Variant Templates

ABA has been designed to deal with sets of drawings produced from a template, which then need a few minor variations from the original template. For example, a template for producing piping general arrangement may be satisfactory for 95% of drawings, but needs an additional isometric view to clarify some details on the remaining 5%. This is treated as a variant of the original rather than a new template.

The original template is known as the ‘master’ and the template with minor changes is known as the ‘variant’. There can be only one master but several variants.

The master/variant process works as follows:

• New drawings always use the master template.

• Variants can only be selected from the existing drawing list on the Process Drawings form.

• The M or V1, V2… annotations indicate whether a drawing uses the master or variant template, in the list of selected drawings.

• It is not possible to make a variant revert to a master in the application.

Use of Variants

The Modify Variant button option on the Process Drawing Control form allows you to use a variant of the master template.

Use a template variant:

1. Select the drawings to alter and click on the Modify Variant button.

   The Modify Sheet Variant form is displayed.

   

   If multiple drawings have been selected, switch between them by using the pull-down menu. Any variants associated with the drawing are shown in the Template Variants field.

2. Click on the required template.

   Note: If a variant template variant is selected that is already in use the following error will be displayed.

   

3. Click on the Apply button once all modifications have been made.

   Note: The entry in the Existing Drawings List now reflects the choice of variant sheet.

   Once the drawing selection process has been carried out the Process Drawing Control form should look something like the one shown in.

   

4. Having made the required selections, the next stage of the ABA process involves:

   • Defining the storage area for the drawings.

   • Choosing the process tasks and process type to be performed on the drawings.

   • Choose the method used to process the drawings.