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Mapping New Valve Types in Plant 3D
A client asked how to map custom items in the catalogs from PnID to Plant 3D. In doing some research, I found out some more key settings in Plant 3D. It turns out that you can’t (AFAIK) customize the...
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Component Properties For Plant 3D Catalogs
Recently, I wrote about mapping custom PnID class to Plant 3D parts. In that post we discussed an enumeration xml which contains some interesting settings. This post will detail the default settings...
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Plant 3D SP 1 Data Integrity Hotfix Installation
Recently, we ran into an issue installing the data integrity hotfix for Plant 3D SP 1. The issue is that when opening the report creator, the PnPDataObjects.dll cannot be loaded. Users get a warning...
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Turning Off the Spec Break in AutoCAD Isometrics
While there is no button to click to turn off spec breaks in AutoCAD Isometrics, you can do it via the xml. Locate the Default theme AnnotationsScheme for your style’s isoconfig.xml. The easiest way is...
View ArticleAutoCAD Plant 3D 2014–New Features
Over the last few days, I’ve been digging through Plant and learning about the new features. While there are not many major new features, I’ve been told that 2014 has fixed hundreds of bugs. Plant 2014...
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Modifying the Pipe Gap in Plant 3D 2014
The first thing I noticed when I placed a pipe gap in 2014 is that there was no hatch on the closed part of the gap. In the companies I’ve worked, the standard gap always include a solid hatch. Much...
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Creating a Custom Valve
Recently, a client mentioned that they couldn’t locate threaded plug valves in the catalogs. Today’s post will show how to create a custom valve from scratch. Today we will use a Tufline Sleeved Plug...
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Migrating Specs and Catalogs in Plant 3D
As with all new versions, the topic of migrating specs comes up. In my experience, I’ve run into two little tricks that clarify the process of migrating content to a new version. Migration Location...
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Report Items By Line Number in Plant 3D
The other day a client needed a report of items by Line Number. A common way to get the report would be to group by the PipeRunComponent_LineNumberTag. That report ends up excluding all fasteners....
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Leaky Pipe with No Leak
Ran into a weird support question. Per the image below the pipe are not connected, but there are no leak symbols. After some system variable sleuthing, the GRIDMODE system variable was causing this...
View ArticleAutoCAD Isometric Configuration Reference
Autodesk has released a configuration guide we put together for AutoCAD Isometrics. http://docs.autodesk.com/PLNT3D/2014/ENU/De-mystifying%20AutoCAD%20Plant%203D%20Isometrics.pdf About 80 pages...
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Setting Service and Other Line Group Properties
One of the most frequent questions we get is, “How do I set the service on my Pipe Line group?” While I answered this for 2012 here:...
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Fixing Cutback Elbow Callouts on 45s for Plant 3D
When using the default styles, elbows will be called out as cutbacks even if they are 45s. To fix this, we need to do a little editing in the isoconfig.xml Here is a link to an article that explains...
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Plant 3D 2014 Extension Available
The first extension for Plant 3D 2014 is now available. This extension includes several new features to the Plant 3D program. Obtaining the Extension To get the extension, you will need to be up to...
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Migrating Spec Catalog References
Sometimes after migrating a spec, you still get a warning to migrate it (or catalogs with it). The key is usually that the spec is pointing to old catalogs. An issue that comes up when modifying...
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Complex Line Numbers in Isometrics
Out of the box, the line number tag, size and spec are called out on isometrics. One of the most frequent requests we get is to alter that line callout to match our line number. The difficulty lies in...
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Notes on Supports in Plant 3D Isometrics
Following up the last post, a client asked if there was a better way to put notes on supports other than using the message. Because we can use any property in our isometrics, this post is going to...
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Creating an Isometric View of a Skewed Model
One of the new features in Plant 3D 2014 is to use a custom view to create an orthographic. Previously, we were locked into the predefined views – top, left, right, bottom, front, back. Per the...
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Emailing A Plant 3D SQL Server Project
For those who have to send a SQL Server project to the field, (or to us for tech support), here is the workflow. Create a new project in Plant 3D: Check Copy Settings from existing project, and...
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2014 Spec Update
Ok, feeling kind of silly for missing one of the biggest small improvements. Until 2014, we didn’t have a good way to update specs from catalogs, as the descriptions would get overwritten with the...
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