SupportModeler for PDS

Creating External Sizing Program

Version 2011 (12.0)

June 2011
DPDS3-PE-200057B

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Contents
Preface PDS ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Document Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Using the Command Line to Pass Data .................................................................................................. 7
Script to Start Sizing Program and Place the Resulting Item ................................................................. 9
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 9
PlaceItem File Format ........................................................................................................................... 10
Moving an Object Relative to its Origin ................................................................................................. 10
Rotating an Object ................................................................................................................................ 11
Tutorial: Creating a Place Items File ....................................................................................................... 13
The Nuts ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
Completed Script ....................................................................................................................................... 14

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Contents

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Preface PDS
This document provides command reference information and procedural instructions for the
task.

List of PDS Documentation

DPDS3-PB-200003 - DesignReview Integrator (PD_Review) Reference Guide

DPDS3-PB-200004 - Drawing Manager (PD_Draw) User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200005 - EE Raceway Modeling Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200006 - Interference Checker/Manager (PD_Clash) User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200010 - PDS 3D Theory User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200013 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume I : Piping
DPDS3-PB-200015 - PDS Equipment Modeling (PD_EQP) User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200017 - PDS ISOGEN Reference Guide, Vol. 1
DPDS3-PB-200022 - PDS Piping Component Data Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200023 - PDS Project Setup Technical Reference
DPDS3-PB-200025 - PDS Stress Analysis Interface (PD_Stress) User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200026 - Pipe Supports Modeler Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200028 - Piping Design Graphics (PD_Design) Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200030 - Project Administrator (PD_Project) Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200033 - Project Engineer HVAC (PE-HVAC) Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200034 - Reference Data Manager (PD_Data) Reference Guide
DPDS3-PB-200035 - Report Manager (PD_Report) User's Guide
DPDS3-PB-200041 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume 2 : Equipment
DPDS3-PB-200042 - PDS EDEN Interface Reference Guide Volume 3 : Pipe Supports
DPDS3-PE-200016 - PDS Express Project Creation Quick Start Guide
DPDS3-PE-200052 - PDS Ortho Draw User's Guide
DPDS3-PE-200029 - Piping Model Builder (PD_Model) Reference Guide
DPDS3-PE-200031 - Project Engineer HVAC Getting Started Guide
DPDS3-PE-200032 - Project Engineer HVAC Overview
DPDS3-PE-200045 - PDS Label Library Merger Utility
DPDS3-PE-200047 - PDS Reference Data Auditing Tool
DPDS3-PE-200048 - Pipe Supports Explorer Utility
DPDS3-PE-200050 - Batch Services Quick Start Guide
DPDS3-PE-200051 - Batch Services User's Guide

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Preface PDS

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Document Purpose
This document describes the format of the file that an external sizing program must create in order
for SupportModeler to be able to place the generated parts.
Sizing programs can be executed using SupportModeler to place an item script that automatically
starts the sizing program and then places the item created by the sizing program. You can use
SupportModeler to kick off the external sizing program, and pass any of the support information to
the sizing program (for example, Pipe OD, required length, insulation thickness, and so forth).

See Also
Using the Command Line to Pass Data (on page 7)
Script to Start Sizing Program and Place the Resulting Item (on page 9)
Place Items Script (on page 9)

Using the Command Line to Pass Data

You use the command line to pass data such as pipe OD, insulation thickness, and so forth into
the external sizing program. It can be passed in any format desired by the sizing program. For
example, to pass in the OD, insulation thickness and length, any of the following can be achieved
with simple changes to the script that runs the sizing program:
p6 i1 l36

The author of the sizing program will determine what information should be passed in and what
format it must be. As far as SupportModeler is concerned, any property of the Support can be
passed into the external program.

File Format
The file format created by the external sizing program must consist of a PROMPTS section and a
SCRIPT section. The SCRIPT section consists of a function call for each part that must be placed
into SupportModeler.

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Document Purpose

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

SECTION 1

Script to Start Sizing Program and Place the Resulting

Item
The following script example kicks off the external sizing program and passes any of the support
information to the sizing program.

Sample Script
PROMPTS
CATEGORY,String, aSpecial
DESCRIPTION,String, Run Sizing Program and place the item created
PIPE_NOM_DIA , String , 6, Pipe Size: ($NOM_DIA_UNITS$) , QUERY , 1
PLACE_POINTS, Int, -102
LENGTH, Double
OBJ_LEN_UNITS, String , INCHES
SCRIPT
'Set up variables to hold data passed from SupportModeler
Number LENGTH
String PIPE_NOM_DIA
'Get the length and OD from SupportModeler
LENGTH = GetNProp( "LENGTH")
PIPE_NOM_DIA = GetSProp( "PIPE_NOM_DIA" )
'Run the Sizing Program. Tell it to create a new file called PlaceIt.itm,
'pass it the required length and the pipe OD
System( "SizingProgram.exe", 1, "PlaceIt.itm", STR(LENGTH), PIPE_NOM_DIA )
'When the Sizing Program completes, it will have created the PlaceIt.itm file
'use the PlaceItem function to place it at 0,0,0 relative to the user's data point
PlaceItem( "TestLibrary1", "PlaceIt", "", LOC(0,0,0) )

Intergraph can assist in creating a script file to run your sizing program.

Summary
In summary, the External Sizing program will be kicked off by SupportModeler. Information such
as pipe OD, insulation thickness and overall length of the support can be passed into the sizing
program on the command line. The sizing program must create a Place Items file.

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Document Purpose

PlaceItem File Format

The PlaceItem file is a script file that places any number of items into a Support. The location and
orientation of the items can be relative to a user -elected point or they can be related to the global
origin of the MicroStation DGN file.
The remainder of this document assumes you will be placing items with respect to some
user-defined location.
The most important function in the PlaceItem file is the PlaceItem function. The PlaceItem script
function has a variable length parameter list, and it looks like this:

An example of a PlaceItem call follows:

PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE46", "", LOC(0,0,0), "size", "463221",
"l", "1000" )

Moving an Object Relative to its Origin

We should describe how to indicate the location of an item in this function. As described above,
the Location parameter is a string. The method of choice to translate an item is to use another
script function called LOC() to translate (move) an object relative to its own origin. A description of
the LOC function from the SupportModeler Library Customization Guide is as follows:
Loc
Converts a triplet X., Y and Z numerical values (including any expressions) into a text string
appropriate for passing into the graphic primitives functions
Syntax
Loc(X, Y, Z)
where:
X - Number, X location
Y - Number, Y location
Z - Number, Z location
Returns
String containing a location string appropriate for passing into graphic primitive functions
Example
AddArc( 45, 135, PIPE_DIA/2.0+10.0, LOC(0, -D/2.0, 0), "OUTER_ARC" )

10

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Document Purpose

Rotating an Object
In order to rotate an object, we can use one or more functions with the LOC command. There are
three possible functions: ROTX(), ROTY() and ROTZ(). These functions rotate the item about its
local X, Y or Z axis by the given angle in degrees. An example of the use of these modifiers is:
ROTZ(90) + LOC( 0,35,0 )
Rotx, Roty, Rotz
Converts an angle in degrees into an appropriate string to rotate in item. This function must
always be before or after a Loc() function. Use a plus (+) sign between the Loc and ROT
function to denote string concatenation.
Syntax
Rotx(angle, after)
where:
angle - Number, angle in degrees to rotate this item
after - Optional Number, flag to tell the function that the rotation is after the translation (Loc
function) 0 means before, 1 means after. If this parameter is left out, it is assumed that the
rotation happens before the translation
Returns
String containing a location string appropriate for passing into graphic primitive functions.
Example
Rotate before translation
AddArc( 45, 135, PIPE_DIA/2.0+10.0, ROTX(180)+LOC(0, -D/2.0, 0),
"OUTER_ARC" ) Rotate after translation
AddArc( 45, 135, PIPE_DIA/2.0+10.0, LOC(0, -D/2.0, 0)+ ROTX(180, 1),
"OUTER_ARC" )
These functions rotate the item about its local X, Y or Z axis by the given angle in degrees; for
example, ROTZ(90) + LOC( 0,35,0 ) In this case, the item rotates 90 degrees around its own Z
axis, then translates it 35 library units in the Y direction.
These functions return strings; for that reason, you must use the plus sign (+) to
concatenate them to the results of the LOC() function.

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

11

Document Purpose

12

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

SECTION 2

Tutorial: Creating a Place Items File

This tutorial creates a Place Items macro file to place several parts forming a single support. We
want to imitate the following LICAD L3D file. LICAD is a program created by Lisega GmbH for use
in sizing and selecting Lisega pipe supports. The details of the L3D file are relevant only to LICAD,
but the discussion of the Place Items macro file is applicable to any external program.

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

13

The Nuts

The Nuts
'The welded clevis
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE73", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+90+75), "size",
"736912" )

The TYPE63 nuts

Item: C:\Program Files\SupMod\Lib\SM_Lisega_2010\TYPE63.itm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name Default Type Prompt Limit Pick List
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------size 632928 String Type Number: 1 QUERY
dwg_notes String Component Notes 0

'The Nuts
PlaceItem(
PlaceItem(
PlaceItem(
PlaceItem(
PlaceItem(
PlaceItem(

"SM_Lisega_2010",
"SM_Lisega_2010",
"SM_Lisega_2010",
"SM_Lisega_2010",
"SM_Lisega_2010",
"SM_Lisega_2010",

"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",

"",
"",
"",
"",
"",
"",

LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),

"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",

"636928"
"636928"
"635928"
"635928"
"635928"
"635928"

)
)
)
)
)
)

Completed Script
PROMPTS
CATEGORY, String, aSpecial
DESCRIPTION, String, Imitate 202760013.L3D
PLACE_POINTS, Int, -102
SCRIPT
'vertical pipe clamp
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE46", "", LOC(0,0,0), "size", "463221", "l", "1000" )
'clevis with pin
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE61", "", ROTX (180)+LOC(500,0,30+65), "size", "615912" )
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE61", "", ROTX(180)+LOC(-500,0,30+65), "size", "615912" )
'rods
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE67B", "", LOC(500,0,30+65), "size", "665713", "length", "2775" )
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE67B", "", LOC(-500,0,30+65), "size", "665713", "length", "2775" )
'Middle clevis with pin
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE61", "", LOC(500,0,30+65+2775), "size", "615912" )
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE61", "", LOC(-500,0,30+65+2775), "size", "615912" )
'Trapeze
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE79B", "", ROTX(180)+LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65), "size", "796339", "l", "1000" )
'Top clevis with pin
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE61", "", ROTX(180)+LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80), "size", "616912" )
'Top threaded rod
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE67B", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80), "size", "676413", "length", "1405" )
'Variable Spring
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE21", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405), "size", "216118", "dir", "up",
"working_trav", "0", "hot_load", "20" )
'Threaded stud
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE67A", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260), "size", "676113" )
'The eye nut
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010", "TYPE60", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+90), "size", "606912" )

14

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

Completed Script
'The welded clevis
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
'The nuts
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",
PlaceItem( "SM_Lisega_2010",

"TYPE73", "", LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+90+75), "size", "736912" )

"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",
"TYPE63",

"",
"",
"",
"",
"",
"",

LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),
LOC(0,0,30+65+2775+65+65+80+1405+260+40),

SupportModeler for PDS Creating External Sizing Program

"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",
"size",

"636928"
"636928"
"635928"
"635928"
"635928"
"635928"

)
)
)
)
)
)

15