cadworx isogen tutorial

5/22/2018 CADWorx Isogen Tutorial

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C DWorxVideo Training SeriesModule ThreeIsogen Implementation and ustomization

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011CAD Training Technologies, LLC Houston, TX USA 238

You will cover manyaspects of working

with the Isogenmodule in

CADWorx

Many HELP Filesare available

Module Three

Isogen - Implementation and Customization

In this lesson you will learn how to:

Set up an Isogen Main Directory Set up Isogen Project Folders Select example Borders for your isometrics Test and run Isogen for the first time on your system Set up your own border, or a clients border Automate text updating in your own title block Adjust the drawing settings

oDimension settingsoNorth Arrow orientationoChanging the North Arrow symboloContinuation notesoUser fontsoPart number enclosuresoRolled offset representationoForce drawing into one isometric

Include Detail sketches Illustrate Restraints (supports, hangers, etc.) Modify the Bill of Materials Show Welding information Include Valve Operators, Dummy Legs, Field Welds

Note: There are manyHELP Filesthat ship with CADWorx

Plant Pros Isogen. Look in the CADWorx Plant

2008\Isogen folder. Youll see several sub folders. In

these sub folders will be a collection of .pdf help files.

You can use these as needed for further detailedinformation.


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Starting IsogensProject Manager

Project Managercontrols all the

Isogen settings

Now youll set themain folder for all ofyour Isogen project

drawings

You can set the mainfolder on the localdrive, or on the

network

Setting up an Isogen Main Directory Folder on your system

1.

Click the Start button (lower left of your screen).2. Click Programs3. Click CADWorx Plant 2009 Isogen4. Click Project Manager5. Click Project Manager

This starts the Isogen Project Manager Program.

You should see the following dialog box.

Setting the main folder for all of your Isogen projects and

isometric drawings.

6. Click the Create NewIsometric Directory button(the first button on the left,

gray in color).


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Specifying the mainIsometric Directory

for all of your

Isogen Projects anddrawings

You can create themain directory on a

local drive or on a

network drive

Under the maindirectory (called the

Isometric Directory),

you can createmultiple project

directories

These ProjectDirectories are yourvarious projects, orjobs. They can

contain client

borders or settings

specific to each

particular project

7. Click next to the C: (in the name box), and8. Type: Isogen_Projects (filling out the dialog box as

shown.)

Note: If you want to create your folder on a network,

click the Network button, and browse where you

want your folder created. Then type

Isogen_Projects (as shown in the previous

step). Your folder will then be created at a

network location.

9. Click the OK button.10. Click Yes (when asked in the next dialog box).11. You will see the system create the Isometric Directory (this

is the main level directory).

Creating a Project Directory

12. Click the Create New Project tool button (the secondbutton over, yellow in color).


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This is where youselect the Borders

you want to use, andtell the system to

output the isos as

DWG files(recommended)

13. Fill out the New Project dialog box as shown.Name it Project_1

Highlight Metric_Inch_A1, A2, and A3 (as shown).

Set the Output Format to

AutoCAD DWG.

14. Click the OK button after filling out the dialog box asshown.

15. The system will create sub-folders for each of thedrawing borders you selected, as shown next.


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This is where youselect the Bordersyou want to use, and

tell the system to

output the isos asDWG files

(recommended)

If youre doing anetwork installation,

you can deploy theproject information

to the various

workstations

If youre working on a network, and you want to

deploy the setup to various workstations, you wouldgo through the previous steps as shown, and then follow

the steps shown next.

To deploy the project information to the variousworkstations, you would go to each workstation and start

Project Manager, then

a. Click the Create New Isometric Directory button

(as shown previously).

b. Click the Network Button on the first dialog Select

the Isometric (main level) directory by browsing

across the network to it.

c. Select the Isometric Directory youve created (asshown previously), and the Project Directorys

information will be shown. If you have multiple

projects, that information will all come across.

16. Click the folder named Metric_Inch_A2.17. Youll see the following dialog box appear.


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This dialog box iswhere you access

various settings for

the Metric_Inch_A2border

Notice the tabs alongthe top. The

Drawing Control

and External Datatab will be useful

later

Clicking theApply button setsthe

Metric_Inch_A2

border as the defaultborder

Creating a simpleCADWorx drawingfor testing

18. Click the Apply button (this sets the Metric_Inch_A2border as the default).

19. Click OK (for Settings Saved).20. Minimize the Project Manager dialog box, and21. Start CADWorx Plant Professional.22. Start a new drawing (use a template).23. Set the Main Size to 6.24. Set the Spec to 150.25. Create a simple drawing with the lengths as shown.


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Sending a drawingout to Isogen for

testing

On this dialog boxyoull click OK for

the test, but you can

also select differentborders here, and

also different

projects (ifavailable)

Testing and Running Isogen

26. Click Plant27. Click Accessory28.

Click Isogen29. Click Isogen Out

The system will bring up the following dialog box,

showing your Isometric Directory, the Project Directory,and the Border it will use for the Iso. This screen may

vary, depending upon your system setup.

30. Click OK.


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Sending a drawingout to Isogen for

testing

Viewing thegenerated Isogen

isometric

31. Press (to select components).32. Window the objects in the drawing, and33. Press .34. The system will show the following dialog box.

Note: If you got an error message, or a disconnect

message, you probably did not draw the pipes andelbows touching each other. See the first video

lesson in the Piping Module on how to connect

components correctly.

35. Click the Open Plot Files button to view the Isogen isocreated by the system.


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Sending a drawingout to an A3 sized

border for testing

Viewing thegenerated A3 sized

isometric

In a later sectionyoull see how tobring in your own

border, or a clients

border

Testing on an A3 Sized Border

36. Close the Iso (click the X in the upper right corner of thedrawing) and say No, to not save the iso.

37.

Click Plant38. Click Accessory39. Click Isogen Out40. Click the down arrow to choose a Style, and select the A3

Border.

41. Click OK42. Press (to select components).43. Window the components in the drawing and press .44. Click Open Plot Files to view the generated isometric,

drawn on the A3 sized border.

45. Follow the video to add components to the line and run iton different borders.


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Restarting theProject Manager

program

Clicking on theDrawing Control tab

This example usesan A2 border. You

can set the switchesto change Isogen

settings on any of

the borders available

This will open upthe drawing optionsthat you can change

to make the

isometric look theway you want

After viewing, close the drawing.

Options that change the drawings appearance

You can look at the options for any size border. In this

next example youll view the settings in an A2 border.

All borders (Imperial, Metric, and Mixed Metric)

have the same switches that can be set to make an

isometric look the way you want.

46. Reopen Project Manager. If it is available at the bottomof your screen, click on it to bring it up for viewing. If it

has been closed, click Start, Programs, CADWorx Plant

2009 Isogen, Project Manager, Project Manager.47. Click on the Metric_Inch_A2 style (your screen may

show a list or projects different than the illustration,

depending upon your system setup).

48. Click on the tab labeled Drawing Control.


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Restarting theProject Manager

program

Clicking on theDrawing Control tab

This will open upthe drawing optionsthat you can change

to make the

isometric look theway you want

You can see there ismore than one page

for each of the tabs

On page 2 there areswitches to change

the appearance of

rolled offsets on theisometrics

49. Click on the Options File and Click Edit.This will bring up the Options Editor for the Drawing

Options.

The margins at the top right area of the dialog box can bechanged to modify the position of the plotted iso on the page.

This can be useful later when you see how to bring in yourown border.

Notice the figure at the lower right

corner of the dialog box.

This will take you to the next page of settings. Each tab canhave multiple pages of settings.

50. You can change any or all of the following settings.51. This next section is to show you some of the many options

that can be set in Isogen to change the appearance of adrawing.


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Changing how thedimensions across

gaskets are shown

On page 2 you cansuppress the

dimensions across

small branches

On page 3 you canturn on overalldimensions

Click on the Dimensioning tab at the top of the screen.

52. Click on the down arrow the lists the choices fordimensioning gaskets (under area with the 9 shown thisis switch 9.) See the figure below.

53. Set it to have the Gaskets Included in ComponentDimensions.

54. Click on the area in the lower right of the dialog box togo to page 2.

55. Notice on this page you can tell the system you want toturn off dimensions across small branches.

56. On page three you can instruct the system to add overalldimensions.

56. Click on the Iso Style tab.


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This area lets youchange the way PartNumberslook,

which way the

North Arrow

points, and how aSpec Breakwill

look

On page 2 you canchange how a Rolled

Offset looks

There are several switches you could set here to changehow your isometrics look.

On this dialog box you could change how the

Part Numbers look Which direction the North Arrow points How a Spec Break will look

57. Click on the next page symbol at the lower right corner ofthe dialog box.

58.

Notice on this second page you can change how the rolledoffsets will be shown (a box, with or without hatching,

etc.).

59. Click on the tab labeled Iso Content.


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This area lets youenable Spoolcallouts

You can modify howthe Instrumentsareshown

You can turn onValve Tab labeling

Isogen will label textin the TAG field onNozzles or

existing Long

Weld Neck Flanges

60. The first page has options for changing how the coordinateson the isometrics are labeled.

61. Click on the area at the bottom to go to page 2.

62. Page 2 has switches to turn on and modify how the systemcan label spool pieces in the isometric.

63. Theres also a switch to modify how the instruments aredepicted.

64. Theres a switch to turn on Valve Tags.Isogen will also label the text that is put into the TAG field on

a Nozzle drawn in the Equipment Module. Also it will label

any text put in the TAG field on any Long Weld Neck Flangethat is set as Existing in a model.

65. Page 3 has a switch to have Insulation and Tracing appear onthe isometric.

66. There is also a switch to turn on Flow Direction Arrows overcheck valves on this page.


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Enabling User Fonts

67. Click on the Material List tab (at the top of the dialog box).68. In the lower left section of Page 1 is a place to set up the

User Fonts. This is disabled by default. To set it

69.

Click File (at the very top of the screen) and70. Click Exit. Save any changes, if you want to keep them.This returns you back to the main screen for Project

Manager.

71. Click the tab named External Data.72. Click in the blank space next to Font Information File and73. Click the Browse button.74. Click on the file named FONTSTD.FIF.75. Click the button labeled Open.

This will enable the User Fonts. You will need to set them

in TWO places (description follows also see video asneeded).

76. Click the tab labeled Drawing Control.77. Click (to highlight) in the space next to Options File.78. Click the Edit button.


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Setting User Fontsfor dimensions andlabels

Setting User Fontsfor the Bill of

Materials

Suppressing thecutting list

Adding a cuttingallowance for FieldFit Welds

79. Click on the Iso Style tab (at the top).80. In the top left area is a place to turn on and select the User

Fonts.

81.

Click in the check box, and select Ariel Unicode for the font.

82. Click on the Material List tab (at the top).83. At the bottom of this page is a section to turn on User Fonts.

Click on the check box, and select Ariel Unicode.

On this page is also a section to set up the Material List type.

You will use the standard Type 2 Material List at this time.When you get to the section on the Material List later in this

lesson, the different types will be discussed.

84. Page 2 (on the Material List tab) has a place in the upper leftarea of the page to turn on/off the cut piece list.

85. In the upper right section is an area to set cutting allowancesfor Field Welds. If you wanted to (you dont have to do sonow) you could have the iso include a Field Weld symbol by

placing a Weld Gap component in the piping model. Once

placed, you could double click the Weld Gap component toComponent Edit it, and set its type to MISCL.

This will produce a Field Fit Weld in the generated

isometric.


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Using your ownBorder

Specifying yourBorder

The border drawingyou use must be

saved as a 2004 dwg

The Welding tab has settings for how Welds aredisplayed on the iso. See the section on Welding

Information in a later part of this lesson.

86. At the top of the dialog box, click File and click Save.87. Then click File and click Exit.88. Click the Apply button to save your settings.

Lesson Five in the Isogen videos discusses the Project

File Structure.

Bringing in your Company border or a Client border

You can have Isogen use your own specific border, or a

clients border.

You can also have Isogen fill out text entries within theborders title block, or elsewhere on the drawing.

A couple of important things you must do:

a. You must point to the borders location using the

Project Manager. Its in the area labeled Drawing

Frame.


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Opening the borderand saving it as an

AutoCAD 2004version

Specifying yourBorder

The border drawingyou use must be

saved as a 2004 dwg

Testing the border

b. The border you use must be saved as an AutoCAD2004 drawing. Isogen will not work if you use a

border that is an AutoCAD 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, or

2009 drawing.

Using your own Border, or a Clients Border

89. Start regular AutoCAD.90. Open the drawing (in your Examples folder) named

Client_A3_Border_0.

91. Do a File, Save As.92. At the bottom of the Save As dialog box, set the Files of

Type area to be an AutoCAD 2004.

93. Click Save and Click Yes when prompted to replace it.94. Close AutoCAD.


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Setting up the newborder

Assigning the new border to the Isogen Project

95. In the Project Manager, Click in the area called DrawingFrame.

96. Click Browse.97. Browse to your Examples folder and select the

Client_A3_Border_0 drawing.

98. Click Apply.This instructs the system to use your border now, instead of

the default border.

99. In CADWorx Plant Pro draw a simple drawing thatconsists of some pipe, flanges, valve, and elbow (see thefollowing figure).


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Creating a small testmodel

Generating an iso onthe new border

100. Test the border by running a simple iso using it as thedrawing frame.


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Positioned Text used to place text ina drawing

Opening thePositioned Text file

Developing the Border Filling out the Title Block Area

Isogen does not use normal attributes to fill out the title

block area like a regular AutoCAD drawing.

Isogen uses Positioned Text for this function.

In Project Manager

101. Click in the Positioned Text area.

102. Click the Edit button.


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Looking at thecontents of the

Iso_A3 sheets

positioned text file

Opening thePositioned Text helpfile

You can Justify thetext (Left, Center,

Right)and you can

Rotate the textas

needed.

This opens up the Positioned Text file that you can adjust tomap the locations of pieces of text onto your border.

103.

Close Notepad now, dont save any changes.

Note: Open the Positioned Text help file (a pdf file). It is

found at C:\CADWorx Plant

2008\Isogen\Isogen_Utils\POS_Help.pdf

You should print out this file, since it is only six pages and hassome useful information in it.

You can see from the file we opened in the previous figurethat there is an item named -6. It has an X position, a Y

position, a Character Width, and a Character Height.

The numbers for position and height are in hundredths of a

millimeter. Since Isogen was originally developed in Great

Britain the values are in metric.

The Positioned Text file can actually have more columns than

shown above. This can be useful, because you can specify the

texts justification and rotation angle as well. Heres anexpanded version of one of the lines with the item labeled -6.


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Some of the fieldsthat can be brought

into your titleblock and drawing

This area allowsyou to create User

Fieldsthat can bemapped into your

drawing. You can

create as many as100 fields

A Justification (column 11) of 0 is Left, 1 is Center, 2 is Right.The Rotation (column 12) can be set as needed (usually 0 or

90).

If you look at the following figures, you can see that the item

labeled -6 is what Isogen uses to place the drawing title (it

uses the pipeline name).

The Positioned Text help file has the following information in

it.

You will use this information to map some values into your titleblock.


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Opening the Projectdefaults dialog box

The project defaultsis where you can puttext that can be

mapped into the title

block area, oranywhere in the

drawing

In the Specificationsarea are some fields

you can fill out andhave them get placed

into your isometrics

automatically

Note: What they are calling a User Defined Attribute

Block in the figure above is not something that comes

from AutoCAD. This is Alias own naming, and it is

used differently than attributes and blocks are used inAutoCAD.

104. In Project Manger 105. Click the Project Name (above the Metric_Inch_A1 this

example is showing an Ansi_B sized border. All units work

the same here.)

Click Project Defaults.This brings up the Project Defaults dialog box.

106. Click on the tab labeled Specification.The Specifications area of the Project Defaults


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The Miscellaneoustab has additionalfields you can store

text information in,

and then have itmapped into your

title block area, or

anywhere on thedrawing.

Any values in these fields (Piping-Spec, Insulation-Spec,etc.) can be mapped into the drawing or title block.

For instance the Piping-Spec would be brought in using the

code of -11. You would add a line to the ANSI_B.pos file(shown in a previous figure) starting with an -11 entry.

Then you would add its X and Y position, and its height.

You could do the same for the other specs, like Insulation-

Spec, Tracing-Spec, etc.

Next youll map in some examples to see how this works.

107. Click the Miscellaneous tab.

108. In the Revision field - Type: A.109. In the Project Identifier field

Type: COADE 001-A25.

110. In the Batch/Area field Type: 3400.


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The Attributes tabgives you User

Defined fields you

can fill out as

needed and havethem mapped into

your title block or

elsewhere on yourdrawing

Setting up values tobe mapped into the

title block

You can create asmany as 100 text

fields to map into

your title block ordrawing

111. Click on the Attributes tab.112. Fill out the values as shown.

These are User Definable fields. You can create as many

as 100 fields to use for text that can be mapped into your

title block. The dialog box shows 10 fields, but if you

click the Append button (shown in the previous figure) youcan keep adding new ones.

113. Click OK when done.


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Opening the borderand looking at the

title block area

Scaling up theborder into metricfor an easy way to

locate points for text

placement

Now that the text fields (Alias calls the attributes) have

been defined, youll figure out where to place them in your

drawings title block.

The first thing you need to do is come up with the coordinate

positions for these pieces of text.

114. Open the :\\Examples\Client_A3_Border_0 drawing.

115. Zoom All.116. Turn on the Layer named Points.117. Zoom in around the Title Block area.

118. Set OSNAPto have Nodeturned on.Type: ID

119. Click on the node at Point 1.

120. Using an OSNAP Node, youll get a valueof 18864, 3250.


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Getting the locationof the point where a

text label will be

placed (mapped to)

Locating variouspoint locations to

place text

Repeat for the other points, and make a list.

Point Number Location

Pt 1 X = 18864 Y = 3250

Pt 2 X = 18864 Y = 1867

Pt 3 X = 31375 Y = 4409

Pt 4 X = 31375 Y = 3667Pt 5 X = 31375 Y = 2451

Pt 6 X = 28017 Y = 1875

Pt 7 X = 28017 Y = 1465Pt 8 X = 35463 Y = 1478

Pt 9 X = 39211 Y = 3972

Pt 10 X = 39211 Y = 3337

Pt 11 X = 39211 Y = 2702Pt 12 X = 39211 Y = 2067

Pt 13 X = 39211 Y = 1432

121. Save the drawing and close it.Now youll edit the Position Text file to set up the mapping

In Project Manager,

122. Click on the Imperial_Inch_Ansi_B (or the border youreworking with).

123. Click in the area for Positioned Text.


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The completedPositioned Text file

Youll need to saveit as a .pos file (not a

.txt type file)

124. Click Edit, to open the positioned text file in notepad.

Modify the file as shown.

One comment :In this example above you mapped in a fixed date from one of

the fields you set up (its listed as the 602 line of

information). You could have used a system date if youwanted to. It would be done by using a 14 (instead of a 602

like you used). Also on the drawing options, System tab,

switch 6 lets you set a date format as needed (see videos).

125. Save the file under the name.126. Client_Border_B_at_0.pos, or Client_A3_Border_0,

depending upon the border youre working with (make sureyou dont save it as a .txt file. Youll have to set the file type

All Files).


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Using the newPositioned Text file

you just modified

Testing and viewingthe results

127. Close NotepadIn Project Manager,

128. Click in the area for the Positioned Text file.

129. Click Browse and select the file you just saved.130. Click the Apply button.131. Click OK132. Test the border by running a simple example through it.

So you can see that Isogen allows you to fill out your title blockas needed.

If you wanted to use a border that had the title block running up

the side of the drawing, you would use the same procedure.

The only thing youd need to do differently is have a 90 for the

rotation angle in the positioned text file.


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For example , the following line would map a text string into the title block area, butrotate it at 90 degrees instead of leaving it a 0 degrees.

-601 31375 2451 0 318 0 0 0 0 0 1 90

Video Seven illustrates how to have the system set up your layer

colors to match the standard Isogen borders.

Lesson Seven

Video OneVideo Two

Video Three

The Lesson Seven videos cover how to use and modify the different

Bill of Materials Styles available with CADWorx and Isogen.

Lesson Eight

Video One

Video Two

These videos discuss Line Numbering and how to run the IsogenBatch command. Also the graphic symbols for a floor or deck

penetration, flow arrows, etc. are covered and you will see how theycan be sent from the model to Isogen automatically.


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Lesson Nine

Video One

Video Two

Video Three

In this lesson you will how to place restraints (hangers, base supports,

anchors, etc.) in the model and have them come into Isogen. Youll

also see how to get Detail Sketches of a Base Support to be drawn inthe isometric. Finally, this section illustrates how to get a Reference

Dimension and Note to appear in an Isometric.


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Setting the systemfor welding

information onisometrics

Additional information

(no videos associated with this section)

Welding Information

It is possible to have Isogen display Welding information

on an isometric. It can list and number the welds in the

drawing.

The easiest way to see how this happens is to use one of

the samples that are shipped in CADWorx (available inImperial versions only at this time).

133. In Project Manger, Click on Project 1

Click on the New Style button.


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Use the Weldingvideos to see how tobring welding data

into your own userborder

134. Fill out the New Style information as shown.

135. Click OK136. Click Apply (Apply makes this the default border).137. Test your results. You should have an isometric generated

with welding information on it.


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You can changesome of the labeling

that Isogen puts onan isometric drawing

This is handledthrough a feature

called Alternative

Text

Alternative Text

Isogen has a text file similar to Positioned Text that is

called Alternative Text.

This file is used for labeling various notes that appear on

the drawing.

For instance, you can change the way Isogen labels the

continuation notes when it breaks a drawing between

multiple sheets.Currently it says CONT. ON DRG 2


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Opening theAlternative Text file

Looking at the TitleBlock Group in theAlternative Text file

Lets say you wanted to change the DRG over to DWG.

In Project Manager,

138.

Click in the area for Alternative Text.

139. Click Edit.140. Click on the Group pull

down menu (at the top of thescreen).

141. Click on the Title Blockgroup.

This shows all the text in this particular group that Isogen uses

for labeling.


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Changing the wayIsogen labels

CONT ON DWG

instead of CONTON DRG

Its worth taking alook at the other

groups in this file

Change DRG to DWG.

Look over the other Groups in the Alternative Text file. This

file contains many labels that are open for you to change asneeded.

142. Close the file (Click File, Save, and Exit) and click the Applybutton.143. You can test this by drawing a router line in CADWorx withmultiple changes of direction, then running Plant, Accessory,Auto Route, Buttweld LR.

144. When you run Isogen the system will break it into multipleisometrics. You will then see that it changed the

continuation notes to CONT. ON DWG .


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Viewing the changeto the way Isogen

labels the drawing

continuation note

Setting up SquareElbows

The Data Definition File

The Project Manager also has an are where you can modify

the Data Definition File (similar to the Positioned Text file).

This file contains settings that affect the appearance of how

Isogen draws some of its components for instance roundedelbows or square elbows. This file also contains information

on what thickness of lines it will use, and how big it will

scale some of the fittings. Also, there is a section in this filefor defining layers,


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Opening theDrawing Definition

File

Noting the areawhere SquareElbows are defined

Telling the System to Draw Square Elbows

In Project Manager,

145. Click in the area for the Drawing Definition.

146. Click Edit.147. Change the word for ELBOW from ROUND to SQUARE.


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148. Save the file (make sure it keeps a .ddf extension).149. Test it on your previous drawing and verify the iso came

out with square elbows.

The help file that comes in the

CADWorx\Isogen\Isogen_Utils folder contains further

information on this file. The help file is titled

DDF_Help.pdf.

cadworx isogen tutorial

Documents

isogen main directory

cadworx isogen tutorial

isogen project folders

isogen project manager

cadworxplant pros isogen

ofyour isogen projectdrawings

themain folder

cadworx plant2008isogen