PlantWise Help

Importing Obstacle Data From Design Files

Another way to create obstacles in PlantWise is to import obstacles from design or drawing files. The import operation can process the currently open design file (Masterfile), or reference files attached to the current file.
  1. To start the Obstacle Import process, choose Model > Import > Obstacles from Design Files from the PlantWise menu in CAD

    Obstacle Import menu selection.

    The Import Obstacles button opens a file selection dialog that allows you to select which file or files in the current CAD session should be read in order to generate PlantWise obstacles.

    Obstacle Import file selection dialog.

The first entry, “This design file,” in the dialog is the currently open file. The remaining entries are the reference files previously attached to this design file. The list format for the reference files is Description, File Name.

  1. To add obstacles to the PlantWise model, simply select one or more files and click Accept. The files will be processed in the order they are listed in the selection dialog.

    The Check All button will select all of the files, including “This design file,” for processing.

    The Clear All button will de-select all of the files listed.

Each file will be scanned for 3D objects. A PlantWise obstacle will be created for every 3D element found. Elements such as lines, arcs, and text will be ignored. Cells will be treated as a single element and a bounding box that fully encloses the cell’s elements will be created. Therefore, 2D elements will have an effect on the volume of the obstacle created for cells since 2D elements affect the range of cells.
The process that imports obstacles from files does NOT check if there already is an obstacle at the given coordinates. Nor does it consolidate overlapping obstacles or filter out elements that are fully contained inside of other elements.

Warning: This function should NOT be invoked on “This design file” if the currently open file contains elements that are already in the current PlantWise model.

As an example, consider the following simple model:

Sample model for obstacle import.

This file is attached as a reference file to the PlantWise Basic-Demo model, which has been modified.

Modified Basic-Demo model.

After the Import Obstacles function is invoked on the reference file, the PlantWise model now has obstacles for the elements in the simple model. These obstacles are the yellow, semi-transparent boxes.

Imported obstacles.

When the modified Basic-Demo model is routed with these new obstacles, the result is as shown below.

Routing result with imported obstacles.

The three highlighted lines demonstrate the results of adding the obstacles.
  • The line is pushed out to the left so it routes around the imported structure.
  • The line also jogs to the left to avoid running into the imported pump in the structure.
  • And the line drops to avoid the top floor of the imported structure.

Note: The display of all obstacles has been turned off and some PlantWise components have been deleted from the design file to clarify the image.
Parent topic: Obstacles