric view of all or any of the spool
drawings. The views are annotated to show the updated numbering and
connection information and have an associated parts list. The list is split
into two sections:
• Fabrication materials
• Erection materials.
9.1 Plotting the Spool Drawings
To plot the spool drawings we need to: switch to the ISODRAFT module;
select the required spool drawings and then generate the plots.
Exercise continues:
40. To switch to the PDMS ISODRAFT module:
• Select Spooler>Modules>Isodraft>Macro files from the main menu
bar and click OK to any confirmation dialogues.
When loading finishes, the Application window and the Members
list for the ISODRAFT application are displayed on the screen.
Note: There are no tool bars on the ISODRAFT Application Window.
The menu bar gives you access to a wide range of facilities for
generating customised isometric plots. For the purposes of this
exercise, we will simply generate isometric plots of the spool
drawings using the supplied options files.
41. To generate isometric plots of the spool drawings:
• Switch to the Fabrication database and navigate to the
‘Outlet_Network’ Spool Drawing.
• Select Isometrics>Standard from the Isodraft main menu bar.
The Standard Isometrics form is displayed, allowing you to
specify which plotting options to use.
• Select Company from the Options drop-down list and then select
Advanced.met (advanced metric) from the list of displayed

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Outputting Spool Data
options, see Figure 9-1, and click Apply to start the isometric
plotting process.
Figure 9-1 Standard Isometric Options Form
ISODRAFT: composes and annotates the plot files and

compiles the material take-off lists. The time taken is related
to the number and complexity of the plot files being created.
When processing is complete, the following new Isodraft
windows will be displayed:
• Display List - Lists all the isometric plots created in this session,
that are available for display, with the currently displayed plot
highlighted, see Figure 9-2.
Figure 9-2 Display List Form


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Display Isometric - This form is shown within the Application

window. It shows the plot file currently selected on the Display
List form, see Figure 9-3
Figure 9-3 Display Isometric Form
• Isodraft Messages - this shows a log of the plot file process,

including details of any problems encountered, see Figure 9-4.

Figure 9-4 Isodraft Messages Form
Exercise Ends
9.2 Isometric Drawing Contents
The content of each isometric drawing is calculated using complex

algorithms to best display all of the required data in the available space.
The algorithms are controlled by the Standard iso options selected before
plotting the drawing.
The drawings are NOT TO SCALE (see the two sides of the U-bend in
Figure 9-5) but are displayed so as best to show the information. Pipes
with no components attached to them, at the end of the spool drawing,
may even be abbreviated with just the annotation showing the true
length.
The annotation data shown is also controlled by the selections made in
the SPOOLER Numbering >Settings form. Any options deselected on this
form are not included on the plotted drawings.

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Figure 9-5 Zoomed View of an Isometric Plot

9.2.1 Drawing Annotations

Figure 9-5 shows a zoomed view of an isometric plot, illustrating the
annotation data. A ‘Key’ to the markings is shown in the table below.
Annotation Key Remarks
Dimension Value shown in break in
dimensioning line, or
directed to line by arrow.
Spool Number in a double box Arrow points at the first
Number with the spool prefix. component in the spool.
Part Number Number in a rectangular Flanged components also
box, along pipe or arrow show the Gasket (Gxx) and
pointing to component. Bolt set (Bxx) numbers.
Weld Number in a circle Key for different types of
Number weld is shown on the plot.
Joint Number in a diamond, F = Flanged joint
Number prefixed by letter showing S = Screwed joint
type of joint. C = Compression joint
For a full description of all the symbols used in the plots refer to Chapter
3 of the ISODRAFT Reference Manual.

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A
A.1
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Spooler Display Query Settings
Save Work
Spooler Main Menu
General . . .
Get Work
Session Comment . . . Spool Shipping Volume . . .
Menu Hierarchies
Modules . . . Project

DB Changes . . .
Exit
System . . . View . . .
Graphical View Graphics > Representation . . .
View Control . . . Naming . . . Colours . . .
Plot View . . . Units . . .
Members . . . Spooling . . .
Drawlist . . . Numbering . . .
Forms & Display
Command Line . . . Forms & Display As . . .
Save > Forms As . . .
format, to allow you to find the option you require rapidly.
Restore > Dispay As . . .
This appendix shows the principal menu hierarchies in a quick reference
A-1
A-2
Utilities Create Modify Delete Numbering
Data Consistency . . . Update . . .

Menu HierarchiesOutputting Spool Data
CE only
Autonaming > Renumber . . .
CE offspring
Lists . . . CE Check . . .
Claimlists . . . Name . . .
DB Listing . . . Members > Selection . . .
Run
Reports > Create Spool Break All
Quick Reports . . .
Modify
Delete
Name . . .
Attributes . . .
Lock . . . Include . . .
Hierarchy > Reverse Order
Reorder . . .
Department . . . SPLDRG Order
Registry . . . MTO Status . . .
Spool Drawing . . . Shop/Field . . .
Weld . . . Detail Plotfile . . .
Spool Break Attached Welds . . .
Version 11.6SP1
A.2
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Isodraft Display Query Utilities Isometrics Options
Get Work Versions . . . Create . . .

Modify . . .
Modules . . . Delete . . .
Exit
Plotting . . .
Plot View . . . Standard . . .

Isodraft Main Menu
Members . . . System/Trim . . .
Command Line . . . Previous Display List . . .
Save > Forms Previous AutoDRAFT List . . .

Restore > Forms As . . . Previous Messages List . . .
Edit AutoCAD Drawing > Create from DXF

Process Transfer File . . . Existing DWG
Reports > Run
Quick Reports . . . Create
Modify
Delete
A-3
A-4 Pipework Spooling Using PDMS

B Reference Information
This appendix provides additional information on some important

aspects of the SPOOLER module. This information is intended for
experienced users and system administrators, to enable them to modify
existing databases and catalogues making them compatible with
SPOOLER.
B.1 Spool Breaks
A Spool Break is the changeover point between SHOP and FIELD

components. It occurs at the junction of two piping components (or
implied TUBE) that fulfils one of the following cases:
1. The Shop Flag status of the two components is different. i.e. True-
to-False or False-to-True. The Shop Flag status of elements in the
Design database can be changed in SPOOLER using the
Modify>Shop/Field function.
2. If a component is the end of the piping network (e.g. connected to an
EQUIpment item) it is automatically the end of the Spool/Field and
the Spool Drawing.
3. BOTH piping components have their spool break attributes set to
true (CSFBREAK for a piping component and TSFBREAK for the
leave tube). This condition can be forced using the Create>Spool Break
function in SPOOLER.
Note: TSFBREAK is an attribute of the piping component not the
leave tube. Although its effect is on the leave tube.
B.2 Connection Types
The p-points of every piping component have associated connection types,

derived from their catalogue definitions. These are used in conjunction
with the Connection Compatibility (COCO) tables, in the database, to
check if two components may be legally connected to each other.
Note: The connection type for the arrive and leave points of a
TUBI component are always derived from p-point P1 of the
tube catalogue element.
Pipework Spooling Using PDMS B-1

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Reference Information
This functionality has been extended for SPOOLER so that it also

specifies what type of connection it is. The type of connection is identified
by the Ckey attribute, which is added to the COCO element definition.
The Ckey attribute can be set to any of the standard ISODRAFT end
connection types:
Ckey Connection Type

BW Butt weld
SW Socket weld
SC Screwed connection
CP Compression
FL Flanged
PL Plain
If the Ckey attribute is left unset, the connection is assumed to be ‘Plain’.
B.2.1 Weld and Joint Connections

Connections between piping components (and tube) come in two forms:
welds and non-welded joints (e.g. flanged, screwed or compression
connections). The welds and joints are grouped in the fabrication
database in the WLDGRP (Weld Group) and JNTGRP (Joint Group)
elements, respectively. These groups are created, by default, when
numbering is first inserted into the spool drawing.
A connection is considered to belong to a Spool Drawing if:
• Both piping components involved in the connection belong to that
Spool Drawing.
• The downstream piping component in the connection is on one end
of the piping network in that Spool Drawing.
• In the case of a flanged joint with a gasket, the flange owning the
gasket is on that Spool Drawing.
B-2 Pipework Spooling Using PDMS

Reference InformationIndexOutputting Spool Data
B.2.1.1 Types of Welds and Joints
SPOOLER uses three types of weld definitions and one type of joint
definition. These are:
Definition Description
IWELD Implied weld
RWELD Real weld
AWELD Attached weld
IJOINT Implied joint
The types of welds and joints are described in the following sections.
Implied Welds
IWELD components provide a link in the Fabrication database to the
position of a weld that must be inserted to join two piping components or
tubes. For example: fit a flange onto the end of a tube. You do not have to
explicitly define these welds as they are implied by the nature of the
components involved.
A connection can have an IWELD element associated with it if:
• It has a Ckey (Connection key) of types BW or SW.
Note: If you have explicitly defined a weld (RWELD element) to
connect the two components, the software will not insert a
implied weld at that point.
Real Welds
RWELD components link to explicitly defined Shop or Field welds in the
Design database. They are normally inserted in PDMS DESIGN but can
also be added in SPOOLER, to break up a spool.
Attached Welds
AWELD components provide a method for numbering the welds required
for welded attachments. Typically these are used to secure the piping
network to the support ATTAchments. The number of welds on each
attachment can be defined in SPOOLER, using the Modify>Attached Welds
function.
Implied Joints
IJOINT components define the connection between two non-welded
piping components or tubes (e.g. bolted flanges, compression joints or
screwed connections). You do not have to explicitly define the details of

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these joints as they are implied by the nature of the components

involved.
A connection can have an IJOINT element associated with it if:
• It has a Ckey (Connection key) of types CP, FL or SC.
• Neither of the components are Gaskets.
B.3 Special Cases
The following sub-sections contain descriptions of some special cases

within SPOOLER.
B.3.1 Shop Flag Status

This section describes some of the special cases for the Shop Flag. These
can effect the placement of Spool Breaks and the handling of some
elements.
B.3.1.1 ATTAchments
While ATTAs do have a Shop Flag, its status is ignored when spooling a
piping network. For example: a shop false ATTA will not break a spool.
Note: The leave tube of a spec break ATTA (SPECBR attribute is
True) still has an active Shop Flag.
B.3.2 Leave Tubes of Welds

If you break a spool by inserting a field weld into the leave tube after the
last component in a pipe, the section between the weld and the end of the
tube is reassigned as the leave tube of the weld. Inserting a field weld is
a modification to the Design database and immediately after its creation
the weld and its leave tube are not in the spool drawing.
You can add the weld and its leave tube by updating the numbering of
the spool drawing, in the normal way.
B.3.3 Welds for OLETs

An OLET element has 3 p-points: P1 (p-arrive) and P2 (p-leave) in the
main tube and P3 in the off-line leg. P1 and P2 are coincident and are
normally treated as a single point.

Reference InformationIndexOutputting Spool Data
A problem could occur if points P1 and P2 have Ckeys of BWD or SWD.

By default this should give two welds, one for each point, but the
software recognises the OLET as a special case and only allocates one
weld.

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Index
3D Graphics, 2-2 CE, 4-3, 5-1

3D view, 3-3 CE limits button, 5-4
3D View, 3-6, 5-1 Check boxes, 3-7
3D View menu, 3-6 Choose form, 6-7
3D View window settings, 5-3 Ckey attribute, ii
Add, 3-9, 7-2 Click, 1-4
Add CE with colour, 5-4 Colour selection, 5-4
Add to spool drawing, 7-2 Colours, 5-4
Adjacent field components, 7-6 Connection types, i
Alert forms, 3-9 Continuous network, 4-1
Always generate new data, 8-2 Control button, 3-8
Application Controlling graphical windows, 3-6
definition, 1-2 Controls, 3-6
Apply, 3-9 Conventions, 1-5
Attached welds, iii Create 3D View, 5-3
Attribute Create weld form, 6-7
definition, 4-3 Current element, 5-1
Autocolour, 5-4
definition, 4-3
AWELD, iii Data consistency, 6-1
Behind item, 6-9 Database, 2-1, 4-1
Bend numbers, 7-4 Database hierarchy, 4-1, 4-2
Branch DB, 2-1, 4-1
definition, 4-2 Delete spool breaks, 8-6
Branch head
Department
definition, 4-2
definition, 4-1
Branch tail
Department
definition, 4-2
creating, 4-4
Button
Design database, 2-2, 4-1, 6-5
control, 3-8
Design point, 6-6
option, 3-8
Buttons, 3-6 Direction of view, 5-4
Cancel, 3-9 Dismiss, 3-9
Pipework Spooling Using PDMS index-i

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Index
Display isometric, 9-4 Include adjacent field components, 7-6

Display list, 9-2 Information bar, 5-3
Double Click, 1-4 Inserting a weld, 6-5
Drag, 1-4 Inspecting the site, 6-1
Drawing annotations, 9-7 ISO, 5-4
Drawing contents, 9-5 Isodraft, 2-1, 9-1
Drawlist, 3-9, 5-3 Isodraft application window, 9-1
Drop-down lists, 3-8 Isodraft main menu, 3
EDG, 2-2, 3-6, 5-3, 6-7 Isodraft messages, 9-4
Element Isometric drawing contents, 9-5
definition, 4-2 Isometric drawings, 2-1
Enter key, 1-4 Isometric Plots, 2-3
Erection, 2-1 Isometric view, 5-4
Event driven graphics, 5-1 IWELD, iii
Event Driven Graphics, 2-2 JNTGRP, ii
Fabrication, 2-1, 7-1 Joint connections, ii
Fabrication database, 2-2, 4-1 Joint group, ii
Field, 7-1 Joint numbers, 7-4
Field weld, 6-5 Joints, 8-6
Fields, 2-1, 4-1 Keyboard, 3-6
Forced spool breaks, 7-1 Left mouse button, 3-4
at Branch/Pipe changes, 8-7 List
at Joints, 8-6
scrollable, 3-8
Forms, 3-6
Look, 5-4
Goto FIELD, 7-5
Manipulating a 3D View, 5-6
Goto SPOOL, 7-5
Manual data selection, 8-3
Graphical user interface, 3-1
MDB, 3-2
Graphical view, 3-3, 3-6
Measure, 6-3
Graphical views, 5-1
Measuring a pipe, 6-3
GUI, 3-1
Member
Head. See Branch head
definition, 4-3
Help, on-line, 3-9 Members list, 3-3, 5-4
Icon buttons, 3-5 Menu
IJOINT, iii pull-down, 3-4
Implied joints, iii Menu bar, 3-2, 3-4
Implied welds, iii Menu hierarchies, 1
In tube weld, 6-8 Middle mouse button, 3-4
index-ii Pipework Spooling Using PDMS

IndexOutputting Spool Data
Module P-leave, 6-6

definition, 1-2 Plotting, 9-1
Module tool bar, 3-2 Plotting options, 9-2
Mouse buttons Plotting spool drawings, 9-1
functions, 3-4 Positioning Control form, 6-3
Multiple 3D Views, 5-1
P-point, 6-6
Naming, 2-2
Preparing a site, 6-1
Navigate button, 7-5
Prompt bar, 5-3
Navigating, 7-5
Prompts, 3-6
Network, 4-1
Pull-down menu, 3-4
Numbering, 2-2, 7-4
Pulled bend numbers, 7-4
Numbering settings form, 7-4, 8-3
Radio buttons, 3-7
Numbering update, 8-2
Real welds, iii
Numbering update options, 8-2
Registry
oint types, iii
definition, 4-1
OK, 3-9 Registry
On-line help, 3-9 creating, 4-4
Option button, 3-8 Remove, 3-9
Options, 9-2 Remove CE, 5-8
Orthogonal view, 5-4 Remove from Spool Drawing, 7-6
Outputting spool data, 9-1 Reset, 3-9
Owner Restore View, 5-8
definition, 4-3 Return key, 1-4
Pan, 5-7 Right mouse button, 3-4
Parallel, 5-3 Right mouse button menu, 3-6
P-arrive, 6-6 Rotate, 5-7
Part numbers, 7-4 RWELD, iii
PDMS, 2-1 SAM, 3-2
PDMS tool bar, 3-2 Save View, 5-8
Perspective, 5-3 Scrollable list, 3-8
Pick, 1-4 Scrollable lists, 3-6
Picking, 7-1 Searching, 7-1
Pipe Select data for spool elements form, 8-3
definition, 4-2 Setting up a 3D View, 5-3
Pipework, 2-1
SFLimit attribute
Pipework spooling, 7-1
Spool breaks, 2-1, 7-1, 8-7
Piping Network, 2-1 Shop, 2-1
Pipework Spooling Using PDMS index-iii

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Index
Shop flag, 7-1, 8-4 Terminology, 1-2

Shop Flag, 2-1 Terms, 1-4
Shop flag status, i Text box, 3-7
Shop/Field setting, 8-4 Text boxes, 3-6
Site Toggle buttons, 3-7
definition, 4-2 Tool bar, 3-2, 3-5
SPLDRG, 2-1, 7-1 Tool tips, 3-5
Spool, 7-1 Transparency, 5-4
Spool breaks, 8-4, i Training courses, 1-2
Spool drawing, 7-2 Tutorial project, 3-2
Spool Drawing Type of view, 5-3, 5-4
definition, 4-1 Types of joints, iii
Spool Drawings, 2-1
Types of welds, iii
Spool numbers, 7-4, 8-2
Update, 8-2
Spool shipping volume, 2-3, 8-1
Update choice handling, 8-2, 8-3
Spool size, 8-1
Update/Number button, 7-4
Spool/field limit attribute. See SFLimit
Update/Number spool drawing form, 7-4, 8-3
attribute, See SFLimit attribute, See SFLimit
attribute Use first available data, 8-2
Spooler, 2-1 View
Spooler main menu, 1 3D/graphical, 3-3
Spooler members, 5-4 View contents, 5-3
Spooler Members list, 3-3 View control buttons, 5-3
Spooler tool bar, 3-2 View control form, 3-6, 5-1

Spooling, 7-1, 7-2 View limits, 5-3, 5-4
Spooling networks, 7-2 View window, 5-1
Spools, 2-1, 4-1 Viewing direction, 5-4
Standard isometrics, 9-2 Weld connections, ii
Start menu, 3-1 Weld numbers, 7-4
Starting PDMS, 3-1 Weld types, iii
Starting Spooler, 3-1 Welds, 2-1
Status bar, 3-3 WLDGRP, ii
Status form, 3-6 World
Submenu, 3-4 definition, 4-1
Switching databases, 7-5 Zone
Switching modules, 3-1, 9-1 definition, 4-2

Zoom, 5-7
Tail. See Branch tail
index-iv Pipework Spooling Using PDMS


PDMS Pipe Work Spooling User Guide PDF

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Pipework Spooling Using PDMS

pdms1161/Pipework spooling User Guide

© Copyright 1991 through 2005 AVEVA Solutions Limited

1 Introduction to this Guide .....................................................................1-3

2 What PDMS SPOOLER Offers You .......................................................2-1

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 1-1

4 Setting Up the Database Hierarchy ...................................................... 4-1

5 Controlling the 3D View......................................................................... 5-1

6 Preparing the Site for Spooling ............................................................ 6-1

7 Spooling the Piping Network ................................................................ 7-1

8 Advanced Spooler Features.................................................................. 8-1

9 Outputting Spool Data........................................................................... 9-1

1-2 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

1 Introduction to this Guide

1.1 The Scope of the Guide

This guide introduces PDMS SPOOLER, AVEVA Solutions Ltd’s

1.2 Learning to Use SPOOLER

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 1-3

1.3 Further Training in PDMS

1.4 Some Terminology

As you might imagine, a program with the wide-ranging power of PDMS

1-4 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

1.5 How the Guide is Organised

This guide is divided into a number of chapters, presenting the

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 1-5

• Appendix B - Reference Information

1.6 Terms and Conventions

1.6.1 Instruction Terms

1-6 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 1-7

1-8 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

SPOOLER is the pipework spooling module for AVEVA Solutions Ltd’s

2.1 Pipework Spooling

SPOOLER works with Spool Drawings (SPLDRGs) , which are created by

2.2 Database Usage

Spooler uses two databases:

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 2-1

The pipework design or spooling models can be viewed at any angle or

Database elements can be given unique names using the Autonaming

2.6 Spooling Volume Calculation

2-2 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

2.7 Drawing Output

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 2-3

2-4 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

This chapter introduces the techniques for controlling SPOOLER using

3.1 Starting a SPOOLER Session

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 3-1

Figure 3-1 The PDMS Login Form

Clicking on the down arrows beside the Project, Username and

3-2 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

• Document display area

Figure 3-2 Application Screen

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 3-3

3.2 Using the Mouse

3.3 Using Menus

There can be three types of option in a pull-down or pop-up menu:

3-4 Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS

Throughout this guide, related selections from menus are shown in an

3.4 Using the Tool Bar Icon Buttons

3.4.1 Tool Tips

Figure 3-3 Example of Tool Tips Prompt

3.5 The 3D View Window

Pipework Spooling Using VANTAGE PDMS 3-5