Creating Branches

Before a branch can be created, the Current Pipeline must be selected. The Current Pipeline can be viewed in the Status bar (please refer to Status Bar). To change the Current Pipeline, you can either select the pipeline or any item below it in the explorer, or you can select a tube, a duct or an inline fitting in the drawing which belongs to the desired pipeline.

Pipeline branches are then created by dragging and dropping a branch shape onto the drawing area. The branch will be added to the Current Pipeline.

In addition to the branch element, the application will also create a Segment Element and a Tube Element.

The purpose of the Segment Element is to provide a way to divide branches between several pages or drawings using Off-page Connectors (please refer to Off-page Connectors). All in-line fittings in a branch belonging to a certain drawing page will be grouped under the same segment in the hierarchy.

The tube element will be related with the tube shape in the drawing which was created when the branch shape was dropped. In case UDETs are used, there is a possibility in the Import Shape Wizard (refer to Import Shape Wizard) to set up which UDET type of tube should be created when the shape is dropped (DeNote to).

It is possible to move branches between pipelines by using the Cut and Paste commands in the Schematic Explorer. However, please note that this will not re-apply any default values, like pipe spec ., from the receiving pipeline to the branch or its members.

In Diagrams Options > Element Options > Fitting Options > Default Options, the setting Auto create branch on connect Tee will automatically add a new branch shape when a Tee is dropped into a line.

Also, in Diagrams Options > Element Options > Fitting Options > Default Options, the setting Auto create Tee on connect branch will automatically add a new Tee shape when branches are connected.