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Spec update of Parts already in Model

6 REPLIES 6
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Message 1 of 7
TIMSHANAHAN9157
3614 Views, 6 Replies

Spec update of Parts already in Model

 

Hello,

 

We have updated our specs (Plant 2012) and changed the short and long descriptions to match a customers specs.  When we do a spec update (Plantspecupdatecheck).  It will not update these fields in data manager.  In the past (Plant 2011), we had to export to excel and change by hand and import back in.   Another way we have got it to work is to pick a pipe group and change the pipe spec in the properties, but this take a long time and we have lots of pipe.

 

Are there any recommendations to do this more streamline?

 

Thanks

6 REPLIES 6
Message 2 of 7

I did some testing on this issue and I wanted to see if this might be the cause for the issue you are running into. This is just an example:

 

Scenario 1

Let’s say I have started a project but my specs aren’t quite ready so I begin modeling with the out of the box CS150 spec. As I’m working on the project the part descriptions are being updated in the spec sheets by the spec writer (not for the catalog part, but in the project spec sheet.)

 

So now the descriptions are updated, the spec is saved, and I run PLANTSPECUPDATE. At that point the software should say there are parts in the model and need to be updated. I accept the changes and the descriptions refresh and everything is fine.

 

Scenario 2

The same example as above starting out (I have started modeling with the CS150 spec) but this time the spec writer is editing the descriptions on the catalog parts (not the spec sheet description.)

 

So the changes are complete and ready to be added to the spec. Opening the spec sheet they would see the part with the old description listed in the spec and to avoid duplication, remove the old part first, then add the new part with updated description. The spec is saved and I run PLANTSPECUPDATE, but it doesn’t indicate any parts need to be updated. The reason for this would be the fact that the part family ID number has changed in the spec. The database now sees that as a new part that has never been placed in my model.

 

The correct method to use:

 

  1. Save and close the spec sheet
  2. Click on “Catalogs” from the Spec Editor menu
  3. Select “Synchronize Specs With Catalogs”
  4. The changes made to the original spec part in the catalog are updated on the spec sheet
  5. PLANTSPECUPDATE will update the parts already placed in the model

 

Synchronizing the spec sheets with the catalogs allows the part IDs to remain the same in both the spec and the model keeping the information linked in the tables for the database.

 



Jason Drew
Designated Support Specialist
Message 3 of 7

Jason,

 

This didn't help.  We didn't change the catalogs only the spec sheets.  The spec sheets drew in the catalog information and then we edit the spec sheet to the discription that our customer wants.  It come in fine on all newly drawn piping aftert we edit was complete but does not update the field that we changed if the part was already created before the spec sheet change.  Even after a "plantspecupdate"

 

In the Spec sheets, we changed the "Long Decription (size)" and the "Short Description"

 

If you want, we can show you on our system.

 

Thanks

Message 4 of 7

Halo to all,

 

We have the same problem, in our P3D2012

 

look at thread

On Design Forum

 

It is big problem, because We that that much will be easy if We only change spec and then model fallow...

 

Sometime costumer demand to have different description for component then default

 

Srdjan Milic

 

 

Tags (1)
Message 5 of 7
Layout-Bob
in reply to: milic.srdjan

Same problem here in both 2011 and 2012.

Message 6 of 7
jheisler
in reply to: TIMSHANAHAN9157

We're running into the same frustration with spec customization. I've been adding a couple new part specific properties (fields) to our specs so that the data can interface with our part ordering database on the finance side of the company. Anyway, I quickly found that the catalogs can only accept general (family) type properties (fields) not part specific. My need is part specific (e.g. various size elbows, etc.) and I therefore have to customize the spec versus the catalog.

 

Aother huge frustration (we're using Plant 3D 2015) is that I have cleared out the spec folder in our template project and have only placed the specs We create for the company in there. However, the program randomly deletes these specs out of the project spec folder and copies the specs from the AutoCAD Plant 3D 2015 Content folder into the project spec folder. Furtunately, i always make and keep copies of the custom specs i create. Does anyone know how to turn this off and keep it from happening!!!

Message 7 of 7
tsabinas
in reply to: jason.drew

Jason:

 

That sounds good in theory and the spec usually updates from the catalog (if you changed the correct fields in the catalog.  But the plantspecupdatecheck will only change about 50% of the parts in the model.

 

If autodesk could fix that, then that would be great.

 

Also, in the spec editor it would be nice to pick and choose which parts to update from the catalog, rather than doing a mass update for all items in the spec.

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