Create Assemblies
- Last UpdatedMar 14, 2024
- 4 minute read
This procedure is used to group to together drawing objects to create assemblies.
Three types of assembly may be created:
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Graphical Assemblies - pipes and symbols collected together into an AutoCAD block to act as templates, retaining the item associations
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Design Data Templates - collections of P&ID Data Grid designators and values used to label items.
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Annotation Assemblies - there are two sub-types of Annotation Assemblies:
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Pipe: collections of pipe labels and symbols used to annotate pipes
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UDA: collections of user-defined attribute labels and symbols used to annotate pipes, instruments, equipment, valves, inline fittings, skids and nozzles.
Existing assemblies may only be removed by the AVEVA P&ID administrator.
Example
Associated Project Configuration Options
When an assembly is created, all tag values of the items that were selected to form that assembly that are checked for project uniqueness are "nulled". Enter Yes as the setting of the USER_PRESERVEASMTAGS user-defined directives in the Miscellaneous - Settings Sub-Category if this is not required. Such values will then be placed every time assemblies are placed.
Note: This will have implications for the uniqueness of tags in the project.
Errors
To prevent redefinitions that may have project wide implications, users cannot redefine existing blocks. Only an administrator may do this. If a user attempts this, an error message is displayed.
Procedure to Create Graphical Assemblies
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Start the procedure by selecting the Assembly option in the Symbol group of the Home tab.
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The following option is then displayed:
Specify create Design Data Template (DDT) or Graphical Assembly (GRA) [DDT/GRA/ANN]:
Select either DDT (for Design Data Templates), GRA (for Graphical Assemblies) or ANN (for Annotation Assemblies) as required.
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If GRA was selected, the following is then displayed:
Do you want to rotate Assembly on insertion? [YES/NO]:
Select either Yes or No, depending on the assembly rotation requirement.
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Once the rotation requirement is selected, the Command prompt will then display:
Select objects to create assembly (Select using Crossing[C], Crossing Polygon[CP], Window Polygon[WP], Fence[F}, Remove[R]):
Graphically select entities (including any required labels or designators) using the selection methods listed at the prompt.
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The Command prompt will then display:
Pick a base point:
Pick a logical insertion point.
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The Command prompt will then display (for example):
Specify the Graphical Assembly name:
Enter the name of the assembly and press Enter.
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The Command prompt will then display (for example):
Specify the Graphical Assembly description:
Enter a description of the assembly and press Enter. The assembly is then created.
As users cannot delete assemblies, they must be properly managed on a project. All assembly names and descriptions should be logical and follow any conventions already in use.
The assembly is added to the Graphical symbol folder of the project. There is a sub-folder for each assembly type. In addition, the Annotation Assembly sub-folder contains sub-folders for each Annotation Assembly sub-type, and the UDA sub-type folder contains further sub-folders for each type of UDA assembly.
Note: The Assemblies folder in the Symbol Explorer or the appropriate assembly type sub-folder, must be refreshed before a new assembly will appear in the Symbol Explorer.
Note: This procedure differs from the AutoCAD block command in that the entities selected to form an assembly remain on the drawing after the assembly has been created.
Assemblies are inserted in the same way as other symbols. Refer to Insert Assemblies.
Procedure to Create Annotation Assemblies
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Start the procedure by selecting the Assembly option in the Symbol group of the Home tab.
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The following option is then displayed:
Specify create Design Data Template (DDT) or Graphical Assembly (GRA) [DDT/GRA/ANN]:
Select either DDT (for Design Data Templates), GRA (for Graphical Assemblies) or ANN (for Annotation Assemblies) as required.
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If ANN was selected, the following is then displayed:
Specify Annotation Assembly Template of type [Pipe/UDA]:
Select either Pipe or UDA, depending on the type of Annotation Assembly required.
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If UDA was selected, the following is then displayed:
Specify UDA assembly Template of type [Equipment/Instrument/Pipe/Valve/Fittings/Skids/Nozzles]:
Select the category of item which the UDA assembly will be used to annotate.
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Once the assembly type is selected, the Command prompt will then display:
Select objects to create assembly (Select using Crossing[C], Crossing Polygon[CP]:
Graphically select entities (including any required labels or designators) using the selection methods listed at the prompt.
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The Command prompt will then display:
Pick a base point:
Pick a logical insertion point.
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The Command prompt will then display (for example):
Specify the Assembly name:
Enter the name of the assembly and press Enter.
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The Command prompt will then display (for example):
Specify the Assembly description:
Enter a description of the assembly and press Enter. The assembly is then created.
As users cannot delete assemblies, they must be properly managed on a project. All assembly names and descriptions should be logical and follow any conventions already in use.
The assembly is added to the Assemblies symbol folder of the project. There is a sub-folder for each assembly type. In addition, the Annotation Assembly sub-folder contains sub-folders for each Annotation Assembly sub-type, and the UDA sub-type folder contains further sub-folders for each type of UDA assembly.
Note: The Assemblies folder in the Symbol Explorer or the appropriate assembly type sub-folder, must be refreshed before a new assembly will appear in the Symbol Explorer.
Note: This procedure differs from the AutoCAD block command in that the entities selected to form an assembly remain on the drawing after the assembly has been created.
Assemblies are inserted in the same way as other symbols. Refer to Insert Assemblies.