Plant 3D Configuration & Data Management

No. By default, the installation creates a local content folder with several content packs (e.g. a shared catalog for nozzles, supports, instruments and placeholders, as well as standards-based catalogs). In production use, a shared network folder is recommended so that all users work with the same catalogs and piping specs and nobody has to maintain their own set separately. After changing the content path, restart the Spec Editor, as it reads the configuration at startup.

Yes, with a calculated field. Under Properties, click "Add", choose type "Calculated" and in the Expression Editor combine the desired properties with the "Concatenate" operator; put separators in quotation marks in between (e.g. "-"). Optionally set it to read-only. The value is generated automatically without you having to update. Created at the "Engineering Items" level, it is available for all objects in lists – this way you keep your own tag and the customer's tag separate.

In the Project Manager, open Project Setup > Plant 3D DWG Settings > Layer and Color Settings. Use "New" to create a setting, e.g. assign layer by line number (tag) and color by layer, and set it as current. For supports, "Same layer as pipe" is recommended. Note: the change can be applied to all open drawings – test it on a copy first. Every line must have a line number for this to work.

In Project Setup, under P&ID DWG Settings > P&ID Class Definitions > Engineering Items, enter a space as the default value for the property in question (e.g. Supplier). This applies to all newly drawn objects; the annotation then remains invisible. For existing objects, add the space in the corresponding column via the Data Manager. A space also has the advantage that you can filter for it specifically in bills of materials.

1. Insert the solid at 0,0,0 and align it with the X axis. 2. Use BLOCK to create a block with base point 0,0,0 and save the drawing. 3. Convert it into a Plant part with the function for block-based parts and set the center point and direction at each connection; finish the function with "Exit", not with Enter. 4. In the Spec Editor, create a component with custom graphics and assign the appropriate block to each nominal size. For many sizes, parametric scripts are more efficient.

In Project Setup under General Settings > File Name Format, you define the components, e.g. project number – drawing type – drawing number. You can enter a fixed project number directly as a separator (adjust it when copying the project!). For a selection list, first create a new list under P&ID Class Definitions > Pipe Line Group on a list field via "Edit List", without assigning it to the field. Then select this list as the field type in the file name format. If it does not appear immediately, close Project Setup and reopen it.