AutoCAD MEP Wishes

[#1]

When specifying connection points is style manager we need a "Pick Point"
option. It is very cumbersome to measure where each point is, write it
down, then key it in. More importantly, not every connection point falls
into autocads 1/256 accuracy. Some connections can't be made exactly where
they need to be.

[#2]

Take 2:
A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that would link
connectors together. So when one connector on a device is assigned a
circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that number.


"Andrew" wrote in message
news:25D4AEEAA4FDB7954729135CB327183F@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> When specifying connection points is style manager we need a "Pick Point"
> option. It is very cumbersome to measure where each point is, write it
> down, then key it in. More importantly, not every connection point falls
> into autocads 1/256 accuracy. Some connections can't be made exactly
where
> they need to be.
>
>

[#3]

Hi Andrew -

I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple connectors it
they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector on the
device?

jason

"Andrew" wrote in message
news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Take 2:
> A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that would
link
> connectors together. So when one connector on a device is assigned a
> circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that number.
>
>

[#4]

1. For appearance. Some devices look sloppy when circuiting is all
connected to a single connection point. Light fixtures for example. If the
middle of the fixture is the connection point with the "trace geometry"
cleanup set, wiring can look like a spider web coming out of it from all
directions. With connection points set to the four quadrants or the mid
point of each side, the drawing looks much cleaner.

2. For design. Our surface mount fixtures are according to most standards.
They are a rectangle with a circle inside. The circle represents where the
fixtures will be wired together or a j-box. So the circuiting (for us)
should be shown to the circle. The program doesn't allow to have one
connection point in the center of the fixture and have "trace geometry"
clean the wire to the circle. It is only cleaned to the outside of the
rectangle. With connection points set to the four quadrants of the circle,
I can accomplish this.


"jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
news:37F101E8EF852F69C82F565EB9AA195E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hi Andrew -
>
> I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple connectors it
> they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector on the
> device?
>
> jason
>
> "Andrew" wrote in message
> news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Take 2:
> > A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that would
> link
> > connectors together. So when one connector on a device is assigned a
> > circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that number.
> >
> >
>
>

[#5]

Hi Andrew -

So rather than having additional connectors, what you are looking for is
better control of the wire snaps and wire cleanup with the devices.

Allowing you to assign a connector to a piece of geometry within the device
definition, so that you get a econ snap point anywhere along this geometry
would help to solve your problem? If this piece of geometry would also scale
with the device (if it scales), and you could create the geometry "visually"
rather than specifying "points", it could probably solve a couple other
problems as well.

Please understand, I'm not trying to argue with you about this... Just
trying to determine your needs!

jason


"Andrew" wrote in message
news:3B4EE413AB3A08C74AA8CB6889D74D86@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> 1. For appearance. Some devices look sloppy when circuiting is all
> connected to a single connection point. Light fixtures for example. If
the
> middle of the fixture is the connection point with the "trace geometry"
> cleanup set, wiring can look like a spider web coming out of it from all
> directions. With connection points set to the four quadrants or the mid
> point of each side, the drawing looks much cleaner.
>
> 2. For design. Our surface mount fixtures are according to most
standards.
> They are a rectangle with a circle inside. The circle represents where
the
> fixtures will be wired together or a j-box. So the circuiting (for us)
> should be shown to the circle. The program doesn't allow to have one
> connection point in the center of the fixture and have "trace geometry"
> clean the wire to the circle. It is only cleaned to the outside of the
> rectangle. With connection points set to the four quadrants of the
circle,
> I can accomplish this.
>
>
> "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
> news:37F101E8EF852F69C82F565EB9AA195E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Hi Andrew -
> >
> > I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple connectors it
> > they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector on the
> > device?
> >
> > jason
> >
> > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Take 2:
> > > A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that would
> > link
> > > connectors together. So when one connector on a device is assigned a
> > > circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that
number.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[#6]

Exactly. This would solve the problem presented in the ABS2004 group with
multiple branch circuits under the heading "Connectors". Only one connector
is needed to supply the appropriate data for circuiting the device, but any
point on that device could be circuited to.


"jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
news:6208E504638EFC068EE8844BB13B2ECA@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hi Andrew -
>
> So rather than having additional connectors, what you are looking for is
> better control of the wire snaps and wire cleanup with the devices.
>
> Allowing you to assign a connector to a piece of geometry within the
device
> definition, so that you get a econ snap point anywhere along this geometry
> would help to solve your problem? If this piece of geometry would also
scale
> with the device (if it scales), and you could create the geometry
"visually"
> rather than specifying "points", it could probably solve a couple other
> problems as well.
>
> Please understand, I'm not trying to argue with you about this... Just
> trying to determine your needs!
>
> jason
>
>
> "Andrew" wrote in message
> news:3B4EE413AB3A08C74AA8CB6889D74D86@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > 1. For appearance. Some devices look sloppy when circuiting is all
> > connected to a single connection point. Light fixtures for example. If
> the
> > middle of the fixture is the connection point with the "trace geometry"
> > cleanup set, wiring can look like a spider web coming out of it from all
> > directions. With connection points set to the four quadrants or the mid
> > point of each side, the drawing looks much cleaner.
> >
> > 2. For design. Our surface mount fixtures are according to most
> standards.
> > They are a rectangle with a circle inside. The circle represents where
> the
> > fixtures will be wired together or a j-box. So the circuiting (for us)
> > should be shown to the circle. The program doesn't allow to have one
> > connection point in the center of the fixture and have "trace geometry"
> > clean the wire to the circle. It is only cleaned to the outside of the
> > rectangle. With connection points set to the four quadrants of the
> circle,
> > I can accomplish this.
> >
> >
> > "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
> > news:37F101E8EF852F69C82F565EB9AA195E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Hi Andrew -
> > >
> > > I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple connectors
it
> > > they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector on
the
> > > device?
> > >
> > > jason
> > >
> > > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > > news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > Take 2:
> > > > A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that
would
> > > link
> > > > connectors together. So when one connector on a device is assigned
a
> > > > circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that
> number.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[#7]

We've done the same thing with our recessed fixtues. The designers want the
wires shown to the quadrants of the circle in the middle of the device. We
aren't using the calculation features of BS yet as several of the engineers
feel they are too old to pickup drafting. For us if you could have the
snap point at the center still but allow masking of only the inner circle,
it'd be acceptable. Thanks!

-John Snocker


"Andrew" wrote in message
news:E1E73A6FD8894E83085B29256F67C755@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Exactly. This would solve the problem presented in the ABS2004 group with
> multiple branch circuits under the heading "Connectors". Only one
connector
> is needed to supply the appropriate data for circuiting the device, but
any
> point on that device could be circuited to.
>
>
> "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
> news:6208E504638EFC068EE8844BB13B2ECA@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Hi Andrew -
> >
> > So rather than having additional connectors, what you are looking for is
> > better control of the wire snaps and wire cleanup with the devices.
> >
> > Allowing you to assign a connector to a piece of geometry within the
> device
> > definition, so that you get a econ snap point anywhere along this
geometry
> > would help to solve your problem? If this piece of geometry would also
> scale
> > with the device (if it scales), and you could create the geometry
> "visually"
> > rather than specifying "points", it could probably solve a couple other
> > problems as well.
> >
> > Please understand, I'm not trying to argue with you about this... Just
> > trying to determine your needs!
> >
> > jason
> >
> >
> > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > news:3B4EE413AB3A08C74AA8CB6889D74D86@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > 1. For appearance. Some devices look sloppy when circuiting is all
> > > connected to a single connection point. Light fixtures for example.
If
> > the
> > > middle of the fixture is the connection point with the "trace
geometry"
> > > cleanup set, wiring can look like a spider web coming out of it from
all
> > > directions. With connection points set to the four quadrants or the
mid
> > > point of each side, the drawing looks much cleaner.
> > >
> > > 2. For design. Our surface mount fixtures are according to most
> > standards.
> > > They are a rectangle with a circle inside. The circle represents
where
> > the
> > > fixtures will be wired together or a j-box. So the circuiting (for
us)
> > > should be shown to the circle. The program doesn't allow to have one
> > > connection point in the center of the fixture and have "trace
geometry"
> > > clean the wire to the circle. It is only cleaned to the outside of
the
> > > rectangle. With connection points set to the four quadrants of the
> > circle,
> > > I can accomplish this.
> > >
> > >
> > > "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
> > > news:37F101E8EF852F69C82F565EB9AA195E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > Hi Andrew -
> > > >
> > > > I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple
connectors
> it
> > > > they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector on
> the
> > > > device?
> > > >
> > > > jason
> > > >
> > > > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > > > news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > Take 2:
> > > > > A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that
> would
> > > > link
> > > > > connectors together. So when one connector on a device is
assigned
> a
> > > > > circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that
> > number.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[#8]

I do agree with John, that when you do spaghetti line work it would be nice
to see the line work not break around the outer most line work boundary, but
at an other per determined line. I also think it would be nice to be able to
have a pick points rather than the find the distance from the block
insertion points, "F2" ,copy, paste to notepad then input it into the fields
manually. I have had to do this as I created additional schematic riser
diagram symbology and then had to readjusted the insertion scaled size (x12)
to more closely match the 1/4" scale devices we commonly use on a detail
sheet since there is only one (1) drawing setup scale allowed per drawing
(it would be nice if it could be setup per viewport or something). (please
note that if you do change the scale size readjust the drawing setup units
for a 1/256" precision otherwise the inaccuracy gets multiplied as well.)

--
Michael Sonnier

"John Snocker" wrote in message
news:65DD56750531C5D8A2360D1EFC4A5F4E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> We've done the same thing with our recessed fixtues. The designers want
the
> wires shown to the quadrants of the circle in the middle of the device.
We
> aren't using the calculation features of BS yet as several of the
engineers
> feel they are too old to pickup drafting. For us if you could have
the
> snap point at the center still but allow masking of only the inner circle,
> it'd be acceptable. Thanks!
>
> -John Snocker
>
>
> "Andrew" wrote in message
> news:E1E73A6FD8894E83085B29256F67C755@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Exactly. This would solve the problem presented in the ABS2004 group
with
> > multiple branch circuits under the heading "Connectors". Only one
> connector
> > is needed to supply the appropriate data for circuiting the device, but
> any
> > point on that device could be circuited to.
> >
> >
> > "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in message
> > news:6208E504638EFC068EE8844BB13B2ECA@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Hi Andrew -
> > >
> > > So rather than having additional connectors, what you are looking for
is
> > > better control of the wire snaps and wire cleanup with the devices.
> > >
> > > Allowing you to assign a connector to a piece of geometry within the
> > device
> > > definition, so that you get a econ snap point anywhere along this
> geometry
> > > would help to solve your problem? If this piece of geometry would also
> > scale
> > > with the device (if it scales), and you could create the geometry
> > "visually"
> > > rather than specifying "points", it could probably solve a couple
other
> > > problems as well.
> > >
> > > Please understand, I'm not trying to argue with you about this... Just
> > > trying to determine your needs!
> > >
> > > jason
> > >
> > >
> > > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > > news:3B4EE413AB3A08C74AA8CB6889D74D86@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > 1. For appearance. Some devices look sloppy when circuiting is all
> > > > connected to a single connection point. Light fixtures for example.
> If
> > > the
> > > > middle of the fixture is the connection point with the "trace
> geometry"
> > > > cleanup set, wiring can look like a spider web coming out of it from
> all
> > > > directions. With connection points set to the four quadrants or the
> mid
> > > > point of each side, the drawing looks much cleaner.
> > > >
> > > > 2. For design. Our surface mount fixtures are according to most
> > > standards.
> > > > They are a rectangle with a circle inside. The circle represents
> where
> > > the
> > > > fixtures will be wired together or a j-box. So the circuiting (for
> us)
> > > > should be shown to the circle. The program doesn't allow to have
one
> > > > connection point in the center of the fixture and have "trace
> geometry"
> > > > clean the wire to the circle. It is only cleaned to the outside of
> the
> > > > rectangle. With connection points set to the four quadrants of the

> > > circle,
> > > > I can accomplish this.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "jason martin [Autodesk]" wrote in
message
> > > > news:37F101E8EF852F69C82F565EB9AA195E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > Hi Andrew -
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm a little confused about this. Why do you want multiple
> connectors
> > it
> > > > > they all have the same data? Why not just use a single connector
on
> > the
> > > > > device?
> > > > >
> > > > > jason
> > > > >
> > > > > "Andrew" wrote in message
> > > > > news:C007444207851BAECB4C5A580D4DEC00@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > > Take 2:
> > > > > > A simple on/off toggle in the device style under connectors that
> > would
> > > > > link
> > > > > > connectors together. So when one connector on a device is
> assigned
> > a
> > > > > > circuit number, all connectors on that device are assigned that
> > > number.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>