P&ID Explorer

Provides an easy to use graphical method for exploring the P&ID database elements.

On the P&ID tab, in the View group, click P&ID Explorer to display the P&ID Explorer.

The P&ID Explorer displays the P&ID elements in a hierarchy. Click on an element in the tree view to navigate to the element in the database and make it the current element.

Alternatively, you can press and hold Ctrl or Shift to select multiple elements. Actions can be performed on the selected elements using the right-click drop-down menu. For example, copy, delete, modify attributes and highlight. Multiple elements can only be selected below the same node.

The current element can be set from other locations. For example, a grid or the drawing canvas. If the current element is a piping element, or nozzle, and is not visible on the P&ID Explorer, the application highlights the owning element. For example, if a valve is selected on the drawing canvas and is not visible on the P&ID Explorer, the owning piping network segment or piping network system is selected as the current element.

To expand an element hierarchy, click to the left of the element name. To contract an expanded element, click to the left of the element name.

The P&ID Explorer element contains items that are on a drawing. The drawing items are grouped into folders. If an item is removed from a drawing, it is moved to the Unassigned element structure.

To display only elements on the current active sheet, right-click on the P&ID Explorer element and select Show Current Sheet Content from the drop-down menu.

Equipment

Displays equipment items that are on a drawing. For example, pressure vessels, pumps and nozzles.

Piping

Displays piping elements that are on a drawing, the piping hierarchy contains three levels:

• Piping network system

• Piping network segment

• Center Lines – centerlines and inline components.

Instruments

Displays instrument items that are on a drawing. For example, indicating instruments and control valves.

Offline Items

Displays inline items that are positioned on a process instrument connection line on a drawing. For example, ball valves and and control valves.

Unassigned

The Unassigned element contains items that are not on a drawing.The unassigned items are grouped into folders. Unassigned items can be dragged onto the drawing canvas, the default symbol is used to create the graphical representation on the drawing. If an item is added to a drawing, it is moved to the P&ID Explorer folder structure.

To hide the display of unassigned items, right-click on the Unassigned element and select Hide Unassigned Items from the drop-down menu.

Equipment

Displays equipment items that are not on a drawing. For example, pressure vessels, pumps and nozzles.

If an equipment item is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the standard behaviour is invoked.

The added equipment item is moved to the P&ID Explorer folder structure because it is currently on a drawing.

Nozzles

Displays nozzle items that are not on a drawing.

If a nozzle item is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the standard behaviour is invoked. If the nozzle item is already associated with an equipment item, it must be connected to the associated equipment item on the drawing canvas, or added to the drawing canvas directly without connecting to an equipment item. Valid equipment items for connection are highlighted green, invalid equipment items are highlighted red.

The added nozzle item is moved to the P&ID Explorer folder structure because it is currently on a drawing.

Piping

Displays piping elements that are not on a drawing, the piping hierarchy contains three levels:

• Piping network system

• Piping network segment

• Center Lines – centerlines only.

If a piping network system is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the functionality to draw a centerline is invoked:

• If the piping network system does not contain any members, a piping network system, piping network segment and a centerline are created.

• If the piping network system is already associated with unassigned piping network segments, the first unassigned piping network segment is used and the centerline is associated with the piping network segment.

• If the piping network segment is already associated with centerlines, the first unassigned centerline is used.

If a piping network segment is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the functionality to draw a centerline is invoked:

• If the piping network segment is not associated with a piping network system, a piping network system is created.

• If the piping network segment is already associated with centerlines, the first unassigned centerline is used.

If a centerline is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the functionality to draw a centerline is invoked:

• If the centerline is not associated with a piping network system or a piping network segment, a piping network segment and a centerline are created.

• If the centerline is not associated with a piping network system, but is associated with a piping network segment, a piping network system is created.

The added piping items are moved to the P&ID Explorer folder structure because they are currently on a drawing.

Piping Components

Displays inline components that are not on a drawing.

If an inline component is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the standard behaviour is invoked.

Instruments

Displays instrument items that are not on a drawing.

If an instrument item is dragged onto the drawing canvas, the standard behaviour is invoked.

The added instrument item is moved to the P&ID Explorer folder structure because it is currently on a drawing.

Modify/View P&ID Explorer Elements

To modify or view elements in the P&ID Explorer, right-click an element to display a drop-down menu.

Note:
The copy, highlight, open datasheet, open drawing and open grid options are not available when an unassigned element is selected.

Copy

Copies the currently selected elements. If the currently selected elements are located on a drawing that is not open, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

Delete

Deletes the currently selected elements.

Attributes

Displays the attributes for the currently selected elements.

Highlight

Highlights the currently selected elements on the drawing canvas. If the currently selected elements are located on a drawing that is not open, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

To clear the highlight from the currently selected elements, on the Drawings tab, in the Tools group, click Clear Highlight.

Open Datasheet

Opens the datasheets that are associated with the currently selected element.

If multiple elements are selected, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

If the currently selected element is not associated with any datasheets, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

If the currently selected element is associated with a single datasheet, the datasheet opens.

If the currently selected element is associated with multiple datasheets, the Open Datasheet window displays which allows you to select the datasheets to open.

Open Drawing

Opens the drawings that are associated with the currently selected element.

If multiple elements are selected, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

If the currently selected element is associated with multiple drawings, the Open Related Drawings window displays which allows you to select the drawings to open.

Open Grid

Opens the grids that are associated with the currently selected element.

If multiple elements are selected, the option appears dimmed and is inactive.

On the Select List window, use the Category and List drop-down lists to navigate to the required grid.

Refer to Add Equipment, Add Nozzles, Draw Centerlines, Add Inline Components, Add Instruments, Open Datasheet and Open Grid for further information.