Schedule Generation

Using Autotagging, tabbing in intelligent text, and the AVEVA E3D Design Programmable Macro Language (PML) it is possible to generate schedules on drawings easily.

The Tag Rule’s TMRF attribute can reference a GLAB that has been positioned absolutely (for example, AT X1000 Y800 ABS) at the top or bottom of the required schedule’s position. The GLAB’s BTEX attribute can contain a number of code-words separated by tabbing codes. Refer to Tab Generator Codeword for further information. For instance for a nozzle schedule the BTEX can be

’#NAME#15#P1BOR#25#CREF’.

The command creates a schedule of three fields giving nozzle name, bore, and connection reference. The second field starts at character column 15 and the third at column 25. The width of the fields must be made sufficient to accommodate the expanded codewords. The GLAB’s FONT attribute must point to a font set up with fixed-width characters (for example, styles 6 or 7), its CHEI set to an appropriate value, and its leader line and text frame suppressed.

When the Tag Rule is updated all the GLABs generated are in the same position. A macro can be written that scans around the Layer looking for GLABs with their SORF attribute referencing the Tag Rule. Each such GLAB found can be moved up or down (depending upon whether the template GLAB was positioned at the bottom or top of the schedule). The size of the move can be calculated from the character height of the GLAB and its number in the scan.

The macro can also create a TABL element to provide the frame of the schedule and its horizontal lines, a TEXP element to define the field headings, and vertical STRA elements to separate the fields. To achieve this it is necessary to use the Q EXTENT BTEX feature to determine the lengths and positions of text strings. Refer to Enter Text from Draw for further information.