AVEVA E3D 2.1 Equipment Associations Training-Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6
6 Equipment Associations
This chapter gives an overview of associations and describes the use of the Equipment Association utility
within AVEVA E3D.
6.1 Overview of Associations
Associations are user defined constraints (restrictions) between two or more objects in the Model database.
The restrictions provide logic that can be evaluated to describe how the objects relate to each other.
Associations may include:
Geometric restrictions, e.g. the origin points of two elements must be co-incident.
Checking the existence of elements, e.g. a hole exists for a pipe to pass through.
Attribute comparison, e.g. the material of the associated elements are the same.
AVEVA provides a set of core association definitions that are used in the AVEVA E3D utilities and
applications that use associations, i.e. Equipment Associations, Hole Management and MDS. The User is
also able to create alternative association definitions for user defined utilities and applications.
Associations are passive, i.e. they must be queried to see if they pass or fail their defined restrictions. An
association cannot resolve itself if it is broken. It must be clearly understood that association utilities and
applications are NOT geometric constraint solvers.
For dynamic geometric constraints attribute rules should be used. Information on these can be found in
the AVEVA E3D help files and reference guides. Attribute rules are not discussed in this Training
Guide.
6.2 Associations Hierarchy
Association Definitions are stored in read only Design (DESI) database with the following hierarchy
elements.
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AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811
Associations are stored in a Design database with the following hierarchy elements.
6.3 How Equipment Associations Work
When an Equipment Association is created, an instance of the selected Association Definition is created
in the first Association Group (ASSOGP) element with the Purpose attribute set to ASEQ and the
references set for the objects involved in the association. The restriction(s) of the association are tested and
if the results are valid the association is passed and if invalid, the association is failed.

6.4 Types of Equipment Associations
The Equipment Associations utility provides pre-defined associations for equipment based on the AVEVA
supplied core associations. The types of equipment associations are:
Two faces are touching (coplanar) or separated by a given distance.

Mate Directions defined by the two face normals are parallel and in the
opposite direction.
Two faces are aligned (coplanar) or separated by a given distance.

Align Directions defined by the two face normals are parallel and in the same
direction.
Two directions are parallel, pointing in the same direction or in opposed

Parallel
directions.
Parallel Offset Two lines are parallel and separated by a given distance.
True Distance Two points are coincident or separated by a given distance.
Elevation The elevation of two points is separated by a given distance.
Horizontal One point is vertically above the other point, or separated in the
Distance horizontal plane by a given distance.
Point Above
A point is vertically above or below a line within a given tolerance.
Line
The equipment associations outlined above require association reference planes to be established between
Model elements. The reference planes can be established on the standard P-points for primitives or on
additional design points created uniquely for associations.
6.5 Adding Design Points to Equipment
Although existing P-points of equipment primitives may be picked for the association reference planes, it can
be quite difficult to pick a particular graphical point in a 3D View where many elements are displayed. To
make it easier to select reference points or lines to be used in an Association, it is recommended that
Design Points are created in Design Templates, and P-points in catalogue items that identify themselves as
connection points for associations.

However, if these points are not available in the templates or catalogue items, Design Points may be added
to EQUI element, or UDETs based on an EQUI, at appropriate locations in the element so that they are
readily available to users when creating associations.
The Association Design Points must have their Purpose attribute set to a four character value where the
first two characters are chosen by the user defining the point, and the last two characters must be 'FA'.
For example, an Equipment may be created with three Association Design Points with Purpose attributes
set to CLFA for centre-line, BOFA for bottom face and TOFA for top face.
Any number of reference points can be created for each

element, but it is recommended that only the most
commonly used reference points on each type of equipment
or catalogue item are defined in this way, otherwise they will
become difficult to identify in a 3D View.
On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Tools group, clicking

Design Point button displays the Design Points form.
This allows the creation of a Design Point Set (DPSE),

owned by an EQUI or UDET based on an EQUI.
Three types of Design point may be created:
Cartesian Point (DPCA)
A Cartesian Points position is

specified in terms of X, Y and Z co-
ordinates from the origin.
Cylindrical Point (DPCY)
A Cylindrical Points position is

specified as a position on the surface
of a cylinder at a given position from
the origin and with given dimensions.
Spherical Point (DPSP)
A Spherical Points position is

specified as a position on the surface
of a sphere at a given position from
the origin and with given dimensions

6.6 Equipment Associations A Worked Example
This worked example uses the Equipment Associations

utility to create and modify equipment associations using
the equipment elements of the training project.
Association Worlds (ASSOWL) and Association

Group (ASSOGP) elements are required for Equipment
Associations and Hole Management.
These elements are present in the Model Explorer but

are hidden by default.
On the PROJECT tab, select Options > System >

Explorer Settings to display the Explorer Settings
form.
Uncheck the Hide non-user System Data checkbox

and clicking the Apply button. The hidden elements are
displayed in Model Explorer

6.6.1 Creating an Association
Empty the Drawlist and add ZONE-EQUIPMENT-AREA01 to the 3D View.
Identify the two pumps named /P1501A and /P1501B in the 3D View. A Parallel Offset association will be
created for these two pumps to ensure that their centrelines remain parallel at a minimum distance.
With P1501B as the CE, on the EQUIPMENT tab, in the

Associate group, click Equipment button to display the
Equipment Associations form.
Note that P1501B is displayed at the top of the form as the

Association Item.
If an EQUI item, or UDET based on an EQUI, is not the

CE when the form is opened, the majority of the form is
greyed out until the Select Association item link label
is clicked and a valid element identified in a 3D View.
Click the Parallel Offset radio button to set the type of

association required.
Click the Pick Association Partner Element link label to

display the prompt Pick an Element to associate with and
pick P1501A from the 3D View.
Note that a graphics aid arrow, labelled ZDIR is displayed on

each of the selected items.
In this example the ZDIR points represent the default reference planes on the items, i.e. the origin of
the pumps.

When the partner item has been selected the Equipment

Associations form changes to display further creation details
for the association.
The two selected element names involved in the

association are displayed in separate areas of the form.
Enter P1501A/B_POFFSET in the Association Name

textbox.
Select Min. from the Separation options list and enter 1800 in
the adjacent textbox. This means that the two pumps must
have a minimum centreline separation of 1800mm.
Check the Measure Association checkbox to display a

dimension aid in the 3D View.
The measured distance is between the selected reference

planes, or points, e.g. in this case the origins of the two pieces
of equipment.
Click the Create Association button to create the parallel

offset association between the two pumps. Note that the
association Test Result displays Passed as the measured
distance was 1830, i.e. greater than the minimum of 1800mm.
The association is now displayed in the Associations

Between These Objects list and the Create Association
button changes to the Apply Changes button.
Click the Back button to display the Participates in

Associations list in the Association Details frame.

Right click the newly created association in the list to

highlight it in blue and display the pop-up menu:
Select the Navigate To option and note in the Model

Explorer that the Association (ASSOC) element, stored in
the Association Group (ASSOGP), is now the CE.
Click the Modify Association link label to return to the

previous display mode.
Double click P1501A in the 3D View to invoke Editor

mode. Using the X Axis Linear handle move P1501A
towards P1501B by at least 200mm.
Without leaving Editor mode, right click on the association

in the Associations Between These Objects grid and
select Test this Association from the pop-up menu.
The Test Result column now displays Failed as the

distance between the pumps is now less than the required
1800mm minimum.
Right click the in the Associations Between These Objects

grid again and select Association Details from the pop-up
menu to display the Association Detail form.
This form gives details of the selected association including

the Test Result for the association and for the restriction(s)
and the elements involved in the association.
In this example, the Parallel Offset association has only one

restriction. Other associations may have two or more
restrictions. If any one restriction fails the whole association
fails.
The Association Detail form will give details of the

restriction(s) which have failed, causing the association to fail.
Close the Association Detail form.
Click the Undo button on the Quick Access Toolbar to move P1501A back to its original position. Press
Escape to exit Editor mode.
Re-test the association to ensure that the Test Result is now Passed. Click the Back button on the
Equipment Associations form to return to the previous form display showing the association types.

6.6.2 Modifying an Association
Once created, an association may be modified at any time by

clicking the Modify Association link label or selecting the
Modify option from the pop-up menu in the associations list.
Select the P1501A/B_POFFSET association in the list and

click the Modify Association link label. Note that the form
changes to display the selected association as described in
the creation process.
Change the name of the association to

P1501A/B_POFFSET_MIN and enter a new minimum
dimension of 1500 in the textbox.
Click the Apply Changes button to accept the changes.
6.6.3 Creating a Second Association for the Same Items
Click the Back button to return the form to its previous

display. Note that P1501B is still the association item.
Click the Select new Association partner link label to

select P1501A.
Enter P1501A/B_POFFSET_MAX in the Association Name

textbox.
Select Max from the Separation options list and enter 2200 in
the adjacent textbox.
Click the Create Association button to create the new

association.
Click the Back button to return to the previous display and

note that there are now two associations involving pumps
P1501A and P1501B.
Test the associations by moving either pump beyond the maximum and minimum constraints before
returning them to their original positions.

6.6.4 Selecting Reference Planes
For the associations created previously in this worked example the default ZDIR origin plane was used,
however, reference planes may also be selected from existing P-points on elements consisting of primitives
or Plines from structural profile elements.
Clear the Drawlist. Drag and drop pumps :PUMP P1502A and :PUMP P1502B from ZONE-EQUIPMENT-
AREA01 and :SLAB BASE_SLAB from ZONE ZONE-CIVIL-AREA01 into the 3D View and use the
PowerWheelTM to set Limits Extents.
Identify pump P1502B in the 3D View. A Mate association will be created between the pump and its
concrete base using selected reference planes.
Click the Select Association Item link label at the top of the
Equipment Associations form and select P1502B from the 3D
View.
Click the Mate radio button to set the type of association

required.
Click the Select Association Partner Element link label to

pick P1502B_BASE from the 3D View.
Note that a ZDIR aid default reference plane is displayed on

each element; however, the plane on the pump is at its origin,
which is not in the correct position for the association.
Click the Pick reference Plane link label in the Source

Element frame to display the prompt Pick reference P-point.
Left click and hold on the pump baseplate BOX primitive and
select the lowest of the three P-points displayed at the centre
of the primitive, i.e. P6.
It may be necessary to use wireline mode to select the P-

point.
Click the Pick reference Plane link label in the Partner

Element frame to display the prompt Pick reference P-point.
Left click and hold on the base BOX primitive and select the
upper of the three P-points displayed at the centre of the
primitive, i.e. P3.
Enter P1502B/BASE-MATE in the Association Name textbox.
Select Equal from the Separation options list and enter 0 in the adjacent textbox.
Click the Create Association button to create the association and check that the Test Result has passed.
Click the Back button on the Equipment Associations form.

Right click on the newly created association in the list and select
Association Details from the pop-up menu to display the
Association Detail form.
Note that this association comprises of two restrictions, one that
the directions of the reference planes must be parallel and
opposite and one for the separation, i.e. Distance 1st member
point to 2nd member plane.
Move the pump up using the Editor mode and re-test the
association. Check the association details again and note that
only one of the two restrictions has failed, i.e. the separation.
Return the pump to its original position and exit Editor mode.
Close the Association Detail form and the Equipment
Associations form.
6.6.5 Creating a Design Point
Make pump P1502A the CE.
On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Tools group, click the Design

Point button to display the Design Points form.
Select Create > Cartesian Point from the form menu to

display the Create Cartesian Design Point form.
Note that a DPSE element has been created below the

:PUMP P1502A element in Model Explorer.
The Design Point will be placed in the centre of the bottom

face of the pump baseplate.
Enter Bottom Face in the Description textbox and BOFA in

the Purpose textbox.
The direction of the Design Point needs to be down, therefore,

enter D in the Direction of Design Point (Z) textbox. Leave
the Normal direction (Y) as N.
The co-ordinates of the point may be entered in the relevant

textboxes or picked graphically
Click the Pick button to display the prompt Define Position

(Snap) Snap: and left click and hold on the pump baseplate
BOX primitive and select the lowest of the three P-points
displayed at the centre of the primitive, i.e. P6.
The co-ordinates of the selected P-point (wrt /*) are displayed

in the relevant textboxes.

Click the OK button on the Create Cartesian Design Point

form to create the Design Point.
Close the form and return to the Design Points form where
the Design Point is now displayed.
Note the DPSE and DPCA elements in Model Explorer:
Close the Design Points form.
6.6.5.1 Using a Design Point as a Reference Plane
Make P1502A the CE.
On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Associate group, click

Equipment button to display the Equipment Associations
form.
Click the Mate radio button and click the Pick Association
Partner link label.
Pick the P1502A_BASE element in the 3D View.
Select BOFA from the Use reference Plane options list in the
Source Element frame.
Click the Pick reference Plane link label in the Partner

Element frame. Left click and hold on the base BOX primitive
and select the upper of the three P-points displayed at the
centre of the primitive, i.e. P3.
Enter P1502A/BASE-MATE in the Association Name

textbox, select Equal from the Separation options list and
enter 0 in the adjacent textbox.
Click the Create Association button to create the association.
Move P1502A using Editor mode and test the association as

described previously.
6.7 Deleting Equipment Associations
Equipment associations may be deleted by highlighting the association in the list and clicking the Delete
Association link label at the bottom of the Equipment Associations form.
Alternatively, the association may be deleted by right clicking the association in the list and selecting Delete
from the pop-up menu.

6.7.1 Deleting an Association Member
If an element participating in an association is deleted, the Association test will return the result false to
indicate that the association has failed.
It is possible to find out which element has been deleted by inspecting the Association Member (ASSMBR)
elements for a bad reference in the Amemrf attribute.
6.8 Association Manager
The Association Manager enables the user to view all Equipment Associations or a selected subset of the
Equipment Associations in the project.
On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Associate group, clicking the Manage Associations button displays the
Association Manager form.
The Association Filter frame enables the associations to

be viewed to be filtered.

The Show options list entries are:
Current Element this option displays all associations which the current element is involved in.
Selected Purpose this option activates the Purpose options list where ASEQ can be selected to
display only Equipment Associations.
Failed this option displays all associations with a Status of Failed.
Invalid this option shows all associations where the settings are incorrectly specified and are
invalid.
Contain Invalid References this option displays all associations where one or more of the
ASSMBR elements has its Amemrf attribute set to an invalid reference.
The filtered associations are displayed in a grid in the Associations frame, displaying the Association
name of the association, the Description of the association type, the Purpose and the two elements
involved in the association. Clicking the Refresh button refreshes the list.
Right clicking any association in the Associations grid

displays a pop-up menu which has the following
options:
View Association Elements this option zooms into the association items in the 3D View.
Navigate To this option has a sub-menu that enables the user to navigate to the association
(ASSOC) or either of the association items in Model Explorer.
Delete Association this option deletes the selected association.
Export to Excel this option displays the Save Association Data As browser that enables the user to
select a folder and filename to save the entire association grid to an Excel (.xls) file
Print Preview opens a standard windows print preview dialogue and allows the grid to be printed.
Left clicking on any association in the list highlights it in blue and populates the Restrictions and
Associated Detail frames of the Association Manager form.
The Restrictions frame displays the Restriction Description and Status for the one or more restrictions
that make up the association in a grid.
Right clicking on any entry in the grid displays a pop-up menu with the same
Navigate To functions described previously.
The Association Detail frame displays the Target (reference plane) of each element, the Position of the
target, the Direction and XDistance, YDistsnace and ZDistance of the two reference planes and the
Actual Distance between the points.
Right clicking on any entry in the grid displays a pop-up menu with an option
to Navigate To Target, i.e. the primitive, and the same export and print
functions described previously.

6.9 Organising Equipment Associations
Association Worlds (ASSOWL) and Association Groups (ASSOGP) for the storage of Equipment
Associations (and other associations) may be created, modified, deleted and organised using the Organise
Association Store form.
On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Associate group, selecting Browser from the Manage Associations
button options list displays the Organise Association Store form.
The form displays all ASSOWL elements in the project in a grid and has link labels to enable Association
World (ASSOWL) elements to be created, modified and deleted.
The Show Association Groups link label replaces the Association World grid with an Association Group
grid and link labels to enable Association Group (ASSOGP) elements to be created, modified and deleted.

Exercise 5 Equipment Associations
Create a Mate association between the bottom face of C1101 skirt and the top face of the :SLAB
BASE_SLAB element. Test the association by moving the slab element.


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CHAPTER 6

6.1 Overview of Associations

Associations may include:

6.2 Associations Hierarchy

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6.3 How Equipment Associations Work

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6.4 Types of Equipment Associations

Two faces are touching (coplanar) or separated by a given distance.

Two faces are aligned (coplanar) or separated by a given distance.

Two directions are parallel, pointing in the same direction or in opposed

True Distance Two points are coincident or separated by a given distance.

Elevation The elevation of two points is separated by a given distance.

6.5 Adding Design Points to Equipment

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Any number of reference points can be created for each

On the EQUIPMENT tab, in the Tools group, clicking

This allows the creation of a Design Point Set (DPSE),

Three types of Design point may be created:

Cartesian Point (DPCA)

A Cartesian Points position is

Cylindrical Point (DPCY)

A Cylindrical Points position is

Spherical Point (DPSP)

A Spherical Points position is

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6.6 Equipment Associations A Worked Example

This worked example uses the Equipment Associations

Association Worlds (ASSOWL) and Association

These elements are present in the Model Explorer but

On the PROJECT tab, select Options > System >

Uncheck the Hide non-user System Data checkbox

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6.6.1 Creating an Association

Empty the Drawlist and add ZONE-EQUIPMENT-AREA01 to the 3D View.

With P1501B as the CE, on the EQUIPMENT tab, in the

Note that P1501B is displayed at the top of the form as the

If an EQUI item, or UDET based on an EQUI, is not the

Click the Parallel Offset radio button to set the type of

Click the Pick Association Partner Element link label to

Note that a graphics aid arrow, labelled ZDIR is displayed on

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When the partner item has been selected the Equipment

The two selected element names involved in the

Enter P1501A/B_POFFSET in the Association Name

Check the Measure Association checkbox to display a

The measured distance is between the selected reference

Click the Create Association button to create the parallel

The association is now displayed in the Associations

Click the Back button to display the Participates in

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Right click the newly created association in the list to

Select the Navigate To option and note in the Model

Click the Modify Association link label to return to the

Double click P1501A in the 3D View to invoke Editor

Without leaving Editor mode, right click on the association

The Test Result column now displays Failed as the

Right click the in the Associations Between These Objects

This form gives details of the selected association including

In this example, the Parallel Offset association has only one

The Association Detail form will give details of the

Close the Association Detail form.

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6.6.2 Modifying an Association