OpenPlant Modeler Help

Place Component Dialog

When placing a piping component in OpenPlant Modeler , a dialog displays allowing you to define placement information for the component. The placement dialog has two command buttons described below as well as expandable tabs in which you can define placement behavior as well as component properties for the component to be placed.

The dialog is a common dialog which is placed with all Piping/Trayline/HVAC type components. Accessed when:
  • User selects a component from any of the Piping, Trayline, HVAC or Support component galleries.
Note: Equipment type components have a separate dialog which assists you in defining the size parameters of the equipment.
Note: This dialog is remains open during placement of the component and will remain open until the command is terminated. This allows you to place more than one instance of the same component if desired.
SettingDescription
Match Properties Prompts you to select an existing component in the model and will place a component with properties matching the selected component, thus overriding the default settings in the Standard Preferences dialog. (For example, if the main size is set to 10" in the Standard Preferences dialog and you click Match Properties and select a 4" tee in the model, the program will pick up the properties of the 4" tee and place a 4" component.)
Note: The component does not have to be connected to the existing component.
Select Component Instance This option displays the Spec Selection grid for component that have more than one spec record. Once a spec record is selected, normal placement procedures will apply. If you want to change the spec record, click on the button again to display the grid.

Tag Browser

The Tag Browser is only available when:
  • Working with a WorkSet associated with a PlantSight project
  • You have a local PID drawing attached as a reference to the current model.

Either of the options above lets you access the tags from your OpenPlant PID drawing and use them when placing 3D components. When you select a piping component for placement, the following Tag Browser section is displayed at the top of the Place Component dialog:

SettingDescription
Browse Displays the Tag Browser allowing you to search through a list of existing tags that are available for the component class being placed. If you select an existing component tag number, the new component being placed will inherit the component properties associated with the selected tag number. You can opt to rename the tag number for the new component and still retain the inherited properties if desired.
Reset The button will reset the tag number to its original value.
Note: When placing components with the 2D tags, the relationship data associated with the tag must be defined in the model before the tag can be used. If not, then a message dialog listing the conflict will display. Click here on information on the possible conflicts that may encounter when placing components with 2D tags.

Settings Tab

This tab provides options relating to the placement points of piping components.

SettingDescription
Placement Point When placing a length of pipe, the dialog displays as shown above. To determine the placement point for the pipe, use the mouse to select either the center point (as shown) or one of the four corners on the pipe end in the provided bitmap shown below.
Note: The bitmap above displays when placing Pipe only.
When placing fittings, branching components and other piping components other than pipe, the Placement Point drop down enables with the following options:
  • Main_Port
  • Run_Port
  • Branch_Port (Branches Only)
  • Other
Elbow Type (Elbows Only) When placing an elbow, this drop down list displays allowing you to specify the type of elbow to be placed.
Apply Slope Settings (Applies only When Placing Pipe) The Apply Slope Settings will use the slope settings defined in the Apply Slope dialog while routing pipeline components. This allows the designer to dynamically visualize the affect a slope value on a pipeline during the designing phase and to possibly make corrections to avoid clashes with other items.

When the Apply Slope option is set, if using the AutoFitting mode, the Allow Misaligned Fittings option will automatically enable and allow rigid bend components, such as 90 deg elbows to be placed if the misalignment is within a set tolerance. By default the tolerance is 10 degrees (+5, -5 degrees on either side of the bend.)

AutoFitting Tab (For Piping Components Only)

The AutoFitting tab shown provides options to define the placement behavior when placing pipe lengths which include bends.

SettingDescription
Enable Check this option to enable the AutoFitting method for placing components. When enabled, the options section becomes available to define the bend/elbow options. If disabled, then a bend or elbow will not be placed at angles when routing pipe.
Allow Misaligned Fittings When this option is checked, rigid fittings, such as 45 and 90 degree elbows, will be allowed when placing bends using the AutoFitting method when the bend is within a 10-degree range of misalignment (+5, -5 degrees on either side). This value can be changed by modifying the configuration variable (OPM_MISALIGNMENT_ALLOWANCE=10)
Note: The Allow Misaligned Fittings option is automatically enabled when the Apply Slope Settings is selected in the Settings tab.
Corner Options Select either the Standard Elbow or Pipe Bend option from the drop down list to determine how elbow/ bends are automatically placed when routing a pipe run. Each option provides a different set of additional fields to help define how the elbow or bend is selected and placed.
Standard Elbow Options This option places an elbow when routing a 90deg. angle in a pipe length. When selected, a set of Query Options (shown above) are displayed to define how to select the correct elbow for placement:
  • Radius Type: Select from either Long Radius, Short Radius or 3R.
  • Place Trimmed Elbow: When enabled, a trimmed elbow is placed.
    • Stock Angle: Used to define the angle of the trimmed elbow. Select one of the available angles from the field.
Pipe Bend Options The Pipe Bend option places a pipe bend instead of an elbow where there is a bend with an angle which doesn't match any of the elbows in the spec. When selected it display a set of fields used to define the bend dimensions as shown:

Place Weld: When enabled, a weld symbol will be placed at the connection points of the bend.
Slope Settings (For Piping Components Only) When the apply slope settings option is enabled, this section allows you to define the slope settings before placement.

Select the method of defining the slope from the drop down list as shown:

Define a value for the method selected. Each method will display a different value field in which to enter the slope value.
  • Rise/Run: Determines the slope by how much the run will rise over a given distance. For example, with a 6/12 slope the pipe would rise 6' for every 12' of run.
  • % Percent: Uses a percent as a slope value. Using the example above, a 6/12 slope is considered a 50% slope.
  • Degree: Uses a defined degree angle to determine the slope.
Once the slope is defined select the direction of the slope as either Up or Down from the list to the right.

Properties Tab

This section displays a variety of property tabs which expand displaying editable fields to define the property values of the component. An example is shown below:

SettingDescription
Component Name Enter the tag number for the component.
Operating Conditions Represent real life conditions that a component will most likely be exposed to.
Design Conditions Specific working conditions the component class was intended to operate in.
Model Server Info Enter Design State for the component.
General Info Properties defining general physical properties of the component being placed.
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous properties pertaining to the component.

Detail Sketches

The Detail_Sketch property has been added to the OpenPlant3D schema at the DEVICE level, meaning you can define a detail sketch for a specific component to be included when generating an isometric using the OpenPlant Isometric Manager. This property can be defined when initially placing the component, or when modifying one. It is located in the Miscellaneous tabbed section as shown below:

Enter the name of the detail sketch cell into the field to include it when generating an isometric.

By default, the OpenPlant Isometrics Manager will look to the default cell libraries which are included with install, one of which is named Detail_Sketch.cel. The cell libraries are located in the Cell directory for each isometric style in the project. For example, the IFC style can be found in the following directory:

...\OPModeler_Imperial\DataSet\Isometrics\Styles\IFC\Cell\

If you define a detail sketch cell file in the Detail_Sketch property field, that cell must be included in one of the cell libraries or the isometric process will not find it causing an error. If you have existing detail sketches defined in a cell library, you can copy that file into the Cell directory for the isometric style and the Isometrics Manager will find it.

Click Here for a detailed procedure on how to add a detail sketch to a cell library and include it on an isometric.

HVAC Specific Placement Options

When placing HVAC components, the following HVAC specific options are displayed in the Place Component dialog.

In the Settings tab, select a placement point to determine which port serves as the placement point for the component. The options in the Placement Point list will vary depending on the component being placed. (Available Placement Points for Duct are Main_Port and Run Port.)
SettingDescription
Placement Point When placing fittings, branching components and other piping components other than pipe, the Placement Point drop down enables with the following options:
  • Main_Port
  • Run_Port
Apply Slope Settings **Applies to Piping components ONLY**
Connection Validation Connection validation performs a validation check based on the joints definition and connection criteria set in the configuration variables. If the connecting components fail this check these are not connected. If this option is turned off, a valid joint is created between component even if they do not satisfy the connection criteria.
HVAC Match Settings These options, when enabled, will automatically adopt the Size and System of an existing component in the drawing when you are connecting to that component. The current values for these settings as defined in the Standard Preferences dialog will be overridden.

For example, if you have an HVAC system HVU-HVS-101 set in the Standard Preferences dialog, then you place a new HVAC component to a component on a different system (HVU-HVS-102), using the Match Settings options, then the new component will be placed on the HVU-HVS-102 system and will adopt the same size as the existing component.

HVAC Port Settings

The HVAC Port Settings tab allows you to define the End Preparations for the ports on the component to be placed. An example is shown below:

SettingDescription
End Prep Defines which port to apply the EndPrep Type, Size and Length values to. You are able to define different values for each port if desired.
EndPrep Type HVAC_Flange_End, HVAC_MALE_END, HVAC_Female_End, HVAC_Plain_End
EndPrep Size Enter a size for the EndPrep Type.
Note: This is disabled if HVAC_PLAN_END is selected.
EndPrep Length Enter length for the selected EndPrep Type.
Note: As you define values for the Port Settings, the changes are dynamically updated in the drawing as you tab to the next field.

AutoFitting Settings

When placing duct, it is suggested to enable the AutoFitting method which will automatically recognize and place components where a change of direction, or a transition is included in the placement process. The AutoFittings settings will define the type of component that will be automatically placed in these situations. Use the tabs displayed below to define the placement options for Elbows, Transition and Branch components using the AutoFitting method.

SettingDescription
Enable When enabled, all the settings provided in the above AutoFitting interface will be applied when placing the duct components. If the check box is disabled, the AutoFitting rules from the AutoFittingRules.xml file will get applied and all the controls from AutoFitting tab will be disabled.

Elbow Options

SettingDescription
R/D The value entered in R/D textbox will decide radius for the elbows placed using the AutoFitting method.
Rectangular Elbow Options Type: Select either Radius Elbow or Mitered from the list. This determines which type of elbow is placed using the AutoFitting method.


Standard Throat Length: Determines the throat length of the mitered elbow.

Vanes: Toggles the placement of vanes in the elbow.

Round Elbow Options There are three types of Round Elbow types available:
  • Round Stamped
  • Mitered
  • Segmented
Placement of the Round Stamped elbow is dependent on its availability in the selected spec. If the size is not available, the AutoFit function will search for a Mitered/Segmented elbow in the spec and place accordingly.
Oval Elbow Options The Oval Stamped type is the only available. However, depending on the Number of Segments defined, either a stamped or segmented elbow will be place.
  • Number of Segments = 0 (Stamped elbow placed)


  • Number of Segments >1 (Segmented elbow placed)
Transition Options
SettingDescription
Transition Divergence Angle For Transitions (Reducers) should provide option to define maximum allowable divergence angle. If values entered for this exceed this limit transition length should be recalculated according to max allowable angle.
Branch Options
SettingDescription
Branch Options Two options are available as branch options:
  • Takeoffs
  • Tees

Each option provides a different set of options to choose from for placement as detailed below.

Takeoff Options If the Takeoff branch option was selected, then the following takeoff options are available for placement:
  • Rectangular Takeoffs
    • Angled
    • Radius
  • Round Takeoffs
    • Angled
    • Conical
Tee Options When the Tee branch option is selected, the following set of Tee options are available for placement:
  • Rectangular Tee Options
    • Radius Tee
    • Square Throat Tee
  • Round Tee Options
    • Round Tee
    • Saddle Tee

Design Conditions

The Design Conditions tab provides fields to define the physical parameters of the component. The field options will vary depending on the type of component being placed.

Required Values
The Rectangular duct option requires values for the Main Width and Main Height. These fields will by default use the current values defined in the Standard Preferences dialog, but the values defined in the Design Conditions fields will override the default.
Note: If placing a predefined component from the spec such as Round or Oval duct the fields in this tab will be read only.
Key-in: MECHADDIN PLACE COMPONENTBYNAME
Parent topic: Common OpenPlant Modeler Dialogs