How do you get correct operator to show up in ISO?

[TheCadGuyDavid]

This is in Plant 3D 2013...

I understand that every valve body is governed by an SKEY in order to show the valves symbol. Now I am trying to get a Actuator symbol to show up for certain valves? It seems that there should be a way to have actuators operate on a seperate skey that is not dependent on valves, since often the valve is made, and then multiple actuators are applied to the same valve. So far, the only way I see to make an actuator symbol show that I want, is to make a whole seperate set of valves for the other actuators. Deciding an actuater after the fact is useless, as it does not change the output of the ISO. Is there something I am missing here?

Is version 2014 any better in this aspect? I sure hope so... I don't mind doing a little programming, but I hate doing unnessecary block making for parts that should be easy to make. There are 10+ actuators in this project. I sure hope I do not have to make the valve library 10+ times larger. It should be so simple... Who in the world decided that people would only want one actuator for a certain type of valve?

Oh yeah, every single globe valve will be hand operated... Genius!

[h_eger]

First step: Download Whitepaper - De-Mystifying AutoCAD Isometrics

Second step: in the following file, IsoSkeyAcadBlockMap.xml check out section VALVES all SKEYs for the faucet body.

third step: In the section "Valve operator symbols" you find all SKEYs for the drives.

fourth step: in the section "VALVE SPINDLE TO SKEY SKEY" you can find the mapping of the valve body and the drives as they are shown in Isometrics.

here you can create your combinations you even as you need them.

regards
Hartmut

[TheCadGuyDavid]

Yeah,



Thanks, Hartmut. I already figured that out. This will work okay, but now I
need to make the parametric components actually work for me. It seems the
only way to use more than two dimensions on a parametric component is to.
well. not use a parametric component. So, if I want a part with even basic
box dimensions, I need to make a block, use plantpartconvert, import it to a
catalog, assign it to a valve body, then use PLANTSNAPSHOT to get the
toolpalette to show all the correct images for the separate valves (since,
after it gets in the model, the valve and operator acts as one unit). It
would be so much easier if one could simply put the correct operator on and
use a SKEY that is separate from the valve. The valve operator should really
be able to act as a separate component.



I suspect that Autodesk had the operators low on the list of priorities,
and, when the time came to send out the 2013 version, they just slapped that
code in there and some valves in the catalogs and said, "I hope no one
notices that." Well. guess what. I did. Lol





David

[TheCadGuyDavid]

I made an skey generator to make sure that I do not overlap any SKEYs that are for the other stuff. So, If anyone wants it. Message me, and I will get it to you. I wish someone would have done it for me, so I made it and am willing to dispense it.