Reference Pointers and Settings

The following reference pointers and settings are applicable to the specification of piping components (refer to the examples below).

Individual Specification Component Pointers

These pointers, which are attributes of SPCOM elements, are set individually for each line in a Specification table. Only the CATREF pointer is obligatory; the other pointers may be omitted from the heading when the Specification is created or they may be left as unset (=0) in individual SPCOM lines.

CATREF - Catalog Reference:

Points to one particular component in the Catalog DB which meets all the SELEC requirements specified for an individual SPCOM. A CATREF heading is obligatory for every SPEC table since it is the essential link between the design specification and the choice of a component from the Catalog. It is important that the component pointed to by the CATREF already exists when the SPCOM is defined, otherwise you will receive the error message ‘Undefined Name’ and the CATREF in the Specification will be shown as =0 (i.e. unset).

DETAIL - Detail Text:

Points to a DTEXT element in the Catalog DB. This holds any general text which is used to describe the corresponding component in schedules, on isometric drawings, etc. (refer to Catalog Database Structure).

MATXT - Material Text:

Points to an MTEXT element in the Catalog DB. This holds the text which is used to describe the materials of construction of the corresponding component in schedules, on isometric drawings, etc. (refer to Component Parts and Setting Up Isodraft).

BLTREF - Bolt Reference:

Points to a BLTAB element in the Catalog DB. This contains details of the bolts needed to connect the corresponding component into a pipeline (refer to Bolting). This heading is, of course, applicable only to components which require bolts (flanges etc.).

CMPREF - Component Reference:

Points to a CMPT element in the Properties DB (refer to Properties Constructor).

Overall Specification Pointers

These pointers, which are attributes of SPEC elements, are set for an entire Specification. Their settings are shown at the beginning of the Specification, immediately after the name, and always appear, even if they remain unset.

MATREF - Material Reference:

Points to a SOLID element in the Properties DB. This holds information about the properties of the materials of construction of the piping components (refer to Properties Constructor).

FLUREF - Fluid Reference:

Points to a FLUID element in the Properties DB. This holds information about the properties of the liquids or gases for use with which the piping components are suitable (refer to Properties Constructor).

Overall Specification Settings

These are not pointers to other elements but are local to the Specification itself. Their settings are shown at the beginning of the Specification, immediately after the MATREF and FLUREF pointers, and always appear, having default settings if you have not specified otherwise. These attribute settings are used only by Isodraft and are relevant only when fixed length piping is being used. Refer to Isodraft Reference for further information.

RATING - Pipeline Pressure Rating:

May be set to the maximum pressure at which the components covered by the Specification are intended for service. Isodraft can then use this setting to determine those points in a composite pipeline at which the pressure rating changes. The default setting is zero.

LINETYPE - Fixed Length Piping Line Type:

May be set to either of the identifiers

FP - Fixed Pipe

FX - Fixed Length

Isodraft uses this setting to decide whether or not to append the length of a component to its item code in a material list. The length is appended if linetype is set to FP, but is assumed to be incorporated into the standard code if linetype is set to FX. The default setting is NUL that means. variable length piping between components is assumed).