Workflow

Piping Component Files (PCF) can be used to exchange piping data between different software applications. PCF Export can be accessed from the Home page of E3D Design (Unified Engineering).

1. From the Home page, select the Interfaces tab, in the Export group, select PCF. The PCF Export window is displayed.

2. Using the Settings pane to select the Browse button to navigate to the required output folder.

3. To overwrite the output file, select Overwrite on the Settings pane.

4. To generate bolting elements in flanged connections (if conditions are met), select Export Implied Bolts on the Data Generation pane.

5. Enter a definition of bolted connections in the Bolted Connections box on the Data Generation pane.

   Note:
   Expression like ‘(F|L).*’ matches connections like FAB, FBB, FRH, LBB, LBD, … (any connection code that starts with F or L letter)

6. To generate weld elements between elements where at least one connection type is defined as welded (if connections are met), select Export Implied Welds on the Data Generation pane.

7. Enter a definition of welded connections in the Welded Connections box on the Data Generation pane.

   Note:
   Usually: ‘BW.|SW.’ is sufficient, this expression matches connections like BWD, BWT, SWF, SCM, …

8. From the 3D view, select to identify a pipeline or set of pipelines to be exported.

   Note:
   This can be any element that contains PIPE elements (for example: SITE, ZONE, PIPE) or GPSET with an appropriate definition of SCOSEL attribute.

9. Select Add CE to add the currently selected pipeline to be exported, or if currently selected pipeline contains number of PIPE elements then select Add CE Members to include all the elements beneath current element.

   Note:
   The Selected check box is set by default once the pipeline is added to the Pipelines pane of the Export PCF dialog.

10. By default, the Components and Attribute mappings can be skipped.

11. Select Export PCF to export the pipeline(s) and generate output files.