*Advanced Isometric Settings - Layout Optimization *
In AutoCAD Plant 3D 2014 Extension 2 the Isometric configuration (
*IsoConfig.xml*) file has a new LayoutOptimization section that allows you
to adjust the layout of Isometric drawing files. Enabling optimization
allows for additional computing time to consider multiple solutions. The
candidate solutions are generated and qualified using the settings in the
new LayoutOptimization section.
New projects created with AutoCAD Plant 3D extension 2 have layout
optimization enabled by default. To enable optimization in existing
projects, you can create a new project to use as a template. Copy the
section of the new *IsoConfig.xml* into your existing
Iso Style.
*Note*: In AutoCAD Plant 3D extension 2 you must manually edit
*IsoConfig.xml* to modify layout optimization settings. These settings are
currently not available in Project Setup.
LayoutOptimization
The *LayoutOptimization* element contains 3 sub-elements:
…
TargetPercentage="25" Depth="2" ScaleFactor="30" LogDetails="0" />
="25" Depth="3" TimeLimit="300" PreserveLoops="false" BranchLimit="3" />
*AnnotationOptimization element*: This section controls annotation and
dimension text placement. When annotations and dimension text are placed,
the code generates multiple solutions and chooses the best one based on a
quality metric. The section has the following attributes:
Attribute Name
Value
Description
Enabled
“true” or “false”
If true, the optimization will be performed. True by default
DesiredSeverity
Positive integer number
The quality of the annotation and dim text placement. The smaller the
number, the better the expected quality and the longer the average
computing time required. As a rule, below 10 is considered excellent
quality and below 50 is acceptable quality.
Scale Factor
Positive number
Specifies the precision of annotation placement. A higher scale indicates
better precision and longer the average computing time required. The
default value is 30 for imperial projects and 1 for metric projects. As a
rule, do not exceed 90 for Imperial projects or 3 for metric projects.
TimeLimit
Positive number
Specifies how much time in seconds to spend searching different annotation
layout solutions. The default value is -1 which means to search
indefinitely.
TargetPercentage
Positive number
Specifies the percentage of layout improvement after which additional
solutions are no longer considered. The default value of 25 specifies to
stop generating additional solutions once a solution is found that improves
by 25 percent.
Depth
1, 2, 3
Specifies how many solutions to consider. 1 – Minimal solutions, 3 –
Maximum. The default is 2.
LogDetails
0,1,2,3
The level of annotation placement detail written to the log file. 0 –
disabled. 3 – verbose. The default is 0.
*DimensionOptimization element*: This section specifies the optimization of
the dimension lines. Candidate solutions are created with different
dimension lines. A solution is then chosen based on the DesiredSeverity
attribute in the AnnotationOptimization element.
Attribute Name
Value
Description
Enabled
“true” or “false”
If true, the optimization is performed. True by default
TargetPercentage
Positive number
Specifies the percentage of layout improvement after which additional
solutions are no longer considered.
The default value of 25.
TimeLimit
Positive number
Specifies the maximum number of seconds allowed to search layout solutions.
The default value is 300.
DepthLimit
Positive number
Specified how many solutions to consider. 1 – Minimal solutions, 3 –
Maximum. The default is 2.
*SplitOptimization*. This section controls how the model is split
automatically into multiple sheets during the congestion split.
Attribute Name
Value
Description
SheetTargetFitness
Positive number
The quality of the sheet. If the sheet layout severity exceeds this number,
the sheet is preserved. Otherwise the Iso is split. The default value is
50. Lowering this number can result more sheets. Raising this number can
result in fewer sheets.
MaxComponents
Positive number
The maximum number of components that may reside on a single sheet. If the
number of components on the sheets exceeds this number the Iso is split
regardless of the SheetTargetFitness value. Increasing this number together
along with TargetSheetFitness may result in placing the entire model on one
sheet. The default value is 100.
MinComponents
Positive number
The minimum number of components on a sheet. The optimization will try to
avoid creating a sparse drawing. This setting is ignored if
SheetTargetFitness cannot be met. The default value is 25.
BranchLimit
Positive number
Specifies how many split points to try of the highest priority per model.
The default value is 3.
Depth
Positive number
Specifies how many split solutions to generate. 3 is the by default.
TimeLimit
Positive number
Specifies the maximum number of seconds allowed to search layout solutions.
The default value is 300.
PreserveLoops
True or False.
Places the loop on one sheet (true) or not (false). Loops may have a
significant impact on time required. This value is ignored if
TargetSheetFitness cannot be met. The default value is false.
*Congestion factor: * In Project Setup, Isometric SWD Settings, the
Advanced Defaults have a Level of Congestion to Split Iso setting. This
setting relates to SheetTargetFitness.
The Less and More slider setting applies to fitness values as follows:
Leftmost Less = SheetTargetFitness * 0.5
Medium = SheetTargetFitness
Rightmost More = SheetTargetFitness * 1.5
This means that the default SheetTargetFitness value ranges from 25 to 75.
Note: If the default setting is already in the desired range, changing the
Level of Congestion to Split Iso may not result in more or less sheets.
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