Pipe Line Autogenerate Number specific to line ID

[dave.walkerGNGYH]

Hi, I am trying to set up the pipe line numbering to suit our standards. Out Lines are ID`s as follows:-

From Object ID                  Main equipment, pump, tank, GT, SP Clarifier etc

Unique number                 unique to the object supplying the pipe

Service                                 

Size                                        

Pipe Spec                              

The one I`m struggling with is autogenerate for the Unique number, which is unique to the object supplying the pipe. I want to be able to use the number multiple times, so 00, 01, 02 specific to that ID. But I cant set this up on Autogenereate, the only choices I have are as per the image below. Then I can only use each number once on the PID.

[George.Endrulat · Accepted solution]

This might not be what you want to hear, but, don't use autogenerate.  The issue is it's inconsistent with gaps in sequences, i.e. let's say you have line 01, 02, 03, 04 and you delete 03... you'd expect or not that the next line created would be 03 and sometimes it is, sometimes it's the next in line, this case 05 leaving a gap.  And if you want a gap, which is what we wanted, there's no way to guarantee it stays a gap.

If you want to build something useful with line numbers that your drafters can manipulate easily, make every possible item a list except the number portion.

Setting portions of the line numbers / tags to acquire from certain places can be very useful, especially when doing assemblies of items, but there's huge pitfalls with that too.  When the process engineer wants you to put that sheet 17 instrument on sheet 18 because it looks better but you have it acquire the sheet number, so it automatically acquires the 18 when it should have stayed 17 and no one catches it in the check, it's a pain in the butt.

Yes, I've done all of this, made all of the fun mistakes, spent too many manhours on this.

[dave.walkerGNGYH]

Thanks George, I had kind of came to this conclusion, but its good to get confirmation it doesnt really work all that well.

Can I ask another question, do you know if its possible to reuse pipe line numbers on PID? I am trying to have each line unique to the object its from, not unique to the overall drawing/project.

So I want to use Pipe ID 01 on multiple lines, even within the same pipe line group. eg.

00-P00-W01

00-P01-W01

[dave.walkerGNGYH]

Its ok George, Ive figured it out.