Project Manager

ALIAS

Project Manager
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Project Manager

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Contents
Contents
Introduction
User interface
Creating a Project
Removing a Project
Setting a current Project
Network Projects
User defined templates
Customising projects
Connecting to Existing Projects (Client version)

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Introduction
Introduction
The Project Manager is designed to allow the user control and manage the
project data easily, the key benefits are:
Set up directory structures to store project files.
Define multiple different projects and switch between them.
Copy styles from a set of template isometric styles.
Configure an isometric style to meet company standards.
Allows easy access to other configurable parts, such as option switches,
Atext and data definition.
Provide security for project information.

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Projects
Projects
A project has 3 main definitions:
1. Isometric Directory
2. Project Area
3. Isometric Style
The Isometric Directory is the root directory and can contain multiple projects, it
is typical for only one Isometric directory to be present on the system.
A Project Area (or name) is stored under the Isometric directory and is used to
define the project title and description. A project defaults button will allow the
user to store additional project information (not used by I-RUN).
The Isometric Style is stored under the Project Area and is used to define the
style of all generated isometrics. A simple example of the capability to customise
a style would be the use of a user defined backing sheet.

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Project
Project Structure
Structure

Structure of an Isometric Directory

An Isometric Directory has four key parts to its structure:
$System directory
Project areas
Data Directories
Isometric Styles
The following diagram shows the contents of an Isometric
Directory named Isos.

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Project
Project Structure
Structure

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Project
Project Structure
Structure
The $System directory serves a special purpose in that it is used to
manage the input data (PCFs or IDFs) for project data received from a
plant design system for import into I-Sketch, it is not used by I-RUN.

Exports - contains the exported piping macro language files
exported using I-Export.

Import - contains a special Style used for the import into I-Sketch.

Inputs - contains a copy of the completed PCF when the user has
generated the isometric.

Pipes - contains the .iso file version of the sketch.
The $SYTEM Project is not visible through the Project Manager, the $
character indicates a hidden project.
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Project Manager
Project
Project Structure
Structure
Structure of a Project
A Project area is created as a sub-directory of the Isometric
Directory. For example, here, the project is 'P-500'.
A Project directory usually contains at least one Isometric
Style. In the case of 'P-500', all the Standard Isometric
Styles are available.
Project Manager also creates three further directories.

Exports - contains the exported piping macro
language files exported using I-Export..

Inputs - contains a copy of the completed PCF when
the user has generated the isometric.

Pipes - contains the .iso file version of an I-Sketch
pipe.

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Project Manager
Project
Project Structure
Structure
Data Directories
In this example, contained below the project, are the Data Directories.
The Materials directory typically contains all material catalogue,
specification and other data files for the project.
The Sketches directory contains the Detail Sketches for the project.
Note.
Data Directories can be created using the Project Manager to exist at
the Isometric Directory, Project or Isometric Style level.

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Project Manager
Project
Project Structure
Structure
Structure of Isometric Style directories
Isometric Style directories are created as sub-directories of the Project.
When a new Isometric Style is created, Project Manager also creates
three further directories.
Drawings - contains the generated DXF or DGN drawing files
created using this Isometric Style, in this case Final-Basic
Messages - contains the ISOGEN message files created
simultaneously each time a drawing is generated.

Reports - contains the output data files created at drawing

generation time, for example, the Material Control File, Weld File etc.
A valid Isometric Style directory must also contain a file named
ISOGEN.FLS. This file is a text file containing references to all the
Drawing Control Files, External Data Files and Output Files that are used
to configure the Isometric Style.
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Project Manager
Project
Project Manager
Manager Interface
Interface

Style Tabs

Toolbar

Style
control files
Project
Structure

Current
Project
Status
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Project Manager
Creating
Creating aa Project
Project
1. Project Directory
From the file menu select

or click the create

Isometric directory
button
on the
toolbar

From the subsequent dialogue enter the name and the location of the project
directory you wish to create, or select an existing directory.
If the directory is new, the program will
ask if you wish to create it, if the directory
exists you will be prompted whether to
convert the directory to a project
directory.

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Project Manager
2. Project Area & Style
The project directory is created, next select
from the file menu,

or click the create

Project Area button
on the toolbar

From the dialogue enter the name of the project,

optionally add a description and select the output
format of the isometrics from the list of available
formats.
You can also now choose to create some styles
based on the available templates, or you can
choose to ignore the styles now and add them
later.

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Project Manager
A project structure similar to the
one to the left will have been
created. As mentioned on the
previous slide you can add a
new style to your project, to do
this select from the file menu
Or click the create style button
from the toolbar
Again, from the subsequent dialogue enter
the name of the style you wish to create
and select a template to base it on. If
desired you could select a different output
format for a particular style, although this
would be uncommon.

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Removing
Removing aa Isometric
Isometric directory/Project/Style
directory/Project/Style
Removing any of the definitions is achieved in the same manner, simply highlight
the definition you wish to delete and select from the file menu
Alternatively right click on the desired definition and select
the delete option from the sub menu.

Either method will display a warning message and ask for confirmation, be careful
when using this as deleted projects cannot be restored.

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Setting
Setting the
the current
current project
project
To make a project current simply click on the desired Project Area, the current
project will be displayed in a frame near the bottom right of the Project Manager
dialogue. Once selected, the information will be written to the registry which IRUN will use to determine the current project

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Setting
Setting the
the current
current project
project
On selection of a Project Area, the general tab will be displayed, this tab shows
the project title and optional description, dependent on the mode of operation a
Project Defaults button may be displayed.

The Project Defaults are

not for use with I-RUN
and will be ignored.

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Project Manager
Creating
Creating aa Network
Network Project
Project

A network project allows users on local computers to access a project created on

a local area network. To achieve this follow the same procedure for creating a
normal isometric directory, but with the following alterations.
When creating the Isometric
directory select the Network button.

A standard browse dialogue will appear, from here select the network path you
intend the isometric directory to reside. Once selected follow the normal
procedure for completing the project structure.
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Because the Project Manager uses the universal naming conventions (UNC) for
network projects, you must not create a project using Mapped drives.
If the path intended for the isometric directory is already mapped then you must
disconnect it before creating the project.

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User
User defined
defined templates
templates
I-Sketch comes supplied with a set of template styles, which can be selected
when creating a Project. Company standard templates can be added to the
available list.
The path to the templates is configurable from the Settings -> Templates menu
item.

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Customising
Customising Projects
Projects
Style properties can be entered and edited via. the General tab, this allows the
user to edit the style title, description and output format. The details button will
display the settings for the selected format.
Available ISOGEN output formats are created and stored on product installation.

The properties specify the format

for the templates and detail
sketches.
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Customising
Customising Projects
Projects
As discussed earlier customising your project is based on the isometric style,
therefore it is possible to have different output isometrics under the same project.
The styles you define are chosen when generating a drawing in I-RUN. In the
Project Manager when you select a style you will see a form displaying five tabs.
The first tab, General has already been
discussed, the further tabs Drawing control,
External Data and Output files is where all
customisation is prepared.
Common to all tabs are the four buttons
near the bottom of the form, the next slide
explains their function.

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Edit
This button is only enabled when the user highlights an editable file. When used,
this button calls an appropriate file editor and automatically loads the file into the
File Editor. Some files have an editor specifically designed to help editing a file of
that type, i.e. Edit will start up the Options Editor for an Options File if a specialised
Editor does not exist, Notepad is used.
Browse...
Use this button to search for a particular file. Firstly select the Text Box
corresponding with the file to be searched for. This will turn the text box yellow. The
Browse... button will then become active. Clicking the Browse button displays a File
Open Dialogue from which the user can search for the appropriate file.
Apply
This button updates the ISOGEN.FLS file located in the Style Directory with any
new information added to this Tab.
Cancel
This button resets any unsaved changes, if the user clicks Cancel the text box will
revert back to FINAL.OPL
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Drawing Control Tab

This tab concentrates on the actual output of the isometric drawing, by default
some fields already have information, some of these files are mandatory and
some are provided to improve the appearance of the default isometrics. The
following is a brief explanation of each field, for more detailed information refer to
the Isogen documentation or the Project Manager help file.

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Field

Description

Option File

Contains the 140 switches that controls the majority of

customisable information, this is most common file used. This
file is edited using the Options Editor.

Drawing Frame

User defined backing frame (underlay). DXF or DGN

Positioned Text

Allows the positioning of attributes usually on the drawing

frame.

Alternative text

User defined text to replace the standard terminology, this file

uses an Atext editor program

Plot file prefix

Defines the leading characters of plot file name, I.e. ISO,

alternatively specifying a directory will output the name of the
file from the pipeline reference in the directory specified.

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Field

Description

Drawing
definition

Various functions are defined here, see Isogen for I-Sketch.

Uses a DDF editor program.

Detailed
Sketches

Contains a reference to a user defined detailed sketch which

can be positioned on the isometric drawing.

Binary
Symbols

User defined symbols file, to replace the standard

component symbols. This file uses a Symbols editor
program.

Welding
definition

Definition of the user defined weld box on the drawing and

the external weld summary file.

Remarks

Contains remarks for use on the weld summary, material list

or in the weld box.

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Field

Description

Title Block

Contains text of the standard built in drawing frame.

Material list
definition

Defines the style and content of the material list on the drawing
and the content of the external material report file.

Special
instruments

Contains a list of component (SKEYs) that are to be treated as

instruments on the material list.

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External Data Tab

This tab contains reference to external files which contains data used by I-Sketch
to produce an isometric. All files here are optional.

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Field

Description

Function
definition file

Defines content and layout of the component information file,

this file is used in conjunction with the I-Sketch catalogue.

Component
information file

Contains detailed information related to individual

components, this file is used in conjunction with the I-Sketch
catalogue.

Insulation
Weight

Contains weights of insulation on a pipe bore / unit length

basis

Specific gravity

Contains specific gravity values for each pipeline, used for

weight and centre of gravity calculations.

Bolt
information file

Contains information to define an operations box on the

drawing and an external file containing information on bolts.

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Field

Description

Font
Information file

Contains information to specify TrueType fonts to be used on

the isometric drawing. (This function is not supported at
present).

Pipeline
Attributes file

Pipeline attribute data file.

Heat
Treatment /
NDE file

Heat treatment / NDE data file.

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Output Files (1)

This tab contains reference to output files which are created after generating an
isometric, some of these file require an input file to define the content and layout,
some files require only a location and filename.

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Field

Description

Message

Contains a file which records error messages. This is a

mandatory file.
Outputs the exact content of the material list on the drawing
to a file, does not require an input file.

Printed
material list
Material control
Bulk material
list

Contains material information about components, requires an

input file.
Material list output file, produced on a bulk basis for a batch
of pipelines, requires no input file (Not used in Personal
ISOGEN).

Weld summary
append

User defined weld summary file which is append to after each

run, requires an input file.

Weld summary
overwrite

User defined weld summary file which is overwritten after

each run, requires an input file.

Site Weld
Information

User defined weld file which is append to after each run,

requires an input file (No longer Used).
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Field

Description

Cut list
summary
Append

Pipe cut list output report file which is append to after each
run.

Cut list
summary
Overwrite

Pipe cut list output report file which is overwritten after each
run.

Spool
Information

Spool output report file which is append to after each run,

requires an input file

Weight / COG
summary
append

User defined weights / centre of gravity file, append after each

run.

Weight / COG
summary
overwrite

User defined weights / centre of gravity file, overwritten after

each run.

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Field

Description

Centre line
length

Outputs a summary of the pipeline centre line length.

Centre line /
Insulation
length

Outputs a combined summary of the pipeline centre line

length and insulation length.

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Output Files (2)

This tab contains reference to output files which are created after generating an
isometric, some of these file require an input file to define the content and layout,
some files require only a location and filename.

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Field

Description

Support
Information

Pipe supports Information file which is appended to after each

run.

Traceability

Outputs unique part numbers for traceability purposes which

is overwritten after each run.

Repeatability
return

Outputs a binary file containing information on start points,

split points etc. which can be inputted to 3D systems to keep
information constant.

Material /
Sheet
identification

Outputs unique identifiers for components.

Bending File
Append

Outputs pulled bend information for each spool which is

appended to after each run.
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Field

Description

Bending File
Overwrite

Outputs pulled bend information for each spool which is

overwritten after each run.

Drawing Cross
Reference

Not yet operational.

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Project Manager
Using
Using the
the editors
editors

As mentioned earlier some of the files use a dedicated editor to make changes
easier, the use of these editors are generally easy and require very little
explanation and is easily mastered with some practice. The following files use an
editor:
File

Editor Program

Options file

Options Editor

Atext

Atext Editor

Binary symbols

Symbols Editor

Data Definition

DDF Editor

Material list definition

MLD Editor

All these files are on the Drawing Control tab, and are activated by simply
highlighting the field and selecting edit, the relevant editor will open automatically.
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Connecting
Connecting to
to Existing
Existing Projects
Projects
A utility, Project Connector, is supplied with the Client version of I-Sketch / I-RUN,
this utility allows a user to connect to a project but does not allow the user to
change any of the settings.
This is particularly useful for connecting to network projects.
Simply run the ProjConnect.exe program located in the Project Manager
installation directory.

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Connecting
Connecting to
to Existing
Existing Projects
Projects

Menu
Items

Project Defaults
- not applicable
for I-RUN

Browse to
connect to
an existing
project

Style Tabs
as Project
Manager

Style
Selector

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