AutoCAD PID in a Multi-User Environ.pdf - Autodesk forums
A AutoC CAD® P&ID P in n a Mu ulti-Useer Envvironm ment
IIn this paper, we will go sttep by step th hrough the prrocess of settiing up AutoCA AD P&ID in a multiuser neetwork eenvironment. You’ll learn the subtleties of utilizing project p files (ssymbols and tags) in a nettwork environ nment w with the project team. Offfsite project members m will need access to the same project inform mation as tho ose in tthe office. Yo ou’ll be shown n how to supp ply those mem mbers with thhe project filees. K Key Topics Co overed: • • •
Settin ng up a multi--user network environmen nt Utilizing project files with all prroject membe ers Offsitte access to current c projecct data
Contents Which environment do you work in? Single-or multi-user?.................................................................................... 3 Single user:........................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Settings ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 New Project ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Project Storage Location .................................................................................................................................. 5 Projects ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Custom Blocks .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Standard Project Set Up................................................................................................................................... 6 Multi-user: ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Settings ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Network Set ups .............................................................................................................................................. 7 How to add custom blocks? ........................................................................................................................... 11 Multi-user Tool Palettes (with custom blocks added) ................................................................................... 14 Offsite use ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 SQL Server .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Vault ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 2
W Which environ nment do d you work in n: Singlee-or mu ulti-useer? IIf you work in n a single user environmen nt, continue below. b If you w work in a muulti-user envirronment, skip p to your ssection.
SSingle user: 1 1. Project and d settings locaations • • • •
Out of o the box or user altered settings s on lo ocal computerr Proje ect stored on users hard drrive or in a prroject folder oon a common n network Workks on projectss other than P&ID P Comp pany or indiviidual’s custom m blocks
TThe Settingss W Whether you’re Single or Multi, most people p (or the e network adm min) will instaall AutoCAD aand then wheen he is o out of site, we begin making subtle chaanges to make e the installattion our own. AutoCAD P& &ID is no exceeption. U Users can maake changes to the interfacce, command d line commannds (pgp file),, background d colors, styless etc. A Anything to make m AutoCAD comfortingg, personal an nd productivee to the user. O Out of the bo ox and installe ed, all AutoCA AD P&ID instaallations look just the samee at Vanilla A AutoCAD. Opeening up tthe ‘Options’ dialog box an nd scrolling th hrough all of the search paaths and file llocations, thee new installaation will llook the same e as most all other AutoCA AD installations. Why? Beccause it’s still an AutoCAD.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 3
N New Projectt B Before we staart a new pro oject we need to create it first. f In the Prroject Managger select the dropdown bo ox and p pick ‘New Pro oject’.
TThe ‘Project Setup S Wizard’ appears now w. You have a choice now.. Start with a standard tem mplate projecct that is iin the AutoCA AD P&ID direcctory OR as we w will do, ‘Co opy settings frrom existing project’ (see red marks in the ssnapshot belo ow). This projject should be the one thaat has includeed all compan ny standards ((line colors, laayers, cclasses etc.) and a custom blocks. b In a mu ultiuser envirronment this w will be the baase that each project is creeated ffrom.
EEnter in the project p name.. In this instan nce I used ‘20 0-21710A’ as my project name. Descrip ption is option nal. The p project directtory will be in n ‘ActiveProje ects’ directoryy which is a neetwork locatiion. AutoCAD D P&ID will aautomaticallyy create the project p directo ory based on the projects ‘Name’.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 4
P Project Storrage Location SSingle users will w utilize the e local hard drive or a company networrk drive for prroject storagee. Even as a siingle u user in a com mpany environ nment it is still good to utilize the netw ork. Usually a network hass a backup syystem, so rrestoring lostt or (accidently) deleted files can be done fairly quic kly……in most cases. TThe biggest benefit b of utiliizing the com mpany’s netwo ork is so otheers have accesss to the draw wings as well.. This is eessential in a multi-user, multi-access m environment. e If you have a network, usse it!
P Projects SSince the core installation is still AutoCAD, the user has the oppoortunity to wo ork on projectts other than P&ID.
C Custom Bloccks A AutoCAD P&ID comes with h a robust sellection of industry standarrd blocks. Butt typically eacch company d develops a custom blocck library to compliment c standard s distrributed blockss.
(Itemss shown above: Clarifier, C Aeratorr, Inclined Plate))
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 5
SStandard Prroject Set Up p TThe standard AutoCAD P& &ID 2015 project files and folders f from a created pro oject is shown n below:
W When you cre eate a new prroject these are a the files th hat will be geenerated in th he new directtory. Note thaat there aare some files which are Plant P 3D speciific like Pipingg.dcf. Becausee of that Plan nt 3D can opeen a P&ID projject and aadd or modifyy some Plant 3D elementss. Otherwise P&ID P can opeen a Plant 3D project and aalso Plant 3D d drawings but because of the limitation of P&ID as th he sub-applicaation of Plantt 3D you cann not edit Plantt 3D eelements.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 6
Multi-user: 1. Project and settings locations • •
Out of the box or user altered settings on local computer Network settings hosted at a common network location assessable to all users o o o o
• •
CUI File Palettes ARG File Project ‘start’ files
Project stored in a project folder on a common network Company’s specific blocks
The Settings For a multi-user installation of AutoCAD P&ID many of the same alterations and changes can still be applied on a per user customization with only a few modifications to some shared files. This next section will illustrate how to set up and deploy a multi-user AutoCAD P&ID installation on a network.
Network Set ups The CUI, tool palettes, support directories, plotter/printers, plot styles, templates and the arg-file add different and varying offerings to deploying a multi-user network set up. For this class we will focus on utilizing the tool palettes as the primary object for setting up our P&ID multi-user environment. The other items listed previously have been discussed in classes and labs from other presenters. But we will go over them quickly just so that everyone has a refresher course on them. As with any customization of AutoCAD it is always necessary to include those support directories in the ‘Options support File Search Path’. The illustrations following the brief descriptions show where in the Options dialog box these additions need to occur. •
•
• • •
The CUI: An XML-based file that stores customization data. On startup, the first things AutoCAD loads are its CUI files. It first loads the Enterprise CUI file, then the Main CUI file, then any partial CUI files attached to the Main, then any partial CUI files attached to the Enterprise. Support Directories: AutoCAD P&ID uses the same standard commands and settings as AutoCAD pure. These default folders can be copied to a common network drive and be easy to maintain and control. Also, this is a good location to store any custom LISP or .dvb (VBA) files as well. Plotters/Printers: In the ‘Options’ dialog box under ‘Printer Support File Path’; this would be the location necessary for network printer .stb or ctb or plot style table files Templates: Here, in the ‘Options’ dialog box under ‘Template Settings’; this would be the location necessary for the drawing template The ARG File: The .arg file stores the users profile. Whenever we remember to save it from time to time. This profile tells AutoCAD where the appropriate files will be found. The .arg profile stores where to find the menu files, toolbars and tool palettes. If you save the profile to the network support directory each time you change your toolbars or palettes you’ll have a consistent backup just in case
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 7
•
you get g a new com mputer or it happens h to go o down. You ccan quickly seet up anotherr computer to o run your ‘own’ interface quickly an nd not lose tim me changing eeverything to o your liking. Workkspaces: Worrkspaces are part p of the CU UI-File and aree a set of menus, toolbarss, palettes, an nd ribbon contrrol panels thaat are grouped d and organizzed so that yoou can work in a custom, ttask-oriented drawing envirronment. Whe en you use a workspace, only o the menuus, toolbars, aand palettes that are relevvant to a task are a displayed. In addition, a workspace e may automaatically display the ribbon, a special palette with task-sspecific contrrol panels. The power of using workspaaces makes it possible to o operate in diffferent workk modes inside e AutoCAD. When W in a P&ID drawing attmosphere yo ou’ll want to make sure yo our workkspace is eithe er set do one of the default workspacess that comes standard witth P&ID (PIP, ISA, ISO, …) orr utilize the sttandard AutoC CAD workspaace when P&I D and the acccompanying palettes and toolbars are not needed. Fo or multi-userr environmentt setup, we a re going to crreate a worksspace and savve it out e network forr all our userss to have. to the
IIn this examp ple, we will usse C:\PlantTem mplate\ to ho old network ffiles, and our template pro oject will be aat C C:\PlantTemp plate\Template2015\
SSelect the wo orkspace gearr icon at the top lefft (used to bee lower right) of the AutoC CAD window. When it o opens it will look somethin ng like this:
IIn the above illustration, you y can see th he default wo orkspaces thaat AutoCAD P& &ID delivers iin the install. I will SShow how to create a new w workspace by b picking the e ‘Save Curre nt As….’ selecction near thee bottom of tthe list.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 8
W When this is selected s the following f win ndow opens to prompt youu for a new name:
N Now the new w workspace will w appear in the list with the rest of thhe previous w workspaces.
N Now, in order to make this available to o the rest of your network users we neeed to export tthis workspacce and all tthe settings that accompany it to the network suppo ort directory.. Now select tthe ‘Customizze…’ button o on the w workspace lisst. TThe dialog bo ox that appears (next page e) looks amaziingly like the CUI, oh, but w wait a minutee, it is the CUI dialog b box. But how w do we generrate a networrk friendly wo orkspace/CUI for all workeers to use?
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 9
O On the illustration above, I have circled d the ‘Transfe er’ tab at the ttop of the CU UI dialog box. Once it is selected tthe next dialo og window ap ppears; selectt the ‘Save Ass..’ option. U Use the Save As dialog to ssave the pnp.cuix to C C:\PlantTemp plate\Template2015\ and call it AU.cuixx
Now your network folder should look sometthing similar to this illustraation below. In the picturee below, we naamed the CUI file Au.cuix. This folder and the sub-foolder will be o our repository for all our custo omized files fo or AutoCAD Plant P 3D 2015 5.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 10
H How to add custom blocks? TThere are two o ways to add d custom bloccks to a P&ID project. Everry company h has specific eq quipment and d p processes the ey like to use in their desiggns. In a stand dard AutoCAD D environmen nt most comp panies have a block llibrary. TThe easiest way w to add a block b to a pro oject is to inse ert the block iinto the draw wing then righ ht click on it th hen use tthe ‘Convert to P&ID Obje ect…’ comman nd. After clickking on the coommand the ‘Convert to P P&ID window opens aand allows yo ou to select th he property that that the block b will assuume. It will only be availab ble in the drawing it w was converte ed from and iss not available for other drrawings.
TThe best defined way to add a company’s specific blocks to the A AutoCAD P&ID D library is to o add it througgh the p projects prop perties dialog. Right click on ‘Project’ in the Project M Manager and select ‘Propeerties’ from th he ccontext menu u.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 11
A After selectin ng ‘Propertiess’ the window w below appeaars. This is th e project setu up window fo or AutoCAD P P&ID 2 2015. Since we w are addingg an item to th he Engineerin ng Items we nneed to expan nd those secttions so we caan decide w where to classsify and add the air grid we w started witth.
A Air grid is nott a standard ittem in any off the lists so le et’s place it inn the ‘Miscellaneous Equip pment’ directtory u under its own n equipment type. By rightt clicking on the t miscellaneeous directorry I have an o option to creaate a new ssubdirectory.. We’ll create one called ‘A Air Grid Demo o’.
A After creatingg our sub classsification for the air grid pick p ‘Add Sym mbol’ so we caan add the blo ock from our library.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 12
TThe inset win ndow below shows the info ormation and d settings I addded after selecting the Airr_Grid.dwg in n our b block library. I want the paart to be on the Equip laye er, also I wantt to allow it to o be scaled, p prompted forr a tag n number and designation, d it’s i at the ‘Endline’ and I want w to add a nozzle to it aas well.
TThe followingg illustration shows s my air grid in the ‘Symbol’ list annd I have optiions to ‘Edit SSymbol, Remo ove, Edit B Block and Add to Tool Pale ette’. Today all a I’m going to do it add thhe Air Grid to my palette fo or me and evveryone eelse to use.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 13
SShow below, the air grid iss shown with some of the other custom m blocks that have alreadyy been added to the p palette.
M Multi-user Tool T Palettes (with custo om blocks added) a P Project tool palettes p are a popular tool to use. AutoCAD P&ID utiilizes tool palettes out of tthe box for th he iinstalled stan ndards that co ome in the paackage. But, as a projects proogress or with existing com mpany standaards, aadditional blo ocks will need d to be added d to the project set up filess. By default, the projSymb bolStyle.dwg located iin the root directory of the e AutoCAD installation retains or refereences all of th he standard b blocks that aree iinserted by way w of the too ol palettes intto the drawings. In a multi--user environ nment the tricck is how you u make ssure that everyone is usingg the same to ools to work with w on the saame networkk projects.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 14
A Above, the paalette on the left is part off our P&ID EN NV (Environ) EEquipment paalette. Lookin ng at the addittional ttabs on the le eft, all of them m have a custtom name. Ass we have donne, you can aadd your own custom bloccks to the p project and project p palette es. The illustrration on the right are all tthe custom an nd typical blo ocks we utilizee on m many projectts. The blocks shown in gre een are what we determinned were alreeady included in the standaard P&ID iinstall. All the e rest were ad dded into the e network pro oject file. P Previously we e discussed ad dding a blockk to the existin ng library filee (projSymbolStyle.dwg). B But what if you have a llot of blocks to t add to the library? TThe best wayy to include a large number of blocks to o a project is tto create a master block file. The namee you give tthis block file e is at your disscretion and it i must be avaailable on thee network. Prreferably in th he custom ressource d directory whe ere each Auto oCAD P&ID in nstall will be directed, d throough the optio ons dialog bo ox support filee search p path to includ de.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 15
IIn one of the previous illusstrations it sh howed one off our custom ppalettes and the block librrary. The blocck library iis all in one drawing. We did d this for control. The tho ought of havi ng custom blocks all over the network in d different dire ectories and on o users hard drives does not n offer mucch hope in maaintenance an nd nor comm monality b between draw wing sets. The custom block illustration n shows over 400 blocks th hat were used d prior to ourr aadoption of AutoCAD A P&ID D and is still maintained m to oday. EEarlier we waalked through h the process of added a block the P&ID D library. Addding the blockks from the m master b block file is th he same process. Only diffference is the ere is one file to search forr, not one block, one file, aanywhere. Block add pro B ocess rewind:: Right click on the project name in the Project Manaager. Click on n ‘Properties’ in the p pop up windo ow. Select the e appropriate e equipment category c to pplace the blocck or create a category for it (right cclick ‘New’ orr ‘Rename’). IIn order to uttilize all paletttes from a ne etwork resourrce the AutoCCAD options n need to be directed to that rresource. As shown s earlier, the file options ‘Tool Palettes File Loccations’ need ds to be pointted to the nettwork rresource fold der. All users file f options must m be set to the same loccation in ordeer for all to uttilize the same p palettes.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 16
TThe followingg process will show everyo one how to exxport and cre ate a custom m palette. • • • •
In Au utoCAD, right click on the tool t palette. The T followingg dialog openss up. Click on the ‘Custo omize Palette es’ command.. C n window ope ens up. Now the Palette Customization Now right click and select ‘Expo ort’. The file save s dialog boox opens up aand allows yo ou to save thee ork folder. exported palettes to the netwo
•
Afterr exporting alll the custom tool t palettes to the netwoork folder it’s a good time to change thee ‘Tool Paletttes File Locattions’ to the network n file lo ocation. Finallly you can import the pale ettes back in. The softwaree will place th he palette on the left side p palettes list. Do D this till all the t palettes have h been added back intoo the list as sh hown below.
•
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 17
•
Now you can dragg and drop the e imported paalettes into thhe palette gro oup on the right. The paleette p can be created by entering a new nam me, renamingg one of the sstandard grou up names or group impo orting an expo orted group.
O Offsite use IInevitably, wo orking on a project away from f work is sometimes s a necessity. Whether it’s taking work home, ccombining wo ork with anotther office loccation or worrking with an outside contrractor; working with the same p project files iss paramount to the successs and continuity of the prroject. Many o of the processses we’ve alrready p presented will allow offsite design to ru un in tandem with the offiice project. Here are the steps for worrking on a pro H oject offsite or o in conjuncttion with anotther office: • • • •
Copyy the project directory. d All files f in the prroject directoory! Copyy all the suppo ort files Export all the pale ettes de this PDF document so they t can learn n how to utiliize the same data Includ
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 18
SQL Server The decision to use SQL Server is driven by the number of users modifying project data at one time. The default database type, SQLite is valid for up to 2 TB per file, so the project file size is not the issue. Because the SQLite database is a single file, successful read/writes depend on fast access. When more users access the database at one time, they have a higher chance of hitting the database at the same time (or close enough). Due to network configurations, server performance, computer performance, network loads, and a host of other factors, a precise number of users cannot be given. However, through experience with various clients, most people start to see performance degradation with between 6 - 10 users. If you know you will have more than 10 active users, you should implement SQL Server Express or SQL Server. You must also use SQL Server if you plan to use Plant 3D with Vault. Database Types SQL Server – An enterprise-level product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server with administration tools for replicating databases between sites, and other advanced features SQL Server Express – A free product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server without advanced administration tools. You can still configure backups. SQLite – An open source file-based database used by developers world-wide. The database engine is fast with good performance. Versions AutoCAD Plant 3D has been run with SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2012. Articles on setting up SQL Server Express and creating backups are available here: http://www.pdoteam.com/series/plant3d-on-sql-express/
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 19
Vault Autodesk Vault (http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-vault-family/features ) is document management software that integrates with many products in the Autodesk portfolio. In 2014, Vault became integrated into the Plant Project Manager. Vault should be used in the following conditions: • • •
You have multiple sites that need to share data Your Plant project structure contains all external references. You can use SQL Server or SQL Server Express.
Vault allows you to store the drawing data in a central location, and have satellite offices check in/out drawings on an as-needed basis. Currently, all xrefs must reside within the project structure, as Plant uses it’s own working directory for Vaulted projects.
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 20
IIn this paper, we will go sttep by step th hrough the prrocess of settiing up AutoCA AD P&ID in a multiuser neetwork eenvironment. You’ll learn the subtleties of utilizing project p files (ssymbols and tags) in a nettwork environ nment w with the project team. Offfsite project members m will need access to the same project inform mation as tho ose in tthe office. Yo ou’ll be shown n how to supp ply those mem mbers with thhe project filees. K Key Topics Co overed: • • •
Settin ng up a multi--user network environmen nt Utilizing project files with all prroject membe ers Offsitte access to current c projecct data
Contents Which environment do you work in? Single-or multi-user?.................................................................................... 3 Single user:........................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Settings ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 New Project ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Project Storage Location .................................................................................................................................. 5 Projects ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Custom Blocks .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Standard Project Set Up................................................................................................................................... 6 Multi-user: ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Settings ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Network Set ups .............................................................................................................................................. 7 How to add custom blocks? ........................................................................................................................... 11 Multi-user Tool Palettes (with custom blocks added) ................................................................................... 14 Offsite use ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 SQL Server .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Vault ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 2
W Which environ nment do d you work in n: Singlee-or mu ulti-useer? IIf you work in n a single user environmen nt, continue below. b If you w work in a muulti-user envirronment, skip p to your ssection.
SSingle user: 1 1. Project and d settings locaations • • • •
Out of o the box or user altered settings s on lo ocal computerr Proje ect stored on users hard drrive or in a prroject folder oon a common n network Workks on projectss other than P&ID P Comp pany or indiviidual’s custom m blocks
TThe Settingss W Whether you’re Single or Multi, most people p (or the e network adm min) will instaall AutoCAD aand then wheen he is o out of site, we begin making subtle chaanges to make e the installattion our own. AutoCAD P& &ID is no exceeption. U Users can maake changes to the interfacce, command d line commannds (pgp file),, background d colors, styless etc. A Anything to make m AutoCAD comfortingg, personal an nd productivee to the user. O Out of the bo ox and installe ed, all AutoCA AD P&ID instaallations look just the samee at Vanilla A AutoCAD. Opeening up tthe ‘Options’ dialog box an nd scrolling th hrough all of the search paaths and file llocations, thee new installaation will llook the same e as most all other AutoCA AD installations. Why? Beccause it’s still an AutoCAD.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 3
N New Projectt B Before we staart a new pro oject we need to create it first. f In the Prroject Managger select the dropdown bo ox and p pick ‘New Pro oject’.
TThe ‘Project Setup S Wizard’ appears now w. You have a choice now.. Start with a standard tem mplate projecct that is iin the AutoCA AD P&ID direcctory OR as we w will do, ‘Co opy settings frrom existing project’ (see red marks in the ssnapshot belo ow). This projject should be the one thaat has includeed all compan ny standards ((line colors, laayers, cclasses etc.) and a custom blocks. b In a mu ultiuser envirronment this w will be the baase that each project is creeated ffrom.
EEnter in the project p name.. In this instan nce I used ‘20 0-21710A’ as my project name. Descrip ption is option nal. The p project directtory will be in n ‘ActiveProje ects’ directoryy which is a neetwork locatiion. AutoCAD D P&ID will aautomaticallyy create the project p directo ory based on the projects ‘Name’.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 4
P Project Storrage Location SSingle users will w utilize the e local hard drive or a company networrk drive for prroject storagee. Even as a siingle u user in a com mpany environ nment it is still good to utilize the netw ork. Usually a network hass a backup syystem, so rrestoring lostt or (accidently) deleted files can be done fairly quic kly……in most cases. TThe biggest benefit b of utiliizing the com mpany’s netwo ork is so otheers have accesss to the draw wings as well.. This is eessential in a multi-user, multi-access m environment. e If you have a network, usse it!
P Projects SSince the core installation is still AutoCAD, the user has the oppoortunity to wo ork on projectts other than P&ID.
C Custom Bloccks A AutoCAD P&ID comes with h a robust sellection of industry standarrd blocks. Butt typically eacch company d develops a custom blocck library to compliment c standard s distrributed blockss.
(Itemss shown above: Clarifier, C Aeratorr, Inclined Plate))
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 5
SStandard Prroject Set Up p TThe standard AutoCAD P& &ID 2015 project files and folders f from a created pro oject is shown n below:
W When you cre eate a new prroject these are a the files th hat will be geenerated in th he new directtory. Note thaat there aare some files which are Plant P 3D speciific like Pipingg.dcf. Becausee of that Plan nt 3D can opeen a P&ID projject and aadd or modifyy some Plant 3D elementss. Otherwise P&ID P can opeen a Plant 3D project and aalso Plant 3D d drawings but because of the limitation of P&ID as th he sub-applicaation of Plantt 3D you cann not edit Plantt 3D eelements.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 6
Multi-user: 1. Project and settings locations • •
Out of the box or user altered settings on local computer Network settings hosted at a common network location assessable to all users o o o o
• •
CUI File Palettes ARG File Project ‘start’ files
Project stored in a project folder on a common network Company’s specific blocks
The Settings For a multi-user installation of AutoCAD P&ID many of the same alterations and changes can still be applied on a per user customization with only a few modifications to some shared files. This next section will illustrate how to set up and deploy a multi-user AutoCAD P&ID installation on a network.
Network Set ups The CUI, tool palettes, support directories, plotter/printers, plot styles, templates and the arg-file add different and varying offerings to deploying a multi-user network set up. For this class we will focus on utilizing the tool palettes as the primary object for setting up our P&ID multi-user environment. The other items listed previously have been discussed in classes and labs from other presenters. But we will go over them quickly just so that everyone has a refresher course on them. As with any customization of AutoCAD it is always necessary to include those support directories in the ‘Options support File Search Path’. The illustrations following the brief descriptions show where in the Options dialog box these additions need to occur. •
•
• • •
The CUI: An XML-based file that stores customization data. On startup, the first things AutoCAD loads are its CUI files. It first loads the Enterprise CUI file, then the Main CUI file, then any partial CUI files attached to the Main, then any partial CUI files attached to the Enterprise. Support Directories: AutoCAD P&ID uses the same standard commands and settings as AutoCAD pure. These default folders can be copied to a common network drive and be easy to maintain and control. Also, this is a good location to store any custom LISP or .dvb (VBA) files as well. Plotters/Printers: In the ‘Options’ dialog box under ‘Printer Support File Path’; this would be the location necessary for network printer .stb or ctb or plot style table files Templates: Here, in the ‘Options’ dialog box under ‘Template Settings’; this would be the location necessary for the drawing template The ARG File: The .arg file stores the users profile. Whenever we remember to save it from time to time. This profile tells AutoCAD where the appropriate files will be found. The .arg profile stores where to find the menu files, toolbars and tool palettes. If you save the profile to the network support directory each time you change your toolbars or palettes you’ll have a consistent backup just in case
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 7
•
you get g a new com mputer or it happens h to go o down. You ccan quickly seet up anotherr computer to o run your ‘own’ interface quickly an nd not lose tim me changing eeverything to o your liking. Workkspaces: Worrkspaces are part p of the CU UI-File and aree a set of menus, toolbarss, palettes, an nd ribbon contrrol panels thaat are grouped d and organizzed so that yoou can work in a custom, ttask-oriented drawing envirronment. Whe en you use a workspace, only o the menuus, toolbars, aand palettes that are relevvant to a task are a displayed. In addition, a workspace e may automaatically display the ribbon, a special palette with task-sspecific contrrol panels. The power of using workspaaces makes it possible to o operate in diffferent workk modes inside e AutoCAD. When W in a P&ID drawing attmosphere yo ou’ll want to make sure yo our workkspace is eithe er set do one of the default workspacess that comes standard witth P&ID (PIP, ISA, ISO, …) orr utilize the sttandard AutoC CAD workspaace when P&I D and the acccompanying palettes and toolbars are not needed. Fo or multi-userr environmentt setup, we a re going to crreate a worksspace and savve it out e network forr all our userss to have. to the
IIn this examp ple, we will usse C:\PlantTem mplate\ to ho old network ffiles, and our template pro oject will be aat C C:\PlantTemp plate\Template2015\
SSelect the wo orkspace gearr icon at the top lefft (used to bee lower right) of the AutoC CAD window. When it o opens it will look somethin ng like this:
IIn the above illustration, you y can see th he default wo orkspaces thaat AutoCAD P& &ID delivers iin the install. I will SShow how to create a new w workspace by b picking the e ‘Save Curre nt As….’ selecction near thee bottom of tthe list.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 8
W When this is selected s the following f win ndow opens to prompt youu for a new name:
N Now the new w workspace will w appear in the list with the rest of thhe previous w workspaces.
N Now, in order to make this available to o the rest of your network users we neeed to export tthis workspacce and all tthe settings that accompany it to the network suppo ort directory.. Now select tthe ‘Customizze…’ button o on the w workspace lisst. TThe dialog bo ox that appears (next page e) looks amaziingly like the CUI, oh, but w wait a minutee, it is the CUI dialog b box. But how w do we generrate a networrk friendly wo orkspace/CUI for all workeers to use?
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 9
O On the illustration above, I have circled d the ‘Transfe er’ tab at the ttop of the CU UI dialog box. Once it is selected tthe next dialo og window ap ppears; selectt the ‘Save Ass..’ option. U Use the Save As dialog to ssave the pnp.cuix to C C:\PlantTemp plate\Template2015\ and call it AU.cuixx
Now your network folder should look sometthing similar to this illustraation below. In the picturee below, we naamed the CUI file Au.cuix. This folder and the sub-foolder will be o our repository for all our custo omized files fo or AutoCAD Plant P 3D 2015 5.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 10
H How to add custom blocks? TThere are two o ways to add d custom bloccks to a P&ID project. Everry company h has specific eq quipment and d p processes the ey like to use in their desiggns. In a stand dard AutoCAD D environmen nt most comp panies have a block llibrary. TThe easiest way w to add a block b to a pro oject is to inse ert the block iinto the draw wing then righ ht click on it th hen use tthe ‘Convert to P&ID Obje ect…’ comman nd. After clickking on the coommand the ‘Convert to P P&ID window opens aand allows yo ou to select th he property that that the block b will assuume. It will only be availab ble in the drawing it w was converte ed from and iss not available for other drrawings.
TThe best defined way to add a company’s specific blocks to the A AutoCAD P&ID D library is to o add it througgh the p projects prop perties dialog. Right click on ‘Project’ in the Project M Manager and select ‘Propeerties’ from th he ccontext menu u.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 11
A After selectin ng ‘Propertiess’ the window w below appeaars. This is th e project setu up window fo or AutoCAD P P&ID 2 2015. Since we w are addingg an item to th he Engineerin ng Items we nneed to expan nd those secttions so we caan decide w where to classsify and add the air grid we w started witth.
A Air grid is nott a standard ittem in any off the lists so le et’s place it inn the ‘Miscellaneous Equip pment’ directtory u under its own n equipment type. By rightt clicking on the t miscellaneeous directorry I have an o option to creaate a new ssubdirectory.. We’ll create one called ‘A Air Grid Demo o’.
A After creatingg our sub classsification for the air grid pick p ‘Add Sym mbol’ so we caan add the blo ock from our library.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 12
TThe inset win ndow below shows the info ormation and d settings I addded after selecting the Airr_Grid.dwg in n our b block library. I want the paart to be on the Equip laye er, also I wantt to allow it to o be scaled, p prompted forr a tag n number and designation, d it’s i at the ‘Endline’ and I want w to add a nozzle to it aas well.
TThe followingg illustration shows s my air grid in the ‘Symbol’ list annd I have optiions to ‘Edit SSymbol, Remo ove, Edit B Block and Add to Tool Pale ette’. Today all a I’m going to do it add thhe Air Grid to my palette fo or me and evveryone eelse to use.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 13
SShow below, the air grid iss shown with some of the other custom m blocks that have alreadyy been added to the p palette.
M Multi-user Tool T Palettes (with custo om blocks added) a P Project tool palettes p are a popular tool to use. AutoCAD P&ID utiilizes tool palettes out of tthe box for th he iinstalled stan ndards that co ome in the paackage. But, as a projects proogress or with existing com mpany standaards, aadditional blo ocks will need d to be added d to the project set up filess. By default, the projSymb bolStyle.dwg located iin the root directory of the e AutoCAD installation retains or refereences all of th he standard b blocks that aree iinserted by way w of the too ol palettes intto the drawings. In a multi--user environ nment the tricck is how you u make ssure that everyone is usingg the same to ools to work with w on the saame networkk projects.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 14
A Above, the paalette on the left is part off our P&ID EN NV (Environ) EEquipment paalette. Lookin ng at the addittional ttabs on the le eft, all of them m have a custtom name. Ass we have donne, you can aadd your own custom bloccks to the p project and project p palette es. The illustrration on the right are all tthe custom an nd typical blo ocks we utilizee on m many projectts. The blocks shown in gre een are what we determinned were alreeady included in the standaard P&ID iinstall. All the e rest were ad dded into the e network pro oject file. P Previously we e discussed ad dding a blockk to the existin ng library filee (projSymbolStyle.dwg). B But what if you have a llot of blocks to t add to the library? TThe best wayy to include a large number of blocks to o a project is tto create a master block file. The namee you give tthis block file e is at your disscretion and it i must be avaailable on thee network. Prreferably in th he custom ressource d directory whe ere each Auto oCAD P&ID in nstall will be directed, d throough the optio ons dialog bo ox support filee search p path to includ de.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 15
IIn one of the previous illusstrations it sh howed one off our custom ppalettes and the block librrary. The blocck library iis all in one drawing. We did d this for control. The tho ought of havi ng custom blocks all over the network in d different dire ectories and on o users hard drives does not n offer mucch hope in maaintenance an nd nor comm monality b between draw wing sets. The custom block illustration n shows over 400 blocks th hat were used d prior to ourr aadoption of AutoCAD A P&ID D and is still maintained m to oday. EEarlier we waalked through h the process of added a block the P&ID D library. Addding the blockks from the m master b block file is th he same process. Only diffference is the ere is one file to search forr, not one block, one file, aanywhere. Block add pro B ocess rewind:: Right click on the project name in the Project Manaager. Click on n ‘Properties’ in the p pop up windo ow. Select the e appropriate e equipment category c to pplace the blocck or create a category for it (right cclick ‘New’ orr ‘Rename’). IIn order to uttilize all paletttes from a ne etwork resourrce the AutoCCAD options n need to be directed to that rresource. As shown s earlier, the file options ‘Tool Palettes File Loccations’ need ds to be pointted to the nettwork rresource fold der. All users file f options must m be set to the same loccation in ordeer for all to uttilize the same p palettes.
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 16
TThe followingg process will show everyo one how to exxport and cre ate a custom m palette. • • • •
In Au utoCAD, right click on the tool t palette. The T followingg dialog openss up. Click on the ‘Custo omize Palette es’ command.. C n window ope ens up. Now the Palette Customization Now right click and select ‘Expo ort’. The file save s dialog boox opens up aand allows yo ou to save thee ork folder. exported palettes to the netwo
•
Afterr exporting alll the custom tool t palettes to the netwoork folder it’s a good time to change thee ‘Tool Paletttes File Locattions’ to the network n file lo ocation. Finallly you can import the pale ettes back in. The softwaree will place th he palette on the left side p palettes list. Do D this till all the t palettes have h been added back intoo the list as sh hown below.
•
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 17
•
Now you can dragg and drop the e imported paalettes into thhe palette gro oup on the right. The paleette p can be created by entering a new nam me, renamingg one of the sstandard grou up names or group impo orting an expo orted group.
O Offsite use IInevitably, wo orking on a project away from f work is sometimes s a necessity. Whether it’s taking work home, ccombining wo ork with anotther office loccation or worrking with an outside contrractor; working with the same p project files iss paramount to the successs and continuity of the prroject. Many o of the processses we’ve alrready p presented will allow offsite design to ru un in tandem with the offiice project. Here are the steps for worrking on a pro H oject offsite or o in conjuncttion with anotther office: • • • •
Copyy the project directory. d All files f in the prroject directoory! Copyy all the suppo ort files Export all the pale ettes de this PDF document so they t can learn n how to utiliize the same data Includ
A AutoCAD P&ID D in a Multi-use er Environment
Page 18
SQL Server The decision to use SQL Server is driven by the number of users modifying project data at one time. The default database type, SQLite is valid for up to 2 TB per file, so the project file size is not the issue. Because the SQLite database is a single file, successful read/writes depend on fast access. When more users access the database at one time, they have a higher chance of hitting the database at the same time (or close enough). Due to network configurations, server performance, computer performance, network loads, and a host of other factors, a precise number of users cannot be given. However, through experience with various clients, most people start to see performance degradation with between 6 - 10 users. If you know you will have more than 10 active users, you should implement SQL Server Express or SQL Server. You must also use SQL Server if you plan to use Plant 3D with Vault. Database Types SQL Server – An enterprise-level product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server with administration tools for replicating databases between sites, and other advanced features SQL Server Express – A free product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server without advanced administration tools. You can still configure backups. SQLite – An open source file-based database used by developers world-wide. The database engine is fast with good performance. Versions AutoCAD Plant 3D has been run with SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2012. Articles on setting up SQL Server Express and creating backups are available here: http://www.pdoteam.com/series/plant3d-on-sql-express/
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 19
Vault Autodesk Vault (http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-vault-family/features ) is document management software that integrates with many products in the Autodesk portfolio. In 2014, Vault became integrated into the Plant Project Manager. Vault should be used in the following conditions: • • •
You have multiple sites that need to share data Your Plant project structure contains all external references. You can use SQL Server or SQL Server Express.
Vault allows you to store the drawing data in a central location, and have satellite offices check in/out drawings on an as-needed basis. Currently, all xrefs must reside within the project structure, as Plant uses it’s own working directory for Vaulted projects.
AutoCAD P&ID in a Multi-user Environment
Page 20
