PDMS Professional

Version 11.3

User Bulletin

pdms1131/man25/doc1
Issue 160201

PLEASE NOTE:
Cadcentre has a policy of continuing product development: therefore, the information contained in
this document may be subject to change without notice.
CADCENTRE MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS DOCUMENT,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
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While every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this document, Cadcentre shall not be
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please refer to your licence conditions.

Copyright 2001 Cadcentre Limited

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
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The software programs described in this document are confidential information and proprietary
products of Cadcentre Ltd or its licensors.

For details of Cadcentre's worldwide sales and support offices, see our website at
http://www.cadcentre.com/location

Cadcentre Ltd, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HB, UK

Contents
1
1.1
1.2
1.3

Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
Summary of Major Changes....................................................................... 1
Other Enhancements.................................................................................. 2
Functionality to be Withdrawn .................................................................. 2

DESIGN Enhancements ................................................................................... 3

2.1

2.14

New Walls & Floors Application ................................................................ 3

2.1.1 Database Hierarchy ................................................................................ 4
2.1.2 Connectivity Checking ............................................................................ 5
Changes to the Beams & Columns Application......................................... 5
Changes to the Panels & Plates Application ............................................. 6
The DESIGN Equipment Application........................................................ 6
New DESIGN Elements and Attributes .................................................... 7
2.5.1 Design Template Enhancements............................................................ 7
2.5.2 Weight and Centre of Gravity Enhancements....................................... 7
Solid of Revolution Element ....................................................................... 9
New Colour Setting Options....................................................................... 9
2.7.1 Translucency Options.............................................................................. 9
2.7.2 Dynamic Updating of Autocolours........................................................ 10
New EVOLUME Pseudo-Attribute .......................................................... 11
User-Defined HVAC Components Now Selectable.................................. 11
Ring Section/Wall Modification Improved ............................................... 12
Setting Properties in DESIGN ................................................................. 12
The CEARROW Command....................................................................... 13
Construction Aid Enhancements ............................................................. 13
2.13.1 Creating and Offsetting Groups of Aid Constructs .......................... 13
2.13.2 Creating and Rotating Groups of Aid Constructs............................. 14
2.13.3 Creating and Mirroring Groups of Aid Constructs........................... 14
Improved Spatial Map .............................................................................. 15

DRAFT Enhancements................................................................................... 16

2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
2.13

3.1

Automatic Steelwork Detailing ................................................................ 16

3.1.1 Application Overview ............................................................................ 16
3.1.2 Functionality Description ..................................................................... 17
3.1.3 Optional Picture Files ........................................................................... 18
3.2
Auto-Hatching of Design Elements.......................................................... 18
3.3
Interactive Editing of Annotation and 2D Geometry.............................. 19
3.4
Other Changes .......................................................................................... 19
3.4.1 ID List Enhancements .......................................................................... 19
3.4.2 Representation Rule Enhancements .................................................... 20
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3.4.3 Labelling Enhancements ......................................................................20

3.4.4 2D Drafting Enhancements ..................................................................21
3.4.5 Changes to Symbol Functionality.........................................................21
3.4.6 Intelligent Text Enhancements ............................................................21
3.4.7 New Projection Line Text Defaults.......................................................22
3.4.8 User-Defined Glyphs .............................................................................22
3.4.9 Querying View Contents .......................................................................22
3.4.10 120-Character Database Names........................................................23
3.5
New Attributes..........................................................................................23
3.5.1 New Database Attributes......................................................................23
3.5.2 New Derived (Pseudo) Attributes .........................................................24
4

ADMIN Enhancements ...................................................................................25

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5

Extended Multiwrite Functionality: Extracts .........................................25

Data Access Control ..................................................................................26
Connectivity ..............................................................................................27
DICE ..........................................................................................................27
Other Enhancements ................................................................................27
4.5.1 Database Sets ........................................................................................27
4.5.2 Querying Attributes ..............................................................................27
4.5.3 Configuring the Display ........................................................................27
4.5.4 Foreign Databases.................................................................................28
4.6
Changed Functionality .............................................................................28
5

ISODRAFT Enhancements.............................................................................29

5.1

5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8

Universal SKEYs for ISODRAFT.............................................................29

5.1.1 End connections.....................................................................................29
5.1.2 TAPPING Syntax ..................................................................................30
5.1.3 Connection Labelling.............................................................................31
User-Defined SKEYs Independent of Generic Type................................31
Adding a Spindle to a User-Defined SKEY..............................................31
Correction of Reversed Symbols ...............................................................32
Changes to the DIMDISTANCE Command.............................................32
Setting BDIA and BTYP as Catalogue Parameters ................................33
Additional Weld Numbers on Isometrics .................................................33
Splitting Spools at Specified Hierarchic Levels.......................................33

PARAGON Enhancements.............................................................................34

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
7
7.1
7.2

ii

User-Defined HVAC Fittings....................................................................34

New PTPOS P-Point .................................................................................34
New Simple Line (SLINE) Element .........................................................35
Solid of Revolution Element .....................................................................35
General Enhancements .................................................................................36
Database Output Options.........................................................................36
Setting Formats for Units.........................................................................37

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7.2.1
7.2.2
7.2.3
7.2.4
8

Enhancement of Unit Format Options................................................. 37

Administration of Unit Formats........................................................... 37
Examples to Use as a Template for User-Defined Formats ................ 38
How to Define a User Format............................................................... 39

PML and Forms and Menus Changes .......................................................... 41

8.1
8.2

PML Syntax for Setting Attributes.......................................................... 41

New and Extended PML Objects ............................................................. 42
8.2.1 The ALERT Object ................................................................................ 43
8.3
Other Enhancements................................................................................ 44
8.4
Removal of Form COPY Syntax ............................................................... 45

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1 Introduction
This bulletin describes the new and enhanced functionality available
in PDMS 11.3. Some of the additional functionality was implemented
in the 11.2 Bonus Pack, which was released as an optional supplement
to Version 11.2: the bulletin notes where this is the case.
The bulletin gives an overview of the major changes which are
described in full elsewhere: smaller changes and enhancements are
described in full in the bulletin.

1.1 Summary of Major Changes

The selective installation and deinstallation of the constituent parts
of PDMS have been greatly simplified by the use of 'wizards' to
guide you through the necessary steps.

A new DESIGN application for Industrial Building Design. This is

accessed by selecting Design>Structures>Walls & Floors from the

DESIGN General Main Menu Bar. A tutorial is provided in
Industrial Building Design Using PDMS, and more details are
given in the on-line help.

An improved DESIGN Equipment application. The Standard

Parameterised Equipments are now based on Templates. The

beginning of the tutorial in Pipework Design Using PDMS provides
a short introduction to creating Equipment. How to set up
templates for Equipment is described in Introduction to PDMS
Design Templates. More details are given in the on-line help for the
Equipment and Design Templates applications.

New Steelwork Detailing Automatic Drawing Production (SDA)

facilities in DRAFT.

Graphical modification of dimensions, labels and 2D geometry in

DRAFT.

Much improved multiwrite facilities which affect DESIGN, DRAFT,

ISODRAFT and PARAGON databases. For information about how
to set these up, see the chapter on ADMIN enhancements.

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Introduction

New Data Access Control facilities, available in ADMIN, which

allow the System Administrator to control which parts of the

constructor databases can be accessed by individual users, and what
types of operation can be carried out.

1.2 Other Enhancements

A Universal SKEY (symbol key) is provided in ISODRAFT which is
suitable for any piping component of generic type PCOM. For
Fittings with this symbol key, users will provide details of the
geometry and dimensions on a supplementary drawing or plot.

New forms are provided in DESIGN to set and edit parameterised

properties of design items.

New pseudo-attributes for deriving weight and centre-of-gravity

data for piping networks, either empty or filled with a specified
fluid.

Model faces created by section planes, and surfaces of specified

Design primitives can now be hatched automatically in DRAFT by

defining and applying Hatching Rules.

1.3 Functionality to be Withdrawn

The DESIGN Spooling application will be withdrawn at the next
release. The SPOOLER module provides much improved functionality
for producing spool drawings.

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2 DESIGN Enhancements

2.1 New Walls & Floors Application

This functionality was released with the 11.2 Bonus Pack.
The Walls & Floors application is a new structural application which
provides the ability to define Walls, Floors and Screed elements for
industrial building design. (A screed is a finishing layer applied to a
floor surface.) This new application is, where possible, based on the
existing functionality within the structural applications for consistency
and simplicity. New advanced features such as construction aids,
event-driven graphics and curved members have been implemented for
the generation of complex geometries such as floor and screed
boundaries, and straight and curved walls.
The three main database elements within the Walls & Floors
application are:
WALLS
You can create straight and curved walls, either based on catalogue
profiles or user-defined in DESIGN.
Walls defined with reference to the catalogue are created as
extrusions whose direction vector is from POSS to POSE.
Multi-faceted walls can be created in DESIGN by extruding a 2D
contour, which defines the shape of the wall, normal to the plane of
the contour to a user-defined height.
FLOORS
Floors have user-defined boundaries. The thickness can be limited
to values defined and controlled via a specification where
appropriate. Where this is not relevant the thickness can be userdefined. By default, the justification is set to Top, because the
application assumes that the top of slab is a reference elevation.
SCREEDS
Screeds also have user-defined boundaries, and the thickness can
be limited to values defined within the catalogue where
appropriate. Where this is not relevant the thickness can be

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DESIGN Enhancements

defined by the user. By default the justification is set to Bottom,

because the application assumes that the bottom of Screed is
coincident with the top of a Floor.
The Walls & Floors application utilises the construction aids
introduced at PDMS 11.2. These allow the creation of construction
grids, lines, arcs, points and planes. Positions can then be specified by
snapping to key points in the geometry, for example, end points,
midpoint, 2D and 3D intersections.
The new application brings the following functional improvements:

The ability to create and modify the contour of Walls, Floors and

Screeds using the complex boundaries defined using construction

aids.

The ability to create new floor or screed elements with a boundary

offset from an existing floor boundary.

Automatic creation of straight and curved walls (restricted to arcs

of circles) enclosing a complex floor boundary by simply selecting
the type of wall required and a floor slab defining the boundary.

The ability to model and manage aligned and angled penetrations

through Walls, Floors or Screeds.

The ability to apply material densities to all Wall, Floor and Screed
elements to determine mass property and centroid data.

A sample catalogue of detailed Doors, Windows and architectural

fixtures.

The Dynamic Specification Selection form allows greater scope and

flexibility for the selection of Joints, Fittings and Templates.

2.1.1 Database Hierarchy

The organisation of the Industrial Buildings model and its hierarchy is
controlled by the STRU element which corresponds to a building level.
Consider a four storey building having four STRU elements (one per
floor), each with an elevation that defines the height above datum for
that floor. When a STRU has been defined a Working Plane (WP) is
activated which maps all graphical picks to that elevation.
Wall, Floor and Screed elements are owned either by FRMWs or by
Compound Wall (CWALL), Compound Floor (CFLOOR) or Compound
Screed (CSCREE) elements, all of which can be defined as storage
areas, as in existing applications. The association of the element being
created to its logical storage area, for example, WALL to CWALL and
FLOOR to CFLOOR is automatically determined by the application.
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DESIGN Enhancements

2.1.2 Connectivity Checking

In the Beams & Columns and Walls & Floors applications, the tagging
of connected/unconnected SCTN and WALL ends has been replaced
with a colour highlight option. There are three options users can
define:

Both ends connected

Neither end connected
One end unconnected.
There are different default colours (Green, Red and Blue respectively)
defined for each of these categories so that you can see the connection
conditions in the graphical view. You can change the default colours
using a colour palette. In addition to highlighting, the total number of
Sctns/Walls conforming to the above three conditions is quantified on
the form.

2.2 Changes to the Beams & Columns Application

This functionality was released with the 11.2 Bonus Pack.
Curved sections are now supplemented by Ring sections, which are
circular defined sections consisting of an arc or full circle.
The facility for creating and modifying Curved Sections (GENSECs)
has been extended. GENSECs consist of SPINE elements whose
members are POINSP and CURVE elements. These are represented as
a continuous sequence of straights and arcs as shown in the sketch
below:
End POINSP
CURVE

PROFILE

CURVE
Start POINSP

= SPINE
= POINSP

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.3 Changes to the Panels & Plates Application

This functionality was released with the 11.2 Bonus Pack.
The new Extrusion/Panel editor provides the user with advanced
creation and editing functions for the modification of Vertices, Edges,
and Groups. The Extrusion/Panel editor uses event-driven picking
options to significantly improve the speed of use.
The additional functionality allows you to:

Define or collect a Group of vertices using a 3D window with the

option of copying, deleting, rotating, mirroring, expanding or
contracting their boundary

Expand or contract whole Extrusions/Panels by a user-defined

distance

Rotate edges about their start or end points by any user-defined

angle

Align edges parallel to other database elements

Create arcs and modify their radius and/or positions
Determine where coincident vertices have been created and to
delete any superfluous ones

2.4 The DESIGN Equipment Application

This functionality was released with the 11.2 Bonus Pack.
The Equipment application has been enhanced to provide
parameterised catalogue-based equipment. Users can now create
equipment items by choosing from a specification browser, and adding
specific parameterised information.
You can create equipment items for the catalogue using the DESIGN
Templates application. Equipment templates are defined as TMPL
elements and parameterised using datasets. Sample templates are
included with the application.
A further enhancement is that equipment can be positioned
graphically.
There are new buttons on the main equipment application menu bar
which provide quick access to functionality for creating equipment,
modifying properties, positioning and orientation.

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DESIGN Enhancements

The concept of significant navigation level has been introduced: an

option gadget on the main menu bar allows users to select whether
they want to navigate to an Equipment, a Subequipment or to the
element (typically a Primitive) picked.

2.5 New DESIGN Elements and Attributes

2.5.1 Design Template Enhancements
VVALUE (Valid values)
The DDAT elements in a Dataset (DDSE) can now own VVALUE
elements. The VALIDV attribute of each VVALUE is set to a valid
value.
ATTRRL (Attribute rule)
Datasets which have valid values can also store rules which can be
applied to Subequipment templates to store, for example, rules
defining position and orientation. The new element type is ATTRRL,
which has an ATTRULE attribute.

2.5.2 Weight and Centre of Gravity Enhancements

PDMS provides attributes for Weight and Centre of Gravity (CofG)
data using GML, but this is only valid for simple geometry such as
structural items. The following new pseudo-attributes, which derive
weight data from the Properties database, have been added to cope
with more complex situations such as piping networks which may be
either empty or filled with a specified fluid:
BRWEIG

Weight of empty branch ('dry' weight)

BRIWEI

Weight of empty branch with insulation

BRWWEI

Weight of fluid-filled branch ('wet' weight)

BRWIWE

Weight of fluid-filled branch with insulation

BRCOG

Centre of gravity of empty branch

BRICOG

Centre of gravity of empty branch with insulation

BRWCOG

Centre of gravity of fluid-filled branch

BRWICO

Centre of gravity of fluid-filled branch with insulation

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DESIGN Enhancements

The pseudo-attributes use the following data and rules to derive their
settings:

The Specification Component (SPCO) of each piping component

(except for ATTAs) must have a Component Reference (CMPR)

which points to a Component Data (CMPD) or Tube Data (TUBD)
element in the Properties database. TUBD should be used for items
for which the weight per unit length is known, such as bends.

The SPCO of all implied tube must have a CMPR pointing to a

TUBD.

CMPD elements must have their CWEI attribute set, plus their

CIWE attribute if insulation is required. If 'wet' weights are

required, the ACBO dimension will be used to derive the fluid
volume if it has been set, otherwise the component's leave bore will
be used.

TUBD elements must have UWEI set, plus UIWE if insulation is

required. If 'wet' weights are required, the ACBO will be used if it

has been set, otherwise the tube's bore will be used.

If 'wet' data is to be derived, the FLUR attribute of the PIPE and

BRAN elements must point to a FLUI element in the Properties
database. This FLUI element must own a Table of Densities
(TDEN), which owns a Spot Density (SDEN) with its DENS
attribute set to the fluid density.

If the CIWE and/or UIWE values are unset, insulated weights will
be calculated from a component's approximate volume and its
material density. The insulation will be assumed to be a hollow
cylinder, with its density derived from the Material Reference
(MATR) of the insulation SPEC.

The CofG of a Branch member is assumed to be at its origin.

The density of a fluid is assumed to be constant.
The internal volume of each component is approximated by simple
geometric shapes.

The weights of bolts are ignored, and should be included in the

specific component weights.

The pseudo-attributes apply only to Pipes, Branches and Piping

Components. They also work for SPLDRG, SPOOL and FIELD
elements.

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.6 Solid of Revolution Element

The geometry of a Solid of Revolution (REVO) is defined by
sweeping a user-defined loop through a specified angle around a given
axis. Its attributes are detailed in the DESIGN Reference Manual.
Y

=Loop vertex

Origin
Angle
Z
X

Some new forms (accessed via Create>Primitives) have been

introduced to the DESIGN applications for creating and modifying
such elements. Their use is explained in the on-line help.
The Negative Solid of Revolution (NREV) behaves in a similar
way.

2.7 New Colour Setting Options

2.7.1 Translucency Options
When insulation and/or obstruction are shown in a shaded view, they
tend to hide details of the rest of the model. Translucent obstruction
and insulation levels can now be specified by using additions to the
REPRESENTATION command.
The new command options are:
REPRE INSUlation ON TRANSLucency <value>
REPRE OBSTruction ON TRANSLucency <value>
where <value> is in the range 0 to 100. The specified value is
interpreted as the nearest of 0, 25, 50, 75 or 87, where 0% is solid.

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DESIGN Enhancements

The commands to query the current setting are:

Q REPRE INSUlation TRANSLucency
Q REPRE OBSTruction TRANSLucency
The AUTOCOLOUR command has also been extended to include
translucency settings.
The new command options are:
AUTOCOLour <selection> COLour <expression> [TRANSLucency
<expression>][EDGES <ON/OFF>]
For example:
AUTOCOL ALL EQUIP WITH ( PURP EQ PUMP ) COL ( :COL )
TRANSL ( :TRANS ) EDGES ON

The commands to query the settings are:

Q AUTOCOLour FOR <gid> COLour
TRANSLucency
EDGES

2.7.2 Dynamic Updating of Autocolours

The AUTOCOLOUR functionality has been extended to permit dynamic
updating.
In earlier versions, once an item was added to the Drawlist its colour
remained constant. With dynamic autocolour on, the autocolour of an
item is checked every time any of its attributes is modified and, if
necessary, the element is re-added to the Drawlist in its new colour.
The new command options are:
AUTOCOLour DYNAMIC <ON/OFF>
Q AUTOCOLour DYNAMIC
For example, an autocolour rule for Advanced Router might be:
AUTOCOLOUR ALL BRAN COLOUR ( BSTA + 6 )

Note:

The DYNAMIC switch is independent of the overall

AUTOCOLOUR switch: you must set AUTOCOLOUR ON as
well as AUTOCOLOUR DYNAMIC ON to see the effect.
Applying this option to large parts of the design model can
have a detrimental effect on performance, so use it with care.

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.8

New EVOLUME Pseudo-Attribute

The EVOLUME (Enclosing Volume) pseudo-attribute gives the
limits of a box that encloses the CE (normally a primitive). The box
edges are made to lie parallel to the orientation axes of the CE or a
given element.
The relevant command syntax is:
Q EVOLume WRT <element>
For example:
Q EVOL
Q EVOL WRT /STEEL
Q EVOL WRT WORLD

The box limits are returned as a real array of dimension 6, namely

E1 N1 U1 E2 N2 U2
By default, the positions are relative to the Owner of the CE (unless
the WRT qualifier is used).
If the CE is a design template (TMPL), the box which encloses all of
the sub-hierarchy is returned.
If the CE has an SPRE attribute and owns a TMPL, the box which
encloses all of the sub-hierarchy of the TMPL is returned.
If the CE is not a primitive and does not satisfy either of the special
TMPL cases, then an error is returned.

2.9 User-Defined HVAC Components Now Selectable

The HVAC Designer application now allows users to define their own
HVAC components as additions to the standard catalogue components
supplied by Cadcentre. The HVAC Creation form has been modified to
include a User Defined Fittings category, selection of which displays a
User Defined HVAC Fittings form which provides the full specification
selection options available in other applications.
The on-line help gives full details.

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.10 Ring Section/Wall Modification Improved

The Create Ring Section/Wall form has been enhanced by the addition
of some Modify options. In addition to providing a short-cut to the
Modify>Section/Wall>Definition menu option, the facility provides
quick ways to Flip Start/End or Flip Sense (clockwise/anticlockwise).
The on-line help gives full details of the new features.

2.11 Setting Properties in DESIGN

A new Modify Properties form in the DESIGN Equipment application
allows you to edit the properties of a Design item derived from a
parameterised catalogue definition or design template via a
Specification Reference. The form is displayed when you select
Modify>Properties, or the
button.
The size and layout of the form depend principally on the number of
properties defined for the current element type within the catalogue or
design template. The detailed layout of the form can be controlled
using the Properties Settings form, displayed when you select
Settings>Properties.
The form layout can be in one of two styles, both of which can display a
dimensioned diagram; click the version which is displayed to access the
appropriate help topic:

Individual entry mode (one entry gadget per property)

List mode (a scrollable list of all properties)
The Dynamic Update toggle on the Properties Settings form controls
when an element is updated as its properties are modified. If Dynamic
Update is On, the element will be updated every time a property
setting changes; this is convenient for simple design items, but can
give slow performance if a large number of rules have to be executed
for each update. If Dynamic Update is Off, the element is updated only
when the Apply button on the Modify Properties form is used.
Measurements can be entered in event-driven graphics mode: you can
graphically pick the two positions between which the measurement is
required.
For full information, see the on-line help.

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.12 The CEARROW Command

In early versions of PDMS, the INTREPID module had a command,
ARROW ON, which drew an arrow to show the location of the current
element in the view. As part of the enhancements for Router and
Piping, this facility has been reintroduced in DESIGN.
The new commands are:
AID CEARROW <ON/OFF>
AID CEARROW HEIght <expression> PROPortion <expression> ARRIVE
LEAVE
ORIGIN
PROP 1 shows the arrow as a cone; PROP 0 shows the arrow as a line.
The ARRIVE and LEAVE options apply only to Branches, Hangers and
their members, and to Sections (SCTN). They have no effect for other
elements. The default settings are:
AID CEARROW

OFF
HEIGHT 100mm
PROPORTION 0.2
ORIGIN

The arrow is drawn with the appropriate design aid colour and
translucency.
If the current element has a position and orientation, an arrow will be
drawn even if the current element is not in the Drawlist. If the current
element has no position or orientation (real or pseudo), such as a text
item, an arrow will not be drawn.

2.13 Construction Aid Enhancements

Three new facilities have been added to the construction aid facilities,
common to all Design applications. They allow existing construction
aids, either singly or in groups, to be moved or copied (and the copies
moved) in various ways.

2.13.1 Creating and Offsetting Groups of Aid Constructs

A new Aid Copy/Move Offset form to create copies of groups of aid
constructs is available from Create>Copy>Offset on the 3D Aid
Constructs form (from Design>Utilities>Constructs).
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DESIGN Enhancements

The form allows: Picking groups of aids to copy; Input of numbers of

copies; Measuring for offset values; Offsets input as distance and
direction or as XYZ coordinates; Derived offset direction; Graphical
indication of offset displayed prior to Apply; Confirmation of copies
when applied.
The same form is used for Modify>Move>Offset, which moves the
identified aid group by a given offset.
For full information, see the on-line help.

2.13.2 Creating and Rotating Groups of Aid Constructs

A new Aid Copy/Move Rotate form to create copies of groups of aid
constructs is available from Create>Copy>Rotate on the 3D Aid
Constructs form (from Design>Utilities>Constructs).
The form allows: Picking groups of aids to copy; Input of numbers of
copies; Input of angle of rotation; Input of axis of rotation, either
explicitly or derived by using event-driven graphics; Graphical
indication of copy displayed prior to Apply; Confirmation of copies
when applied.
The same form is used for Modify>Move>Rotate, which rotates the
identified aid group through a given angle.
For full information, see the on-line help.

2.13.3 Creating and Mirroring Groups of Aid Constructs

A new Aid Copy/Move Mirror form to create copies of groups of aid
constructs is available from Create>Copy>Mirror on the 3D Aid
Constructs form (from Design>Utilities>Constructs).
The form allows: Picking groups of aids to copy; Input of position and
orientation of mirror plane, either explicitly or derived by using eventdriven graphics; Graphical indication of copy displayed prior to Apply;
Confirmation of copies when applied.
The same form is used for Modify>Move>Mirror, which mirrors the
identified aid group in a given plane.
For full information, see the on-line help.

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DESIGN Enhancements

2.14 Improved Spatial Map

The spatial map, used for clash checking in DESIGN and DRAFT, has
been enhanced. The spatial map is now automatically updated to
reflect catalogue changes that affect obstruction volumes, and any
changes that do not affect obstruction volumes are ignored. This means
that the spatial map is updated much more quickly than before.
If the spatial map does need to be updated manually, there is a new
command, MAP UPDATE, which should be used instead of the old MAP
BUILD command. MAP UPDATE identifies the elements whose
geometry has changed in a way that affects the spatial map, and only
updates the spatial map with those elements.
Note:

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To avoid spurious clash reports, elements under Template

Worlds are excluded from the spatial map, even though they
form part of the Design database hierarchy.

15

3 DRAFT Enhancements
This chapter describes the enhancements to PDMS DRAFT.

3.1 Automatic Steelwork Detailing

3.1.1 Application Overview
The new Steelwork Detailing Application (SDA) is an automated
system designed to assist Draft users in the rapid generation of
steelwork fabrication drawings. The system is designed to detail the
most commonly used structural elements such as Sections, Panels,
Joints and Fittings for the construction of the 3D model.
The application was developed primarily to assist Cadcentres offshore
clients in the automated production of their steelwork fabrication
details, where the 3D model is detailed to a very high degree of
accuracy, particularly where welded joints and irregularly contoured
panels are used in the construction. It is under this set of criteria that
the greatest efficiency and performance savings will be realised.
The detailing application does not require additional Catalogue or
Design-based information in order to define its dimensions. The
sequence, ordering, and placement of dimensions is determined by the
application based on its recognition of edges, surfaces, and logical
reference positions for the geometry being detailed; this does not
impose limitations or restrictions on the type or nature of geometry
that the application will attempt to detail. Where the location of
dimensions or annotation does require manual re-positioning, DRAFTs
new Interactive Annotation Modification functionality simplifies the
task considerably (see Section 3.3).
There can be ambiguities in very specific and limited instances that
may cause dimensions to be omitted from the drawing. Where a
dimension is found to be missing, it can be added manually using
standard Draft functionality. Fabrication details produced with this
application are rarely under-dimensioned, but where a dimension is
omitted this could be conditional on the methods used in the definition
of the catalogue component.
Fabrication details produced using this application are not guaranteed
to a 100% level of completion. It is assumed that standard drawing
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office practice is observed and that all drawings are manually checked
for engineering and/or technical content prior to issue. The level of
detail contained in the individual fabrication drawings will generally
not be less than 70%, this being a minimum quantitative measurement
of engineering content. A level of detail equal to 100% is used as the
applications benchmark for the successful fabrication of the
component.

3.1.2 Functionality Description

To use the Steelwork Detailing Application, enter the Auto Drawing
Production Application and select Create>Steelwork Detailing. The
Steelwork Detailing form will be displayed. This allows the Design
elements that are to be detailed to be selected. Once selection is
complete, the drawing generation process is started using the Generate
Sheets button. The SDA will automatically generate the DRAFT
database hierachy if required. The Sheets generated will be listed in
the lower half of the form. Individual Sheets can be regenerated by
selecting and right-button clicking.
The drawing generation process is controlled by a set of options stored
in a Steelwork Detailing Application Option element (SDAOPT). This
is a new database element owned by a LIBY element. The required
SDAOPT is chosen using the Options gadget at the top of the Steelwork
Detailing form.
Users can edit the selected SDAOPT or create a new one by pressing
the Edit button on the Steelwork Detailing form. The displayed
Steelwork Detailing Options form will show the option settings.
The SDAOPT element defines:

a set of suitable backing sheets;

a Symbol Library containing suitable annotation symbols;
a Representation Ruleset;
an annotation customisation macro.
There are also options to define:

the mapping between Design & Draft elements;

the permissible scales (for main & detail views);
the threshold at which detail views are produced;
whether picture files are required (see the next section).
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3.1.3 Optional Picture Files

Picture files have always been written for Sheet and Overlay elements
to save unnecessary updating operations that, for many complicated
Views, can be time-consuming. The Steelwork Detailing Application
can potentially generate very large numbers of Sheets but their Views
will generally be simple and therefore quick to regenerate. Users may
consider that the advantages of not having very large numbers of
picture files for SDA sheets outweigh the disadvantage of having to
wait for the design graphics to be generated whenever a user wishes to
load an SDA Sheet. Users have therefore been given the option of not
writing picture files for SDA Sheets. For such Sheets DRAFT will
perform an automatic regeneration of their design graphics whenever
they are loaded. However, the following fundamental point that must
be understood. Whenever a Sheet is loaded by automatic regeneration,
it will reflect the current state of the Design databases. Sheets loaded
from picture files will reflect the state of the Design databases the last
time an Update Design (with Savework) was performed on them.

3.2 Auto-Hatching of Design Elements

Model faces created by section planes and surfaces of specified Design
primitives can now be hatched automatically by defining and applying
Hatching Rules. The faces to be hatched and the pens to be used are
defined by Hatching Rules (HRUL elements), which reference
Hatching Styles (HSTYL elements), and which are stored in Hatching
Rulesets (HRST elements). The hatching is carried out automatically
as part of the Update Design process.
The hierarchy of database elements for hatching is similar to the
Representation Rules hierarchy. Thus Views can now have references
to Hatching Rulesets. Local Hatching Rules can be defined by creating
View-owned HRULs that directly reference Hatching Styles (HSTYL).
This database structure ensures that the results are repeatable and
that company standards are imposed.
Optionally, when a length of implied tubing or a ducting-straight is
cut, the resultant circular or rectangular face can be either hatched or
marked with a traditional drafting symbol.
Hatched areas can be auto-blanked to allow annotation placed on top of
them to be legible.

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3.3 Interactive Editing of Annotation and 2D Geometry

Annotation Modification Mode (AMM) has been introduced to improve
ease-of-use. This provides the ability to use the cursor to pick and
manipulate view frames, labels, dimensions, and 2D drafting
primitives. Pickable hotspots are provided on the bend-points of
leader-lines and at significant points of 2D primitives to allow their
shapes to be modified. The positions of individual pieces of dimensionline text and projection-line text can be changed by picking and
dragging.
In AMM additional features are accessible from the right-hand mouse
button. These allow label and dimension text to be rotated, leader-line
bend-points to be deleted, and the hit-type filter to be defined (i.e. 2D
position, end-point of line, mid-point of line, etc.).
AMM supersedes several menu options for geometry editing in the
Labelling, Dimensioning, and 2D Drafting applications. These have
been removed.

3.4 Other Changes

3.4.1 ID List Enhancements
The IDList functionality has been enhanced to allow ADDs and
REMOVEs to be defined by selection criteria which are stored in the
database and evaluated whenever that IDList is processed at the time
of an Update Design command. This has been achieved by the addition of
a CRITeria attribute to ADDE and REME elements. This attribute is
mutually exclusive with the existing IDNM attribute. Setting one will
automatically unset the other.
The general form of the new syntax is:
ADD RULE selection_criteria
REMove RULE selection_criteria
For example:
ADD RULE ALL ZONE WITH ( FUNC EQ 'Piping' )
REM RULE ALL BRAN WITH ( HBORE LT 30 AND TBORE LT 30 )

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3.4.2 Representation Rule Enhancements

Expressions can now be used to select the IDLists associated with a
given style. For example:
USE /Style1 FOR ALL IDLIST WITH ( FUNC EQ Future Devs )

Only those IDLists that make up the IDList referenced by the View
will be considered; not all the IDLists in the MDB.
Note: Previously, this syntax was valid but no selection was made a
particular IDList could only be specified by name, for example:
USE /futures-style FOR /future-list

Rules can now be used to omit items. For example:

OMIT ALL BRAN WITH ( HBORE LT 30 AND TBORE LT 30 )
OMIT /EQUIP-99

will cause the selected items to be omitted from the view.

3.4.3 Labelling Enhancements

Labels (GLABs and SLABs) may now be applied to Views: previously
they could only be applied to design elements. This allows View names,
scales, etc. to be applied easily. The DDNM attribute of GLABs and
SLABs may now be set to the View, either directly (for example, DDNM
/View99) or using the ON syntax (for example, ON /View99).
Labels now have a POS attribute (default unset). If this is set, the 3D
World position specified will be used as the leader-line attachment
point (rather than the DDNM and NPPT or DDNM, PKEY, and PKDI
attributes). A DDNM attribute still has to be specified for the label to
be properly defined. This allows labels to be positioned at a calculated
position (for example, in the centre of a Panel or half-way along a
GENSEC) without having to determine the most suitable p-point or
pline to reference.
For SLABs defined by a SYTM having a TEXP as its first member, the
leader-line will terminate at the appropriate corner of the text-box (as
occurs with GLABs) unless the SLABs CPOF attribute defines a
specific leader-line connection point.

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3.4.4 2D Drafting Enhancements

In order to assist the drawing of orthogonal STRAight elements, two
new commands have been added.
ODEFine <dfnpt> <dfnpt>
defines a straight line that will be vertical or horizontal, depending
upon the relative sizes of the horizontal and vertical offsets of the
second point from the first.
OTPT <dfnpt>
allows an orthogonal To-point to be defined.
In order to simplify the editing of STRAight elements, the following
command has been added:
ALENgth <val>
This changes the length of the STRAight by moving its From Point
(i.e. FPT). (Note: The existing LENGth command moves the To Point).

3.4.5 Changes to Symbol Functionality

Intelligent Text hash codewords within SYTMs referenced by SYMBols
will now generally be expanded. The exception is the case when a
SYTM is referenced by a SYMB owned by another SYTM. As a result,
SYMBs now behave like SLABs.

3.4.6 Intelligent Text Enhancements

DRAFTs Intelligent Text System (ITS) has been enhanced as follows.

It now allows the length of an array attribute to be extracted and

applied to a sheet. The format is:

#codeword[SIZE]
SIZE may be abbreviated to S and may be lower-case. This suffix
may be used with any hash code-word for which array indices are
valid.

Codewords #ADATEX, #BDATEX and #CDATEX have been added.

These return dates identical to those of #ADATE, #BDATE and
#CDATE, except that the years use two digits (i.e. 00) rather than
four (2000).

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Codeword #DFDATE has been added. This generates a date with

the format specified by the new DATEFOrmat attribute of the

DEPT above the current element. This attribute may be set to
MMDDYYYY, MMDDYY, DDMMYYYY, DDMMYY, DDMONYYYY
or DDMONYY, which will cause #DFDATE to give results identical
to #ADATE, #ADATEX, #BDATE, #BDATEX, #CDATE and
#CDATEX, respectively;

Data can now be extracted easily from Revision elements (REVI)

using the new pseudo-reference-array attributes SREVAY and
DREVAY, valid at any element at or below a Sheet or Drawing,
respectively. For example:

#RVDT<FR SREVAY[2]>

will generate the revision date from the second Sheet Revision.
#APPR<FR DREVAY[3]>

will generate the approver from the third Drawing Revision.

3.4.7 New Projection Line Text Defaults

A new defaults file DRA-GEN-PLTEXT has been provided in the
%PDMSDFLTS% area. The DRAFT Administrator can edit this file to
provide a different set of options available via the GUI. Details of the
file format are given in the file header.

3.4.8 User-Defined Glyphs

Functionality to allow user-defined glyphs to be defined has been
provided. (Glyphs are used in conjunction with Line Pictures to
generate lines that have a series of symbols spaced regularly along
their length or, alternatively, at one or both ends. 20 pre-defined
glyphs are already provided.)

3.4.9 Querying View Contents

The Q VSCAN command has been added to determine which Design
elements are visible in a specified DRAFT View. This command has
three formats to allow users to:

Request a list of all significant elements that are visible in a View.

Q VSCAN SIGNIFicant IN view_id

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For example:
Q VSCAN SIGNIF IN /VIEW-01

Specify a significant design element and request a list of all its

primitives that are visible in a View.

Q VSCAN design_id IN view_id

For example:
Q VSCAN /PIPE100-B-1-B1

Specify selection criteria to determine matching design elements

visible in a View.

Q VSCAN FOR selection_criteria IN view_id

For example:
Q VSCAN FOR ALL ( VALVE VTWAY VFWAY ) WITH ( ABOR GE 50 )

DRAFT determines whether design items are visible by scanning the

data in the picture, not by scanning the IDList. Thus elements hidden
by the hidden-line-removal process will not be found.

3.4.10 120-Character Database Names

DRAFT database names may now be up to 120 characters long. This
change has been made primarily to cope with long names generated
automatically by the Automatic Drawing Production Application.

3.5 New Attributes

3.5.1 New Database Attributes
The FUNCtion attribute has been added to all high level elements.
SPPURP, LINKREF, and DARREF attributes have been added to
several elements and may be noticed in the results of a Q ATT
command. They are intended for use in future developments within
DRAFT and will be documented when appropriate.
The DATEFOrmat attribute has been added to DEPT. This attribute
may be set to one of six date formats: MMDDYYYY, MMDDYY,
DDMMYYYY, DDMMYY, DDMONYYYY, or DDMONYY. This is for
use in conjunction with the ITS to allow the correct date format to be
used on drawings.

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3.5.2 New Derived (Pseudo) Attributes

SREVAY, DREVAY pseudo-reference-array attributes are valid at any
element at or below a Sheet or Drawing, respectively. They provide the
reference numbers of the Revision elements (REVI) owned by the Sheet
or Drawing. The maximum array size is 50. They have been provided
for use as qualifiers to hash codewords in the ITS to allow Revision
data to be extracted easily.
There are two new derived attributes for panels provided for use in the
new Steelwork Detailing Application:

24

PSIZE

an array of two distances defining the maximum XY

dimensions of the panel when drawn.

PALIGN

the rotation angle from the panel coordinate system to the

aligned orientation when drawn.

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4 ADMIN Enhancements
This chapter summarises the new features in PDMS ADMIN.

4.1 Extended Multiwrite Functionality: Extracts

You can now create Extract Databases from any multiwrite database.
(DESIGN, DRAFT, ISODRAFT and PARAGON databases can be
multiwrite.) Multiwrite databases allow several users to work on the
same databases at the same time. Users claim out elements which they
need to work on, and then save their work and release their claims.
However, in a normal multiwrite database, savework writes the
changes back to the database and releases the claim.
Extract databases allow users to maintain claims between different
PDMS sessions, and work can be saved to the extract, or issued back to
the original master database. Any conflicting changes can be avoided
or managed.
When an extract is created, it is essentially an empty database, with
pointers back to the data in the master database. As a user changes or
adds to the data, the changes and additions a user makes are stored in
the extract database itself when the user saves work. This means that
there should not be a great increase in disk usage when extracts are
used.
You can create many extracts from one master database, and you can
also create extracts from extracts, so creating an Extract Family.
The Administrator can use the new Data Access Control facilities to
control which users are allow to claim or issue elements.
There are two main types of Extract database: Standard and
Working. Both main types can, in addition, be created as Variant
databases.
Standard Extracts are similar to normal databases in that they can
be owned by any team, and be given any name. They are added to
MDBs in the usual way. Claiming can be implicit or explicit, as for any
multiwrite database, which means that if an element is being worked
on by any user of the extract family, no other user will be able to work
on it. Changes are issued back to the owning database, and the

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elements claimed can then be released, or kept claimed out for further
modification.
Working Extracts are created for a specified User. Only one Working
Extract can be created from each database for each User. Once a
working extract of a database has been created for a User, the working
extract will effectively replace all occurrences of the master database
in every MDB. Each time the User needs to write to the database, data
will be written to the extract instead. The normal restrictions on other
users accessing the same elements apply
Variant Extracts are different: elements are not claimed in the first
place, so different users can work on the same parts of the database,
and so may produce different results, so allowing several different
solutions to a problem to be considered. The User who has issuing
rights will have to resolve any inconsistencies when work is issued
back to the master.
Note: Extracts are not allowed with PDMS Global Management.

4.2 Data Access Control

Up until now, the method of controlling data access in PDMS has been
by means of the Teams-owning-databases mechanism. At PDMS 11.3,
this rule still applies, but new access control features allow you to
specify in much more detail what operations a User can carry out on
which elements in the database.
To make use of Data Access Control (DAC) it must be switched on for
the Project, otherwise only the basic access control will apply.
However, once you have switched on DAC, all General Users will be
preventing from carrying out any operation on any part of the database
unless they have specifically be given the necessary access rights.
DAC uses the following new Admin database elements:

Roles define the type of operations a User can carry out, for

example, creating, modifying and deleting elements. Roles are

defined as a collection of Permissible Operations (Perops).

Scopes define the part of the database in which a User can work.
Access Control Rights (ACRs) are a combination of a Role and a
Scope. User can, and usually will, have several ACRs which will
allow them to carry out the specified operations on the specified
parts of the database.

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The operations which can be specified in Perops are Create, Modify,

Delete, Claim and Issue. Claim and Issue are used in conjunction with
the new Multiwrite facilities, described in Section 4.1.

4.3 Connectivity
It is now possible for any user to make a connection to any DESIGN
element. The user still needs Write access to the DB, but need not
claim it. This will largely remove the need for Inter-DB macros.

4.4 DICE
The PDMS Data Integrity Checker (DICE) has been improved and
extended, particularly to manage any problems that may occur related
to Extract integrity.

4.5 Other Enhancements

4.5.1 Database Sets
You can create Database Sets containing several databases. The
Database Sets can then be handled as single entities. For example,
adding a Database Set to an MDB will add all the member Databases.
A Database can only be a member of one Database set, although
Database sets can contain other sets.

4.5.2 Querying Attributes

If you click on an element in the Admin Elements Form with the Righthand mouse button, you will see a menu with the option Query Current
Element. If you select this option using the left-hand mouse button, a
Query Results form will be displayed, showing the results of the query.

4.5.3 Configuring the Display

There are three new options under Settings > Display Mode. In
addition to the Names and Descriptions options, there are:

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ADMIN Enhancements

Resize Admin Elements Form displays a form which allows you to

increase or decrease the size of the form.
Setup Admin Elements Form displays a form where you can specify
what columns are shown on the Admin Elements form.
The Manage User Config File options allow you to save and load your
settings of the other options.

4.5.4 Foreign Databases

The CHANGE FOREIGN ... RESET command should be used to update a
project which includes foreign databases if the access mode of a
database used as a foreign database is changed. For example, If
PIPE/PIPECATA is a local database in project AAA, and a foreign
database in project BBB, and the access is changed (in AAA), you
should give this command in project BBB to update the project.:
CHANGE FOREIGN PIPE/PIPECATA RESET

4.6 Changed Functionality

The pseudo-attribute NUMBDB has been withdrawn. Its functionality
has been replaced by the attribute DBNO.
The command Q DBNO n returns information about the (master)
database with the specified database number.

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5 ISODRAFT Enhancements

5.1 Universal SKEYs for ISODRAFT

This functionality was released with the 11.2 Bonus Pack.
This development provides an isometric symbol key (SKEY) suitable
for any piping component of generic type PCOM. Fittings with this
symbol key will be drawn as a ghost symbol with no attempt made to
represent the exact geometry or dimensions on the isometric. Users
will be required to attach a draft drawing, detail plot or use some other
mechanism to give the fitting details. Labelling will be used to clearly
identify fitting connection points.
This functionality will be of particular benefit to those companies using
non-standard fittings, such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.
It will make it possible to automatically produce isometrics of piping
networks containing any piping component. The only limiting factor
will be in the clarity of a PCOM with many connected branches.
The Universal Skey symbol is represented by a circle with lines from
its circumference to each connection point. By default, the radius of
this circle is 10mm. This radius will be controlled by a percentage scale
factor attribute, SkeyScale, on SDTE elements. For example,
SkeyScale = 110% gives circle radius = 11mm.
To use this functionality, you can simply set the attribute Skey to
UNIV and set the SkeyScale attribute, if required. To output a detail
plot, the DPFN attribute may be set on the SPCO or piping component
as before. In addition the DPFN may now also be set on the SDTE
element alongside the Skey and SkeyScale attributes.

5.1.1 End connections

The UNIV (Universal) SKEY will imply no end connection information.
To flag end connections the Pskey on each P-point must be set to
flanged (FL), compression (CP), screwed (SC), butt welded (BW), socket
welded (SW) or plain (PL). If not set, the software will assume the end
connection to be plain. For CP, SC, BW and SW the functionality will
be the same as for PCOMs with tapped branches. That is, the

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appropriate end connection symbol will be drawn at the start of the

offleg branch. Currently, for tapped branches with Pskeys set to PL or
FL, a small piece of tube is drawn. This will not be the case for the
Universal Skey. The FLSO symbol will also be drawn at P-arrive and
P-leave if the respective P-points have Pskey set to FL.
End Connections for a PCOM with tapped branches

BW

FL

FL

PL

FL

End Connections for a Universal Skey

B
FL

FL

PL

FL

5.1.2 TAPPING Syntax

Currently, for PCOMs with tapped branches, it is possible to control
some aspects of the output of these branches using the TAPPING
command in ISODRAFT. This functionality is not appropriate, and so
it has been suppressed, for the branches associated with a Universal
Skey.
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5.1.3 Connection Labelling

When fittings are very complicated, the offlegs on the isometric
drawing can not always be easily related to the true geometry of the
fitting shown in the detail plot. To help the fabricator understand
exactly how the two are related, the P-point number of each connection
will be output at each connection point on the isometric. The number
will be prefixed with the value of ATEXT 388 (default value "P") and
will be drawn inside an ellipse to distinguish it from other messages.
The responsibility will be on the user to ensure that the detail plot has
connection P-points "marked up" in the same way. If ATEXT 388 is set
to , no messages will be output.

5.2 User-Defined SKEYs Independent of Generic Type

The dependence on generic type for user-defined SKEYs has been
removed. Users may now define new isometric symbols (SKEYS)
without being constrained by what is available as a base symbol for the
desired generic type.
Caution: More stringent SKEY checking has been introduced, so
symbol libraries created by macro files may now contain illegal
definitions.

5.3 Adding a Spindle to a User-Defined SKEY

User-defined symbols usually inherit the characteristics of existing
standard SKEYS. New functionality allows for spindles to be defined
on a new symbol definition even if the base symbol key did not have
spindles defined.
Note:

If you are redefining an existing spindle symbol key, any

existing symbols using this spindle will not pick up the new
definition.

The PURP attribute of the PTAX p-point elements can now be set to
SPIN to indicate that a spindle is required in this direction for the
current component. A new pseudo-attribute, PSPIN, returns the
number of the p-point on which the spindle has been set. If the spindle
direction is not orthogonal, a comment giving the actual direction will
be output on the isometric.

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ISODRAFT Enhancements

5.4 Correction of Reversed Symbols

The symbol definitions for the following SKEYs were inadvertently
reversed in earlier versions of PDMS:
CAP:
INST:
PCOM:
VALV:

KABW
XV**
PL
VX**

KASC

KASW

This was noticed when attempts were made to redefine the symbols
based on the configurations shown in the ISODRAFT Reference
Manual. These symbol definitions have now been corrected (from
Version 11.2 Bonus Pack onwards), and now match the documentation.

5.5 Changes to the DIMDISTANCE Command

The DIMDistance command allows users to set the standout distance
for String, Overall and Support dimensions explicitly. If unset, Overall
and Support dimensions default to 1.5 and 0.5 times the String
dimension. The default String dimension standout in earlier versions
was 11mm, with a rule that this standout could not be less than
40.0*CHT/7.0 (where CHT is the picture character height; default
value 2.45mm).
This enhancement allows the String dimension to be unset by the user.
If unset, its value will default to 5.0*CHT. If set, Isodraft will not
change its value.
The DIMDistance syntax graph is now:
>- DIMDistance -+- STRING --.
|- OVERall --|
`- SUPPorts -+- value ---.
`- DEFAULT -+->

Note:

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5.6

Setting BDIA and BTYP as Catalogue Parameters

The attributes of a BLTP (Bolt Point) element are
NUMBer

Bolt point number

BDIAmeter

Bolt diameter

BTYPe

Type of bolt (e.g. STUD)

BTHKness

Width of associated flanged component

BTHK may be set as a catalogue parameter, so that a single bolt set

may be used for a number of flanges of differing thickness. The same is
required of the BDIA and BTYP attributes, but this was not allowed in
earlier versions (although an error in the documentation implied that
it was). This limitation has now been removed.
You can, for example, now enter:
BDIA PARAM 5

5.7 Additional Weld Numbers on Isometrics

The WELDNUMBERS command has been enhanced to allow additional weld
numbers to appear on isometrics, either in individual balloons or in a single
ellipse separated by slashes.
The ISODRAFT Reference Manual and gives details of the new syntax and
its usage.

5.8 Splitting Spools at Specified Hierarchic Levels

A new attribute, SFLimit (Spool/Field Limit), has been added to the
SPLDRG (Spool Drawing) element to allow spool boundaries to be
defined at changes in the element hierarchy (for use by SPOOLER).
By default, SFLimit is set to WORLD, which has no explicit effect. It
can, however, be set to SITE, ZONE, PIPE or BRAN, which forces a
spool boundary at any element change at the specified level. For
example, if SFLimit is set to PIPE, a spool break will be enforced at
every change of Pipe.

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6 PARAGON Enhancements
6.1 User-Defined HVAC Fittings
The DESIGN HVAC application now permits the selection of userdefined HVAC fittings (see Section 2.9).
The Catalogue Rules which apply when such fittings are defined in
PARAGON are as follows:
Design Parameter 1 is reserved for a 4-letter description.
Design Parameter 2 is to be used for the arrive width.
Design Parameter 3 is to be used for the arrive depth.
Design Parameter 4 is to be used for the leave width.
Design Parameter 5 is to be used for the leave depth.
P6 is an optional point used to specify the width direction on
the leave.
P3 is an optional point used to specify a controlling direction
(for example, the branch of a tee or the handle of a damper).

6.2 New PTPOS P-Point

A new p-point, PTPOS, has been introduced, which takes a
parameterised position and a direction. It is the same as a PTCDIR,
except that it has a PTCPOS attribute rather than PX, PY, PZ.
Any position expression may be used to set PTCPOS.
For example:
PTCPOS Y100 from p1

Position of ppoint is Y100 (wrt component) from P1.

PTCPOS N100 WRT OWNER from p1

As above, except the direction North is wrt owner.

PTCPOS U100 WRT world from ce

P-point is always 100 above the component, regardless of the

orientation of the component.
The PTCDIR attribute has been enhanced so that it can simply use a
p-point to set its position and direction.

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ISODRAFT Enhancements

For example:
PTCDIR P1

Recursive definitions should not be entered, as they will not be

detected until a calculation is attempted for the p-point.

6.3 New Simple Line (SLINE) Element

SLINE is a new geometric element representing a simple line. It differs
from the existing LINE element in that it can only define a single
straight and its start and end positions (PTSPOS and PTEPOS) need
not be defined by p-points.
Any position expression may be used to set PTSPOS or PTEPOS
For example:
PTSPOS Y100 from p1

Start of line is Y100 (wrt component) from P1.

PTSPOS N100 WRT OWNER from p1

As above, except the direction North is wrt owner.

PTSPOS U100 WRT world from CE

Start of line is always 100 above the component, regardless of the

orientation of the component.

6.4 Solid of Revolution Element

The geometry of a Solid of Revolution (SREVO) is defined by
sweeping a user-defined loop through a specified angle around a given
axis. It is the catalogue equivalent of the REVO design primitive
described in Section .
The Negative Solid of Revolution (NSREV) behaves in the same
way.

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7 General Enhancements

7.1 Database Output Options

All the functionality provided by the withdrawn DATAL module is
available by using the OUTPUT options in DESIGN, DRAFT,
PARAGON and SPOOLER. This is accessed via the Utilities>DB
Listing menu option.
The data output options are as follows:
Elements
All elements, or just specific types of elements (up to 10 specific
types) can be output.
Attributes
Standard attributes can be added to, or omitted from, the output.
User defined attributes can be added to, or omitted from, the
output.
Cross-reference attributes can be added to, or omitted from, the
output.
Re-input
The output file can be re-input to create new, or modify existing,
elements.
Format
The output file can show original reference numbers as
comments.
The output file can be indexed with line numbers.
The output file can be indented with character spaces to be more
readable.
The on-line help shows how to access these facilities using the forms
and menus.

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General Enhancements

7.2 Setting Formats for Units

7.2.1 Enhancement of Unit Format Options
At PDMS11.2, the mechanism behind the Session Units form was
changed to include the setting of a global format object within PDMS
to either metric or imperial units. This meant that any text gadget
with a format for distance would use the current units as set by the
form. The form did not, however, allow the system administrator to set
up their own format for displaying units. An enhancement has now
been introduced to permit this.
The new Current Session Units form allows users to select the current
units for distances and bores, as before, but with the added option of
selecting the format in which those units are to be displayed.
The form has two default formats for distances and two for bores,
derived from a defaults file stored in the PDMSDFLTS directory. This
file, named com-format-dflts.pmldata, is run as a macro by the format
object to load the user-defined formats. By modifying this file, the
administrator can add other formats to the project for use by users.

7.2.2 Administration of Unit Formats

An extract from a com-format-dflts.pmldata file is shown below,
showing the format of the file:
---------------------- <File Header> ---------------------- Copyright (c) Cadcentre 1999
-- File:

com-format-dflts.pmldat

--

Type:

Data File PML format

--

Group:

General Application

-- Keyword: GEN
-- Module:

common

-- Replaces:
-- Author:

A.Kirkland

-- Created:

Fri Nov 5 14:26:27 "GMT 1999

-- Last modified by $Author: $ on $Date: $

--

$Revision: $

-- Description:
-- Macro to load user defined formats

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General Enhancements

---------------------- <Holding Arrays> ---------------------- temporary array to populate the standard object (formats)
!!tmpFormat = ARRAY()
!!tmpDesc = ARRAY()
!!tmpType = ARRAY()

7.2.3 Examples to Use as a Template for User-Defined Formats

-- Format (0'-0.0/0")
!format

= object FORMAT()

!!tmpType.append(|DISTANCE|)
!!tmpDesc.append(|Feet & Inches (Fractions eg. 0'-0.0/0")|)
!format.CompSeparator = ||
!format.Denominator = 32
!format.Dimension
!format.DP

= |L|
=2

!format.ENU

= true

!format.Fraction

= true

!format.FtLabel

= |'-|

!format.InchSeparator = |.|
!format.Label

= |"|

!format.PadFractions = false
!format.Units

= |FINCH|

!format.Zeros

= false

!!tmpFormat.append(!format)
-- Format (00ft 00in 00/00)
!format

= object FORMAT()

!!tmpType.append(|DISTANCE|)
!!tmpDesc.append(|Feet & Inches (Fraction eg. 00ft 00in 00/00)|)
!format.CompSeparator = ||
!format.Denominator = 32
!format.Dimension
!format.DP

38

= |L|
=2

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General Enhancements

!format.ENU

= true

!format.Fraction

= true

!format.FtLabel

= |ft|

!format.InchSeparator = |in |
!format.Label

= ||

!format.PadFractions = false
!format.Units

= |FINCH|

!format.Zeros

= false

!!tmpFormat.append(!format)
return

Each of the above blocks defines a format which will be loaded into the
form. The description is used for displaying in the units form itself, so
it is a good idea to show an example of the format generated here for
easy selection on the form.

7.2.4 How to Define a User Format

Each of the members of the format object defines how the displayed
unit will look to the user.
-- Format (00ft 00in 00/00)
!format

= object FORMAT()

!!tmpType.append(|DISTANCE|)
!!tmpDesc.append(|Feet & Inches (Fraction eg. 00ft 00in 00/00)|)
!format.CompSeparator

= ||

!format.Denominator

= 32

!format.Dimension

= |L|

!format.DP

=2

!format.ENU

= true

!format.Fraction

= true

!format.FtLabel

= |ft|

!format.InchSeparator

= |in |

!format.Label

= ||

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General Enhancements

!format.PadFractions

= false

!format.Units

= |FINCH|

!format.Zeros

= false

!!tmpFormat.append(!format)

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PDMS Professional 11.3

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8 PML and Forms and Menus Changes

The major PML enhancement is improved robustness and faster
running of PML 2 Functions and Methods, especially where large
arrays are involved.
The PML process will now report errors that were previously ignored,
such as missing ENDDO, ENDIF and ENDHANDLE commands.

8.1 PML Syntax for Setting Attributes

You can now set attributes of database elements using PML syntax.
You must make sure that the type of the new value matches the type of
the attribute. The form of the command is:
dbref.attributeName = PMLvariable
For example:
!!ce.poss = !pos
!dbref.name = '/PIPE-100'
!!CE.Built = TRUE
You can even assign a PML object, such as POSITION, where this
corresponds to the type of the attribute:
!!CE .Position = !NewPosition
Note that where the type of an attribute is a PML object, it is not
possible to set an object member value directly this must be done in
two stages:
!Pos = !!CE.Position
!Pos.Up = 2000
!!CE.Position = !Pos
The following table shows the PML types corresponding to PDMS
attribute types.

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PML and Forms and Menus Changes

Attribute type

can be set from

PML type

REAL

REAL

INT

REAL (takes nearest integer)

LOG

BOOLEAN

TEXT

STRING

WORD

STRING (truncates to uppercase 4

characters)

POS

POSITION

ORI

ORIENTATION

DIR

DIRECTION

REF

DBREF

BORE

BORE

ARRAY attrib

ARRAY filled with corresponding PML

variable types

ARRAY attrib element

Corresponding PML variable type

e.g. !!CE.LEVEL[1] = 22

8.2 New and Extended PML Objects

This is a summary of the new and changed PML objects for this
release. See the Cadcentre Software Customisation Reference Manual
for full details.
There is a new PROFILE object, which is used to maintain and
manipulate a profile definition, regardless of the type of profile-based
database element it is used to create or modify. This will allow the
applicationware to develop a single, simple interface for all database
elements that have their geometry defined by a profile.
The object allows faster querying of the profile definition. The result
will be more accurate, as the new object is able to handle curves,
whereas the current implementation ignores all curves on boundaries.
The LINE and ARC objects have a new DRAW method to draw the line
or arc as an aid line or arc, using exact arc graphics.

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PML and Forms and Menu Changes

There is a new LOCATION object for use with PDMS Global

Management. It has the following members:
Name
Description
Locid
Refno
IsCurrent
and the following methods:
Dblist()
Sessions()
String()
There are new methods on the PROJECT object:
Locations()
CurrentLocation()
Sessions()
CurrentSession()
There are new members on the SESSION object:
LocationName
IsRemote
and a new method:
Location()
The TEAM, USER, MDB and DB objects each have a new member:
Refno
The USER object also has a new method:
WorkingList()
which returns a list of DB objects for the user's Working extracts.
Note that the LOCATION, TEAM, USER, MDB and DB objects may all
be constructed from a string. For example:
!T = OBJECT TEAM( 'CTBATEST')
!M = OBJECT MDB( '/CTBATEST')
!DB = OBJECT DB( 'CTBATEST/DESI')

8.2.1 The ALERT Object

This allows you to obtain textual input from the operator via a blocking
alert which overrides all other interactive activities. The alert can be
called by the alert methods:

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PML and Forms and Menus Changes

!!Alert.Input( !prompt is STRING, !default is STRING) is STRING

!!Alert.Input( !prompt is STRING, !default is STRING, Xpos is REAL, Ypos is Real) is STRING
!prompt is displayed to prompt the user and !default is the default value in

the alerts text input field.

Xpos,Ypos define the alerts top-left-hand corner in normalised screen

coordinates.

For example:
!A = !!Alert.Input( 'Type item code:', 'P10101' )
Note that this function has been added to provide the GUI equivalent
of the command
Var !x read
which is only valid in tty mode.
To achieve flexible, user-friendly interfaces, the input alert should be
used sparingly because of its blocking nature.

8.3 Other Enhancements

Form NOQUIT Attribute
Forms now have a NOQUIT attribute, which may be set to stop forms
from being hidden from the border close/quit pull-down menu. This is
done at form definition using:
Setup form !!MyForm NOQUIT

By default user-defined forms are quittable, except for the current

system Main form.
User Validation Callback
The text field gadget has an optional user VALIDATION callback
member which the user can specify:
!textfield.ValidateCall = <callback_string>

See the Cadcentre Software Customisation Guide for more information.

Tooltips
Tool tips can now be defined for List and Selector gadgets.
2D View Controls
The following enhancements have been made to improve usability of
laptop keyboards, which frequently do not have a numeric keypad, and
to preserve the similarity with the 3D viewing operations:

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PML and Forms and Menu Changes

PageUp and PageDown keys zoom in and out.

Home key returns to full zoom.
3D View Controls
The following changes have been made to allow consistency with
ReviewLE and to improve usability on laptop keyboards, which
frequently do not have the numeric keypad:

PageUp, PageDown keys provide zoom/walk-through control.

Arrow keys now rotate instead of panning. Alt+Arrow keys pan.
Walk-through only operates when perspective is present and
reverts to pan for parallel projections.

Saving and restoring views directly from the keyboard has been

withdrawn to allow more consistent use of the keys. Save and

restore are already available from the view pull-down menu or from
pictorial buttons on the left-hand side of the view.

8.4 Removal of Form COPY Syntax

The following syntax, deprecated at PDMS 11.1, has now been
removed:
Setup form !!newform COPY !!oldform ...

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