Support for AutoCAD Plant 3D and P&ID

Plant 3D compares all properties of the connected lines but shows only some of them under "Show Connection". Align differences in fields that are not shown (e.g. comment, slope, custom fields) in the properties of both lines and save both drawings. If the deviations come from inherited fields, e.g. the drawing area, they are intentional – then you can ignore the message. A Data Manager view of the off-page connectors by line tag and connection number helps with checking: only two arrows may appear per number.

The placeholder appears when a connection is defined but no matching component is found. Check: 1. Is the connecting part included in the piping spec? 2. Do the end types of the connections in the catalog match? 3. Do both components have the required matching values, e.g. material and nominal size, if these are compared in the connection settings? 4. Are there several entries for the same end type combination? Then the first one is used – remove conflicting combinations.

This is controlled by the symbol's connection type (Class Definitions > Edit Symbol). Pumps are segment group breakers by default: they split the line group, which is why two line numbers are created. Valves are inline objects – the line runs through them. Reducers and spec changes are segment breakers (new segment, same line). Vessels and other equipment are end lines; a line starting there gets a new number. For your own breaker symbols, set the appropriate connection type.

First define in the validation settings what is checked; without a 3D model, deactivate the 3D checks. After "Run Validation", clicking a message zooms to the object. Open the drawing beforehand via the Project Manager, otherwise it is read-only and corrections cannot be saved. After the correction, refresh the node. Set intentional messages (e.g. drawing frames, manhole nozzles, automatically created signal lines) to "Ignore" with a right-click and hide ignored items.

In the table setup, the family designation column is used instead of the size designation. To change this: Project Setup > Isometric DWG Settings > table setup, or for orthos under "Title Block Setup" > Tables. Select the long size description, i.e. the order text. Further columns (e.g. material) can be added. Useful options: list pipes as cut pieces, output length instead of quantity, show bends separately. For orthos, activate the required BOM types (pipe, equipment, nozzles, steel) so that they are available for selection.

For branches, every piping spec needs a branch table. In the Spec Editor, open the branch table in the piping spec, click "Edit" and add the possible branch types (e.g. tee, nozzle or stub-in). Then select the nominal size combinations of header and branch, and assign the appropriate branch type with a right-click. Without an entry, Plant 3D does not create a connection at that point.