Training Manual: Basics & Functions

Version 11.
Module 3
Basics & Functions
Training Manual
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Contents
Session 1................................................................. 1-1

The Principles of PDMS ............................................................................... 1-1
Objectives .................................................................................................. 1-1
Must Know Points ...................................................................................... 1-1
How PDMS Can Help You ......................................................................... 1-2
How PDMS is Structured ........................................................................... 1-5
PDMS Databases....................................................................................... 1-9
How PDMS Data is Stored....................................................................... 1-10
Navigating Around the Database ............................................................. 1-14
Attributes in PDMS................................................................................... 1-17
UDA (User Defined Attributes) ................................................................. 1-21
Session 2................................................................. 2-1
Controlling PDMS......................................................................................... 2-1
Objectives .................................................................................................. 2-1
Must Know Points ...................................................................................... 2-1
Accessing the Design Environment............................................................ 2-2
Window Setup ............................................................................................ 2-3
Using the Mouse ........................................................................................ 2-4
Using Menus .............................................................................................. 2-5
Using Forms............................................................................................... 2-7
Accessing On-line Help............................................................................ 2-11
Saving Your Work .................................................................................... 2-12
Leaving PDMS ......................................................................................... 2-12
Exercise 1 ................................................................................................ 2-13
Session 3................................................................. 3-1
Displaying Modelled Elements.................................................................... 3-1
Objectives .................................................................................................. 3-1
Must Know Points ...................................................................................... 3-1
Principles of the 3D Display ....................................................................... 3-2
Building the Draw List ................................................................................ 3-3
Setting the View Limits............................................................................. 3-10
Setting the View Direction ........................................................................ 3-15
Exercise 2 ................................................................................................ 3-17
Session 4................................................................. 4-1
Working with the 3D View............................................................................ 4-1
Objectives .................................................................................................. 4-1
Must Know Points ...................................................................................... 4-1
Multiple 3D Views....................................................................................... 4-2
Manipulating the View ................................................................................ 4-4
Module 3 Basics & Functions Contents-i

Contents
View Representation.................................................................................4-11
Exercise 3.................................................................................................4-22
Session 5 ................................................................ 5-1
The Model Editor...........................................................................................5-1
Objectives...................................................................................................5-1
Must Know Points .......................................................................................5-1
Model Editor Mode......................................................................................5-2
Element Selection.......................................................................................5-9
Positioning and Orientation using the Locator Handle ..............................5-17
Positioning and Orientation Using the Edit Menu .....................................5-33
Selectable Items .......................................................................................5-38
ii Module 3 Basics & Functions

Session 1
The Principles of PDMS
Objectives
At the end of this session you will be able to:
• Explain some of the advantages of using PDMS to control and execute your
designs.
• Describe the database structure of PDMS.
• Describe how design data is stored.
• Navigate around the database.
• Explain attributes in PDMS.
• Explain UDAs (User Defined Attributes).
Must Know Points

It is important to understand the following points about The Principles of PDMS:
• The basic Hierarchy, and the elements that can be created under different owner
types.
• How to Navigate around the database.
• Basic understanding of the concepts of attributes.
• Origin points and axes.
Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-1

How PDMS Can Help You

The Vantage Plant Design Management System (PDMS) is a multi-discipline 3D
modelling system that allow you to simulate a detailed, full–size model of all the
significant parts of a process plant.
PDMS allows you to see a full colour–shaded representation of the plant model as
your design progresses, adding an unprecedented level of realism to drawing office
techniques.
In the model you can store huge amounts of data referring to position, size, part
numbers and geometric relationships for the various parts of the plant. This model
becomes a single source of engineering data for all of the sections and disciplines
involved in a design project.
All this information is stored in databases. There are many different output channels
from the databases through which information can be disseminated. These range
from reports on data stored in the databases, fully annotated and dimensioned
engineering drawings, to full colour–shaded 3D walk–through capabilities which
allow you to visualise the complete design model.
Different types of output from PDMS
Even with the advanced features of PDMS, the main form of communication
between the designer and those who build the plant remains the drawings. Without
engineering drawings the task of building a plant almost would be impossible. To
meet this need requirement, PDMS can produce numerous types of drawing, ranging
from complex 3D illustrations to fully dimensioned arrangement drawings and piping
isometrics.
1-2 Module 3 Basics & Functions

All the data in a PDMS design would be of little value without the ability to ensure the
quality of the design information. Indeed, it would be pointless to develop such a
large computer system if it could not improve on existing techniques. PDMS
contributes to the quality of the design in the following ways:
• Ensures consistent and reliable component data
In a conventional design environment, using 2D drawing techniques, the size of
each fitting must be decided before it can be drawn. This is a time consuming
process that often leads to expensive errors, which are only found during the
erection stage of the project. With PDMS, all piping component sizes and
geometry are predefined and stored in a catalogue, which cannot be changed by
the designer. This ensures that all items are true to size and are consistent
throughout the design, no matter how many users there are on the project.
• Adheres to definable engineering specifications
Piping specifications and steelwork catalogues stating precisely the components
to be used are compiled for the purpose of ensuring consistent, safe and
economic design. Design applications for piping, hvac, cabletrays and steelwork
all use specifications to control component selection.
• Ensures correct geometry and connectivity
There are many different ways of making design errors, such as incorrect fitting
lengths, incompatible flange ratings, or simple alignment errors. PDMS can check
all of these using data consistency procedures built into the system to check all or
individual parts of the design model.
• Avoids component interferences
Despite a wealth of skill and experience in plant design, traditional drawing office
techniques are still subject to human error. Laying out complex pipe runs, and
general arrangements in confined areas using conventional 2D methods,
inevitably leads to clashes between elements, which are trying to share the same
physical space. PDMS enables you to avoid such problems in two ways:
1. By viewing the design interactively during the design process, allowing visual
checks on the model from different viewpoints and resolves any potential
problems as they arise.
2. By using the powerful clash checking facility within PDMS, which will detect
clashes anywhere in the plant, this can be done interactively or
retrospectively.
• Annotation and dimensions obtained directly from the design database

Extracted information from the PDMS database, such as arrangement drawings,
piping isometrics and reports, will always be the latest available as it is stored
only in one source. Through the course of a project, information is constantly

changing and drawings need to be reissued. When this happens, drawings,

reports etc can be updated and reissued with the minimum of effort.

How PDMS is Structured

Because of its large overall size, PDMS is subdivided into a number of functional
modules. Each module accesses the databases for a different purpose. The modules
and their purpose are listed below.
DESIGN 3D Model Design
DRAFT 2D Drawing Production
ISODRAFT Isometric Drawing Production
ADMIN Project/User Control
PARAGON Catalogue Construction
SPECON Specification Construction
PROPCON Properties Construction
LEXICON User Defined Attributes
DESIGN
DESIGN is the main, graphically driven constructor module within PDMS. In this
module the plant model is built and the data stored in one or more databases. The
databases contain a three-dimensional description of all items in the plant.
Component selection is provided through specifications that dictate which catalogue
components can be used.
The main features:
• Create new design elements.
• Modify existing design elements.
• Interrogate and View the design model interactively by graphical manipulation.
• Create Reports to detail MTO, project pricing, project timing, customisation of
user defined requirements etc.
• Run a Clash detection application to check interference between design
elements.
DRAFT
DRAFT is used to create and manipulate drawings, annotation and dimensioning.
The annotation can be in the form of labels attached to design elements, or 2D
annotation such as drawing notes, or drawing frames, tables, lines etc.

Annotation attached to a design data element on the drawing will move if the3D
position of the element changes. Dimensions are projected distances between
connecting points (P-Point) in the 3D design. The dimension itself is calculated
automatically and is recalculated every time the drawing is updated. The design
database can be interrogated through the drawing database, but it cannot be
changed from within the DRAFT module.
Example DRAFT output
ISODRAFT
ISODRAFT produces dimensioned symbolic piping isometrics for construction and
erection purposes. This module produces isometric drawings in various formats, as
required. Its facilities include:
• Full material lists.
• Automatic spool identification.
• Automatic splitting of complex drawings.

• User-defined drawing sheets.

• Many other options that can be selected at the production stage.
Example ISODRAFT output
ADMIN
Large plants designed using PDMS will usually be broken down into individual areas
(either physical areas or design areas), depending on the physical size, complexity
and configuration of the plant. On a large Project, the System Administrator will first
agree with Project and Design Management, the breakdown of the PDMS project
into sections which:
Are relevant to the needs of project reporting and control.
Form reasonable design subdivisions with sensible match-lines and design content.
Enable enough designers to work in parallel with simultaneous access to carry out
their design tasks.
In much the same way as in a design office (with its section leader, draughtspeople,
etc.), PDMS has Teams, the members of which are called Users. These Teams can
consist of any number of Users and can be organised by discipline or physical work
areas.

The main features are:

Access Control (Teams and Users)
Databases (DB’s)
Multiple Databases (MDBs)
Database management functionality
PARAGON
PARAGON is used to input and modify the component catalogue stored in the
project database. The catalogues in PDMS serve a similar purpose to the
manufacturers’ catalogues, which you would refer to when using conventional design
methods. The PDMS component catalogue is used to specify the geometry,
connection information, obstruction and detailing data of steelwork, piping, and
HVAC and cable tray components.
This module is used to construct the component catalogue just as DESIGN is used
to construct the design data. The catalogue data is held in a hierarchical manner and
special database. It should be noted that, where the design data is specific to a
particular design, catalogues and specifications may be specific to a company but
general to a number of projects in that company. For example, the same catalogue
component may also appear in other designs proceeding at the same time.
PROPCON
This module is used to construct a Properties database. The database contains data
for use with design databases as well as stress analysis packages and includes:
• Material properties.
• Component data.
LEXICON
This module enables User Definable Attributes (UDA’s) to be assigned to PDMS
elements so that additional information may be stored in the databases and
extracted into drawings and reports.

PDMS Databases
The heart of PDMS consists of a set of hierarchical databases that store the model
data. The database system is called Dabacon and is exclusive to AVEVA.
The databases are structured specifically for plant design data storage and each
type of database stores different data.
Design databases, where data for the model you construct in the Design module is
stored, can be of two types:
1. Update, where each user has their own database to work in
2. Multi Write, where a number of users work in the same database.
Generally multi-discipline projects are executed using discipline specific designers
who will use specific applications in PDMS to construct the model components for
their specific discipline. A project, therefore, may consist of a number of Design
databases for each discipline.
When constructing the model references are made to catalogue, property and user
defined attribute data that is held in different types of databases. As this data is
common to all users of each discipline, each user will refer to a common set of data
for the project. These databases are called Reference databases.
In order that each user can see the required design components modelled by other
users and refer to the common catalogue, property and user defined attribute data,
the Design and Reference databases are grouped together into a Multiple
Database (MDB).
There may be several MDB’s for a project, each defining specific groups of
databases, for users with different tasks to perform.

How PDMS Data is Stored

Despite the huge power and potential of PDMS, the database is structured in a very
simple and logical form. The database is hierarchical, i.e. a tree like structure, as
illustrated below:
The PDMS Design Database Hierarchy

In this hierarchical structure all elements are owned by other elements, with the
exception of the WORLD. Elements that are owned by another element, e.g. a
ZONE is owned by a SITE, are said to be members of the owning element, e.g. The
ZONE is a member of the SITE. Most element types are abbreviated when they
appear in the hierarchy, the abbreviations are shown in parenthesis.

WORLD
When the database is first built, it is empty except for a single element named the
WORLD. Each database has its own WORLD element as the first element in the
hierarchy.
SITE
Below the WORLD, the second level of the hierarchy is SITE. A SITE may be
considered as a significant collection of plant, whose size is not necessarily
determined by physical area, but by practical considerations. It may, for example be
the whole project, or one part of a large project. You can have as many SITEs within
a PDMS project as required for data organisation.
ZONE
The next level below a SITE is a ZONE. Again, a ZONE is not necessarily used to
define a physical area, it is more likely to store similar types of item for easy
reference, such as a piping system in one ZONE, related equipment in another, and
so on. You can have as many ZONEs owned by a site as required for data
organisation.
SITE and ZONE elements are common to all disciplines. Below ZONE level the
hierarchy is discipline dependent, i.e. the elements depend on which discipline you
are modelling.
EQUIPMENT (EQUI)
Equipment items are built up in PDMS using elements known as primitives. Each
piece of equipment can comprise any number of primitive shapes positioned to form
the item. The primitives may be owned directly by the EQUI element or by a Sub-
Equipment element.
SUB-EQUIPMENT (SUBE)
A SUBE is an optional element to further sub-divide an EQUI. The SUBE can own
primitive elements.
PRIMITIVES
Primitives are the basic building blocks of PDMS. They are used by other disciplines
to create catalogue components. There are many types of primitive, each with its
own features which when combined with other primitives can represent complex
shapes. Examples of primitives are nozzle (NOZZ), box (BOX), cylinders (CYLI) and
pyramids (PYRA).

STRUCTURES (STRU)
STRU elements are administrative elements, i.e. they exist to own FRAMEWORK
elements, and allow the plant structures to be separated for ease of modelling and
reporting.
FRAMEWORK (FRMW)
FRMW elements are used to store structural components in the model. A complex
structure can be divided into logical frameworks. Dividing the structure in this way
allows structural modelling, and also reporting, to be done more efficiently, e.g. by
copying a complete FRMW. Structural components may also be owned by a Sub-
Framework element.
SUB-FRAMEWORK (SBFR)
A SBFR is an optional element that can own structural components. They are used
to further sub-divide complex projects or for modelling sub-assemblies within a
framework.
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
Structural profiles are represented in PDMS by section (SCTN) elements. Profile
sizes are selected using a section specification that references standard catalogue
data for section sizes complying with various national standards. Plate elements are
represented by panel (PANE) elements and curved profiles are modelled using a
general section (GENSEC) component.
PIPE
Pipes may be considered like lines on a flowsheet. They may run between several
end connection points and are usually grouped by a common specification and
process.
BRANCH (BRAN)
Branch elements are sections of a pipe, which have known start and finish points. In
PDMS the start and finish points are called the Head and Tail. Heads and tails may
be connected to nozzles, tees or other Heads and tails, depending on the
configuration of the pipe, or left open ended.
PIPING COMPONENTS
A BRAN can own a wide variety of components such as gaskets (GASK), flanges
(FLAN), tees (TEE), valves (VALV), elbows (ELBO), etc. These form the shape and
geometry of the BRAN and ultimately the pipeline itself.

Piping components are selected using Piping Specifications that reference

standard catalogue data. For example, each time you want to use a 100mm bore
elbow, PDMS always accesses the data for it from the component catalogue. The
data for this remains constant no matter how many 100mm bore elbows are used in
the design.

Navigating Around the Database

Navigation in PDMS refers to moving around within the database hierarchy. In the
Design module PDMS provides two methods of navigating through the hierarchy, the
Design Explorer, introduced at PDMS 11.5, and the Members List.
Design Explorer
The Design Explorer provides an easy-to-use graphical method of exploring the
Design databases and is displayed when PDMS is opened.
Design Explorer provides a ‘Tree View’ display of database elements in the current
MDB, which can be expanded and contracted, where applicable, by clicking the + or
– icons. The icons in the Tree View opposite the element names represent the
different database element types.
The expression, Current Element, (sometimes referred to as CE in the text and on
user interface forms) is that element of the design you are currently positioned at.
The Current Element can be identified in the Design Explorer as the highlighted item
in the Tree View and is displayed in the pull-down at the top of the form. This pull-
down is called the History List and contains a list of recently visited items.

Clicking on an element in the list will navigate to the selected element. The left and
right arrows next to the history list will navigate up and down the list one element at a
time.
Members List
As with the Design Explorer, the Members List displays the database elements in
the current MDB and is displayed by selecting Display>Members… from the main
menu.

There are a number of ways to navigate from one item to another. The right and left
arrows at the top of the Members List allow navigation up and down the list at the
level of the current element.
For example, if positioned on an EQUI element, selecting the right hand arrow would
move to the next EQUI element in the list. Selecting the left hand arrow would move
back to the previous EQUI element.
The Goto menu at the top of the form can also be used. First select this menu, then
select the Owner option, this will navigate to the owner of the CE.
Choosing the Goto>Reference option will give a list of further options depending on
the Current Element. Goto>Reference at EQUI level will only navigate to it’s owner,
i.e. a ZONE. If the current element were a nozzle (NOZZ) then Goto>Reference
would allow navigation inside the catalogue database via the NOZZ’s Catref
attribute.
PDMS databases may contain many thousands of elements, however, only one
element can be accessed at a time. As all elements, with the exception of the
WORLD, are owned by another element, deleting, say, a ZONE would cause
everything owned by that ZONE to be deleted as well.

Attributes in PDMS
Every element in a PDMS database has a fixed set of properties known as its
attributes. Some attributes are common throughout the range of elements while
others differ according to the type of element involved. For example, a cylinder
(CYLI) has Height and Diameter attributes whilst the size of a box (BOX) is
determined by Xlength, Ylength and Zlength attributes, as illustrated below.
When you create an element, a set of appropriate attributes are entered into the
database. The attributes will vary according to the type of element but essentially the
process is the same. For example, a cylinder has the following attributes:
Attribute Default Value
Name Name if specified or hierarchy description
Type CYLI
Lock false (the element is not locked)
Owner the name of the owning element or its hierarchy description
Position N 0mm E 0mm U 0mm (relative to its owner)
Orientation Y is N and Z is U (relative to its owner)

Level 0 10 (this is a representation level setting)

Obstruction 2 (it is a solid hard element for clashing purposes)
Diameter 0 mm
Height 0 mm
These are all of the attributes of a cylinder, and all cylinders in the database will have
precisely the same number of attributes.
NAME
Every element in PDMS can be named. Whether named or not every element will
have a unique system generated reference number. If a name is not specified, then
a hierarchy description will be displayed in the Design Explorer or Members List.
Internally PDMS uses the reference number since this cannot change. A table of
names against reference numbers is maintained for this purpose.
All PDMS names begin with a forward slash character (/) and is considered to be
part of the name. In order to save you the effort of typing this, all of the forms you
encounter will add the forward slash for you when you press the Return or Enter key
after typing a name. The forward slash character is not shown in the Design Explorer
or Members List.
The WORLD has a special name in PDMS, /*
Names cannot contain spaces and are case sensitive. For example, /E1302A is a
different name from /E1302a or /e1302A.
Elements in a PDMS database are unique, i.e. they cannot have the same name or
reference number.
TYPE
This attribute refers to the specific type of element it is, e.g. EQUI is an equipment
type.
LOCK
The LOCK attribute determines if an element may be changed or not. If an element
is locked, its LOCK attribute is set to the value TRUE, preventing it from being
modified until unlocked. By default, LOCK is false.
OWNER
The different levels in the hierarchy are maintained by an Owner-Member
relationship. An EQUI will have ZONE as its owner, while a CYLI might well be one
of the EQUIs members. The owner is that element which is directly related to the
current element at the next level up in the hierarchy, as shown in the diagram below:

The element on the upper level is the Owner of those elements directly below it, e.g.
the equipment (EQUI) owns the primitive (CYLI). The lower level elements are
Members of the owning element, e.g. the EQUI is a member of the ZONE.
POSITION
Many items in a database have a POSITION attribute which is the position of the
element in relation to its owner.
All primitives have a position attribute which relates to the its Point of Origin. As each
primitive has a different Point of Origin changing the position attribute will have the
effect of moving the cylinder to some other position with its Point of Origin positioned
on the new co-ordinates.

Point of Origin of a CYLI
ORIENTATION
By default, a cylinder is created in a vertical direction; that is, with one of its ends
facing up. The orientation attribute allows this to be changed to any angle on any
axis.
LEVEL
PDMS can produce different representations of an item, depending on how it has
been modelled and the representation levels used. The default level is 0 to 10 but
levels can be set beyond this range if needed.
For example, steelwork profiles can be represented by centreline (stick
representation) only or by the full detail of the section profile. By manipulating level
settings it is, therefore, possible to have simple or complex representation of
elements for Design display or Draft drawings.
OBSTRUCTION
The OBSTRUCTION attribute is used to declare whether an element is solid or not.
Obstructions can be declared as Hard, Soft or No Obstruction, depending on the
value of the OBSTRUCTION attribute. The default value of 2 results in a Hard
obstruction, 1 results in a Soft obstruction (used for walkways, maintenance access
etc.) and 0 is for No Obstruction (used to save computing time when elements are
enclosed in another element which acts as an overall obstruction).

HEIGHT
The height of the cylinder.
DIAMETER
The diameter of the cylinder.
UDA (User Defined Attributes)

This type of attribute is defined and assigned to elements using the Lexicon module
by the System or Project Administrator. A UDA is just like any other attribute but may
be specific to the company or the particular project. The setting of the UDA is up to
the user, although it may have been set to a default value. Changing this is the same
as with all other attributes. Their current values may be found by querying the items
attributes. User Defined Attributes can be recognised by the colon placed in front
of it.
:COLOUR (User Defined Attribute)
HEIGHT (Normal Attribute)

Session 2
Controlling PDMS
Objectives
At the end of this session, you will able to:
• Access the Design module and explain the different features of the VANTAGE
PDMS Login form.
• Explain the difference between loading from macro or binary files.
• Understand the default window setup of the Design Module.
• Use all the mouse functions and understand how the Menus and Forms are
accessed and used.
• Know how to use the on line Help facilities.
Must Know Points

The following points need to be understood by the trainees
• How to access PDMS and the Design module.
• How to use all the mouse functionality.
• The principles and working practises of Forms and Menus input

Controlling PDMS
Accessing the Design Environment

PDMS is started by double clicking the shortcut icon on the desktop or by selecting
Start >Programs>AVEVA>VANTAGE PDMS 11.5>Run PDMS Windows menu
option.
After the initial start-up windows have appeared, the VANTAGE PDMS Login form
is displayed:
The Project, Username and MDB are chosen by using the option arrows adjacent
to each entry, whilst the Password must be entered using the keyboard. The options
are determined by the project set-up ‘triggered’ when PDMS is initialised.
There is no choice for password, this must be known before entry can proceed.
A Multiple Database (MDB), for example, /TRAINA, must be selected for all modules
except Admin.
The required PDMS module, e.g. Design, is selected by clicking on the Module list.
The Load From pull-down gives options of Macro Files, User’s Binary, Default
Binary and Select Binary.
Loading from Macro Files builds the user interface from all its associated program
macro files. Loading from a binary file, whichever option is selected, will load display
files saved in a previous PDMS session.
Clicking the OK button will enter PDMS whilst clicking Cancel will abort the login
process.

Controlling PDMS
Window Setup
Entering PDMS the main window is displayed:
The features of the main window shown at this stage are:

• Main Menu - contains application command menus.
• 3D View Window- the window in which the design model will be displayed. This
window has horizontal and vertical tool bars.
• Prompt Area – the main prompts are displayed here.
• Status Area - displays viewing parameter status information. Prompts are
displayed here when graphical interaction is required.
You can reposition or minimise the main window at any time by using the standard
window management facilities provided by your workstation. It is suggested that you
do not close them from the window controls – select the “dismiss” and “close” option.

Controlling PDMS
Using the Mouse

The mouse steers the graphics pointer around the screen and is also used to select
or ‘pick’ items by using the mouse buttons. The buttons perform different tasks
depending on the type of window, and the position within the window, where the
pointer is positioned. The appearance of the pointer will change according to the
type of display item that is underneath it.
A three button mouse is required for PDMS.
The functions of each of the buttons are described below.
Clicking and Dragging:

There are two techniques when operating the mouse buttons, Clicking and
Dragging:
1. Clicking - the pointer is positioned over a specific point on the screen and then
picks whatever is displayed at that point by quickly pressing and releasing a
mouse button. This is used to identify items in graphical views, for ‘pressing’
buttons on forms, and for selecting lines in scrollable lists.
2. Dragging - place the pointer over a specific point on the screen and then click
and hold down a mouse button while moving the pointer. To complete the
operation release the button when the pointer is positioned over a second
specific point on the screen. Mainly used for manipulating the design model in
graphical views, and for moving complete windows about on the screen.
The Left Button:

The left mouse button is the main button for selecting items. On a graphical view,
clicking the left–hand button with the pointer over a design element results in that
element becoming the current element. In a sequence of menus, dragging with the
left mouse button activates the command represented by the highlighted menu
option when the button is released. On a form, the effect depends on the type of
selections that are being made.
The Middle Button:

The principal use of the middle mouse button in the Design module is to manipulate
the 3D graphical view.
The Right Button:

Clicking the right mouse button displays a screen menu. The screen menu options
depend on the current module.
In the Design module the choices relate to view manipulation.

Controlling PDMS
Using Menus
There are two types of menu, Pull-down Menus and Sub-menus.
Pull-down Menus
Clicking an item on the menu bar with the left mouse button will display the pull-down
menu items:
As the pointer is passed over the menu items they are highlighted in turn. There are
three types of options on a pull-down menu which result in different actions:
Options followed by a triangular pointer:
When this type of option is highlighted moving the pointer
to the right, keeping the option highlighted, will display a
Sub-menu.
Option followed by three dots:
When this type of option is highlighted clicking the left-
hand mouse button will dismiss the pull-down menu and
display a form for data entry or modification.
Option shown as plain text:
When this type of option is highlighted clicking the left
mouse button will directly perform the action described in
the menu item.
If no menu item is required, clicking the left mouse button in the 3D View Window will
dismiss the pull-down menu.

Controlling PDMS
Sub-menus
As described above, highlighting a menu item which is followed by a triangular
pointer and moving the pointer to the right will display a sub-menu:
Sub-menus may contain any of the three menu options described above. If none of
the menu items are required, highlighting another option on the pull-down menu will
dismiss the sub-menu. Alternatively, clicking the left mouse button in the 3D View
Window will dismiss the pull-down as well as the sub-menu.

Controlling PDMS
Using Forms
Forms are used to display information, often about current data settings, enter data
and to modify data.
Forms typically comprise an arrangement of Buttons, Text Boxes, Radio Buttons,
Check Boxes and Scrollable Lists (sometimes collectively referred to as controls).
Input to a form is usually via a combination of mouse and keyboard, the mouse being
used to select the appropriate controls and the keyboard to enter the data.
When a form is displayed, settings can be changed, reset to initial values, accept
and act on data input, or cancelled without applying any changes, depending on the
design of the form.
Radio Buttons
Radio buttons are combined in groups and only permit one selection of the group to
be set ON, i.e. the radio button with the black dot in the centre.
To set the radio button ON move the pointer over the radio button or associated text
and click the left mouse button.

Controlling PDMS
Turning a radio button on will automatically turn the other radio button(s) in the group
OFF.
Check Boxes
A check box may be either ON, i.e. a checkmark (tick) is displayed in the box, or
OFF, i.e. the box has no checkmark displayed.
Check boxes do not interact so any combination of check boxes on a form may be
ON or OFF.
To change the status of a check box, i.e. to set it ON or OFF, move the pointer over
the check box or associated text and click the left mouse button.
Text Boxes
Text boxes are the areas where alphanumeric data, e.g. names, dimensions, values,
etc., can be entered. A text box will generally have a label describing or qualifying
the data required.
To enter data into a text box, move the pointer into the box and click the left–hand
mouse button. Using the keyboard, type in the required data, editing any existing
entry as necessary. The Backspace key will clear the box of any content. When
complete, acceptance of the input is confirmed the by pressing the Return (or Enter)
key.
When first displaying a form containing text boxes, the first text box on the form will
be current and a text pointer (a vertical bar) will be displayed in the box. A text box
often contains a default entry when first displayed. Some text boxes will accept only
text or only numeric data, and entries with the wrong type of data will not be
accepted.
Scrollable Lists
A scrollable list is displayed as a vertical list of options within a form, with vertical
scroll bar on the right hand side of the list and, if appropriate, a horizontal scroll bar
along the bottom of the list. If the list contents can be displayed within the limits of
the list the scroll bar(s) will be greyed out.
To select an option from a scrollable list, click with the left mouse button on the list to
display the list items.

Controlling PDMS
Moving the pointer up and down the list highlights each list item in turn. To select a
list item click the required selection with the left mouse button.
Some scrollable lists allow only a single selection, so that selecting any option
deselects all others automatically. Other lists allow multiple selections, with all
selected options highlighted simultaneously. To de-select a highlighted option on a
multi-item list, click on it again. Repeated clicks toggle a selection on and off.
Buttons
Buttons are raised areas of the form with a text label, either on the button or adjacent
to it, that conveys the purpose of the button. The button may either take direct action
when activated or may display a further form.
Buttons are activated by moving the pointer over the button and clicking the left
mouse button.
Form Menus
Some forms contain a menu bar across the top of the form. Form menus act in the
same way as the main menu bar, described previously, with the same options.

Controlling PDMS
Actioning Form Inputs

Most forms include at least one control button which is used either to enter the
command option represented by the current form setting, to cancel any changes
made to the form since initially opened, or to close the form.
The OK and Apply buttons enter the current form settings as command inputs, OK
also closes the form whereas Apply leaves the form displayed further input.
The Cancel and Reset buttons cancel any changes made to the settings of the form.
Cancel also closes the form.
The Dismiss button simply closes the form.
Some forms contain more specific types of control buttons, which carry out particular
command options (extensions of the Apply concept); e.g. the Goto, Add and
Remove buttons.
Where a form does not contain a Dismiss button a Control form menu item is
usually provided. This pull-down menu will contain a close option which dismisses
the form.
Where neither a Dismiss button or Control pull-down menu are provided the form
may be dismissed by clicking the Close icon in the top right-hand side of the form
with the left mouse button. This should only be where no other option to dismiss
the form is provided.
Alert Forms
An Alert form is used to display information such as error messages, prompts and
requests for confirmation of changes. The form will usually have to be acknowledged
before proceeding.

Controlling PDMS
Accessing On-line Help
Most bar menus end with the Help option. Where available, on–line help gives
detailed instructions on the use of forms and menus that drive each application.
Selecting Help on the Main Menu displays the Help menu:
On Context
This option gives help on any window currently visible in the display.
When selecting this option a question mark (?) is added to the pointer.
Moving the pointer into the window on which help is required and click the left mouse
button opens the appropriate help window.
Contents
This option displays a list of all topics for which on–line help is available.
This is effectively a Contents List for the whole of the on–line help documentation,
with search facilities incorporated.
Index
This option is similar to Contents, but displays and index of keywords within the
help.
About
This displays information about the current operating system on the computer, the
version of PDMS and its applications.

Controlling PDMS
Saving Your Work

When you make changes to the Design database, i.e. by adding elements to the
model, moving elements, changing attributes or deleting elements, the changes must
be saved.
Work should be saved regularly to avoid any loss of data due to unforeseen
circumstances such as cut in the power supply to your computer.
To save your work select Design>Save Work from the Main Menu or click the Save
Work icon:
Leaving PDMS
To exit PDMS select Design>Exit from the Main Menu. If no changes have been
made to the Design databases you will be prompted to confirm your selection with
the following form:
Selecting YES will exit PDMS and selecting NO will abort the exit command.
If changes have been made to the Design databases since your last save, selecting
Design>Exit will display the following form:
Selecting YES will save the changes before exiting PDMS. Selecting NO will discard
the changes before exiting PDMS and selecting CANCEL will abort the exit
command.

Controlling PDMS
Exercise 1
Project Name: SAM
User Name:
Password:
MDB:
Entering PDMS
1. Double click the PDMS icon on your desktop or use
Start>Programs>AVEVA>VANTAGE PDMS 11.5>Run PDMS
2. When the VANTAGE PDMS Login form appears:
3.
Select the Arrow icon to the right of the Project text box to display a list of
available projects:

Controlling PDMS
4. Select SAM from the list by clicking the entry with the left mouse button.
5. Select the Arrow icon to the right of the Username text box to display a list of
available usernames in the project:
:
6. Select the your username from the list by clicking the entry with the left mouse
button.
7. The pointer will appear as a flashing vertical bar in the Password text box.
Type in your password and press the Return key on the keyboard.

Controlling PDMS
8. Select the Arrow icon to the right of the MDB text box to display a list of
available MDBs in the project:
9. Select the MDB you are going to use from the list by clicking the entry with the
left mouse button.
10. Your login form should now look similar to this:
11. Make sure that the Module selector reads Design and that the Load from
selector reads Macro Files.
12. Click the OK button with the left mouse button to enter PDMS in the Design
module.
13. Your screen layout should look like this:

Controlling PDMS
Accessing Applications
Now that you have entered PDMS you can enter the various discipline applications
within the Design module.
1. Click on the Design item on the Main Menu to access the pull-down menu:

Controlling PDMS
2. Move the pointer to highlight the Equipment… item on the menu and select it by
clicking the left mouse button.
3. PDMS will now load the Equipment modelling application. Note the message in
the Status Area.
4. When the application has loaded, note how the Main Menu and icon menus have
changed. These are specific menus and icons for the Equipment application.
5. Select other applications and note how the Main Menu and icon menus change.
Navigating the Hierarchy
1. In the Design Explorer click on the + icon adjacent to the TRA.SITE entry and
note how the Tree View expands to show the ZONEs owned by the SITE.
2. Expand the ZONE entries to show the Members of each ZONE and note the
element types contained within.
3. Expand some of the differing element types in the ZONEs to see what type of
elements they own.
4. Try Navigating to various elements in the Design Explorer.
5. Select Display>Members… from the Main Menu to display the Members List.
6. Compare the entries in the Members List to the Design Explorer.

Controlling PDMS
7. Click on the TRA.SITE and its members in the members List and note the
different behaviour of the Members List to the Design Explorer.

Session 3
Displaying Modelled Elements
Objectives
• Explain the principles behind the 3D display.
• Add and remove elements from the display.
• Scale elements to fit the display.
• Set and modify the viewing direction.
Must Know Points

• How to access the 3D display.
• Building and modifying the Draw List.
• Setting the view limits
• Setting a viewing direction.

Principles of the 3D Display

In order to view your design in the 3D View Window, there are three basic things to
consider:
• Which elements are required to be viewed, i.e. Building the Draw List.
• Scaling the required elements to fit the 3D View Window, i.e. Setting the View
Limits.
• Which direction are the elements to be viewed from, i.e. Setting the View
Direction.
PDMS uses a Draw List to hold the Design elements to be displayed. All elements in
the Draw List must be in the Members List, however, not all elements in the
Members List need to be in the Draw List.
Before any element can be displayed in the 3D View Window it must be added to the
Draw List. This may be a single equipment item, a number of items or a complete
SITE. Elements can be ‘added’ or ‘removed’ from the Draw List at any time during a
Design session.

Building the Draw List

The Draw List can be built in a number of ways:
1. From the Icon Menus
2. From the Design Explorer

Click any element in the Design Explorer Window with the right mouse button to
display the Draw List sub-menu. The Add To Draw List item has a sub-menu:
Element adds the current element to the Draw List.

Connected adds the current element plus any connected elements to the Draw List.
Within Volume adds the current element to the Draw List plus any elements that are
partially within the volume of the current element.

Elements may be removed from the Draw List by selecting the Remove from Draw
List menu item.
The Design Explorer contains a Draw List panel that displays the elements currently
in the Draw List.
The additional viewing controls on the Draw List panel are covered later in this
manual.
The check box adjacent to each element in the Draw List panel enables the element
to be temporarily removed from the display. Left clicking the check box will change
the status of the element, removing it from the display or adding back if not
displayed.
The element is not removed or added to the Draw List but its graphics are removed
from the 3D View Window. Clicking an item with the right mouse button in the Draw
List panel gives access to a sub-menu:

Navigate To makes the selected element in the Draw List display the current
element.
Remove From Draw List removes the selected element from the Draw List.
Hide removes the selected element from the display, the same as unchecking the
check box.
Show adds the selected element to the display, the same as checking the check
box.
The Draw List panel contains a scrollable list that by default is set to Draw List.
Clicking the down arrow on the list shows the Reference List menu item.
The Reference List shows all items, if applicable, connected to the current element,
e.g. the Reference List for an EQUI element would contain BRAN elements
connected to the EQUI’s nozzles.
If the current has no connected items the Reference List is empty.

Clicking an item in Reference List with the right mouse button displays a sub-menu:

Navigate To makes the selected element in the Draw List display the current
element.
Add To Draw List adds the selected element to the Draw List.
Add Connections to Draw List adds all elements connected to the selected
element to the Draw List.
3. From the Members List

Selecting Drawlist from the Members List form menu displays a sub-menu:
Add CE adds the current element to the Draw List.

Add Owner adds the owner of the current element and all its members to the Draw
List.
Add CE with Colour… adds the current element to the Draw List with a colour
selected from a colour palette. Colour settings are covered later in this manual.
Remove CE removes the current element from the Draw List.
Remove Owner removes the owner of the current element and all its members from
the Draw List.
Remove All removes all elements from the Draw List.
4. From the Members+Draw Form

Selecting Display>Drawlist… from the Main Menu or selecting Control>Drawlist…
from the Members List form menu displays the Members+Draw form:

The additional viewing controls on the Draw List panel are covered later in this
manual.
The form adds a Draw List panel to the standard Members List form.
The Add CE button adds the current element, highlighted in the Members List, to the
Draw List and displays the element name in the Drawlist window.
The Volume… button displays the Add Within Volume form which enables you to
select, through various methods, the opposing corners of a ‘Limits Box’ which will
add all the elements within the box to the Draw List.
The Item button removes the item highlighted in the Draw List panel from the Draw
List.
The Id button prompts you to identify the item(s) in the 3D View Window to be
removed from the Draw List. After clicking the button items selected in the 3D View

Window will be highlighted. Pressing the Esc key on the keyboard terminates the
selection process and the selected items are removed from the Draw List.
The CE button removes the current element from the Draw List.
The All button removes all elements from the Draw List.

Setting the View Limits

In order to display items on the screen, whether it is a single item, a selection of
items or an entire model, the elements have to be scaled to fit the screen. Scaling of
the items is performed automatically by PDMS once the limits of the items to be
displayed are known.
The limits of an item, or a selection of items, can be thought of as a box completely
encapsulating the item(s) to be viewed.
There are several ways by which the elements to be viewed can be scaled to fit the
screen:
• Using the Icons in the 3D View Window
At the top of the left-hand side there are three icons which can be used to scale
elements to the screen:
Limits CE & Options sets the display limits to the current elements.
Zoom to Selection fills the 3D View Window with the current element or graphical
selection, if one exists.

Walk to Draw List zooms and centres the display with all the elements in the Draw
List.
NOTE: Graphical selections are covered in Session 6.
The Limits CE & Options icon has a sub-menu:
The Explicit… menu item displays the Volume - Design [1] form that enables
display limits to be set explicitly using co-ordinates:
The volume is defined by setting 3D co-ordinates for the opposing corners of a box
that defines the limits you wish to display, using the From and To options on the form
list.
The Select form menu enables you to select elements or their owner to define the
limits:

CE set the limits to the current element.

Owner sets the limits to the owner of the current element.
Pick sets the limits to a selected element.
Pick Owner sets the limits to the owner of a selected element.
Having made a selection the limit co-ordinates are displayed on the form and may be
adjusted manually.
• Using the View Menu

Selecting View from the Main Menu displays the View pull-down menu:
The majority of the menu items are covered later in the manual, however, the Zoom
To and Walk To items concern the view limits. Both items have sub-menus:

Selection fills the 3D View Window with the current element or current graphical
selection, if one exists.
Identify Element… allows you to graphical identify an element, by clicking on it with
the left mouse button, then fills the 3D View Window with the identified element.
Graphically identifying an element in this context does not set the selected element
to be the current element.
Entire Draw List fills the 3D View Window with all elements in the Draw List and
centres the view.
NOTE: Graphical selections are covered in Session 5.
Walk To differs from Zoom To in that it sets the viewing limits, also Walk To
removes items between your eye position and the target item that are not in the
immediate vicinity of the target item. Items in the immediate vicinity of the target item
will continue to be displayed, so it may be necessary to remove items still obscuring
the target item by removing them from the Draw List.
• Using the 3D View Shortcut Menu

Clicking the right mouse button with the pointer in the 3D View Window displays the
3D View Shortcut Menu:

This menu is similar to the View menu on that Main Menu bar except that some
menu options are excluded.
The Zoom To and Walk To items have identical sub-menus to the View menu and
operate in the same way.

Setting the View Direction

The viewing direction can be set using the View menu on the Main Menu bar or from
the 3D View Shortcut Menu.
1. Using the View menu
The following choices on the View menu concern setting the view direction:
Look displays a sub-menu with six viewing directions. Selecting a direction will set
the view direction to one selected.
Plan displays a sub-menu with four cardinal directions. Selecting a direction will set
the view to a plan view with the selected cardinal direction pointing up the screen.
Isometric displays a sub-menu containing four pre-set isometric view directions.
Each direction corresponds to North pointing towards bottom right, top right, top left
and bottom left of the screen:
2. Using the 3D Shortcut View Menu

Clicking the right mouse button with the pointer anywhere in the 3D View Window
displays the 3D View Shortcut Menu:

The Look, Plan and Isometric sub-menus are the same as those on the View menu
and the options operate in exactly the same way.
The current viewing direction is displayed in the Status Area of the 3D View:
e45n35d means a viewing direction of East 45 degrees North 35 degrees Down,

which is the direction of an Iso 3 view.
A direction of n90d is the the default viewing direction and is the direction obtained
when View >Plan>North is selected.

Exercise 2
Building the Draw List

1. In the Design Explorer, expand the element named TRA.SITE to show the
ZONE elements and expand the EQUIP.ZONE.
2. Highlight the equipment item TANK1 and click with the right mouse button to
display the menu. Select Add To Draw List>Element from the sub-menu using
the left mouse button, Note that the equipment name has been added to the
Draw List. The equipment item should also be visible in the display.
3. Highlight the equipment item PUMP1 and add it to the Draw List using the same
method.
4. Highlight the EQUIP.ZONE element and add it to the Draw List. Note that the
equipment element TANK2 is added to the Draw List and the display. As the
other equipment items owned by the EQUI.ZONE were already in the Draw List
only the remaining equipment item has been added.
5. Click on TANK1 in the Design Explorer with the right mouse button and select
Add To Draw List>Connected from the sub-menu. This will add pipe1-b1 to
the Draw List and display as the pipe is connected to the equipment item.
6. Click on TANK2 in the Design Explorer with the right mouse button and select
Add To Draw List>Within Volume. This will add pipe2-b1, TANK2-STRU and
all the SCTN elements owned by STRU to the Draw List and the display as they
are within touching the volume of the equipment item.
7. Add the PIPE.ZONE to the Draw List to display the remainder of the pipes.
8. Your 3D View should now look like this:

9. Click on the checkbox next to TANK1 in the Draw List panel and note that the
equipment item is now removed from the display.
10. Click on TANK1 in the Draw List panel with the right mouse button and select
Show from the menu. Note that the equipment item is now displayed again and
that the checkbox is now checked.
11. Remove TANK2 from the Draw List by clicking on the element in the Draw List
panel with the right mouse button and selecting Remove From Draw List from
the menu.
12. Experiment by removing and adding items from the Draw List and hiding and
showing items already in the Draw List, noting the effects of your actions on the
display.
13. Remove the TRA.SITE element from the Draw List and note that the Draw List is
now empty and no elements are displayed.
14. Display the Members List by selecting Display>Members from the Main Menu.
Navigate to the equipment item TANK1 and add it to the Draw List by selecting
Drawlist>Add CE from the Members List form menu. Note that the equipment
item has been added to the display.
15. Add the remaining equipment in the EQUI.ZONE to the Draw List by selecting
Drawlist>Add Owner from the form menu.
16. Navigate to one of the primitives, i.e. CYLI, BOX, NOZZ, etc. owned by one of
the equipment items and remove it from the Draw List by selecting
Drawlist>Remove CE from the form menu. Note that the owner, i.e. the EQUI
element is removed from the Draw List and display.
17. Display the Members+Draw form by selecting Control>Drawlist… from the
Members List form menu.
18. Use the Add CE button and various Remove From Drawlist buttons to add and
remove items from the Draw List, noting the elements displayed in the Drawlist
panel.
19. Using the Design Explorer or the Members List, navigate to various elements
adding and removing them from the Draw List using the Add CE to Drawlist and
Remove CE from Drawlist icons on the menu bar.
Setting the View Limits

1. Clear the Draw List and add the TRA.SITE element and remove the BASE
element in the CIVILS.ZONE.
2. Select View>Walk To>Entire Draw List from the Main Menu and note that the
elements in the Draw List now fill the 3D View.
3. Navigate to TANK1 in Design Explorer or the Members List and select
View>Walk To>Selection from the Main Menu. Note that the equipment
element now fills the 3D View. The current element is used as the selection as
no graphical selection exists.

4. Display the entire Draw List again by clicking the Walk to Draw List icon on the
right-hand side of the 3D View.
5. Navigate to PUMP1 in the Design Explorer and set the limits to the current
element by clicking the Limits CE & Options icon on the right-hand side of the
3D View. Note that the equipment item now fills the 3D View.
6. Click the Limits CE & Options icon with the right mouse button and select
Explicit… from the menu to display the Volume – Design [1] form. Select
Select>Owner from the form menu and note the co-ordinates change on the
form. Click the Apply button on the form and note that the 3D View now displays
all the equipment items and a limits box around the owner, i.e. the EQUI.ZONE.
Click the Dismiss button on the from to dismiss the form an remove the limits
box from the display.
7. Navigate to various elements and set the view limits using a combination of the
View menu, the 3D View Shortcut Menu and the appropriate icons on the right-
hand side of the 3D View.
Setting the View Direction

1. Click the Walk To Draw List icon to view the entire Draw List.
2. Select View>Isometric>Iso 3 from the Main Menu.
3. Select the different options from the View>Look sub-menu.
4. Select the different options from the 3D View Shortcut Menu>Plan sub-menu.
5. Select the different options from the View>Isometric sub-menu.

Session 4
Working with the 3D View
Objectives
• Manipulate the model to achieve any view you require.
• Change the graphical representation model elements including colours.
• Print a view of the 3D View.
• Copy a 3D View to the clipboard.
Must Know Points

• How to use the various view manipulation tools.
• How to change the graphical representation of the model.

Multiple 3D Views
PDMS provides the ability to view the model in multiple 3D Views, however, the
number of views will probably be limited by the physical size of your display.
Selecting Display>Graphical View from the Main Menu bar creates a new 3D View.
The new view initially fills the main PDMS window but may be modified in size and
shape by dragging the view corners or edges, as in standard Windows operations.
Additional 3D Views may also be created and deleted by selecting Display>View
Control… from the Main Menu bar and selecting the appropriate option from the
form menu of the displayed 3D View Control form.
Each 3D View is numbered in top bar of the window and has a full set of view
manipulation icons on the left-hand side of the view.
All 3D Views use the same Draw List, however, each view is independent in terms of
view manipulation and representation.

Only one 3D View can be active at any one time, the currently active view being the
one whose top bar, containing the view number, is highlighted. A view may be made
current by clicking the top bar, clicking anywhere in the view with the left mouse
button or by selecting Window>3D View (x), where x is the view number, from the
Main Menu bar.

Manipulating the View
Overview
The 3D view can be interactively manipulated using the mouse by Zooming,
Panning and Rotating to achieve the desired viewing direction. Each of the three
modes uses the middle mouse button or scroll wheel and may accessed in a number
of ways:
Using the View menu
Selecting View>Middle Button Drag from the Main Menu displays a sub-menu:
The desired mode may be selected from the sub-menu and a check mark (tick)
appears next to the selected mode the next time the sub-menu is accessed.
Using the 3D View Shortcut Menu

Clicking in the 3D View with the right mouse button displays the 3D View Shortcut
Menu. Selecting Middle Button Drag displays the same menu as above.
Using the Keyboard Function Keys

Pressing F2 sets the ZOOM mode.
Pressing F3 sets the PAN mode.
Pressing F5 sets the ROTATE mode
Pressing F6 sets the WALK mode.
Note: Zoom Rectangle is not available on the function keys.

Using the 3D View Icons

On the left-hand side of the 3D View there are the following icons:
Clicking an icon will set the appropriate mode. The ‘depressed’ icon depicts the
current mode, e.g. Zoom Rectangle in the picture above.
If a mode is set using any of the other methods described, the appropriate icon will
appear ‘depressed’.
All modes are persistent, i.e. the mode will remain in operation until you change it.
The current mode is displayed in the Status Area in the bottom right corner of the 3D
view:
ZOOM
Zoom mode has two options, Zoom Rectangle and Zoom In/Out.
Zoom Rectangle
This option allows you to drag a rectangle in the 3D View around the item you wish
to zoom in to. The sequence of operation is as follows:
1. Identify the item or area you wish to zoom in to.
2. Click in the 3D View, using the middle mouse button, at a point to the left and
below the item or area.
3. Hold down the middle mouse button and move the pointer up and to the right to
display a rectangle.
4. Move the pointer to the desired location and release the middle mouse button.

5. The 3D View will zoom in to the rectangle.

Note: The rectangle may be started at any corner.
Zoom In/Out
This option enables you to zoom in and out by clicking and holding down the middle
mouse button, anywhere in the 3D View, and moving the pointer up or down the
screen.
Moving the pointer up the screen zooms in, whilst moving the pointer down the
screen zooms out.
Zooming with the mouse scroll wheel

In addition to the two middle mouse button zoom options described above, zooming
may be performed with the mouse scroll wheel.
Rolling the scroll wheel forward zooms in and rolling the scroll wheel backwards
zooms out.
Zooming with the scroll wheel can be performed in any of the middle mouse button
drag modes.
Holding down the Shift while performing a scroll wheel zoom makes the zoom
faster.
Holding down the Ctrl key while performing a scroll wheel zoom makes the zoom
slower.
The Zoom To options available from the View menu are covered in Session 3.
PAN
Pan mode enables you to move across the 3D View in by clicking and holding down
the middle mouse button, anywhere in the 3D View, and moving the pointer in any
direction.
The view will pan in the opposite direction to the pointer in direct correlation to the
amount the pointer is moved.
Panning may also be achieved by setting the Centre of Interest of the 3D view.
Positioning the pointer anywhere and in the 3D view and Clicking the middle mouse
button will move the selected to the centre of the view, thus effectively panning the
view.
The view will pan by the distance between the picked point and the centre of the
view.
Keeping the pointer in the same location and repeatedly clicking the middle mouse
button will keep panning the view.
ROTATE
Rotate mode enables the elements in the 3D view to be rotated around a vertical or
horizontal axis by clicking and holding down the middle mouse button, anywhere in
the 3D View, and move the pointer up and down or left and right.
Moving the pointer left or right rotates the view around a vertical axis, whilst
moving the pointer up or down rotates the view around a horizontal axis.
The model may be rotated around the eye point, the position from which the model is
being viewed, or the eye may be rotated around the model.
The method of operation depends on the setting displayed in the Status Area in the
bottom right hand corner of the 3D View. If the status reads Model the eye is rotated
around the model. If the status reads Eye the model will be rotated around the eye.
Selecting View>Settings>Eye will set Eye if the option is currently unchecked, or
set Model if the option is currently checked.
Function key F7 also toggles between Model and Eye

When the Model option is set the centre of rotation is the centre of the 3D view. See
Setting the View Centre for other options that set the centre of rotation.

Rotating may also be performed using sliders along the bottom and right-hand edges
of the 3D View.
The slider along the bottom of the view rotates the view around the vertical axis and
the slider on the right-hand side of the view rotates the view around the horizontal
axis.
Clicking and holding down the left mouse button on the appropriate slider and
moving the pointer in the required direction will rotate the view.
Selecting View>Settings>Borders will turn the sliders on if the option is currently

unchecked and turn them off if the option is currently checked.
Function key F9 also toggles the sliders on and off.
WALK
In Walk mode the eye point moves towards or away from the model. When in Walk
mode, clicking and holding down the middle mouse button and moving the pointer
up walks the eye point forward, i.e. towards the model, whilst moving the pointer
down walks the eye point backwards, i.e. away from the model.
Walk mode only works in perspective views. Selecting View>Settings>Perspective
will set Perspective if the option is currently unchecked or set Model if the option is
currently checked.
Function key F4 also toggles between Perspective and Parallel.

The current setting is displayed in the Status Area:
Setting the View Centre

Selecting any of the Walk To and Zoom To options, either from the View menu or
3D View Shortcut menu, or clicking the Walk To Draw List and Zoom to Selection
icons in the 3D View, will set the centre of the view to the relevant selection.
The view centre may also be set on a selected element, a graphical selection or a
screen pick by selecting View>Set Centre of View from the Main Menu, or Set
Centre of View from the 3D View Shortcut menu, to display a sub-menu:
Selection
This option centres the view on the current element or the graphical selection, if one
exits.
Identify Element…
This option enables you to select an element to centre the view on.
Having selected the option, click on any element in the 3D View with the left mouse
button and that element will be centred in the view. This option does not make the
selected element the current element.

Screen Pick…
This option enables you to pick a point anywhere in the 3D View with the left mouse
button. The picked point will become the centre of the view.
When any method described above is used to set the centre of the view, the centre
of rotation is also reset to the view centre.

View Representation
As well as providing functionality to manipulate the 3D view, PDMS provides tools
that enable you to modify the view representation
Other View Menu Options

Additional options to those described previously are available from the View menu
on the Main Menu bar:
Print Graphics…
This option enables you to output the contents of the active 3D View to a printer.
Selecting View>Print Graphics… displays a standard Windows print form giving
you the ability to select a printer, select the number of copies and set properties for
the print.
Copy Image
This option enables you to copy the contents of the 3D View Window to the Windows
paste buffer so that it can be pasted into any Windows application that supports
picture objects.
Selecting View>Copy Image displays a sub-menu containing standard image
resolutions from 640x480 to 1600x1200.

Save View
This option enables you to save the current state of a 3D View so that the direction
and magnification can be restored when required. The sub-menu allows you to
select up to four views to be saved:
If View 1 has already been saved, selecting it again will overwrite the previous view
and save the new one.
Restore View
This option enables you to restore one of the four saved views. The sub-menu allows
you to select one of the four views to be restored. If any of the Save View options
have not been selected the corresponding Restore View option will be greyed out:
Restore View is also available from the icons on the left-hand side of the 3D View.
When a view is saved, the corresponding Restore View icon is highlighted. As with
the sub-menu any Save View options have not been selected the corresponded
Restore View icon will remain greyed out.
Settings>Black Background/White Background

These options on the Settings sub-menu enable you to select between a black or
white background for the currently active 3D View.
White can be the best choice of background colour if the view is to be printed or its
contents copied to another application.
Settings>High Quality
This option on the Settings sub-menu can be used to toggle between ‘high’ and
‘standard’ quality image(s) of the Design module.

A high quality image will be slower to draw and manipulate than a standard quality
one.
Settings>Show Tooltips
This option on the settings sub-menu enables you to toggle Tooltips on or off. When
set on, the name of the element under the pointer will be displayed in the Tooltip.
Animations
This option on the Settings sub-menu toggles smooth pan and zoom operations in
the 3D view when the Zoom To or Walk To options are used.
The pan or zoom operation is animated to show the transition from the original view
definition to the final view definition.
Animation only operates if the system determines that the hardware is capable of
performing a smooth pan or zoom with the size of the model displayed in the 3D
View.
Some of the options described above are also available by selecting

Settings>Graphics>View… to display the 3D View Options form.
Shading
Usually the model is viewed in solid shaded colour, however, in some
circumstances it may be more beneficial to work in wire-line mode.
Selecting View>Settings>Shaded will set shaded mode if the option is currently
unchecked and set wire-line mode if the option is currently checked.
Solid shaded and wire-line modes may also be toggled by selecting
Settings>Graphics>View… from the Main Menu bar to display the 3D View
Options form and checking or un-checking the Shaded checkbox.
Function key F8 also toggles between Shaded and Wire-line modes.

Elements may also be displayed with a variable level of translucency.

Translucency may be set in two ways:
The visual properties of an element in the Draw List can be displayed at the bottom
of the Draw List panel of the Design Explorer. Viewing of the visual properties can be
toggled on or off by clicking either the Show Visual Properties or Hide Visual
Properties button on the panel.
The visual properties shown are those of the element highlighted in the Draw List,
which may not be the current element.
The available visual properties are Colour (covered in the next section),
Translucency and Show Edges.
Clicking the down arrow icon on the right of the Translucency text box displays a
form that enables the percentage translucency to be set:
Clicking the slider with the left mouse button and moving it along the scale sets the
percentage of translucency. The current setting is displayed in the bottom right-hand
corner.

Clicking the Show Edges list enables you to toggle the display of the elements
edges ON and OFF

The centre panel of the Members+Draw form enables you to set the Colour
(covered in the next section), Translucency and Show Edges properties of the
current element.
Clicking the translucency list displays the percentage options available, whilst
checking or un-checking the Edges checkbox toggles the Show Edges property ON
or OFF.
Having selected the appropriate options, clicking the Add CE button will alter the
display to the chosen options.
It should be noted that the properties can only be set for the current element and not
elements displayed in the Draw List panel of the form.
Colours
By default PDMS displays elements in the 3D View using default Autocolour rules
which colour elements depending on the element type.

Modifying the Autocolour rules is not covered in this manual, see M4 Equipment
Modelling or M6 Basic Steelwork Design. However, colours of individual elements,
or groups of elements, may be changed in three ways:
Clicking on the Colour list of the visual properties in the Draw List panel of the
Design Explorer displays a colour palette. Clicking the More>> button on the palette
displays a further palette with additional colours:
Clicking one of the colour buttons in either o f the palettes sets the colour property
for the element highlighted in the Draw List.
2. From the Members List

Selecting Drawlist>Add CE with Colour from the Members List form menu displays
the Add Current Element form:
Selecting a colour button from this form adds the current element to the 3D View
using the selected colour.
It should be noted that the element will not be initially displayed in the selected
colour as its colour property is set to the CE Colour (see below). Making another
element the CE will display the added element in the selected colour.

Clicking the Colour button on the Members+Draw form displays the Drawlist
Element Add Colour form:

Selecting one of the colour buttons on this form changes the colour of the Colour
button. Clicking the Add CE button on the Members+Draw form will add the current
element in the selected colour.
As with the Members List, the added element will not be initially displayed in the
selected colour.
Apart from the default Autocolour settings, PDMS sets colours for the current
element, associated elements, modelling aids and highlighting. These colours enable
you to distinguish, say, the current element from other elements in the 3D View.
Clicking Settings>Graphics>Colour… on the Main Menu bar displays the Colours
form:
CE is the colour used for the current element.

Active is the colour used for elements associated with the current element.
Visible is the colour used for all other elements in the 3D view
Aids is the colour used for design aids.

Highlight is the colour used for highlighting selected items, e.g. for deleting.
Note: Active and Visible colours are used when Auto Colour is turned off.
Clicking any of the colour buttons displays a colour form appropriate to the selection:
Selecting a colour button from the palette sets the colour for the selected item.
The Autocolour rules can be toggled ON or OFF by checking or un-checking the
Auto Colour On/Off checkbox.
Representation
Additional representation properties, apart from colour and translucency previously
described, of elements in a 3D View, can be controlled using the Representation
form.
Selecting Settings>Graphics>Representation… displays the Representation
form:

The General section of the Representation form enables you to set:

Tube and Centreline representation
These options apply to piping components. If Tube is ON the components and
tubing are displayed as double line representation, i.e. colour shaded.
If Centreline is ON the components and tubing are displayed as single line
representation.
Insulation
This option allows Insulation for piping components and tubing, as defined in the
catalogue, to be displayed.
Clicking the Insulation list and selecting a value turns the insulation representation
ON. A percentage of translucency can be applied to the insulation representation by
selecting an appropriate value from the list.
Obstruction
This option is similar to Insulation except that it controls the representation of
Obstruction volumes.
Obstruction volumes are used to represent areas in the model which must be kept
clear of obstructions , e.g. walkways, escape routes, access volumes for valves and
instruments, etc,.
Holes Drawn
This option determines how negative primitives, e.g. holes, cut-outs, etc., are
represented in the 3D View. If Holes Drawn is OFF the negative primitives as shown
as black lines in a shaded view. If Holes Drawn is ON the negative primitives will be
shown cutting the appropriate model elements
Holes Draw is toggled on and off by checking and un-checking the Holes Drawn
checkbox.

Arc Tolerance
This option sets the tolerance for the representation of arcs, i.e. the ‘smoothness’ of
curved surfaces, will be represented.
The Arc Tolerance value is set by entering a number in the text box. A value of 1.0
will give the ‘smoothest’ arcs.
When the desired values have been set, checking the update all Graphics
checkbox and clicking the OK button modifies the representation.
The Level section of the Representation form enables different drawing levels to be
set for groups of elements.
All elements used for building Plant items in the catalogue, e.g. piping components,
structural profiles, etc., or in Design, e.g. equipment, panels, etc., have a Level
attribute. Different representations of a Plant item can be made and assigned to
different levels such that modifying the level displayed in the 3D View will change the
representation of the Plant item.
For example, a simple representation of a pump may be constructed of primitives
with a Level attribute set to a range of 0 to 3, whilst a more detailed representation of
the pump may be constructed of primitives with a Level attribute set to a range of 4
to 10. Entering a value of 0 to 3, inclusive, on the Representation form will display
the simple representation of the pump, whilst entering a value of 4 to 10, inclusive,
will display the detailed representation.
The representation Level is set by entering a value in the appropriate text box.
• Pipe is used for piping components and tubing
• Nozzle is used for equipment nozzles
• Structure is used for structural profiles
• Others is used for all other appropriate elements.
• Mass is used to determine the representation used when calculating mass
properties.

As with the General section of the form, when the desired values for Level have
been entered, checking the update all Graphics checkbox and clicking the OK
button modifies the representation.
The Specific section of the Representation form is used to set and modify the
representation of Ppoints and Plines in discipline specific operations and is outside
the scope of this manual. Ppoints and Plines are covered in discipline training course
manuals.

Exercise 3
Multiple Views
1. Select Display>Graphical View from the Main Menu. Note the main Window
header bar now reads Design – General Application – VANTAGE PDMS – [3D
View (2)].
2. Click the Restore Down icon on the 3D View to make the view window smaller
and move 3D View (2) to reveal 3D View(1) beneath.
3. Select Display>View Control from the Main Menu to display the 3D View
Control form. Select Create>Standard Design View… from the form menu to
create 3D View (3), make the view smaller and move it to reveal all three 3D
Views.
4. Adjust the 3D View windows, using standard Windows dragging techniques, so
that your display looks like this:

5. Click anywhere in 3D View(1) to make it the current view and modify the view
direction. Make the other 3D Views current in turn and adjust their viewing
direction.
6. Remove some items from the Draw List and note that the items are removed
from the display in each 3D View.
7. Delete 3D View(2) and 3D View (3) by selecting Display>View Control… from
the Main Menu, highlighting the views in the displayed View Control form and
selecting Delete>Selected from the form menu. Restore 3D View (1) to fill the
window by clicking the Maximise icon on the view.
Manipulating the View

1. Put the whole TRA.SITE, except the CIVILS.ZONE, into the Draw List, set the
limits to the Draw List and set an Iso 3 view direction.
2. Select View>Middle Button Drag>Zoom Rectangle from the Main Menu. Drag
a rectangle, using the middle mouse button, around TANK1 and release the
mouse button. The equipment item will fill the view.
3. Click the Zoom In/Out icon on the left-hand side of the 3D View. Click and hold
down the middle mouse button and move the pointer doen the screen to zoom
out.
4. If you have a scroll wheel on your mouse, rotate the wheel each way and note
the zoom effect.
5. Select Middle Button Drag>Pan from the 3D View Shortcut Menu. Note the
change from ZOOM in the Status Area. Click and hold down the middle mouse
button and move the pointer around the screen, noting the panning effect.
6. Click the middle mouse button with the pointer away from the centre of the 3D
View to set the centre of interest, noting the panning effect of this action. Clicjk
the middle mouse button several times with the pointer in the same place to
maintain to pan the view.
7. Click the Walk to Draw List icon. Click the Rotate icon on the left-hand side of
the 3D View, click and hold down the middle mouse button and move the pointer
left and right across the view to rotate around the vertical axis, noting the centre
of rotation. Release the middle mouse button and repeat the action but this time
move the pointer up and down the screen to rotate around the horizontal axis.
8. Press the F7 function key to set Eye in the Status Area and repeat the rotate
actions noting the difference from the Model setting.
9. Press the F7 function key again to return to the Model setting and press the F9
function key to display the rotation sliders on the bottom and right-hand side of
the 3D View. Click on the bottom slider with the left mouse button and hold it
down while moving the slider left and right to rotate the model. Repeat the action
with the right-hand slider, moving the pointer up and down to rotate the model.
10. Press the F4 function key to set the view to Perspective, noting the change in the
Status Area. Select View>Middle Button Drag>Walk from the Main Menu to set
Walk mode. Click and hold down the middle mouse button and move the pointer
up the screen to walk the eye point forward. Move the pointer down the screen
to walk the eye point backwards.
11. Press the F4 function key to set the view to Parallel, Walk To the entire Draw List
and set an Iso 3 view direction. Make TANK2 the current element and select
View>Set Centre of View>Selection from the Main Menu. Note that the view
adjusts to move the equipment item at the centre of the view. Rotate the model
and note the rotation centre.
12. Select Set Centre of View>Identify Element… from the 3D View Shortcut
Menu and select any primitive on the PUMP1 equipment item. Rotate the model
and note the rotation centre.
13. Select Set Centre of View>Screen Pick… from the 3D View Shortcut Menu and
click anywhere in the 3D View with the left mouse button. Note that the pointer
location when you clicked has moved to the centre of the view.
View Representation
1. Select View>Save View> View 1 from the Main Menu. Note that the first
Restore View icon on the left-hand side of the 3D View is highlighted whilst the
others remain greyed out.
2. Modify the view by zooming, panning and rotating. Select Save View>View 3
from the 3D Shortcut Menu. Modify the view again by zooming panning and
rotating.
3. Select Restore View>View 1 from the 3D View Shortcut Menu, noting that the
first saved view has been restored.
4. Select the Restore View 3 icon from the left-hand side of the 3D View, noting
that the second saved view has been restored.
5. Set the view to an Iso 3 view direction. Select View>Settings>Shaded from the
Main Menu and note that the view is now displayed in Wire-line mode. Press the
F8 function key to restore Shaded mode.
6. In the Draw List panel of the Design Explorer, select TANK1 and make sure the
visual properties are displayed at the bottom of the form. Click the Translucency
list to display the Translucency form and click the slider with the left mouse button
and hold it down while dragging the slider to the right. Set the Translucency to
approximately 50%, release the mouse button and note the effects on TANK1.
Try different percentage translucency on other elements in the Draw List.
7. Toggle Show Edges On and OFF on some of your translucent selections and
note the differences.
8. Display the Members+Draw form, make TANK2 the current element and select a
translucent percentage from the list. Click the Add CE button on the form and
note the changes in the equipment item. Set various translucency percentages
for various items, toggling the Edges checkbox on some selections before
clicking the Add CE button.
9. Make any element the CE. Click the Colour button on the Members+Draw form
and select a colour from the displayed Drawlist Element Add Colour form.
Dismiss the form and click the Add CE button to add the current element in the
selected colour.
10. Modify the colours of other elements using the visual properties on the Design
Explorer.
11. Select Settings>Graphics>Colour… from the Main Menu to display the
Colours form. Click on the colour button next to CE to display the Colour for
Current Element form and select a brightred from the palette. Dismiss the form
and click the OK button on the Colours form. Make any element the CE and
note that it is displayed in the selected colour.
12. Display the Colours form again and un-check the Auto Colour On/Off
checkbox. Click the OK button on the form and note the changes to the colours in
the 3D View.
13. Select Settings>Graphics>Representation… from the Main Menu to display
the Representation form. Uncheck the Tube checkbox and check the
Centreline and update all Graphics checkboxes. Note how the piping elements
in the model are represented.
14. Display the Representation form again and check the Tube checkbox. Select
50% from the Obstruction scrollable list and click the OK button on the form.
Note the obstruction volumes displayed around the valves in the model.
15. Turn the obstruction volume representation Off. Remove the PIPE.ZONE from
the Draw List, set the view to an Iso 3 direction and zoom in on PUMP1. Display
the Representation form again and check the Holes Drawn checkbox. Click the
OK button on the form and note the holes in the ends of the pump nozzles rather
than the black lines of the negative geometry. Note the ‘faceted’ reprsentation of
the nozzles.
16. Display the Representation form again and change the Arc Tolerance setting to
1.0. Click the OK button on the form and note that the pump nozzles are now
displayed as perfect circles.

Session 5
The Model Editor
Objectives
• Explain the principles behind the 3D display.
Must Know Points

• How to access the 3D display.

The Model Editor
Model Editor Mode
The Model Editor is a mode of operation in the Design module that enables you to
reposition selected Plant items using the mouse pointer.
The Model Editor is a general editor, i.e. it is not discipline specific, and the same
principles can be to appropriate items from all disciplines in PDMS.
You enter Model Editor mode by clicking the Model Editor button on the toolbar,
and return from the Model Editor to Design Navigate mode by clicking the button
again. Alternatively, the Edit>Model Editor menu selection may be used to enter
and leave Model Editor mode. The Save Work operation also exists Model Editor
mode.
In this manual, a 3D View that can be switched into Model Editor mode is called a
3D Model Editor View. The features described here for selecting, moving and
rotating items by using the mouse are available only in the Model Editor.

The Model Editor
Element Selection in the Model Editor

Groups of selected Plant Items can be moved or rotated in a single operation. The
collection of selected plant items is called the Graphical Selection.
See Selectable Items at the end of this Session for a list of Plant items that can be
selected and modified using the Model Editor.
Plant items can be added to or removed from the current Graphical Selection by
picking them using the mouse pointer. Selection facilities are provided which allow
you to select groups of related items in a single selection operation.
Drag rectangle (Fence) selection allows groups of elements to be selected easily.
You can define whether to select only those elements that are wholly within the
rectangle or to include those that are partially within the rectangle.
A Re-Select function is provided to go back to the previous Graphical Selection. This
is useful if accidentally using a clear selection operation or beginning another
selection has lost the Graphical Selection.
Clicking in blank space in a 3D Model Editor View, or using De-Select All on element
shortcut menus clears the Graphical Selection.
A Locator Handle appears when a Graphical Selection is present. This is used to
manipulate the position and orientation of the entire Graphical Selection.

The Model Editor
The Locator Handle

The Locator Handle is a collection of individual graphical manipulation handles
grouped together. The Locator Handle can be used to drag the entire Graphical
Selection to a new position or rotate the entire Graphical Selection through an angle
about a selected axis.
This combination of direct graphical manipulation handles offers you the ability to
move selected items constrained in a direction or to lie in a plane, or rotate the
selection about an axis.
See Positioning and Orientation using the Locator Handle for details of using the
locator handle.
Movement
A Graphical Selection is moved using linear
and planar handles on the Locator Handle, or
by using the Edit menu.
Dragging a linear or planar handle with the
mouse pointer moves the current Graphical
Selection. The movement is made in steps, the
size of which can be controlled by you (the
Movement Increment). This allows the
Graphical Selection to be positioned accurately
in relation to its original position.
The Graphical Selection can be moved until it
is aligned with another item in the display by
using Locator Handle shortcut menus, the Edit
menu, or by dragging with Feature
Identification mode switched on.
Clicking and dragging one of the three Linear Movement Handles constrains the
movement of the selection to be in the direction of the selected axis.

The Model Editor
Clicking and dragging one of the three Planar Movement Handles constrains the
movement of the selection to be in the plane of the selected planar handle.

The Model Editor
Rotation
The Graphical Selection is rotated using a

Rotation handle.
The selection rotates in angular steps as it
is dragged with the mouse, the size of
which can be controlled by you (the
Rotation Increment).
This allows the Graphical Selection to be
rotated accurately from its original
orientation.
The Graphical Selection can be rotated
until an axis of the Locator Handle is
aligned with another item in the display by
using Locator Handle shortcut menus, or by
dragging with Feature Identification
switched on (see section 0).
Clicking and dragging one of the three Rotation Handles constrains the rotation of
the selection to be about the axis corresponding to the selected rotation handle.

The Model Editor
Alignment
The Graphical Selection can be moved or rotated until it aligns with a point, P-point,
P-line or straight line (edge) in the model. In this document, the target points and
lines are called features.
The origin of the Locator Handle is the reference datum for aligning the Graphical
Selection.
Locator Handle as a Frame of Reference

The Locator Handle can be moved or rotated independently of the Graphical
Selection. This allows you to set a datum for movement and alignment operations, or
to set an axis of rotation about which the Graphical Selection will be rotated.
Feedback
The locator handle changes shape to show movement or rotation constraints.
Movement and rotation feedback for freehand operations is displayed both in the 3D
View and on the status bar. This allows both world position and displacement from
the starting position to be shown. The distance values are output in the style and

The Model Editor
units set on the Current Session Units form, accessed by selecting

Settings>Units… from the Main Menu bar.
If feature alignment is in use, feedback is given on features as the mouse pointer
passes over them, and graphical feedback is provided to help achieve the correct
alignment in a 3D model.
Unconstrained Positioning
The Locator Handle provides functions for positioning the Graphical Selection
constrained in a given direction or in a plane. However, it is sometimes necessary to
specify a new position without any constraints applied to movement of the Graphical
Selection.
An unconstrained position can be specified by typing world co-ordinates into a form,
by typing a 3D offset from the current Location Handle position, or by snapping to a
Point feature.
Undo and Redo

Undo and Redo functions allow you to step backwards or forwards through one or
more movement or rotation operations. Undo and Redo operate only on a sequence
of direct graphical manipulation operations in the Model Editor. Any operation using
the DESIGN forms or command line disables the Undo and Redo functions.
Performance
The speed of interactive selection and dragging operations is dependent on both the
specification of the hardware being used, and on the complexity of the model
displayed in the 3D View. Generally, it is advisable to minimise the size and
complexity of the displayed model in order to obtain good interactive feedback from
the system.
Performance tips when using Model Editor:
• Display only those elements that are necessary for the modification that you are
performing. As you drag a graphical selection on the screen, the display is
continuously redrawn.
• Avoid using large graphical selections. It may be better to make bulk moves in
small groups.
• Avoid drawing the model with high levels of detail. For example, do not display the
model with holes drawn; do not use a fine arc tolerance.
• Avoid drawing the model with P-points switched on.

The Model Editor
Element Selection
In order to move or rotate plant items, you must first select plant items to modify. The
collection of selected items is called the Graphical Selection. Plant items may be
added to or removed from the current Graphical Selection by various selection
methods:
• picking with the mouse pointer
• dragging a rectangular fence around items to be selected
• using selection operations to select related groups of items
• clearing the Graphical Selection.
The Design database elements that can be selected and modified using the Model
Editor are listed in Selectable Items at the end of this Session.
Selection Feedback
Selected elements are highlighted so that they stand out from all the other elements
in the graphics display.
A Locator Handle appears when a Graphical Selection is present. This can be used
to manipulate the position and orientation of the entire Graphical Selection.
Modifiable and non-modifiable elements

Elements that can be moved or rotated by you are highlighted with a green wire-line
highlight when you click on them in Model Editor mode. If you do not have
permission to move or rotate an element, it is highlighted in a red wire-line.
It is not always possible to determine whether a move or rotation operation can be
carried out when items are selected. It is possible that a move or rotation operation
could be rejected if PDMS Data Access Control determines that the current user is
not permitted carry out the operation.
Selecting Items Using the Mouse Pointer

Plant items are selected by clicking on the item with the left mouse button in the 3D
graphics view.
The Ctrl key is used to add unselected items to the current selection or remove
selected items from the Graphical Selection. Available selection methods are:
● Single click on an unselected item creates a new Graphical Selection containing
that one item.
● Single Ctrl-click on an unselected item to add it to the current Graphical Selection.
● Single Ctrl-click on a selected item to remove it from the current Graphical
Selection.

The Model Editor
● Picking implied tube, or using a Select Leg operation on a Piping Item selects a
Pipe leg. Using the Ctrl key with a Pipe leg selection adds to the Graphical
Selection if an unselected item is picked. Ctrl with selected implied tube pick
removes the Pipe leg
.
Note that Ctrl with a shortcut menu selection on a selected item does not remove the
selection from the list.
Fence Selection
A group of Plant items can be selected by using a fence selection. There are two
fence selection options:
1. Wholly Within selects items that are entirely contained inside the rectangular
boundary of a fence selection.
2. Wholly And Partially Within selects both items that are entirely contained inside
the rectangular boundary of a fence selection, and items that cross the boundary.
Fence selection can be made with either the right or left mouse button.
Fence selection using the left mouse button
Drag a rectangle surrounding the items to be selected by clicking and holding down
the left mouse button at one corner of the rectangle, and drag the mouse pointer to
the opposite corner. The selection will take place when the mouse button is
released.
The items selected depend on the current setting of Selection>Select Rectangle on
the Main Menu bar. The following illustrations the effects of each selection.

The Model Editor
Pressing the Esc key during the drag will abort the selection.
Fence selection using the right mouse button

Drag a rectangle surrounding the items to be selected by clicking and holding down
the right mouse button at one corner of the rectangle, and drag the mouse pointer to
the opposite corner. The shortcut menu shown in the picture below will appear when
the mouse button is released.
The selection takes place when one of the options on the shortcut menu is selected.
Pressing the Esc key during the drag or prior to selecting from the shortcut menu
aborts the selection. Clicking away from the shortcut menu or selecting Cancel on
the menu also aborts the selection.
Adding to an existing Graphical Selection with a fence selection
Holding the Ctrl key down while performing a fence selection adds the selected items
to the existing Graphical Selection.

The Model Editor
Removing selected items from an existing Graphical Selection with a fence

selection.
Holding the Shift key down while performing a fence selection removes the
selected items from the existing Graphical Selection.
Item-Specific Selection Operations

Item-specific selection operations can be found on sub-menus on some Plant items.
Clicking the right mouse button on a graphical selection accesses the item specific
sub-menus.
Select>Connected
Select>Connected is a special piping selection that selects a group of connected
piping items. In the picture above, the gaskets and flanges connected to the Valve
would be added to the Graphical Selection along with the Valve. Using the Ctrl
button with Select>Connected adds to the Graphical Selection if an unselected item
is picked.
Select>Leg
Picking implied tube, or using the Select>Leg shortcut menu selection on a Piping,
HVAC or Cable Tray component will select a leg of a Branch.

The Model Editor
Select>Leg selects those components in a Branch that are in-line with the selected
component or implied tube. A change in direction of the Branch (e.g. at an elbow) is
regarded as the end of a Pipe leg.
The illustrations below show examples of the use of these two options:
Select>PIPE and Select>BRAN

Select>PIPE and Select>BRAN show the names of the PIPE or BRANCH that own
the selected item. Selecting either option will add all PIPE or BRANCH elements to
the selection.

The Model Editor
The picture above shows the name of the Branch and Pipe that own the selected
component in the Select menu.
Select>Attached is a special steelwork selection to select a group of connected steel

SCTN items. The selected item, and any sections connected to it via joints will be
selected.
Using the Ctrl key with Select>Attached adds to the Graphical Selection if an
unselected item is picked.
Select>FRMW and Select>SBFR are similar to Select> PIPE and Select>BRAN
described above. Choosing these options will add either all the members of the
FRMW or SBFR that own the selected SCTN.

The Model Editor
Clearing the Graphical Selection

There are three methods to clear a Graphical Selection:
1. Click in blank space in the graphics 3D view.
2. Select De-Select All on a shortcut menu on an element in the 3D view. (This is
provided for the case where the 3D view is full, so no part of the 3D view
background can be seen.)
3. Leave Model Editor mode.
Reinstating the Previous Graphical Selection

If a Graphical Selection has been lost accidentally by clearing the selection or by
starting a new selection, the previous selection can be reinstated by selecting
Edit>Re-Select from the main menu bar.
Leaving Model Editor mode clears the Graphical Selection, but you can reinstate the
last Graphical Selection on return to Model Editor mode by using Edit>Re-Select.
The Selection Menu

The Selection menu on the Main Menu bar contains commands for setting
properties of the Locator Handle and the Graphical Selection.
Feature Highlighting
enables or disables Feature Identification Mode. Feature Identification Mode is
described in Positioning and Orientation using the Locator Handle.
If the mouse pointer is over a 3D Model Editor view, and the Model Editor is active,
pressing the F key on the keyboard toggles between feature identification mode
being switched on or off.
Set Increments
shows the Select Increments form for setting the active movement or rotation
increments:

The Model Editor
The Linear increment is specified in the currently active units, or units can be
specified by using PDMS units of measure syntax.
Set Handle Colour

enables you to change the colour of the Locator Handle. The list of available colours
is shown on the submenu.
Drag Image
During a drag operation using the Locator Handle, an image of the Graphical
Selection follows a constrained path defined by the current mouse pointer position.
The style of feedback for all items in the Graphical Selection can be selected from
the submenu list.
Select Rectangle
sets the mode of operation of Select Rectangle on the left mouse button to be Wholly
Within or Wholly And Partially Within.

The Model Editor
Positioning and Orientation using the Locator Handle

This section describes how to move or rotate the current Graphical Selection using
the Locator Handle.
Overview
The Locator Handle provides three ways to move or rotate a Graphical Selection:
1. Dragging the linear, planar or rotation handles freehand with the mouse pointer
2. Aligning with points, P-points, P-lines or straight lines (edges) on other displayed
plant items
3. Typing in offset distance or angular displacement values
Aligning the Graphical Selection with points or lines on other displayed items
When aligning a Graphical Selection with other plant items in the displayed model,
you enter feature identification mode, where the mouse pointer is sensitive to
finding features on the Design graphics. Features are points, straight lines (edges),
P-points or P-lines. Points are located at vertices on the model, such as the corner of
a box, and at the mid-point of lines. Lines are straight edges on the model (Design
Aid graphics cannot be used as a feature).
Feature identification mode is turned on and off by selecting Feature Highlighting on
the Selection menu, or by pressing the F key when the mouse pointer is over a 3D
Model Editor View, and the Model Editor is active.
Some operations turn on feature identification mode temporarily to allow you to pick
a feature. For example, Edit>Move Selection>Snap To Point. Once the required
feature is identified, the mode will revert to its state before the command was
actioned.
Automatic scrolling
If the target location for a drag operation is outside of the 3D view, the mouse pointer
can be moved to an edge of the view, where the view will pan automatically up,
down, left or right according to the 3D view edge that the mouse pointer hits. The
mouse pointer must move in order for the panning to continue. This may necessitate
you making a small movement of the pointer near to the view edge to keep the pan
operation going.
This technique for panning the view is appropriate for locating a target position that is
just out of view.

The Model Editor
Linear Movement Handle

The Linear Movement handle allows you to move the Graphical Selection
constrained in the direction of the Linear handle axis. The size of each step of the
movement is defined by the current movement increment.
Dragging a linear handle with the left mouse button moves the Locator Handle and
Graphical Selection in the direction of the linear handle.
To initiate a linear drag, press the left mouse button down over one of the linear
movement handles. With the left button still pressed, moving the mouse drags the
Graphical Selection constrained in the selected direction, in steps defined by the
movement increment.
Moving one movement increment at a time

If the movement increment is small relative to the magnification of the 3D view, it can
be difficult to move the mouse freehand to a precise displacement from the Locator
Handle’s original position. Fine control over positioning can be achieved by dragging
with a linear handle so that it is close to the required position then, while continuing
to hold down the mouse button, press the plus (+) or minus (-) key on the numeric
keypad. This moves the Graphical Selection by one movement increment in the
direction of the linear handle if + is pressed, or in the opposite direction if - is
pressed.
Feedback
When moving a selection in a constrained direction, the Locator Handle changes to a
cut-down version of the full handle to show the direction of movement, as shown
below. The current World position of the Locator Handle is displayed on the status
bar, and an offset from the original position of the handle is displayed on the 3D
View.
As the mouse moves over a linear handle, the pointer symbol changes to the linear
drag pointer.

The Model Editor
Linear Handle Shortcut menu

A Linear Handle has the following movement operations on its shortcut menu:
Enter Value…
shows the following form:
The field corresponding to the selected axis is activated for input. In this case,
entering 2500 in the X field tells the Graphical Selection to move by 2500mm in the X
direction of the Locator Handle.
Align with Feature…

The Model Editor
This method allows you to position the Graphical Selection in relation to another
object on the screen, but forces the Graphical Selection to move only along the
selected axis. The sequence of operations is as follows:
• Make a Graphical Selection.
• Optional: Position the Locator Handle at the required datum position.
• Select Align with Feature on the linear handle shortcut menu.
• Move the mouse to the target feature. This highlights the target feature, and the
mouse pointer changes shape to indicate that the Graphical Selection will be
aligned with the target position if the mouse button is clicked.
• Click the left mouse button to move the Graphical Selection to the target position.
Linear drag can align with a point feature or a line feature.
Point feature Alignment

When positioning the Graphical Selection to a point feature, the origin of the Locator
Handle is aligned with the target point such that the target point is projected onto the
line of movement.
This situation is illustrated below (in two dimensions):
Alignment with a Line or P-line Feature

There are two cases to consider:
1. Selected line feature is orthogonal to the line of movement
If the line selected line feature is orthogonal to the line of movement, then the feature
line is treated as a feature point. Any position along the feature line will project onto
the same point on the movement line.
2. Selected line feature not orthogonal to the line of movement
If the line selected line feature is not orthogonal to the line of movement, then the
intersection of the extended feature line with the line of movement becomes the new
Locator Handle origin position. If the extended feature line and the movement line do
not intersect in 3D, then the point chosen is the nearest point on the line of
movement to the extended feature line.

The Model Editor
This situation is illustrated below (in two dimensions):
Alignment with a Ppoint Feature

There are two cases to consider:
1. Ppoint as point feature
A P-point feature may be treated as a point feature, and will work as described
above for points.
2. Ppoint as a Line feature
A Ppoint has a direction, which is indicated by the arrow on a Ppoint feature symbol.
If the mouse pointer is moved over the Ppoint arrow, then the intersection of the
Ppoint direction with the line of movement becomes the new Locator Handle origin
position. If the Ppoint direction and the movement line do not intersect in 3D, then
the point chosen is the nearest point on the line of movement to a line projected from
the Ppoint position in the Ppoint direction.

The Model Editor
Snap To Point…
Snap To Point allows the Graphical Selection to be moved to a Point feature. The
Graphical Selection is not constrained to move along the direction of the Linear
Handle. See Positioning and Orientation Using the Edit Menu.
Move Handle
The Move Handle sub-menu provides the same movement commands as the main
Linear Handle menu, but these commands move the Locator Handle only. They do
not move the Graphical Selection.
The Locator Handle may be moved independently of the Graphical Selection in order
to change the datum position for the next operation on the Graphical Selection.
Planar Movement Handles

Each of the planar movement handles constrains the drag operation such that the
Graphical Selection moves only in the plane of the selected handle. The handle
moves in steps determined by the current Movement Increment setting.

The Model Editor
To initiate a planar drag, you press the left mouse button down over one of the
planar movement handles. With the left button still pressed, moving the mouse drags
the Graphical Selection constrained in the selected plane, in steps defined by the
movement increment.
Feedback
A triangle is displayed on the current constraint plane, between the original position
of the handle and the current position. The relative movement distances are shown
on the sides of the triangle. The current World position of the Locator Handle is
displayed on the status bar. All values are shown in the current selected units.
The Locator Handle changes to a simple version of the full handle to show the plane
of movement as shown:
As the mouse moves over a planar handle the pointer symbol changes to the planar
drag symbol.
Planar Handle Shortcut menu

A Planar Handle has the following movement operations on its shortcut menu:

The Model Editor
Enter Values…
This command shows the following form.
The fields corresponding to the selected plane are activated for input. In this case,
entering 8000 in the X field and 4000 in the Z field tells the Graphical Selection to
move by X8000mm Z4000mm in the XZ plane of the Locator Handle.
Align with Feature…
This facility allows you to position the Graphical Selection in relation to another
object on the screen, but forces the Graphical Selection to move only in the selected
plane. The sequence of operations is as follows:

The Model Editor
1. Make a Graphical Selection.

2. Optional: Position the Locator Handle at the required datum position.
3. Select Align with Feature… from the planar handle shortcut menu.
4. Move the mouse to the target feature. A marker appears at the target point, and
the mouse pointer changes shape to indicate that the Graphical Selection will be
aligned with the target position if the left mouse button is clicked.
5. Click the left mouse button to move the Graphical Selection to the target position.
Point feature Alignment

When positioning the Graphical Selection to a point feature, the origin of the Locator
Handle is aligned with the target point such that the target point is projected onto the
plane of movement. For example, the picture above shows the target P1 P-point
position being projected onto the plane of movement of the Graphical Selection.
Alignment with a Line or Pline Feature

If a planar move is to be aligned with a line feature, then the Locator Handle origin is
placed where the extended feature line or Ppoint direction intersects with the
movement plane. For example, in the following picture, the handrail is dragged in a
horizontal plane, with the bottom of the first post positioned where the top of the
stringer intersects with the plane. The feature selected is an edge on the top of the
stringer.

The Model Editor
Snap To Point…
Snap To Point… allows the Graphical Selection to be moved to a Point feature. The
Graphical Selection is not constrained to move in the plane of the Linear Handle.
See Positioning and Orientation Using the Edit Menu.
Move Handle
The Move Handle sub-menu provides the same movement commands as the main
Planar Handle menu, but these commands move the Locator Handle only. They do
not move the Graphical Selection.
The Locator Handle may be moved independently of the Graphical Selection in order
to change the datum position for the next operation on the Graphical Selection.
Rotation Handle
The rotation handles allow you to rotate the Graphical Selection around the relevant
axis using the current angular increment to control the angular step size.
Dragging a Rotation handle with the left mouse button rotates the handle and the
Graphical Selection about the axis of rotation. To perform a rotation, press the left
mouse button over the relevant rotation handle. With the left button still depressed,
drag the mouse to perform the rotation.

The Model Editor
Feedback
The angular movement from the original orientation is shown as the Locator Handle
is rotated. The angular displacement is also shown in the status bar.
As the mouse moves over a rotation handle, the pointer symbol changes to the
rotation drag symbol, and half of the Rotation Handle arc changes to show two
arrows. This feedback indicates which of the axes will be aligned with a feature when
feature alignment is used.
Rotation Handle Shortcut menu
A Rotation Handle has the following movement operations on its shortcut menu:
Enter Value…
This allows the Graphical Selection to be rotated about one of the Locator Handle
axes.

The Model Editor
Orient to Point…
The sequence of operations is as follows:

1. Make a Graphical Selection
2. Optional: Position the Locator Handle at the required datum position
3. Select Orient to Point… from the Rotation handle shortcut menu
4. Move the mouse to the target point. The mouse pointer changes to indicate that a
point has been located, and the axis is directed towards the point.
5. Click the primary mouse button to rotate the Graphical Selection to the target
orientation.
Align with Direction…

The Model Editor
The sequence of operations is as follows:

1. Make a Graphical Selection
3. Select Align with Direction… from the Rotation Handle shortcut menu.
4. Move the mouse to the target line (edge) or P-point direction. The mouse pointer
will change to indicate that the axis will be directed parallel to the edge. If the
Graphical Selection is shown 180 degrees out of alignment, press the key to
get the alternate alignment. On a P-point, this can be achieved by choosing one of
the arrows on the P-point feature.
5. Click the left mouse button to rotate the Graphical Selection to the target
orientation.
Align with…

The Model Editor
Rotates the selection until the chosen axis points towards the given direction. The
Graphical Selection is rotated about one of the Locator handle axes, such that the
chosen axis points as close to the direction specified as possible.
Rotate Handle
The Rotate Handle sub-menu provides the same rotation commands as the main
Rotation Handle menu, but these commands rotate the Locator Handle only. They
do not rotate the Graphical Selection.
The Locator Handle may be rotated independently of the Graphical Selection in
order to change the frame of reference for the next operation on the Graphical
Selection.
Rotate Handle>To World
This command aligns the Locator Handle with the World co-ordinate system, without
rotating the Graphical Selection. The Locator Handle Y axis points North, and the Z
axis points Up.
Feature Snapping
Having made a graphical selection in Model Editor mode, use Selection>Feature
Highlighting to switch into a mode where features are identified as the mouse
pointer passes over them on a 3D view. If Feature Snapping is on, selecting it again
will switch feature snapping off. Alternatively, the F key can be used to toggle feature
identification on and off if it is pressed over the 3D View while in Model Editor mode.
If the Graphical Selection is dragged using the Locator Handle while Feature
Snapping is on, it will align itself with key features on the displayed model as the
mouse pointer passes over them. See the sections on Linear, Planar and Rotation
Handles for a description of how feature snapping works for each handle.
There is an alternative method to select a feature. Moving the mouse over the 3D
model without dragging the locator handle still highlights features. Pressing the right
mouse button over a highlighted feature shows a menu that allows the Graphical
Selection or the Locator Handle to be moved to the selected position.

The Model Editor
Selecting Move Handle Here in the picture above will move the handle to the
selected point.
In order to select features of a Plant item, it is necessary to move the mouse pointer
over the item before features are shown. In most cases, the target P-point or P-line
lies on, or inside, a plant item, so selecting a feature is straightforward. In the few
cases where the P-point or P-line is outside of the plant item, or partly obscured by
another item in the scene, it is necessary to make sure that the mouse pointer first
passes over the associated plant item.
On steelwork items with P-lines, the Justification Line (JUSL) P-line is shown as a
feature.
Feature identification:
The Locator Handle can be moved to features on selected or unselected items.

The Graphical Selection cannot be moved to a reference point on selected items,
because the selected items are shown in their new location when a reference point is
found.

The Model Editor
Cancelling the drag

At any point of the move, you can cancel the drag operation by pressing the Esc
key. This is a standard way of cancelling a drag operation on Windows. When the
drag is cancelled the selection reverts to its original position and remains selected.
Moving the Locator Handle Independently of the Graphical

Selection
A Locator Handle can be moved independently of the Graphical Selection. This
allows a datum position to be set for subsequent move operations, or an axis of
rotation to be set for subsequent rotation operations.
The Locator Handle shortcut menus and the Edit menu provide commands for
moving and rotating the Locator Handle on its own. In order to drag the Locator
Handle without the Graphical Selection, select the linear, planar or rotation handle by
pressing the left mouse button down, and then press the H key on the keyboard.
This detaches the Locator Handle from the Graphical Selection. The H key can be
used to toggle between moving the Locator Handle on its own, and moving the
Graphical Selection with the Locator Handle.

The Model Editor
Positioning and Orientation Using the Edit Menu

Selecting Edit from the Main Menu bar displays the Edit menu:
Undo and Re-do

The ease with which you can manipulate the model using the graphical techniques
provided in PDMS Design means you are more prone to make mistakes. Usually
these are spotted immediately and you are able to undo the change and restore the
previous state.
There are three types of activity that are recognised while you are in Model Editor
mode. For each of these, the current state is saved before the change in order that it
may be restored by a subsequent Undo.
1. Changes to the database as a result of manipulating the Graphical Selection
either by direct graphical manipulation or from the context sensitive menus.
2. Selection Set. The selection set in use at the last database change is saved.
3. Locator Handle. The position/orientation of the Locator Handle at the last
database change is saved.
There are two ways you may undo an activity:
1. Using the standard Undo and Redo icons on the main toolbar.
2. Using the Undo and Redo options on the Edit pull-down menu.
You may step back through undo states one at a time. Following an undo, you can
then choose to re-do the sequence, stepping forward one state at a time until the
sequence of changes that were undone are restored. If you do one or more undos
and then save a new state, the re-do option is no longer available and the
corresponding icons/menu options will become inactive.
Switching in or out of Modify mode resets the undo state, and all undo/re-do icons
and menu options become inactive. Switching between applications in DESIGN will

The Model Editor
also cause the Modify mode button to be switched off and the undo/redo states to be
re-initialised.
If you modify the database by any means other than using the features of Model
Editor mode, then it will no longer be possible to undo previous database changes
made using graphical manipulation. This will not become apparent until you press
the Undo icon and the undo does not occur as the Undo/Redo icons are greyed out.
Move Selection and Move Handle

Move Selection moves the Graphical Selection and Move Handle moves the
Locator Handle only.
Move Selection and Move Handle have identical sub-menus:
The operations described below apply to both Move Selection and Move Handle.
Move Selection/Handle>Offset in 3D…
The Graphical Selection can be moved relative to its original position, in the co-
ordinate system of the Locator Handle. The position of the Graphical Selection will
only change if OK is clicked.

The Model Editor
Move Selection/Handle Set 3D Position…
This form shows the current position of the Locator Handle in World co-ordinates.
Changing the settings and clicking OK will move the selection to the specified world
co-ordinates.
Move Selection/Handle>Snap to Point
This facility allows you to position the Graphical Selection at a selected position in
relation to another object on the screen. The sequence of operations is:
1. Add one or more plant items into a Graphical Selection
3. Select Move Selection/Handle>Snap to Point from the Edit menu

The Model Editor
4. Move the mouse pointer to the target position. The pointer will change to indicate
that the Graphical Selection will snap to the target feature
5. Click the left mouse button to move the Graphical Selection to the target position.
Rotate Selection and Rotate Handle

Rotate Selection rotates the Graphical Selection and Rotate Handle rotates the
Rotate Selection and Rotate Handle have identical sub-menus:
Rotate Selection rotates the Graphical Selection. Rotate Handle rotates the
The operations described below apply to both Rotate Selection and Rotate Handle.
Rotate Selection/Handle>To World

This operation re-orientates the Locator Handle and Graphical Selection such that
the Y axis of the Locator Handle points in the World North direction, and the Z axis
points in the World Up direction.
Rotate Selection/Handle>About X/Y/Z

These three operations show the Rotate Selection/Handle About X/Y/Z form for
the selected axis.

The Model Editor
Entering a value enables the Graphical Selection to be rotated about one of the
Locator Handle axes.
Delete Selection
Delete Selection on the Edit menu deletes all items in the Graphical Selection from
the database. This command is only available while a Graphical Selection exists.
Note:You will be asked to confirm the deletion

The Model Editor
Selectable Items
The following table lists element types that can be selected and modified using the
Model Editor. Note that some types of element can be modified if they belong to an
administrative element such as a ZONE or FRMW, but they cannot be individually
modified if they belong to a Plant Item. For example, A SCTN element can be
selected and moved if it belongs to a FRMW or SBFR element, but not if it belongs
to a TMPL element.
Plant Item Selectable Elements

EQUIPMENT SITE>ZONE>EQUI
PIPE (and CABLE TRAY)

PIPE/CABLE TRAY SITE>ZONE>PIPE using the Select Owners operation
BRANCH SITE>ZONE>PIPE>BRAN using Select Owners operation
Pipe component SITE>ZONE>PIPE>BRAN>(any component)
HVAC
HVAC SITE>ZONE>HVAC using Select Owners operation
BRANCH SITE>ZONE>HVAC>BRAN using Select Owners operation
HVAC component SITE>ZONE>HVAC>BRAN>(any component)
HANGERS
RESTRAINT …PIPE>REST & …HVAC>REST using Select Owners
operation
HANGER …PIPE>REST>HANG & …HVAC>REST>HANG
PIPE TRACK SITE>ZONE>PTRA
ROUTING PLANE SITE>ZONE>RPLA or SITE>ZONE>STRU>RPLA

RPLA also exists under EQUI, PTRA, SUBE, SUBS – RPLA is
NOT a significant element in these situations
PENALTY VOLUME SITE>ZONE>PVOL or SITE> ZONE>STRU>PVOL

Note: PVOL also exists under EQUI, PTRA, SUBE, SUBS –
PVOL is not a significant Model Editor element in these
situations

The Model Editor
Plant Item Selectable Elements

STRUCTURES
Primitive owned directly by STRU SITE>ZONE>STRU>(Primitive)
SUBSTRUCTURE SITE>ZONE>STRU>SUBS
FRAMEWORK …STRU>FRMW using Select Owners operation
SUBFRAMEWORK …STRU>FRMW>SBFR using Select Owners operation
Collection of FLOOR …STRU>FRMW>CFLOOR using Select Owners operation
Collection of WALL …STRU>FRMW>CWALL using Select Owners operation
Collection of SCREED …STRU>FRMW>CSCREED using Select Owners operation
Note: The following elements may be owned by FRMW, SBFR, CFLOOR, CWALL or CSCREED
GENSEC GENSEC
WALL WALL
PANEL PANE
FLOOR FLOOR
GWALL GWALL
SCREED SCREED
PNODE PNOD
SCTN SCTN
STWALL STWALL
PALJ PALJ
DRAW SITE>DRAW or SITE>ZONE>DRAW
Note: DRAW also exists under EQUI, PTRA, SUBE, SUBS –
DRAW is NOT a significant element in these situations. See
selection rules for those element types
BOUNDARY SITE>BOUN or SITE>ZONE>BOUN
GROUND MODEL SITE>GRDM
DATUM SITE>ZONE>DATU
Note that the Model Editor does not work with Design Template elements in the
Template World. It is not possible to selected elements owned by a
TPWL>TMAR>TMPL hierarchy.

Training Manual: Basics & Functions

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Version 11.

 Copyright 2003 AVEVA Limited

Session 1................................................................. 1-1

Module 3 Basics & Functions Contents-i

ii Module 3 Basics & Functions

Must Know Points

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-1

How PDMS Can Help You

Different types of output from PDMS

1-2 Module 3 Basics & Functions

• Annotation and dimensions obtained directly from the design database

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-3

changing and drawings need to be reissued. When this happens, drawings,

1-4 Module 3 Basics & Functions

How PDMS is Structured

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-5

Example DRAFT output

1-6 Module 3 Basics & Functions

• User-defined drawing sheets.

Example ISODRAFT output

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-7

The main features are:

1-8 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-9

How PDMS Data is Stored

The PDMS Design Database Hierarchy

1-10 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-11

1-12 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Piping components are selected using Piping Specifications that reference

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-13

Navigating Around the Database

1-14 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-15

1-16 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-17

Level 0 10 (this is a representation level setting)

1-18 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-19

Point of Origin of a CYLI

1-20 Module 3 Basics & Functions

UDA (User Defined Attributes)

Module 3 Basics & Functions 1-21

Must Know Points

Module 3 Basics & Functions 2-1

Accessing the Design Environment

2-2 Module 3 Basics & Functions

The features of the main window shown at this stage are:

Module 3 Basics & Functions 2-3

Using the Mouse

Clicking and Dragging:

The Left Button:

The Middle Button:

The Right Button:

2-4 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 2-5

2-6 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 2-7

2-8 Module 3 Basics & Functions

Module 3 Basics & Functions 2-9

Actioning Form Inputs

2-10 Module 3 Basics & Functions