Customize the Pline Generating Macros

In order to customize the generic Pline generating macros listed above, or to create their own, you will need to understand fully how the profile in question is parameterized in their catalogue database, and how the profile shape is positioned relative to the Neutral Axis and the X/Y origin in the catalogue.

The structure of all the supplied macros is similar.

The macro first builds a list of any Plines that already exist. Any Plines that are not available and are needed by the AVEVA Bocad Steel Interface as listed in the !!BOCCPPKeys array, are then created. Doing this makes sure the latest configuration is being used.

We then need to define the Cardinal Point Pline location parameters related to the method of catalogue parameterization. These are Xoff, YOff, nYOff and nXOff. We also need to work out the location of the geometric centre relative to the method of profile definition. These location parameters are XCOff and YCOff. You will see above that the definition is in terms of a text string which describes a formula. Later on in the macro, this text string is inserted into the command line. This use of PML allows you to insert formulae into the Pline definition, rather than the immediately evaluated formula.

Using these Pline location parameters, all the Cardinal Point Plines required for the application can be located. Refer to Cardinal Points for further information.

If you are extending or modifying the application, all you need to do is to modify the part of the macro which calculates the location parameters. You should, however, pay close attention to the default profile orientations within AVEVA Bocad Steel Interface.

The structure of the upgrade process allows you to run the macro during the project as well as at project initiation. Any database relationships that refer to the old Plines will be maintained, for example, dimensions.