AutoCAD Plant 3D System Tools Variables

2012

Bruce Trevena

Cadgroup Australia

[email protected]

10/12/2012

AutoCAD Plant 3D System Tools & Variables

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 2

Contents

A. AutoCAD P&ID System Functions ....................................................................... 4

1. SLINEORTHO ....................................................................................................................... 4

2. VGRIPS .................................................................................................................................. 4

B. Plant 3D System Functions .................................................................................. 5

1. COMPRESSPROJECT ........................................................................................................ 5

2. PLANTAUDIT ........................................................................................................................ 5

3. PnPPURGELOCALUSERCACHE ..................................................................................... 6

4. PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK ........................................................................................... 6

5. SYNCSTYLESMODE ........................................................................................................... 7

C. Plant 3D System Variables ................................................................................... 8

6. PLANTCONNECTIONMARKER ........................................................................................ 8

7. PLANTCONTENTFOLDER ................................................................................................. 8

8. PLANTDEFAULTLAYER ..................................................................................................... 8

9. PLANTDYNTOOLPALETTE ............................................................................................... 9

10. PLANTGRIPEDITMODE.................................................................................................... 10

11. PLANTINSULATIONDISPLAY .......................................................................................... 10

12. PLANTINSULATIONMODE .............................................................................................. 11

13. PLANTLOCKPOINTOFSUPPORT .................................................................................. 11

14. PLANTOFFSETCONNECT ............................................................................................... 12

15. PLANTLOCKFADECTL ..................................................................................................... 12

16. PLANTMAXBENDANGLE ................................................................................................. 13

17. PLANTPCFUNICODE ........................................................................................................ 13

18. PLANTPIPESILHDISPLAY................................................................................................ 14

19. PLANTPLACEHOLDERDISPLAY .................................................................................... 14

20. PLANTPROPMISMATCHDISPLAY ................................................................................. 14

21. PLANTROUTEBEND ......................................................................................................... 15

22. PLANTSAVEDETAIL .......................................................................................................... 15

23. PLANTSLOPETHRESHOLDANGLE ............................................................................... 16

24. PLANTSPECNOTIFY ......................................................................................................... 16

25. PLANTSPECNOTIFYTIME ............................................................................................... 16

16. PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK ......................................................................................... 17

17. PLANTWELCOMEEANBLED ........................................................................................... 17

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 3

18. PLANTWELCOMENEWPROJECT .................................................................................. 17

19. PLANTWELDDISPLAY ...................................................................................................... 18

D. Additional System Functions .............................................................................. 19

20. SQL Database Maintenance ............................................................................................. 19

21. Catalogue Builder ............................................................................................................... 19

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 4

A. AutoCAD P&ID System Functions

1. SLINEORTHO

Sets whether ortho is turned on when sline is activated and whether corner points are implied

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0 Does not turn on ortho when sline is activated. Corner points are not implied

1

Temporarily turns on ortho when sline is activated. Enforces strict orthogonality. Corner points are implied

2. VGRIPS

Controls the display of vertex grips.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Drawing

Initial value: 0

0

Does not display vertex grips

1

Displays all vertex grips except the first and last points. Set VGRIPS to 1 to alter sline arcs

Displays all vertex grips. Set VGRIPS to 2 if you want to enable grips on the first and last points of a line so that you can shorten line segments

2

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 5

B. Plant 3D System Functions

1. COMPRESSPROJECT

Compresses and defragments the cached drawing data that accumulates while project drawings are modified.

Access Methods

Command entry: compressproject

Summary

Compresses the drawing data, which is constantly updated as you work on project drawings. To optimize the data cache and improve the program performance, you can do a periodic project compression.

For compression to succeed, the project cannot be locked by another designer. If the project is locked, the compression process is halted.

2. PLANTAUDIT

Audits and repairs project data and drawing synchronization errors.

Access Methods

Command entry: plantaudit

Summary

If a Plant object is not found in the project database, it is erased from the drawing.

List of Prompts

The following prompts display if synchronization errors are found.

Updated cache connection data for part <handle>

Erased component <handle> not linked to project database

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 6

3. PnPPURGELOCALUSERCACHE

Running this executable purges your local cache.

Access Methods

Command entry: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013\

PnPPURGELOCALUSERCACHE.exe

Summary

Plant 3D uses a local cache to hold drawing and object data. This is done to streamline graphic

performance. As the cache file increases in size and reaches a maximum, older contents are

deleted. Fatal errors, power outages and illegal procedures such as “SAVEAS” can lead to

corruptions in the cache file and it is good practice to purge this local cache from time to time

(once a week).

4. PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK

In AutoCAD Plant 3D, you can set spec update options to check for changes to a spec and update it when they occur.

You are prompted to update the spec and the model when a change to a spec is detected.

You can select the parts or properties you want to update and set the time interval between automatic updates.

To update a Plant 3D model with a changed spec

To set automatic spec updates

PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK

PLANTSPECNOTIFY

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 7

5. SYNCSTYLESMODE

Sets how project drawings synchronize with the project database.

Type: Bitcode

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 42

The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:

1 Synchronize P&ID drawings when they are opened.

2 Synchronize open P&ID drawings when the project is modified.

4 Synchronize 3D Model drawings when they are opened.

8 Synchronize open 3D Model drawings when the project is modified.

16 Synchronize Ortho drawings when they are opened.

32 Synchronize open Ortho drawings when the project is modified.

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance. Set all bits (63) to update P&ID, 3D Model, and Ortho drawings when they are opened, and if the project is modified in Project Setup. The default (42) synchronizes open P&ID, open 3D Model, and Ortho drawings if the project is modified in project setup.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 8

C. Plant 3D System Variables

6. PLANTCONNECTIONMARKER Toggles the display of the disconnect marker.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Hides disconnect markers

1 Displays disconnect markers

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance.

7. PLANTCONTENTFOLDER

Displays the shared content catalog folder.

(Read-only)

Type: String

Saved in: Registry

You can use PLANTMODIFYSHAREDCONTENTFOLDER to set this variable.

Note

The Shared Content Folder applies to the installation of AutoCAD Plant 3D.

Default: C:\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013 Content\

8. PLANTDEFAULTLAYER

Sets the piping layer to use when using automated layer assignments and the layer cannot be determined.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: ”0”

Sets the layer to use when the automated layer name cannot be determined. For example, if you are naming layers by line number and change the line number to unassigned.

An empty value (setvar "PLANTDEFAULTLAYER" "") will use the current layer.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 9

9. PLANTDYNTOOLPALETTE

Loads the dynamic pipe spec tool palette from the current spec.

Access Methods

Command entry: plantdynamictoolpalette

Summary

You can enable or disable the dynamic pipe spec tool palette.

List of Prompts

The Dynamic Pipe Spec Tool Palette is currently <enabled>.

PlantDynamicToolPalette [Enable/Disable]:

Enable

Displays the current spec in the tool palette.

Disable

Do not use the dynamic tool palette. You can create and customize a static piping component tool palette using the spec viewer. This behavior is compatible with AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 10

10. PLANTGRIPEDITMODE

Controls whether inline fittings are constrained to move within the current pipe segment or if they move to other connected pipe segments in the network.

Command entry: plantgripeditmode

Summary

You can control whether the inline fittings can be moved only within the current pipe segment or if they can be moved along the connected network to other pipe segments as well.

List of Prompts

The following prompts are displayed.

Grip editing constrains inline fittings to move within [pipeSegment/pipeLine]

pipeSegment

Constrains movement of inline fittings to a single pipe segment. This mode is compatible with AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010 behavior.

pipeLine

Allows movement of inline fittings to other pipe segments or to an open area in the drawing.

11. PLANTINSULATIONDISPLAY

Controls whether insulation is displayed on AutoCAD Plant 3D piping objects.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0 Do not display insulation on piping

1 Display the insulation on piping

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 11

12. PLANTINSULATIONMODE

Controls whether insulation is displayed on AutoCAD Plant 3D piping objects.

Type: String

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: simplifiedFull

simplifiedFull All components display insulation.

simplifiedPartial

Display tubing and fittings with insulation. Valves and flanges do not display insulation. Recommend setting when creating orthographic drawings.

13. PLANTLOCKPOINTOFSUPPORT

Locks the point-of-support on pipe supports.

When on (1), pipe supports that are copied or moved retain their point-of-support. The point-of-support is where the pipe support connects to structure. For example, if the support is copied to pipe that is lower in elevation, the support rod of a hanger support increases in height.

Not all pipe support types have a point of support. For example, hangers and stanchions have a point-of-support.

This variable can also be set with the Lockpointofsupport option of plantpipesupportmove.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Height of pipe support does not change.

1 Maintains the support point when copied or moved.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 12

14. PLANTOFFSETCONNECT

Controls whether AutoCAD Plant 3D attempts to connect piping when snapping to a pipe connection and using pipe offset while routing.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0 Do not connect when snapping to a pipe connector

1 Connect when snapping to a pipe connector

15. PLANTLOCKFADECTL

Fades locked piping in the 3D model.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Do not fades locked piping

1 Fades locked piping slightly

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 13

16. PLANTMAXBENDANGLE

Specifies whether pipe bends can be used up to 90 or 180 degrees.

Type: Real

Saved in: Registry

Initial value:

90

90 Specifies that bends over 90 degrees are not created.

91-179 Specifies that bends larger than 90 can be created.

180 Allows a return bend to be created .

17. PLANTPCFUNICODE

Creates Unicode PCF files.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0

Creates ASCII compatible PCF files. This format is compatible with AutoCAD Plant 3D 2011 and earlier.

1

Creates Unicode PCF files to fully support multi-byte characters. This setting may not be compatible with other programs.

Multi-byte characters are supported in ACSII PCF files using escape sequences, but this restricts the number of characters supported and can affect formatting.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 14

18. PLANTPIPESILHDISPLAY

Sets the display of the pipe silhouettes.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0

Hides pipe silhouettes. If dispsilh is on, plantpipesilhdisplay is ignored and pipe silhouettes display.

1 Displays pipe silhouettes

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance.

19. PLANTPLACEHOLDERDISPLAY

Toggles the display of the Placeholder Part glyph.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0 On

1 Off

20. PLANTPROPMISMATCHDISPLAY

Toggles the display of the property mismatch markers.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Hides property mismatch markers

1 Displays property mismatch markers

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 15

21. PLANTROUTEBEND

Creates pipe bends while routing pipe.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Creates elbow fittings when routing.

1 Creates pipe bends when routing.

This variable can be set with the pipeBEnd option of plantpipeadd.

When plantroutebend is enabled, you set plantmaxbendangle to create bends over 90 degrees.

22. PLANTSAVEDETAIL

Sets the detail of the proxy graphics when Plant 3D objects are viewed in AutoCAD or Navisworks without object enablers.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

0

Low detail. Sets proxy graphic detail to use lines. This setting reduces the size of the DWG file when saved.

1

High detail. Sets proxy graphic details to use surfaces. Recommended setting when the drawing is used in Navisworks.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 16

23. PLANTSLOPETHRESHOLDANGLE

Specifies the angle below which piping is treated as sloped.

Command entry: plantslopethresholdangle

Summary

You can specify the angle that identifies what piping is treated as sloped and what is not.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 5

1-45

On. Piping over this value is considered sloped. Piping over this value is considered angled. The default angle is 5 degrees.

0 Off. No piping is sloped.

24. PLANTSPECNOTIFY

Checks for spec file updates when the drawing loads, and on a time interval.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 1

1

On. Checks for spec file updates when the drawing loads, and on the time interval specified by the plantspecnotifytime system variable

0 Off. Does not check for spec file updates

25. PLANTSPECNOTIFYTIME

Sets the time interval that spec files are checked for updates.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 2

0 Checks for spec file updates only when the drawing loads

1-4

Sets the time interval (in hours) that spec files are checked for updates. The first check is made when the drawing loads

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 17

16. PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK

Checks for changes made to spec files that are in use in a drawing.

Access Methods

Command entry: plantspecupdatecheck

Summary

You can check for changes to a pipe spec that is used in a 3D model. If changes are discovered, you can update the model.

NoteThis command can run automatically by setting

the plantspecnotify and plantspecnotifytime system variables.

See Also

Update a Spec in a Plant 3D Model

17. PLANTWELCOMEEANBLED

Displays the Welcome Screen

Setting to 0 will prevent the opening of Plant 3D Welcome Dialogue, a address the issue of Plant 3D freezing on the Welcome Screen.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

1 On; You can create a project from the welcome screen

0 Off

18. PLANTWELCOMENEWPROJECT

Displays the New Project button on the welcome screen.

Type: Integer

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

1 On; You can create a project from the welcome screen

0 Off

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 18

19. PLANTWELDDISPLAY

Toggles the display of connection markers.

Type: Switch

Saved in: Registry

Initial value: 0

0 Hides connection markers such as weld and glue markers

1 Displays connection markers

Turn this variable off (0) to improve performance.

System Variables

AutoCAD Plant 3D 19

D. Additional System Tools

20. SQL Database Maintenance PnPProjectMaintenance.exe

21. Catalogue Builder AutoCADPlant3DCatalogBuilder.exe

*Reference: AutoCAD Plant 3D 2013, Autodesk Inc. <http://docs.autodesk.com/PLNT3D/2013/ENU/>