StressISO Troubleshooting Guide

Table of Contents
Section A: Troubleshooting
A.1. Disconnected Pipeline

A.2. Pipeline Maybe dotted Instead of Solid

A.3. Direction Change without a bend

A.4. Flanges at bend Midpoint

A.5. How can I find more ISOGEN troubleshooting messages?

A.6. Where can I find Personal ISOGEN error codes?

A.7. Can I manually change some of the ISOGEN option switches?

A.8. How can I systematically find the cause of ISOGEN errors?

A.9. What format can I create my custom drawing border?

A.10. How can I change the color and size of the Pipeline plotted?

A.11. The nozzle flexibility element does not appear on my ISO

A.12. The dimensioning of the bend with a midpoint is skewed

A.13. Why are the flanges drawn incorrectly on the flanged valve?

A.14. One table data record is missing if it continues in the next

drawing

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A.15. Can ISOGEN create isometrics with continuous
dimensioning?

A.16. Can the StressISO options be saved for use by the entire
engineering team?

A.17. Is it possible to only print data associated with the isometric

plot sheet shown? Currently some of the data for the 1st iso
drawing overflows to the next drawing sheet.

A.18. My stacked dimensions are shown with ‘strange’ characters

A.19. Why is there no dimension across my Valve?

A.20. Why is there no isometric generated?

A.21. Why does my isometric take so long to generate?

A.22. Why are there no messages in my ISOGEN message file?

A.23. How can I fit more of the isometric onto the plot with or
without the data tables?

A.24. How can I suppress the North Arrow?

A.25. My Isometric shows “Disconnection Detected at this point”

near a Flange.

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 A.1. Disconnected Pipeline

ISOGEN Limitation
Disconnected segments or ranges of piping are not supported by ISOGEN
Examples:
Two disconnected piping systems or two different selected ranges

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Troubleshooting

• Isometric is not drawn inside the Border

• No Dimensioning on the isometric
• Only one isometric is created
• Break Points do not work correctly
• Data Tables are printed on blank drawing sheets
• Reference items not plotted correctly

In Final.MES error message file will show the following

message:

ERROR - COMPONENTS NOT CONNECTED; PASS 1

Workaround

One workaround is to select small desired ranges or hide segments and generate
ISO's with "use select range" option which will only print data on the isometric for the
selected range.

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Before creating a stress isometric either:

1. Select only segments or ranges which are continuously connected.

View / Segments to selectively view segments. Note: Do not have disconnected
segments visible in the model.

A.2. Pipeline Maybe dotted Instead of Solid

ISOGEN known problem – 08/2006

Part of the isometric plotted pipeline maybe dotted instead of solid

No Workaround

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 A.3. Direction Change without a bend
ISOGEN Limitation
Dimensioning is disturbed if direction changes without a bend elbow or miter.

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

A.4. Flanges at bend Midpoint

ISOGEN Limitation
Flanges at bend or elbow midpoints are not supported by ISOGEN. Flanges must be
placed near or far point of the bend.

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Troubleshooting

A.5. How can I find more troubleshooting messaging information?

ISOGEN Messaging
ISOGEN problems can be variable with many combinations of option switches and
settings therefore sometimes difficult to diagnose. When troubleshooting, the
ISOGEN message file FINAL.MES found in folder
…\PISOGEN\PROJECTS\APIPEPROJ\FINAL\OUTPUT\ provides increased
message reporting using Option Switch 55=9 (Default = 1) for additional clues such
as disconnections.
55 9 ! Program Running Messages

A.6. Where can I find Personal ISOGEN error codes?

ISOGEN Messaging
The file personal ISOGEN error codes.pdf is found in the default folder C:\Program
Files\Bentley\Plant 2004\AutoISOGEN\isoutils

A.7. Can I manually change some of the ISOGEN option switches?

ISOGEN Switches
Yes open the apipe.opl file located in the AutoPIPE program folder with notepad.exe
or Alias opted.exe program found in C:\Program Files\Bentley\Plant
2004\AutoISOGEN\isoutils.
Refer to the PDF files option switches.pdf, pcf component guide.pdf, in this
folder.

Note: Many of the switches are set automatically from the StressISO options and
ISOGEN options dialogs in AutoPIPE. See the AutoPIPE online help topics “ISOGEN
Options – General”, “ISOGEN Options – OverFlow”, “ISOGEN Options -
Dimensioning/Text” and “Stress Isometric Options – Plot”.

Please contact Bentley for additional information on customizing ISOGEN.

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A.8. How can I systematically find the cause of ISOGEN errors?

1. First, what is the error?

ISOGEN will usually tell the error code in the ISOGEN progress dialog. Sometimes, a
limited amount of information is given. Here are some examples of the types of
messages you might receive when ISOGEN did not process the components
correctly.

a. ISOGEN errors:
0 Components exported.

b. ISOGEN FAILED

c. ISOGEN Iso:
C:\Bentley Plant
Project\PROJECT1\CONFIG\ISOGEN\FINAL\DRAWINGS\L100-1.PASS.DXF

d. ISOGEN ERROR -13

Errors “A” and “B” are generic.

Error “C” indicates there is a “disconnect” in the original AutoPLANT model. See
question A.1 for details.
Error “D” can be determined from the following PDF file: ..\PLANT
2004\AUTOISOGEN\ISOUTILS\PERSONAL ISOGEN ERROR CODES.PDF. But
further investigation is usually required.

In most other circumstances, the error information can be found in the following file
…\PISOGEN\PROJECTS\APIPEPROJ\FINAL\OUTPUT\FINAL>MES)

The component(s) causing the error will have *** to the right of the component.
Please see the example below (an excerpt of the FINAL.MES):

PIPE
END-POINT 44.004 84.000 0.000 8.000 ***
END-POINT 0.000 84.000 0.000 8.000
SUPPORT
CO-ORDS 0.000 84.000 0.000 8.000
SKEY 01IN
SUPPORT-DIRECTION WEST
MESSAGE-SQUARE
TEXT (A10 1)
SUPPORT
CO-ORDS 0.000 84.000 0.000 8.000
SKEY 01AN
SUPPORT-DIRECTION UP

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MESSAGE-SQUARE

By finding the corrupted component using the specified coordinates in the affected
model and replacing or correcting it, ISOGEN will usually successfully run.

2. Where and when does the problem occur?

Evaluate the sub-questions.

a. Within the current model, does the problem happen on more than one
pipeline segment?
b. Does the problem happen on sections of that segment if components are
manually selected for running StressISO?
c. Does the problem happen in more than one model?

As you will notice from the above questions, the problem can be narrowed down
quickly and different avenues of trouble shooting can be pursued. Let’s discuss each
of these in depth.

Questions “A” and “B” are related to each other based on whether or not ISOGEN is
running at all. Most ISOGEN issues are model specific. In other words, the
components in the model have been created or connected in such a way that the
PCF file is generated but not recognized as valid by ISOGEN.

Thus, the following questions will determine if that is the case. Can we get StressISO
to run successfully in the model? If at some point it does work correctly, then the
affected components can be narrowed down by using “manual” selection for ISOGEN
processing.

Hint:
Run sections of the model to see which parts work and which ones don't. It's
usually possible to narrow down the problem just by trial and error. Run one
section. If it works, then try another. If that one fails, then run a smaller part of
that section. Keep doing this until the problem is narrowed down to a few
components. Sometimes an IDFGEN error or PASS_DXF file can be caused
by an invalid component. By replacing this component, ISOGEN can run
successfully.

If ISOGEN doesn’t run at all on any pipelines or ranges of pipelines, then

please contact Bentley Support.

c. Does the problem happen in more than one model?

If the answer is no, the cause of the problem is within this model and further trouble
shooting is recommended. Here are several suggestions which typically resolve
ISOGEN errors.

Repair possible disconnects by refering to question A.1

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Contact Bentley Support if the ISOGEN issue cannot be resolved.

A.9. What format can I create my custom drawing border?

ISOGEN Drawing Borders

It is recommended to create the custom border file in Autocad R12 DXF or R2000
DWG formats and use a fixed spaced (e.g. monospaced) font for the text. The
default borders can be modified which contain all the colors and fonts for table data
and plot text as well as symbols, pipeline etc. It is recommended to start with the
default border which has all the colors assigned to all the pipe, dimensioning, text,
fitting and support layers etc already defined, then modify these layers if required.
Delete the default border elements then copy/paste the custom border into the
drawing and save.

A.10. How can I change the color and size of the Pipeline plotted?

ISOGEN DDF File

Modify the THE DRAWING-DEFINITION FILE as shown below and change the color
for the pipe, pipe1, pipe2 layers in the border drawing file then re-generate the stress
isometric.

(…\PISOGEN\PROJECTS\APIPEPROJ\FINAL\OUTPUT\FINAL.DDF)
Below is a default Final.ddf file. The bottom is cut off, but it continues with the layers
PIPELINE-ATTRIBUTES
N.S. INCH
N.S.RANGE 0 2 THICKNESS 2 1.50 LAYER 7
N.S.RANGE 2.5 6 THICKNESS 3 1.50 LAYER 29
N.S.RANGE 8 * THICKNESS 4 1.50 LAYER 30

N.S. MM
N.S.RANGE 0 50 THICKNESS 2 1.50 LAYER 7
N.S.RANGE 65 150 THICKNESS 3 1.50 LAYER 29
N.S.RANGE 200 * THICKNESS 4 1.50 LAYER 30

PIPELINE-ATTRIBUTES-DOTTED
DRAWING-SPLIT-POINTS THICKNESS 2 0.35 LAYER 19
SPECIAL-STATUS THICKNESS 2 0.90 LAYER 8
PIPELINE-CONTINUATION THICKNESS 2 0.35 LAYER 9

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Troubleshooting

A.11. The nozzle flexibility element does not appear on my ISO

ISOGEN Components

Vessel Nozzle flexibility element is not a CAD supported component so this

AutoPIPE FE component is mapped to a ISOGEN pipeline component.

A.12. The dimensioning of the bend with a midpoint is skewed

ISOGEN Components

Bends with midpoints may be plotted with the dimensioning skewed because of the
round-off errors in the field display format in the Bend dialog particularly when the
digits after decimal is set to 2 (Tools/model options/Edit > Digits after decimal for
coordinates = 2). In other words, after opening the bend dialog at A01 and pressing
OK without making any changes, results in a round-off error in the DZ offset, i.e. -
4.67 ft compared to the actual value of -4.666667 ft. This round-off error can be
significant when calculating the coordinates of the bend tangent points.

Bend Midpoint

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

Changing from 2 to 3 significant digits

shows small DZ offset = 0.003

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Stress Isometric

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Workaround
Set Tools/model options/Edit > “Digits after decimal for coordinates” = 3

Edit offset to -4.667 , with “Apply

offset “ = unchecked

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A.13. Why are the flanges drawn incorrectly on the flanged valve?

Flange is shown in the wrong

orientation with respect to the valve

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

Workaround

The Valve has been defined incorrectly as a Butt-weld instead of a flanged valve.
ISOGEN can only plot a flanged valve correctly with correction pipe flange orientation
if the valve is a flange type i.e. the Joint End type must be Weld-neck or Slip-on

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Troubleshooting

A.14. One table data record is missing if it continues in the next

drawing

If tables in an isometric cannot be fitted in one drawing then some tables are shifted
to the next drawing sheet. However, this causes one record to be lost from the data
table which continues onto the next sheet. The lost record may be the last record in
the current drawing or it may be the first record in the next drawing, e.g. if FLANGE
table contains 11 records, out of which 5 are to display in the current drawing and the
remaining 6 are to display in the next drawing sheet, then the 6th record will be lost
resulting in the display of 5 flange records in the current drawing and 5 flange records
in the next drawing. This problem exists with any table which continues in the next
drawing sheet and is an know ISOGEN defect to be fixed in October 2006 timeframe.

1 record missing in the data table

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

Workaround

1. Use a small table font size to fit all the table data onto one sheet.
2. Use Selected Range and generate an isometric with table data to fit on one
sheet.

Note: Enhancement logged to generate a isometric using either a user-defined PCF

or STS or both for AutoPIPE XM SR2. This will allow the user to edit the STS or PCF
files then manually generate the stress isometric.

A.15. Can ISOGEN create isometrics with continuous dimensioning?

ISOGEN Limitation
Currently ISOGEN can create isometrics with continuous string dimensioning as
shown below but supports are not included in this dimensioning format. The
dimensioning below can be achieved by first setting the dimensioning options similar
to the dialog below then editing the APIPE.OPL file to set OPL Switch 9 = 100 and
OPL Switch 40 = 10 as below:

9 100 ! Type of Dimensions on isometric

40 10 ! Pipe Support information control

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A.16. Can StressISO options be saved for use of engineering team?

Yes all Stress Isometric options are saved to stressiso.ini file and ISOGEN options
are saved to apipe.opl. Both these files can copied to other workstations to achieve
same isometric settings e.g. default border drawing size, dimensioning, overflow etc.

Note: The stressiso.ini file does store the absolute path to the apipe.opl and border
files which may vary from machine to machine depending if Autopipe has been
installed to different folders on different machines.

Note: If the user changes any of the stressISO or ISOGEN options before generating
the stress isometric these will be updated to the stressiso.ini and apipe.opl files which
will be different to the original settings.

A.17. Is it possible to only print data associated with the isometric

plot sheet shown? Currently some of the data for the 1st iso
drawing overflows to the next drawing sheet.

Yes this would be useful but currently ISOGEN does not have smart logic to know
beforehand which drawing sheet has which table data associated with it. The
overflow of Table data is only continuous and not synchronised with the plot.

Workaround

One workaround is to select small desired ranges or hide segments and generate
ISO's with "use select range" option which will only print data on the isometric for the
selected range.

Before creating a stress isometric either:

1. Select only segments or ranges which are continuously connected.

2. View / Segments to selectively view segments. Note: Do not have
disconnected segments visible in the mode.

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Troubleshooting

A.18. My stacked dimensions are shown with ‘strange’ characters

Using the following dimensioning formats shows the linear dimension and elevation
with '?' after the decimal instead of digits.

• Stacked format with dash

• Stacked format without dash

Workaround

Yes, this is a font issue - you need to be using a true type proportional type font (eg.
Arial) which will contain these stacked fraction type characters.

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

The program sets the font in Option Switches 4 & 27 and also call in our 'Fontstd.fif'
file in the 'isogen.fls' file (FONT-INFORMATION-FILE Fontstd.fif) which is located in
the …\pisogen\projects\apipeproj\final folder

ISOGEN limitation - The Table User Font is only used if a drawing border is defined.
And a Autocad R12 DXF drawing border is defined with the embedded fonts defined
as shown from the drop down list which want to be used.

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A.19. Why is there no dimension across my Valve?

ISOGEN

Isogen only shows valve dimensioning if it is a butt weld or flanged valve (with mating
pipe flanges attached).

Flanged valve with

pipe flanges

Flanged valve with

no pipe flanges

No valve
dimensioning

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

A.20. Why is there no isometric generated?

This can be due to many reasons but one common reason is the drawing size is too
small for the table and plot font size (ISOGEN Dimensioning TAB) and the drawing
content to fit onto the selected drawing sheet. The ISOGEN message file may show
the following:
Also see FAQ A8 for Isogen messages

Personal ISOGEN : VERSION 5.5.3 (Full)

*** IDFGEN VERSION 6.5.6 ***

START OF ISOGEN.PCF

PROCESSING PIPELINE-REFERENCE CLOSEDLOOP_BRANCH

ALL COMPONENTS CONNECTED

SOFTWARE KEY ID NO. = 0

NO. OF AUTHORISED PLOTS = 0
NO. OF UNUSED PLOTS = 0
ISOGEN VERSION 8.12.6 (Build 16)
**** ISODAT ****
START OF DRAWING CLOSEDLOOP_BRANCH
TRYING TO SPLIT LINE CLOSEDLOOP_BRANCH INTO 2 DRAWINGS
PIPELINE SPLIT INTO 2 DRAWINGS
OUTPUT STAGE OF DRAWING CLOSEDLOOP_BRANCH

Workaround

Select a larger drawing size and also check the “Split control, no of drawings
required” = 0 or a small number.

Sometimes ISOGEN process may hang with the ISOGEN process dialog remaining
open then this process should be killed and the program should be closed and
restarted.

A.21. Why does my isometric take so long to generate?

This can be due to several reasons but one common one is the amount of drawing
content to be plotted. If the model is large, the ISOGEN engine must split the content
onto multiple sheets which can take up to 5-10 mins for very large models. Other
performance issues – plotting an isometric with a border can take 2-3 times longer
than without a border. Note: Viewing the first isometric in Redline takes longer to
load than the 2nd and subsequent isometrics since memory caching is used. Loading
isometrics into AutoCAD can take even longer to display.

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Troubleshooting

A.22. Why are there no messages in my ISOGEN message file?

The ISOGEN process may not have finished from the previous isometric generation.

Either:
a. Re-run File/save as StressISO
b. If a) is not successful, close and re-start the program then re-run a).

A.23. How can I fit more of the isometric onto the plot with or
without the data tables?

Using the AutoPIPE model create an Stress isometric for the complete model

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

Using “…no drawings required = 0” [Default and usually recommended]

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Troubleshooting

However the resulting plot looks as follows split into 2 sheets on a B size drawing.

Using “…no drawings required = 1”, and all the system piping appears on the plot.
This may only work if limited drawing content.

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 Section C: Troubleshooting

Other Useful Hints:

• Try plotting with a different drawing viewport (Isogen Settings dialog > General
Tab).
• Use a large drawing size (Isogen Settings dialog > General Tab) if permitted.
• Reduce the plot font (Isogen Settings dialog > Dimensioning Tab)
• Edit the OPL file switch 34 to a number > 100 to scale the plotted iso.
• If plotting without the data tables, reduce the left or right margin size
depending which side the data table set to e.g. if “Data table printed on right
side” then reduce the right margin to a small value. (Isogen Settings dialog >
General Tab).

A.24. How can I suppress the North Arrow?

Edit the Final.pos file located in the folder …\pisogen\projects\apipeproj\final and

add the -700 line as shown below.
Table Table Numb Numb
Text X Y Char Char Offset Offset of of Table
ID No Pos Pos Width Height in X in Y Cols Lines Dir
----- --- --- ----- ------ ------ ------ ---- ----- -----

-6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-9 41300 4300 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-10 41300 1550 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-11 31300 4300 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-600 41300 3850 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-601 41300 3400 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-602 41300 2950 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-603 31300 3850 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-604 31300 3400 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-605 31300 2950 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-606 31300 2400 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-607 31300 2000 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-608 31300 1550 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-609 31300 1100 200 250 0 0 0 0 0
-700 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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A.25. My Isometric shows “Disconnection Detected at this point”

near a Flange.

The isometric error message may look like below

Workaround
Edit the Flange factor to a small value e.g. 0.02 in the PCFOUT.map file (located in
the AutoPIPE program folder)

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[NODE_FACTOR]
0.75 tee
0.02 flange
1.50 support

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