CADWorx P&ID Professional » Process Design, from the Outside

Online Help

CADWorx, Equipment, P&ID, Plant, Steel No Responses »

Jun 032010

As many of you probably know, Autodesk made Online Help available in AutoCAD 2011. However, you may not have known that online help has been available for CADWorx for quite some time. Here are the relevant pages:

For online Plant help:

http://www.coade.com/uploads/cadworx/plant/

For online Steel help:

http://www.coade.com/uploads/cadworx/steel/

For online Equipment help:

http://www.coade.com/uploads/cadworx/equipment/

and for online P&ID help:

http://www.coade.com/uploads/cadworx/PID/

While online help is not integrated into CADWorx as it is in AutoCAD 2011, I find sharing a link is easier than saying “Lookup the User Shape help file.”

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sharing CADWorx P&ID on a network

CADWorx, P&ID No Responses »

May 262010

Frequently people ask how to share P&ID symbols and settings with others in the company. In this article, we are going to walk through the steps of setting up a CADWorx P&ID to use network libraries.

Overview:

Create a directory for symbols on your network.
Copy the CADWorx symbols and menu symbol files to the network.
Create a configuration file that sets the MENUSYMBOLFILE setting to the network path.
Modify your profile search path to include your network library at the top.
Share Settings.

Creating a network directory for symbols

Many companies have CAD folders already setup on the network. If this is the case, try to follow the standard conventions in creating the folder. If no standard exists, something like Z:\CAD\CADWorx P&ID\Blocks is quite suitable.

Copy the symbols to the Network

Big warning here…ONLY PUT .DWG FILES and .DAT FILES IN THE NETWORK FOLDER! I avoid network installations where possible for reasons too numerous to delineate here. However, let me say that I have run into several companies that were running old software when they had new software installed locally. I think most of us are much more comfortable keeping the software installation on the user’s computer and sharing necessary files on the network.

I recommend putting all of the CADWorx .dwg files and all of the .dat files (like Flow_Alt.dat) on the network in case people want to use them. You can copy the files from here:

Set the MENUSYMBOLFILE setting

Next we will set the MENUSYMBOLFILE setting by going to SETUP->Edit Config file. If you used my directory structure, the setting is Z:\CAD\CADWorx P&ID\Blocks\Flow_Alt.dat

Adding the Support Search Path

This step is more of an advanced user tweak, but it’s pretty easy. In CADWorx, go to Options right-click->Options

Go to the Files tab, click Add, and click your network block library directory. Move it to the top of the folder list.

Sharing Settings

Half the work we did was to setup the library, the other half was to tweak our settings so we could use it. To let someone else use the library, you need give them a copy of the configuration file (or have them change their own) from step 3, and their profile search path needs to be fixed as from step 4.

The configuration file we edited was here:

Troubleshooting

If the correct blocks are not coming in (or you are not geting any blocks at all) through the P&ID menus, the profile search path is not correct. If the incorrect blocks are displayed in the P&ID menus, then the MENUSYMBOLFILE is not set correctly.

If you need help setting up an installation for a bunch of users (i.e. you don’t want to walk around to every computer and mess with the profile), Contact Us.

These steps are enough for about 90% of the users 90% of the time. For those who need to add or have added custom lines or sections to P&ID, you’ll need to take care of a few tweaks in addition to the items above. Again, Contact Us so we can help.

BOM Gather Spreadsheet Released

BOM, BOM Gather Spreadsheet, CADWorx, P&ID, Plant, Products No Responses »

May 102010

Today the BOM Gather Spreadsheet hits the store!

http://www.ecadinc.com/PDOteam/index.php/store/products/bom-gather-spreadsheet/

To answer your first question, here is what the spreadsheet can do for you.

Automate the process of formatting your spreadsheet.
Import a query from a database to the pre-formatted spreadsheet.
Compare two published spreadsheets and list the differences.

By the way, you may be interested to find out that this is ALL in Excel 2007. No new program to learn, but you can still tweak the settings you need!

At ECAD we decided to go with a blended approach to allow access to database information. Since every company wants their reports, their way, we can customize your project database to include those. Then, by listing the query (report) that you want, you can bring the information directly into a spreadsheet that you have already formatted.

While custom queries sound expensive, we have had a customer spend only ~$1200 for the queries + the spreadsheet. That’s for the entire company to be able to use the spreadsheet!

Take a look at the store, go through the readme, and check out the video. We’d love to help you get the BOM Gather spreadsheet worked into your design process.

YouTube Channel

BOM Gather in the Store

Sneak Previews

BOM Gather Spreadsheet No Responses »

Apr 132010

Within the next couple weeks, we will be releasing a new product that could save you a lot of time (time = money!). I wanted to post a bit about the product, and some other things we are thinking about as well.

As part of our services here at ECAD, we provide services to customers who need customization done. Often times, we find that people don’t have the time to learn the nuts and bolts of non-design software. So, to help you have more time designing we provide installation services, training, and customization on our products.

During a visit to GWD Design, my role was to migrate them from an old database format to the newer ICES database. After a sitting down and getting a list of questions they had about CADWorx (I can’t resist knowing what people are doing with CADWorx), a question was posed. Is there a way to publish a Bill of Materials in a consistent Excel format using CADWorx? Short answer…there wasn’t.

Thanks to the proposition from GWD, we created the BOM Gather spreadsheet. Priced at $300 (per company) the spreadsheet will eliminate a lot of manual effort in Excel and streamline your BOM production. Since this is a sneak preview…I’ll post one sentence Wink . The BOM Gather spreadsheet will virtually eliminate BOM formatting time by importing BOM items (minus the mark column) from spreadsheets (or Access queries!) into an Excel workbook, and allowing dated export to a new file.

Moving on…another feature on our agenda is consolidating some of our tools. We’re planning to package the CADWorx Properties palette with the ribbon, to add access to the palette via ribbon. One topic I’m reflecting on is whether to combine the P&ID Ribbons and the Plant ribbons, obviously it’d be much easier to release/handout one all inclusive package than several smaller packages. In addition, I’d like to add commands to display the ribbons and/or add them to a workspace.

Let me know if you guys have any thoughts on these topics!

CADWorx Properties Palette by ECAD Stats

CADWorx Update, Products, Properties Palette 1 Response »

Apr 082010

Looking through our records, I’ve been trying to tally up how many copies of the CADWorx Properties Palette by ECAD we’ve given out. Since we haven’t been using the Store the whole time, the numbers are hit and miss, but I think we have roughly 40 people who have downloaded the palette.

The video has been viewed on YouTube 200 times, and downloaded 23 times.

Knock on wood, we’ve received 0 bug reports. While I hope the code works flawlessly, we all know that’s a small chance. So, as weird as it sounds, we’d like to hear about any problems that you’ve run into. In the meantime, thanks for the positive verbal feedback about the palette. Here are some of the ideas people want to see added:

Allowing selecting an object first and displaying the results.
Include a quick select method, so multiple objects can be selected easier.
Make the properties editable from the Palette.

Do you have other ideas? We’d love to hear from you!

Update for CADWorx 2010

CADWorx, Equipment, ISOGEN, P&ID, Plant 4 Responses »

Mar 312010

I wanted to take a minute to show how to make sure you are up to date on the latest CADWorx software.

Enter CADWORXABOUT at the command line, and you will get this dialog. Then click the Check for Updates button.

Update: Per the comments, at times you may not be able to get the latest build by clicking the update button. Here’s a link to send an email requesting the latest build for CADWorx.
Email CADWorx for latest update

We’ll do our best to keep you informed of the changes that we know about.

To that end here’s our list of the 3-30 update:

1. Compatibility with AutoCAD 2011.

2. Fix spec editing crash for Windows 7, 64-bit.

3. Fix Eccentric reducer crash. Ricky Medley nailed down the problem here:

“Basically, any setup in which a viewport is looking “down the barrel” of the eccentric reducer when placed in another viewport will cause the missing integer error.
Start a drawing, and set a split viewport in model space with one in top view, and the other set to right or left view. Place a eccentric reducer into the top view. Save the drawing, and re-open the drawing. The missing integer error will occur, and the drawing appears corrupted.
The ucs does not have to be set to the same view as right or left.
Placement in the right or left viewport will not generate the error.
The above scenario can be changed; Again copying the reducer into a drawing that “looks down the barrel” of the eccentric reducer does not produce an error.
This error only occurs when running CADWorx 2010 (Sept. release) on AutoCAD 2010.
I installed CADWorx 2010 (July release) on AutoCAD 2010, and the error did not occur.
Interestingly enough, the error did not occur when installing CADWorx 2010 (Sept. release) on AutoCAD 2009.
If the eccentric reducer is copied into the drawing in any viewport there is no corruption.”

It turns out, that AutoCAD generates the error, but the CADWorx guys were able to come up with a workaround in their development.

4. P&ID project creation crash for Windows 7, 64-bit. This particular issue came up with a client.

5. Steel generic attached double-click broken. Though working in the 3-3 release, the 3-25 release had a bug which is now fixed in the 3-30 release. Stellar help by CADWorx as I notified them of this problem on 3-30 and the fix was posted the same day!

6. COADE logo changed to Intergraph.

Again, we will try to stay on top of the fixes and post about the updates here! If you’d like to contribute, Contact Us to tell us what bug COADE fixed for you that was included in the release.

Mastering P&ID Professional

CADWorx, Mastering P&ID Professional, P&ID, Products No Responses »

Mar 032010

We have really great news for everyone! Today the Mastering P&ID Professional Video series go on the market. You can read the press release here.

For a few months ECAD had me devote my time to documenting P&ID so that we could bring to you the most comprehensive training tool available. Currently we are selling the videos online and through our Sales Offices in the US only . For those of you outside the US, please contact your CGNP, or use the Contact Us page and we’ll connect you to the right people. Please understand that we are still setting up our overseas selling channels so you may have to wait to get your hands on a copy (our apologies).

Also, I’ve posted a short video on how to use/install the video series. The video is below the Cooliris wall. FYI, we are in the process of figuring out how we’re going to do videos on our site, as some have mentioned that YouTube is blocked from their work. Attached to this post is a pdf of the Table of Contents to give you detailed outline of the topics covered in the video series.

Here’s the link to the full product description.

I hope you all benefit greatly from this new product!
Mastering P&ID Professional TOC Sample (11)

CADWorx Properties Palette by ECAD

CADWorx, Equipment, ISOGEN, P&ID, Plant, Products, Properties Palette, Steel No Responses »

Dec 162009

We have exciting news for everyone. Today we are releasing the CADWorx Properties palette by ECAD! Here’s is the other half of the good news…it’s FREE! Once again, to download all you have to do is register with our site and then access the downloads page.

We have a video that walks through installation and usage, and the installer includes a readme with details about the product.

We developed this tool to give access to CADWorx information to people without CADWorx, as we know that a lot of design is interfaced with other AutoCAD products, like AutoCAD MEP or Civil 3D.

Obviously, we are not going to make any guarantees with this code. But since it’s free, you’re welcome to give feedback and we will post fixes ASAP. Contact us using the Contact Us page. Enjoy!

Here are some screen shots.

Equipment tags on Links in P&ID Professional

CADWorx No Responses »

Nov 252009

Assumptions. We all make them. Last week I discovered an incorrect assumption that we all are happier without. Most of us want to show the equipment the line is going to or from on our links, right? It’s a pretty standard request.

For a long time, I’ve said this wasn’t possible. Last week I found out that it is actually really easy!

All you have to do is add an attribute to your link with one of these names:

PROC_FROM, PROC_TO, ACT_FROM, ACT_TO

Here’s an example of a link that I modified:

Here’s the link placed in a drawing:

What is interesting about this, is that the link is reading the data in the link from the lines table. Previously, I assumed the links would only read from the Link Database table. It turns out that the links read and update the information from the Component-Lines table as well!

So, with this easy change, you’ll be able utilize the intelligence of the process lines in your link flags.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Extending P&ID Symbols

CADWorx, P&ID No Responses »

Sep 182009

This week on the forums djf posted a question about instrument buttons. Eventually we came around to a feature I hadn’t thought about for long time…ok, I forgot it was there…sort of. The good thing is djf was patient enough to wait for my memory to catch up with our conversation so we could get the issue resolved.

The trick is that P&ID uses two types of commands to allow drawing new symbols, and customizing the user.lsp allows us to take full advantage of CADWorx P&ID.

This pdf explains it all in detail, as it’s a little lengthy to repeat here.

The video is available for viewing here and shows how to insert P&ID objects from tool palettes.

David Wolfe

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