Create Category Form

A Category (CATE element) must be created below a section (SECT element). Depending on the purpose of a Category the appropriate element will be created in the Catalogue DB (CATE for piping and STCA for Steelwork).

Create a Category

1. select Create, then select Category from the main window drop-down.

   The Create Category form opens:

   

2. Enter the Name to be assigned to the new Category.

3. Select OK to create the new Category.

   The following Category Creation form opens:

   

Parameter Definitions

Parameters define the size, geometry and other characteristics of Components. They are used in setting the attributes of the Pointsets, Geomsets and Datasets to which Component elements refer.

All classes of Component can use component parameters, design parameters and insulation parameters. Structural Components can also use attached and owning design parameters. Component parameters are defined in the Catalogue; the other classes of parameters allow characteristics to be set during the design process.

Add a parameter

4. Type a description for the parameter in the Description input field.

5. Click New. This will append a numbered row to the Parameter Definitions list. A new parameter with value set to zero will be added to any component found that uses this parameter definition.

Modify a parameter description

6. Highlight the parameter.

7. Modify the description in the Description input field and click Apply.

Delete a parameter definition

8. Highlighting the last parameter entry.

9. Click the red cross to delete the parameter.

   Note: Only the last parameter in the parameter list can be deleted. Warnings will be issued because deleting a parameter definition does not change any component geometry or component property expressions that are dependent on the deleted parameter. The corresponding parameter value is removed from any component found that uses this parameter definition.

Create Components

10. To create a component highlight Category in the Model Operations group:

    

    This will display the following sub form:

    

    This sub form contains a grid listing all component elements currently below the Category.

    The following tools are available:

    New	Create a new component entry
    Copy	Make a duplicate of the currently selected component
    Import	Import a spreadsheet containing a list of pre-defined components
    Export	Export the current list of components to a spreadsheet

11. Highlight a row and click the red X to delete a component.

12. Click Category Attributes to allow edits to be made to the attributes of the owning Category element.

    The grid will also contain a column for each parameter created in the previous section.

13. The parameters can be populated by clicking within a cell and entering a desired value.

14. To edit the properties of the component, highlight an entry in the list and click Element in the Model Operations group to display the following form:

    

    The References form allows the attributes of the component to be edited.

15. Change the component name by typing a new value over the Name field.

16. A GTYPE must be set be selecting a value from the Generic Type drop-down.

17. The following values can be changed by using the Catalogue Explorer to select an appropriate element:

    • P-Point Set

    • Geometry Set

    • Data Set

    • Bolt Holes

18. Click Apply to commit the changes

19. Click Back to return to the previous form.

Create P-Points

Depending on the type of component it may be necessary to create a series of p-points.

20. Select Point Ref: on the Model Operations Pane.

    

21. In the bottom part of the form choose a point type from the drop-down shown below:

    

    Possible values are as follows:

    • Axial P-Point (PTAX)

    • Cartesian P-Point (PTCA)

    • Mixed Type P-Point (PTMI)

    • Position Type P-Point (PTPOS)

    Depending on the selection made, a set of input fields will appear allowing the Point Reference to be populated as below:

    

22. Click the Copy option to create a duplicate of the Point Ref.

23. Click the red X to delete the Point Ref

24. Click Apply to commit the changes.

25. Click All Attributes to open a popup window allowing all attributes of the Point Ref to be edited as follows:

    

Display the P-points

26. To display an axis in the 3D view pane check the Axes Radio option at the top of the Category form:

    

    The 3D view will display an axis as follows:

    

27. Click the Representation option to change the way the 3D view draws the geometry of the element (when geometry is associated, see following):

    

Create Geometry

28. To reference geometry begin by selecting Geometry Ref. on the Model Operations Pane:

    

    The Geometry References sub form will be displayed.

    

    From the Positive drop-down select a 3D primitive. The following options are available:

    BOXI	Boxing
    LCYL	Cylinder
    LINE	Line
    LPYR	Pyramid
    LSNO	Snout
    SBOX	Box
    SCON	Cone
    SCTO	Circular Torus
    SCYL	Cylinder defined by the distance to the bottom face from the origin and the height.
    SDIS	Disc
    SDSH	Dish
    SEXT	User defined extrusion
    SLINE	Alternative line
    SREV	Solid of revolution
    SRTO	Rectangular Torus
    SSLC	Slope bottomed cylinder
    SSPH	Sphere
    TUBE	Tube

29. (Optional) If required select a negative primitive from the Negative drop-down.

    Note: For a full list of available Positive and Negative Primitives in PARAGON refer to the Catalogues and Specifications Reference Manual.

30. Check the Show Geometry Plot to display the primitive in the 3D view.

    

31. The Napp drop-down is only available when using a negative primitive. Possible selections are as follows:

    • Default

    • Nothing Removed From Attached

    • Removed From Owner

    • Removed From Item

    • Removed From All

    • Removed From Attached and Owner

    • Removed From Attached and Item

    • Removed From Owner and Item

    For a full explanation of negative primitives, see Catalogs and Specifications Reference.

32. Select from the Representation drop-down a value from the following choices:

    • Unknown

    • Default

    • Profile Obstruction

    • Profile Centreline

    • Profile Obstruction

    • Piping Reserved

    • Piping Detail

    • Piping Centre Line

    • Detail With No Obst

    • Detail Volume

    • Obstruction Volume

    • Insulation Volume

    • Reserved Volume

33. To define the obstruction level of the primitive when in Design’s clash checking facility select from one of the following:

    None	The primitive will not clash with anything (used for symbols and negative volumes)
    Soft	Used for insulation, access volumes, penalty volumes, etc
    Hard	Design’s clash checking facility will report hard interference.

    Whether a primitive is drawn or not depends on setting the following values:

    

    If the PARAGON LEVEL setting is within the LEVEL range specified for the primitive (as its LEVEL attribute) then the primitive will be considered for drawing, otherwise it will not be. If the level condition is satisfied, then whether a primitive is displayed or not in PARAGON depends upon the settings of its Tube Flag and Centre Line Flag.

    Depending on the type of Primitive selected the Geometry Ref form will also provide an input area to specify the appropriate dimensions of the component, the following is an example input area for an snout (LSNO).

    

34. Click Copy to create a copy of the highlighted element.

35. After populating the form, click Apply to commit the changes.

36. In Model Operations, select Data Ref to create Data Set references.

    Similar functionality is available for Bolting References.

37. Close the form by clicking the X on the top right.

38. To return to the Category form select Modify, then select Category from the main window drop-down.