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SpecEditor 2013/2014 Custom properties / long description

4 REPLIES 4
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Message 1 of 5
r.imhof
761 Views, 4 Replies

SpecEditor 2013/2014 Custom properties / long description

We very much like Plant3D for its potential for customisation. 

Unfortunately this does not apply to SpecEditor as much.

Adding custom property fields is available on 'general properties'-level, but not on 'size'-level.

 

Situation:

To our knowledge only very few property fields are available on the 'size'-level of the parts.

- Nominal size

- Outer diameter

- Wall thickness

- Flange thickness

- Screw in length

- Long description (size)

- Weight

- Item code

 

Issue:

We use diaphragma valves which can vary in type/manufacturer of actuator and/or of diaphragma despite being the same connection size and the same valve body.

While it is possible to assign manufacturer and actuator type in 'general properties', we can not assign it on the 'size'-level of the part.

In addition the standard 2-way valves may have a 3rd connection of varying size and position (essentially becoming a 3-way valve).

This increases the possible variations within the same valve size extremely.

We generate isometric drawings for production where these information need to be shown on 'size'-level (BOM).

This means, that basically every bit of information other than size and item code needs to be included in the long description (size).

Example:

[Component name] [code of 3rd connection] [size of 3rd connection] [actuator type] [actuator position] [manufacturer/type] [diaphragm size] [diaphragm material] [etc…]

Diaphragm valve G2 DN10 pneumatic NO ValveCompany MG08 PTFE

 

What we need:

More/custom property fields on 'size'-level, ideally accessibly through SpecEditor, or at least through Excel-Export like item code.

Also the SpecViewer in Plant3D only displays size and long description. This needs to be customisable as well.

Otherwise it would be pointless as one would need to place every component first and afterwards look up the other property fields to find out if it was the right component (selection criterion).

 

Benefits:

Implementing this would also be a huge improvement for ReportCreator.

This way one could create reports specifically for certain properties instead of just size, long description and item code.

Properties which are only included in long description can not be used for filtering/sorting which means the created reports are limited in their usage.

It would also improve the validation/mapping functionality in Plant3D as properties would be more specific.

 

It would not only be useful for valves, but many other categories as well to include properties like:

- mass flow rates,

- pressure ranges,

- kvs-values

… for instrument and components which otherwise do not differ in size

 

Multi-lingual support:

Our customers often request isometric drawings in different languages. While this is no problem for our data management system, there seems to be no way to include alternate long descriptions in SpecEditor for other languages. If this were available, a different isometrics style could easily refer to alternate long descriptions which would solve the problem.

 

Looking forward to any solutions.

 

tl:dr

- Customisable property fields in SpecEditor on 'size'-level

- Customisable display of properties in spec viewer in Plant3D

- Alternate long descriptions for multi-lingual support (would be solved if first point was implemented)

4 REPLIES 4
Message 2 of 5
Peter_Jansoone
in reply to: r.imhof

you can add properties add size level, but only in the spec, not in the catalog

---------------------
Peter Jansoone
Plant Design software consultant at Arkance Systems Belgium
Message 3 of 5
r.imhof
in reply to: Peter_Jansoone

Thanks for the help.

I was already aware of this. However pipe spec are usually created new each time a project starts.

This would mean all the additional properties would have to be entered new for each project which is too time consuming and would also be an uneccessary source for errors.

The same happens if there would be a changes, like adding an different size:

-> means removing and readding a part category to pipe spec would also remove the whole property data.

Message 4 of 5
DiverDown
in reply to: Peter_Jansoone

Hi Peter

I read your comment with interest. We hare having similar issues with Spec Editor.

How do you add properties at spec level?

I have looked but can't see anything to do that in 'modify catalog properties'

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

Message 5 of 5
Peter_Jansoone
in reply to: DiverDown

Mike,

 

You have to enter the dialog where you edit the spec items at size level. It has a tab on top that opens a window where you can add properties.

---------------------
Peter Jansoone
Plant Design software consultant at Arkance Systems Belgium

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