ALACAD and Autodesk Plant Solutions

AutoCAD P&ID Virtual Training

2009-09-11T13:24:00.004-05:00

Are you needing training in AutoCAD P&ID and not able to be away from the office? Consider Virtual Training from ALACAD.

Contact ALACAD today for details!

205.444.3100

Facebook users?

2009-07-24T10:47:00.002-05:00

Facebook Users... Here is a link to the Autodesk Plant Solutions User Community on Facebook. Be a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autodesk-Plant-Solutions-User-Community/212384260514?ref=nf

AutoCAD P&ID 2010 Demo Webcast tomorrow!

2009-07-20T08:10:00.001-05:00

Go to www.alacad.com to sign up for the AutoCAD P&ID 2010 demonstration webcast tomorrow morning at 10AM CST.

Top 10 in AutoCAD P&ID 2010 webcast

2009-06-23T15:23:00.001-05:00

You can view my "Top 10 in 2010" webcast for AutoCAD P&ID here --> Top 10 in 2010!

Visit ALACAD for more webcasts!

Try out P&ID for free!

2009-06-23T15:19:00.003-05:00

Download a free trial of AutoCAD P&ID here --> http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/mform?siteID=123112&id=8837646

If you are using vanilla AutoCAD to draw P&ID's, give it a shot - you will not be disappointed!

Long time, no blog - Cool Annotation Tip for AutoCAD P&ID 2010

2009-06-12T09:14:00.006-05:00

Wow... it has been a while since I blogged on here. Lots going on with Plant Solutions at Autodesk. AutoCAD Plant3D is in BETA and due to release here soon. AutoCAD P&ID is gaining ground as the best P&ID application around, even better than those that have been making P&ID add-ons for years.

Here is a TIP for AutoCAD P&ID users...

In Data Manager, you have the ability to drag an annotation from the cell out to the Drawing area. AutoCAD P&ID knows where the annotation is coming from so you will see a rubber band starting from the equipment or item on the graphic screen to the point where you drop the annotation. This ensures you are annotating the right item and locating the text next to the appropriate symbol on the drawing.

Also, make a change in the Data Manager to the Tag and see the change show up automatically in the drawing. Fully associative annotation!

See images below for clarification.

PID2009 - Validation

2008-07-17T13:43:00.005-05:00

Well, the validation tool added to AutoCAD P&ID 2009 is nothing short of COOL! It checks drawings on an individual level as well as on a project level for mistakes ranging from flow arrows flowing in the wrong direction, size mismatches, spec mismatches, orphaned annotations, and unresolved off-page connectors. Not only does it look for those items but it also looks for the autocad entities that may have been added by other users. In other words, the dumb data added to your intelligent P&ID drawing.

The process of validation could take a few minutes depending on how many DWG's you have in your project. But for what it does, that time is a HUGE savings from the old manual method of validation.

The interface is well organized and allows you to select an item flagged by the validation tool, then it zooms into the item allowing you to correct or ignore the error. Now, it does not fix the items for you, but it does check every entity on the drawing. Once you find the error, you can correct it or ignore it. Regardless, you can work your way down the list of issues found by the validation tool and then mark them off the list. Use this tool! The icon is on the P&ID toolbar (Green circle with a white checkmark in the middle of it.)

Attn: Vanilla AutoCAD users... Time Saving Feature Ahead!

2008-03-31T15:06:00.000-05:00

I have given several demonstrations over the past few months for AutoCAD P&ID 2008. One thing I have noticed more than anything else is the designers' (that are trying to draw P&ID's with vanilla AutoCAD) reaction when they first see this software. They use terms like "no-brainer" and "I can't believe we have been drawing like we have for so many years" and "this is going to save us hundreds of hours." No joke! I am encouraged to see such a positive response from people seeing this software for the first time.

One of many time saving features is the built in ability to auto-trim and auto-heal lines that have been re-routed on the P&ID. Simple concept?... yes it is. But for those that do not have this, hours upon hours are being spent cleaning up drawings after re-routes are needed. Look for screenshots below.

Above. you will see an existing line (blue) that I am going to move to down below the pumps. I have circled the lines that primary line crosses and are currently trimmed out, automatically.

In the screen shot above, I moved the primary line and you can see the 3 lines automatically healed upon moving. This is a 2 second operation. Select the line to move, select the "move" arrows" and relocate. The trimming and healing take place automatically.

Again, a simple procedure and a simple concept, but a HUGE time saver over the traditional means of vanilla AutoCAD. Try it out!

Standards??? I want my OWN Symbols!

2008-02-29T14:11:00.000-06:00

So you want your own symbols, but you need them to be P&ID objects so the Data Manager can manage all the items in your project. AutoCAD P&ID 2008 almost makes it too simple. Here are the steps:

1. Create your symbol, or insert it as a block from another existing P&ID.

2. Select the geometry with a window or crossing, right-click and select "Convert to P&ID Object..."

3. Select the type of P&ID object you want it to be, such as a vessel, then select OK

4. You are then prompted for an insertion point for the new P&ID object. For this vessel, I will select the lower left corner.

5. You now have a new vessel in your Data Manager for this project and all you have to do is go fill out the information for the vessel.

And an added tip...

Select the vessel, drag it to your tool palette where your tanks and vessels are located and then it is a simple pick-n-place object just like the rest of your symbols.