AutoCAD Plant 3D 2015 Xforce Keygen 64 Bit
Clotilde Wilks
I am currently a Recap Pro user. We have a Recap scan file (.rcp) of one of our older plant buildings that contains a LOT of old piping systems. I have been using this scan file to view the current piping systems and take measurements. At the same time, I have an AutoCAD Plant 3D file with a lot of NEW piping and structural additions.
I would like to overlay this Recap file into my Plant3D file for visual confirmation of the new design. Being a VERY Basic user of Recap, are there any useful/simple videos that explain how to do this overlay function on a step-by-step basis? I assume there has to be some common origin point between the 2 files that has to be calibrated - how to do this?
Hello @Anonymous
I had no experience with Plant 3D, but how would I solve your practical problem:
Most likely your Plant 3D model of a production building has a conventional coordinate system. The laser scanning project most likely also has a conventional coordinate system (different). But it can be georeferenced.
In any case, I would take the point cloud coordinate system as the main one and bring the Plant 3D model to it:
1. Create a new drawing in Autocad Plant 3D.
2. Insert a point cloud with an insertion point 0,0,0.
3. Create a section (plan) of the point cloud so that supporting structures (walls, columns) are visible
3. Load your Plant 3D model with an external reference with an insertion point.
4. Align, move the Xref Plant 3D (align walls, columns).
5. Embed the xref.
This will bring the two models to the same reference point.
This is one of the suggestions. But maybe it will suit you.
I have three custom fields which are added for all Plant3D objects. The field mapping seems to be working as I can see the fields on the components in the P3D model, and have been able to pull the fields to the isometric bill of materials (which is the objective). Values may be supplied in these fields through P3D, and when saved, do appear in the database.
But, the values of the fields will be updated directly in SQL by other means, from another source. Where I am stuck is that I cannot find a means by which to pass the data from SQL to the new fields in the model(s). I have investigated using VBA to cycle through all model objects, which is working, but I have not figured out how to pass a value to the new fields.
Your suggestion may present an alternative method through which I may be able to achieve the desired result on the isometrics. I've already created an LDT and mapped it my title block attributes. This was quite easy. That said - it only seems to work when I generate an iso from the PCF file, and not for quick-iso. I will have to set up and test your suggestion to see how it could work.
That said - it doesn't answer my question. I have modified the class definitions to have additional properties, and I need to be able to update these class properties in the model without going one-by-one manually. Still looking for an answer to this.
I'm going to flag your suggestion for linking through the PlantXDBManager as the solution. It's pretty easy to setup, and achieves the desired result. I was going to externally manage values in the EngineeringItems database table, but I can manage a separate table, and through the linking pass the desired values to the EngineeringItems table. I've done some testing on updates and such and it seems to work.
Be careful with plantxdbmanager, it doesn't travel, i.e. when you create a new project based on this project you'll have to set it all up again, every time for each new project. I've gone very far down that rabbit hole. What I do now is the simplest method, create the new properties in project setup, if I need to update them externally I export them to excel, make my changes, import them back. This has checks and balances implemented (on our part) while direct import from something like a datasheet / database of datasheets / etc might seem great, it means that there's no one checking the data as it's imported and no one clouding the changes / revisioning after import, pretty much makes it useless for us.
Hello Sir. Can you please let me know how you have achieved to link the 3d properties to your external database? I have also setup the database via the plantxdbmanager. My problem is that the mapped properties will not update. Do i have to run a specific command to do so? In the P&ID interface it can be achieved using the datamanager, righ click and refresh from external source. This option is not available in the 3D interface. I would appreciate your help a lot.
As was pointed out by others, the PlantXDBManager needs configuration on each project used. As such, I have moved us away from using it, and have added persistent properties to the classes so that the values are saved in the model and project database.
Doing this, I am still able to update the model from the database by using the PnPLocalDataCachePurger utility located under C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD YEAR\PLNT3D\ after updating the database with the desired values.
As for how I have our system configured ... it's more than just updating values manually in the dcf file ... by far. I would never do this manually, and I avoid the dcf files. I have our system setup to use a central SQL database. The biggest advantage of going this route is that SQL databases support stored procedures, whereas SQLite databases do not (to my current knowledge). I have incorporated the engineering line list into one SQL database (with a GUI obviously for users to interface with). When their data is finalized, I push the data from the line list database to the model database; updating the line group information from the line list based on recognizing which line numbers are in the model. Then after a purge of the local cache and re-opening P3D - the updated data appears in the model.
Testing AP3D and placed a sockolet. Keeps being placed at the end of the pipe and has to be moved. The big problem is rotating the thing. Right now, it's on the side of the pipe, but I want it on top. Picking the Rotate symbol displays the compass, but it's in the direction of the pipe run and CTRL/right-click doesn't change the compass. Enter an angle and the sockolet stays where it's at. Even tried ACAD Rotate command. Nothing seems to work. Any workable ideas?
That would explain why, when using the rotate grip, it rotates in the direction of the branch and not the main. A possible explanation of the Olet being place at the end of the pipe is that OSNAPs were on (snapping to Endpoint) and Grampster was manually placing the Olet.
I would suggest; if manually placeing an Olet, be sure that the main is selected before you place it. You will know when the main is selected when it becomes dashed as you move over it. here is an example: (wireframe, osnaps on [Olet will be place at the midpoint of this run, then enter rotation])
Nice explaination, rotate, align, 3dalign commands of autocad and the rotate part grip on the component works always in olets, the only scenario those commands will not work is if the olet is bugged(glitched) and the only way to resolve is to replace it again. Had encountered bugged olets in 2014 version when moving piping with olets, but not a big issue for reconnecting piping is just seconds to make.
One of the pipe models in my project has become corrupted or damaged in some way such that components that I've previously modeled have lost their intelligence and connections to one another. It's almost as though my entire pipe model has been partially exploded. Some examples of what is happening:
The weld symbols remain and need to be deleted independently separately (see "Weld symbols" screenshot). The remaining pipe lengths do not provide the + symbol to route pipe when selected. This is just an example, all existing piping objects are behaving similarly, no routing symbols.
2. No + symbol(s) to route continuation piping off existing components, or alternatively, the + symbols are in some odd position that is not at the end of the component where you would actually route from. On elbows, 2 + symbols appear off the back of the elbow (see "Continuations" screenshot).
4. New pipe / components that are placed in the model and function correctly cannot route / connect to existing components that have lost their "intelligence". New components just place in the model without recognizing the existing items and no connection is established.
I have tried removing the file from my project and re-adding it to see if this would prompt the software to recognize piping objects with issues and run some kind of repair operation but no luck. I have also tried a "Purge All". What I'm finding is that when it comes to modifying or connecting to any of the piping in my model, I'm having to go down the line deleting objects until I find one that is still "live" and then replace everything back to the point I actually need to work on. Obviously this is not a practical solution, particularly on a larger project, you do not want to have to remodel everything.
Drawing Recovery and/or using the Audit command can cause model items to become disassociated with their respective database rows. These commands should be used cautiously and results checked immediately afterwards to make sure data is not corrupted. There are likely other reasons this can happen.
I just had this happen to me as well. I was in the middle of updating of routing a line. Had to go into the spec to add a component. While editing the component I got an error in plant 3D. All of the piping I had hidden in my model suddenly lost all of it's intelligence. I have no line numbers left in the model except the one I was working on. I Don't know what to do. I've tried everything listed above and nothing works except opening a back up that's 24hours old. I have now lost 5 hours of work. Is there anything else I can do besides re-modeling whats been lost? Has anyone figured out a fix for this? Has this been fixed in 2021? I'm using 2020 at the moment, but I'll switch if it's not going to currupt files
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