Testing your Design Template

The only way to test the combined effects of all of the design template settings is to add a reference to the template into a catalogue specification (as you did for the kickplate, in Selecting a Design Template) and then to select an instance of the template for inclusion in a design model.

Exercise continues:

1. Change to the PARAGON module.

   We will create a new Specification Component under an existing part of the Specification hierarchy. Navigate via the following route:

   SPWL/ADV/EQUIPMENT/SPWL

   SPEC/CADCENTRE-ADV-EQUIP

   SELE CADCENTRE-ADV/VESSEL

   SELE /ADV/EQUIPMENT/HORIZONTALS

   SELE/ADV/EQUIPMENT/STORAGE-1

   From the command line, create a new SPCO thus:

   NEW SPCO /Exercise-vessel

   TANS ’EXAMPLE-2’

   TMPREF /Vessel-Main-Body

   where the Template Reference attribute points to the equipment template which you created in the preceding steps.

2. Change back to Design, enter the Equipment application and, from a suitable hierarchic level, select Create > Standard.

   On the Create Standard Equipment form, select Specification: CADC Advanced Equip. From the lower selection lists, select in turn:

   CADCENTRE Advanced	"Advanced" Vessels
   Vessel Type	"Horizontal" Vessels
   Specific Type	"Horizontal" Storage Vessels with Dished Ends
   Selection	"EXAMPLE-2" Vessel main body

   Click the Properties button. Notice the following features of the property settings, each of which currently shows its default setting:

   Property Setting	Defined at (topic and step)	Notes
   Centreline Height	Restricting Property Values for use in a Design Step 4	This property allow you to type in any value. No restrictions were set.
   Thickness of Vessel	Restricting Property Values for use in a Design Step 3	This property allow you to type in any value. No restrictions were set.
   Length of Vessel	Restricting Property Values for use in a Design Step 2	Only accepts lengths in the range 1000 to 4000. Only lets you select a specific dimension from the drop-down list.
   Diameter of Vessel	Restricting Property Values for use in a Design Step 1	Only lets you select a specific dimension from the drop-down list.
   Closed End	Setting References to Sub-equipments Steps 1 through 3	Lets you select appropriate sub-equipment items from the drop-down specification lists.
   Open End	Setting References to Sub-equipments Step 4	Lets you select appropriate sub-equipment items from the drop-down specification lists.
   Supports	Adding Vessel Supports Step 1	Lets you select appropriate sub-equipment items from the drop-down specification lists.

   Leave all of the default settings in force for the first test of the template.

3. Click OK on the Modify Properties form, and then click Apply on the Create Standard Equipment form. Pick the position in the 3D View at which the new equipment, based on your design template, is to be positioned.

   This is the moment of truth! If you set every one of the design template properties and rules correctly, the new equipment will look similar to the diagram on the first page of this chapter. If it does, well done! If it does not, you must go back into the Design Template application and carefully check each setting.

4. When you are satisfied with the template geometry, redisplay the Modify Properties form in the Equipment application and change each property in turn to check that the results are all as intended.

5. The toggles (check boxes) immediately to the right of the four dimension fields on the Modify Properties form let you display the dimension points for the corresponding parameters (as defined in the steps in Showing Dimensions on Template Designs). Set all of these to On and check that each dimension is displayed correctly in the 3D View.

   

That completes the exercises. The final chapters introduce a few additional concepts and give some hints on good design practices for template designers.