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CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training

Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training


Version 2024 (24.1)
June 2024
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CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure


Training 2
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CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure


Training 3
Contents
Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Assumptions ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Introduction to I-Configure ......................................................................................................................... 6


Launching I-Configure ............................................................................................................................. 8
I-1 - Creating & Deleting an Isogen style ................................................................................................ 9
I-2 – Password Protecting a Project...................................................................................................... 16
I-3 - Creating an Isometric Drawing - Isogenout ................................................................................... 18
I-4 - Creating an Isometric Drawing – Isogenbatch .............................................................................. 23
I-5 - Editing an Iso Style – Style Changes ............................................................................................ 24
I-6 - Editing an Iso Style – Backing Sheet ............................................................................................ 40
I-7 - Editing an Iso Style – Attribute Mapping ....................................................................................... 52
I-8 - Editing an Iso Style – Detail Drawing ............................................................................................ 57
I-9 - Editing an Iso Style – Additional Tweaks ...................................................................................... 62
I-10 - Editing an Iso Style – Weld List & Cut List .................................................................................. 68
I-11 - Editing an Iso Style – Additional Tweaks II ................................................................................. 76
I-12 – Troubleshooting Isometrics......................................................................................................... 79
I-13 – Populating Attributes - .ATT & .FDF ........................................................................................... 93
I-14 – Populating CAD Attributes – PGP & GED .................................................................................. 98
I-15 – Retrieve Data from an External Source .................................................................................... 107
I-16 – GED & Using VBScript ............................................................................................................. 113
I-17 – Isogen Report Table – Weld Count .......................................................................................... 115
I-18 – Isogen Report - REPLACE ....................................................................................................... 123
I-19 – Isogen Report – REPORTS ...................................................................................................... 127
I-20 – Isogen Report – HGG Output ................................................................................................... 130
I-21 – Isogen Report – Fabrication Interface XML (FIX) ..................................................................... 133

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training


4
Preface
In this training course, you will learn how to:

 Create Isometric Directories, Projects and Isometric Styles in I-Configure


 Edit an Isometric Style using Isogen Configuration
 Use the Isometric Style to produce Isogen Isometric Drawings
 Troubleshooting Iso Failures
 Retrieve and Manipulate Data from an External Data Source
 Generate Customized Isogen Reports or Drawing Outputs

Assumptions
It is assumed you already have a working knowledge of CADWorx Plant and a strong familiarity
with the Windows Operating System.
Experience with coding in SQL, XML, or VBScript languages is highly recommended for the
advanced exercises later in this guide.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 5


SECTION 1

Introduction to I-Configure
Isogen is the world's leading solution for the total automation of piping isometric
drawing production and is the de facto standard CAD system for drawing piping
isometrics. Eliminating the need to manually edit isometric drawings significantly
reduces fabrication and on-site construction errors. Consistent drawing content is
provided through isometric repeatability, which ensures that the number
of drawings, basic content, and spool and weld numbers following pipe design changes
remain consistent.

Isogen is highly configurable and is the most automated engine available today for
piping isometric drawing production. The system can be fully customized to meet users'
specific requirements, working practices, and drawing standards. Being data-driven and
data centric, Isogen can produce drawings in all commonly used 2D CAD formats
including AutoCAD, MicroStation, and Intergraph
SmartSketch®.

Isogen’s companion product, I-Configure™, enables users to customize and configure


their isometric drawing output. Users can choose from a range of options to obtain the
isometric output they require using standard wizards. For example, users can employ
in-house terminology and foreign language text and choose from a variety of
dimensioning, part, and weld numbering options.

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Introduction to I-Configure

The new Isogen Configuration option inside I-Configure, simplifies the customization of
piping isometric drawings and reports produced by Isogen. Isogen Configuration
provides an intuitive, visual approach to setting isometric drawing style properties and
provides easy access to Isogen's substantial array of controls and files. Graphically
select the options you want and immediately see the impact spontaneous style
modifications have on drawing output using the built-in drawing previewer. Isogen
Configuration optimizes the use of Isogen and unlocks its powerful capabilities in a
user friendly way, making it easier for CADWorx users to set-up their project
deliverables, and do it faster!

I-Configure is the graphical user interface (GUI) that allows quick and convenient
editing of Isogens control files.It breaks down different areas of the Isogen style into easy to
manage menus and provides a live preview of most changes made to the style within the editor.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 7


Launching I-Configure
I-Configure can be launched from the Start Menu from the CADWorx Product Folder:

I-Configure can also be launched from within CADWorx via the I-Configure button on the
CADWorx Plant I > Isogen panel:

After clicking on either icon, the I-Configure splash screen will display:

The I-Configure splash screen displays the major I-Configure release version and does not
match the CADWorx Plant release version. For example, the splash screen shows 2016 when
launched in 2019 CADWorx.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 8


Introduction to I-Configure

I-1 - Creating & Deleting an Isogen style


In this exercise, you will learn how to create, and delete, an Isogen style from template
styles provided by Alias, the developers of Isogen.

1. Launch I-Configure. You may do this from the Start Menu, or from within
CADWorx Plant.
After launching, the splash screen will display and I-Configure will load. Without any
previously connected Isogen styles, the windows will be blank:

Advanced: I-Configure loads the list of Project Directories from the IsoDirList.xml in
C:\ProgramData\Alias. To permanently remove the list of styles in I-Configure, you can delete
the .xml file and I-Configure will re-create it when launched again. This does not delete the
actual control files for those styles. You can still re-connect to them afterward.

2. At the top left corner of I-Configure, click the New Isometric Directory icon.

3. You can also select File > New > Isometric Directory…

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 9


Introduction to I-Configure

4. Navigate to your C: drive and click the Make New Folder button to create a new
directory folder.
5. Name the new directory Isogen_Training
6. Select the Isogen_Training folder you created and click OK.

The Isogen_Training directory is created and shows in I-Configure.

7. With the directory selected, click the New Project button.

The New Project menu opens.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 10


Introduction to I-Configure

8. Change the New Project Name field to Training, then click the Application pulldown and
select CADWorx. This enables the styles as CADWorx styles and allows for custom
attribute population.

9. Leave all the default template styles selected.

10. Click OK when finished.

I-Configure creates new Isogen styles for CADWorx from the selected templates.

11. Expand the Training Project Folder with the plus sign to view the available
styles within the project folder.

Notice we have templates for a variety of purposes. These can all be used
immediately or edited prior to use. Keep in mind the folder structure we see in I-
Configure exists on your C:\ drive.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 11


Introduction to I-Configure

Deleting an Isometric Style


To delete an Isogen Style, Project, or Directory, simply select it in the list and click the red X, or
Delete icon at the top of the screen.
12. Select the Caesar2-Export Isometric style, then click the Delete icon.

The following prompt appears asking you to confirm the styles deletion:

13. Click Yes.


The style is deleted.

Keep in mind there is no undo option here. Deletions are permanent, and they do not
just remove the style from the list… they delete the actual physical folder from the C:\
drive. Notice in the File Explorer image above, the style is not present.
This holds true for Projects and Isometric Directories.
If you delete it from I-Configure, it deletes it from the computer.
The only exception is for network drives.

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Introduction to I-Configure

Just as we easily deleted a single style, we can add a single style back.
14. Click the Training project folder to select it, then click on the New Style icon:

The New Style menu appears.


15. Uncheck all the Isogen style templates except for the Caesar2-Export template at the
very bottom. Make sure CADWorx is still set as the Application.

16. Click Ok.


A new Caesar2-Export style is added to the Project:

If you want to remove an Isogen style Directory from I-Configure, the correct way to do it is by
disconnecting from it.

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Introduction to I-Configure

17. Select the Isogen_Training directory from the list, then click the Disconnect From
Isometric Directory icon:

The directory is removed from I-Configure:

Disconnecting does not delete anything, and you can always reconnect to it later.
18. Click the Connect to Isometric Directory icon.

A file explorer opens.


19. Browse to C:\Isogen_Training and select the ProjectList.xml file. Click Open.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 14


Introduction to I-Configure

This reconnects our Isometric Directory and the Projects and Styles within it.

In some cases, an administrator may need to manually clear the I-Configure directory list. Some
older Project Manager style imports, or even I-Configure styles, once connected but not existing,
are not able to be removed as the needed files are no longer present.
You can clear the list of directories within I-Configure by navigating to C:\ProgramData\Alias (or
type %ProgramData% in Windows File Explorer, and deleting the IsoDirList.xml file.

This XML file contains a list of all the Isogen Directories pathed in I-Configure for the user:

You may also edit this carefully with an XML editor or Notepad if needed.
Just as the IsoDirList.xml contains a list of the Directories, each Directory contains a list of the
Projects within it. For example, the ProjectList.xml file within C:\Isogen_Training looks like this:

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 15


Introduction to I-Configure

I-2 – Password Protecting a Project


I-configure allows you to set up a password to protect the Isogen Project from unauthorized
modification. It is strongly recommended you keep a physical copy of the password you use for
the style, as you will be locked out from editing it if you forget it..
1. Click on the Training project within I-Configure to select it.

2. Click on Tools > Project Access Rights

The Project Access Rights window opens.


3. Check the radial box for Read-only to restrict users from editing the style.
4. Set the password to 1234 then click OK.

Certainly not the strongest password, but you get the idea!

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 16


Introduction to I-Configure

When we have the Project selected, we can see that it has it’s AccessRights set to
ReadOnly and who has locked it:

Selecting a style will also show that the CanWrite variable is False:

In order to unlock a style for editing, the Administrator must return to the Project Access
Rights and change from Read-Only to Write.
Since we are going to do quite a bit of editing, we want to unlock our styles for now.
5. Select the Training project from the list on the left and go to Tools > Project Access
Rights
6. Set the access rights to Write, key in your password (1234) and click OK.

We can now edit our styles.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 17


Introduction to I-Configure

I-3 - Creating an Isometric Drawing - Isogenout


Let's run a quick Iso to see what our template style looks like so we can determine what
we want to change.
1. Launch CADWorx Plant and open the following model:
4-S150-150.dwg from C:\IsogenTrainingModels

In this sample model, we have two line numbers:


4”-S150-1010-150 and 4”-S150-1020-150
2. Click the Isogen Out button on the CADWorx Plant I ribbon > Isogen panel.

Command: ISOGENOUT
Since we have a useable Isogen Directory in I-Configure, the Select Isogen Style window
appears with the directory already pathed.

3. Select the Final-Basic style and click OK.

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Introduction to I-Configure

CADWorx prompts you to enter an option for selection, or to toggle the Single PCF
generation on or off.

Line number selection lets you select the line numbers you want to generate an Iso for
from a list of all line numbers in the model.
Select components lets you select the components manually.
Toggle Single PCF allows you to toggle if the software creates a single PCF for all line
numbers or creates a PCF for each line number. Select the check box to create a single PCF
or clear the box to create multiple PCFs.
4. Type “S” for Select Components then press Enter.
5. Select the entire model, then press Enter.

CADWorx will send the piping component data to Isogen for processing and provide details in
the command line including the Directory of the Isogen style, the Project, the Style used, the
method used (“S” for Select Components), how many entities were sent to Isogen, the name of
the plot file and the location of the log file.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 19


Introduction to I-Configure

The CADWorx Isogen Results window also opens. Since we had a successful plot file creation,
the Isogen Results window reports that the Isogen export was successful, how many plot files
were produced, and the file path of the plot files.

6. Click Open Plot Files… to view the Iso.

Since we manually selected the components to run, and there are no stop signs present in the
model, all components were generated on a single sheet.
The plot file was written to the C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\Drawings path by
default. This path is customizable within I-Configure.
7. Close the Isometric drawing and return to the CADWorx model.
8. Click Isogenout or run the ISOGENOUT command.
9. Click OK in the Select Isogen Style window. The Final-Basic style should
already be selected.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 20


Introduction to I-Configure

10. Prompted to enter a selection option, type “L” for Line Number then press Enter.

After selecting Line Number, we are prompted on the command line to either pick the line
number from a list or pick the line number by clicking on a component.
11. Type “L” for List then press Enter.

The Select Item window opens. Here we can select which line numbers in the model
we want to send to Isogen. You can filter results in large models using the filter field at the top
of the screen, and you are also given the ability to specify whether a Single PCF file is created.
12. Uncheck Single PCF
If Single PCF is checked, only a single PCF file is created and both line numbers are
generated on a single plot file.

It would also create an Isometric named after one line number if a line reference macro is used
to name the drawing, as the current style uses.
13. Select both line numbers shown in the list then click OK.

CADWorx creates two PCF files in the Isogen Project’s Inputs folder and sends the
components to Isogen.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 21


Introduction to I-Configure

14. Type “Y” for Yes to open the drawing files.

Each line number is generated on a separate drawing:

15. Save and exit both Isometric drawings.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 22


Introduction to I-Configure

I-4 - Creating an Isometric Drawing – Isogenbatch


Isogenout works fine for generating single drawings and can still generate lines on separate
sheets, but ISOGENBATCH is designed for generating Isos for multiple lines and automatically
creates a separate sheet for each line number.
Let’s generate the same lines again using ISOGENBATCH.
1. Type the ISOGENBATCH command or click on the Isogen Batch icon in the Isogen
panel of the CADWorx Plant I ribbon.

Isogen Batch skips the style selection window and uses the last style that was run.
2. Select both lines from the line list, then click OK.

Notice Single PCF is unchecked by default.


3. Type “Y” then press enter to open the Iso drawings.

4. Leave both drawings open for now.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 23


Introduction to I-Configure

I-5 - Editing an Iso Style – Style Changes


Let’s take a look at the 1020 line’s Iso drawing and the modifications we want to make.

 The drawing is currently generating on an A2 sheet size. We will change the backing
sheet (the border template) and the sheet size.
 The units are generating as Metric. We will change these to Imperial.
 On the new backing sheet, we have CAD attributes that we want to map Isogen
attributes to so Isogen fills these in automatically.
 We will change the bill of material to match the new backing sheets border and
columns.
 We’ll increase the dimension standout.
 Some existing attributes such as the Pipeline Reference need to be removed to
accommodate attribute mapping instead.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 24


Introduction to I-Configure

Let’s get started!


1. Close both Isometric drawings, leaving the original model open.
2. Return to I-Configure and select the Final-Basic style, then click Edit.

3. In the Drawing Manager pane, click Drawing File

4. Click the ellipsis to the right of the Template File Path

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 25


Introduction to I-Configure

5. Browse to a C:\IsogenTrainingModelsnd load the Ansi_D_Backing_Sheet.dwg

Now let’s update the drawing units.


6. At the top right corner of the editor, click inside of the Search field then type “UNITS”
and press Enter.

Because of the hundreds of isometric drawing properties available, locating a specific


one can be a daunting task. The Search feature enables you to search for a specific
options group or individual drawing property based on user-specified criteria, such as a
keyword, an option switch, an I-Configure property name, or an AText number. The
software maintains a history of completed searches. This allows you to locate and re-
use search criteria quickly and easily.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 26


Introduction to I-Configure

7. Expand the first result, Drawing Manager\Drawing Generation then expand


Units and change the Pipe and Fittings units to Imperial / Inch Bores

8. Expand the second result, Drawing Manager\Drawing File then the Template
File and click the DXF Units pulldown to set the units to Inch.

We’ve changed the drawing units and set the units for the backing sheet, now lets also adjust
the units that are displayed to us within the Editor.

CADWorx Plant Isogen/I-Configure Training Basic to Advanced Isogen/I-Configure Training 27


Introduction to I-Configure

9. At the top left corner, click the ECP menu and select Options

10. Set the Drawing Units to inches as shown below, then click OK.

11. At the bottom right corner of the editor, click Save then Exit.

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Since we are changing how I-Configure displays all units in the editor, it’s best to reload the
editor in the new unit format.
12. Back in the main window, select the Final-Basic style and click Edit.

13. In the Drawing Manager pane, click Drawing File

Notice we get an updated preview of the style on the right, showing the new border.

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Since the border is larger now (ANSI D size), we need to increase the available drawing area
and adjust the position of the Bill of Material (BOM)
14. Near the bottom right corner of the editor, click Drawing Setup Tool

The Drawing Setup Tool gives us quick access to many different options and allows us to
visually adjust the drawing rea, positions of material lists and attributes, and enable Weld Lists
or Cut Lists.
15. Click the Drawing Size pulldown, highlighted below, and change the size to ANSI “D”

The light green border updates to show the approximate size of our sheet.
16. At the top left corner of the Drawing Setup Tool, click Drawing Areas

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The Drawing Areas tab lets us adjust the drawing area that Isogen will position the isometric
drawing within. A green border with grip points will outline the current area. On the left side of
the Drawing Setup Tool there is a panel that allows you to enter exact values.

17. Click on the grip points along the green drawing area border and practice repositioning
it, then position the border like the image below:

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Now that we are close to where we want the border to be, we can round off the actual position.
18. Match the values in the image below to finalize our drawing area.

Your drawing area should look like this:

Note: Sometimes Isogen can slightly exceed the allowed area, so it’s best to give a slight buffer
space from the actual limits of the borders drawing area.

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Now that we’ve corrected the drawing area for the new sheet size, we need to reposition the bill
of materials.
19. Click on the Material List tab at the top of the Drawing Setup Tool.

The Material List tab opens and displays the current position, as well as column data of the
material list.

Notice our material list is still positioned for an A2 sheet. To adjust this, we can use the RED
rectangular grip at the top left corner of the material lists. Individual column adjustments can be
made using the GREEN rectangles at the top of each column.
20. Using the mouse wheel, zoom in and view the RED and GREEN rectangles.

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21. Now zoom back out and click and drag the RED rectangle to the position shown below
within our bill of material border.

Tip: You can hold down the middle mouse button then drag to pan.
This position won’t be the final location. Remember this is an approximate location. We will
round off it’s position within the Material List panel to the far left of the Drawing Setup Tool.
Notice if you mouse over one of the green rectangles you get a tooltip describing what column
position it controls.

We need to remove this Item Code column from our Isometric drawing as our new border is not
setup to utilize it.
Also notice that our bill of material contains two separate sections – Section 1 and Section 2.

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The border that is set up on our backing sheet contains a separate section for this which is
named Assembly Materials. We will need to position the second section within the Assembly
Materials limits.

On the far left of the Drawing Setup Tool we can see the sections listed, their content, direction,
the maximum row entries, and the position offset of secondary lists.

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22. Click on any of the BLUE rectangles (the Section 2 list) and drag down to position them
just below the Assembly Materials border.

23. In the Material List panel on the far left, click on the Item Code column and then click the
Red X icon to delete it.

We should now be left with just four columns: PT-NO, N.S., Description, and QTY:

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24. Now click each of the GREEN rectangles to reposition them as shown below. Hover
your mouse over them to identify the column before positioning it. The order of columns
will need to be re-arranged.

Isogens PT-NO column is commonly called the “Item” or “Mark” column and is not a
components part/manufacturer/order number.

Let’s fine tune the bill of material positions using the


material list menu on the far left of the Drawing Setup
Tool.
We’ll also adjust the Text Height, Text Font, the
Maximum Entries (rows) and Maximum Characters
(word wrap) for the columns.

25. Carefully match the all the information shown


in the image to the right:

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26. When finished, click the OK button at the top left corner of the Drawing Setup Tool.

This returns us to the main edit window.


27. Click the Save button at the bottom right corner.

We’ve made quite a few changes already, so let’s run some test Iso’s to see our progress.
28. Return to CADWorx Plant and type the ISOGENBATCH command.
29. Select just the 1020 line number to send to Isogen and click OK.
30. Type “Y” for yes to the drawing results when prompted.

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Your results should look like the image below:

While our bill of material looks mostly squared away, we created a new issue when we swapped
our border template. Notice in the top left corner we have two north arrows?
One north arrow is being generated by Isogen, and one is a static north arrow on the backing
sheet itself.
Let’s remove the static north arrow and let Isogen handle our north arrow generation.
To do this, we need to edit the backing sheet in a plain CAD session without CADWorx loaded.
We do this because CADWorx products write product specific blocks (CPM, CEM, CFM) to any
drawing it opens – these blocks can be version specific and could potentially cause problems if
an older block is nested in a future product version’s drawing.

Let’s continue to the next exercise and take a look at the backing sheet.

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I-6 - Editing an Iso Style – Backing Sheet


We need to make an edit to the backing sheet. While there are many edits that we could make,
such as placing a new company logo, adjusting the border design or material list borders – we
are just going to remove the static north arrow for now.
1. Launch a plain session of AutoCAD or BricsCAD. Ensure CADWorx does not load when
launched.
2. Open the Ansi_D_Backing_Sheet.dwg from C:\IsogenTrainingModels
Notice if you select the North Arrow that it is part of a block reference. This block also contains
attributes.

3. Run the EXPLODE command on the block to explode it. Notice the attribute information
becomes visible. We can also select the North Arrow now.

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4. Draw a window around the North Arrow and press the Delete key.

We could do other modifications while we are in here, but this is all we need for now.
5. Type the BLOCK command, then select the PDS block name from the pull down at the
top. This is the name of the existing block.
6. Check the Specify On-Screen box under Entities, and the Convert to block radial
button, then click OK.

7. We are prompted that the block definition already exists. Click Yes to redefine.

8. Select the entire backing sheet/border including all attributes and press Enter.
9. Prompted to Edit Attributes, click OK.

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10. Press Ctrl-Shift-S, or go to File > Save As and save this modified drawing over the old
one as a 2007 version .dwg.

Important: Isogen compatibility is limited with dwg versions exceeding 2007. Drawings
saved above 2007 version may not function.
11. Prompted with a Confirm Save As warning, click Yes.

12. Return to CADWorx Plant, close the last Iso drawing we created and run
ISOGENBATCH on the 1020 line again. Type “Y” to open when prompted.
The static north arrow is now gone. Now we simply need to reposition the Isogen generated
north arrow.

13. Return to I-Configure and exit the Final-Basic style editor. While this is not required
when editing styles, we want to reload the backing sheet change we made when
removing the north arrow.

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14. Select Final-Basic and click Edit after exiting. This takes us right back into the style
editor.
15. In the main edit window under the Drawing Area pane, click Content.

Tip: While we walk through the actual locations of the following settings, searching for
“North” would get you there faster.
16. Expand North Arrow, then click False next to Show Enclosure. This removes the
enclosure around the north arrow.

The current position of the North Arrow is based on the drawing area. Since we originally
accommodated for a static north arrow when we set our drawing area, we can decrease the
margin at the top of the drawing area so Isogen can utilize the space and place the north arrow
closer to the corner of our border.
Lets adjust the position of the north arrow manually.
17. Click the Drawing Setup Tool at the bottom right corner of the screen.
18. Click the Attributes tab along the top of the Drawing Setup Tool window.

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Technically the North Arrow is an attribute and is automatically generated by Isogen unless
added to the Attribute list with a position of 0,0. The act of adding the north arrow attribute to a
position of 0,0 actually suppresses the north arrow, so if you want to use a static north arrow on
the backing sheet, you can suppress the system generated north arrow in this manner.
Without a North Arrow position specified via attributes, the north arrow is placed at the top left
corner of the useable drawing area. You can move it outside of the drawing area by positioning
its attributes field location.
Since we want to make use of the extra drawing space, we will still adjust our drawing area after
positioning the north arrow.
19. Click the Add/Remove Attributes button on the far left.

The Add/Remove Attributes window opens.


20. Find the NORTH-ARROW-POSITION attribute and click the Green add arrow to add it
to the list of attributes in use, then click OK.

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21. At the bottom of the Drawing Setup Tool, scroll down the list of placed Attributes and
click on the NORTH-ARROW-POSITION attribute, then find it in the drawing area.

Tip: Hover your mouse over the attribute the identify it.
22. The placed attribute is a small rectangle. Click on the rectangle and hold the mouse
button to drag it closer to the position shown below at the top left corner of the sheet.

23. Click the NORTH-ARROW-POSITION attribute in the Attributes list again and enter the
X, Y, and Text Height values to match the image below.

If you already know where you want to position the north arrow, you can skip dragging it
into position and just enter its X and Y data. The purpose of dragging the north arrow
attribute into position first is to familiarize yourself with moving attributes and
demonstrating you can move it into position and then fine tune the X, and Y values
afterwards.

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With our North Arrow position finalized, lets adjust the drawing area.
24. Click on the Drawing Area tab and adjust the Top Drawing Area Margin to 0.2 as
shown below.

25. Click OK at the top left corner of the Drawing Setup Tool to return to the main style edit
window.

26. Click the Save button at the bottom right corner.

Note: Going forward, exiting the Drawing Setup Tool and Saving the style changes will
not be visually represented in the guide. Instead, you will be told to “Exit the Drawing
Setup Tool” and “Save the Style”

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27. Return to CADWorx Plant and close any existing Isometric drawings you have open.
28. Run the ISOGENBATCH command on the 1020 line, typing “Y” when prompted to open
drawings.
Our isogen style now outputs a system generated North Arrow at the top left corner of the
screen.

Let’s take a look at what’s left on our original list:


 The drawing is currently generating on an A2 sheet size. We will change the backing
sheet (the border template) and the sheet size.
 The units are generating as Metric. We will change these to Imperial.
 On the new backing sheet, we have CAD attributes that we want to map Isogen
attributes to so Isogen fills these in automatically.
 We will change the bill of material to match the new backing sheets border and
columns.
 We’ll increase the dimension standout.
 Some existing attributes such as the Pipeline Reference need to be removed to
accommodate attribute mapping instead.
While we technically placed an attribute when we placed the North Arrow, we’ll look at placing
regular attributes and how we can populate it.

29. Close the Iso drawing and return to the I-Configure Style Editor.

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Let’s start by increasing the dimension standouts.


30. Click Dimension Style under the Dimensions pane.

31. Click on Standard Dimensions and change the Format to a Composite style.

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32. Click Standouts


33. Uncheck the Use Text Size checkbox then scroll down to the Composite Standout.
34. Set the Composite Standout to 1.00

35. Continue scrolling down and set the Overall standout to 1.00

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Our preview window on the right should reflect updated standout dimensions.

Now let’s remove some of the Isogen attributes that are generating on our backing sheet.

1. The Pipeline Reference (line number) is being generated twice. One is a CAD
attribute field that is generating the name of the drawing, the other (the black text
version) is being generated by Isogen.
2. This is a date attribute being generated by Isogen.
3. This is a pipeline specification attribute being generated by Isogen.

This particular border is intended to use CAD Attribute Population Mapping via Isogen to
populate CAD Attributes on the backing sheet with data from an external file. While we can
place the equivalent attributes using I-Configure and have Isogen populate them from pipeline
data or project defaults, mapping attribute population to a CAD attribute allows us to query the
attributes in drawings whereas Isogen generated attributes are plain text.

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36. Open the Drawing Setup Tool and click on the Attributes tab.
37. Shift-Select (Hold down shift, click the first attribute, and the second to last attribute) all
attributes in the attribute list except for the NORTH-ARROW-POSITION
38. With all attributes selected (except the north arrow!) click the Delete button.

There should only be one attribute left in the list.

39. Exit the Drawing Setup Tool.


Next we need to map Isogen’s attributes to the equivalent CAD attribute on the backing
sheet. We’ll do this in the next exercise.

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I-7 - Editing an Iso Style – Attribute Mapping


1. From the main edit window, click on Attribute Display in the Drawing Border pane.

2. Expand Backing Sheet Data

I-Configure reads the block from our backing sheet and displays all attributes within it. Here we
just need to click the pull downs next to the appropriate attribute and map it to the Isogen
equivalent.
Don’t worry, we won’t populate all of this in this training, just a few!

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3. Find the follow drawing attributes on the left and match them to the pull down values
shown on the right:
a. INSULTHK = Misc Spec1
b. INSULTYPE = Insulation Spec
c. SPEC = Pipe Spec
d. LINE-NO = Pipeline Reference

4. When finished, Save the Style and return to CADWorx.


5. Run ISOGENBATCH on the 1020 line. Type “Y” when prompted to open the drawing.
Notice our CAD attributes are populated with our pipeline attributes.

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These are convenient because its information Isogen can read straight from the PCF file about
the pipeline.
If the information you want to populate isn’t contained within the PCF file, we can add it to the
Project Defaults if it applies to the entire project, or create an external line list that contains line
numbers and attributes that apply to that line number for Isogen to utilize.

Let’s look at the Project Defaults first.


6. Return to I-Configure and find the map the JOBNO attribute on the backing sheet to the
Project Identifier isogen attribute.

If you exited your style editor, remember you can find Attribute Display under the
Drawing Border pane, then expand Backing Sheet Data.
7. Save the style, then exit the style – this should return you to the main I-Configure
window that lists the Isogen Directories.
8. Click on the Project Directory to select it as shown below.

9. With the Project Directory selected, click on the Edit menu at the top left corner, then
click Project Defaults..

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The Project Defaults window opens for our Training project.


10. Click on the Attributes tab.

11. Scroll down slightly until you see Project Identifier in the list of attributes, then double-
click it to open the Attribute window.
12. In the Default Value field, type Training then click OK. This will apply to all styles
within this project.

13. Click OK to exit the Training Projects Defaults menu.

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14. Return to CADWorx and type the ISOGENPROJECTDATASETUP command.

Notice this window looks like the one we were just in. Any values here will override the defaults
we set in I-Configure. These defaults can will be written to the config file if used. You can
override attribute values or uncheck any overridden values and they will not be used when
Isogen is ran.
15. Leave these blank and click OK to exit.
16. Type ISOGENBATCH and run another Iso on the 1020 drawing.
Notice our PROJECT NO field now populates “Training” per the default value we set in I-
Configure for all the styles within the project. Remember that for this to work on other styles,
they too would need attribute mapping set up.

So far, we’ve seen how to map CAD attributes to Isogen, and how to populate default attribute
values for a project. Later in this guide we will look at creating a pipeline attributes file that
contains line information and how to make Isogen read the line list and populate our attributes
for us.
17. Close the Isometric drawing and continue to the next exercise.

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I-8 - Editing an Iso Style – Detail Drawing


In this exercise, we are going to set up a detail drawing to be automatically generated on our
Isometric drawing. You can associate a detail drawing with just about any component. Here we
will have a pipe stanchion support bring in a detail drawing anytime an Iso is run on it.
1. Leave the 4-S150-150.dwg open.
2. Open the drawing 8-S150-1030-150.dwg from the C:\IsogenTrainingModels folder.
3. Double-click on the pipe support shown below.

Double-clicking on the pipe support opens the Pipe Support Assembly Edit window.
4. Click the Isogen button at the bottom of the window to open the Isogen Data menu.

Tip: You can also type the ICEDIT command and select the pipe support. This will bypass
the Pipe Support Assembly Edit window and go straight to the Isogen Data menu.

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5. In the Isogen Data window, click the ellipsis next to Detail Sketch and load the
DetailSample.dwg from C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Details

We’ve specified the drawing file we want this support to use for its detail sketch, but Isogen
doesn’t know where the folder for the detail sketches are located. We need to specify this in the
Isogen style via I-Configure.
6. Click OK to exit the Isogen Data window, then exit the Pipe Support Assembly Data
window.
7. Minimize CADWorx Plant and return to I-Configure. If you’ve exited the style, select
Final-Basic and click Edit.
8. In the Drawing Area pane, click Detail Sketches

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9. Expand Settings and click the ellipsis next to the Path field to specify the
C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Details.
Tip: The details drawing is usually located within the Isogen Styles subdirectory, or the
Projects subdirectory. It is located in the IsogenTraining folder for training purposes, but
you can specify any location as your detail sketch folder for a particular style.
10. After specifying the Path, match the values in the image below:

11. Save the Isogen style and return to the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg drawing in CADWorx
Plant.
12. Run another Isogenbatch command on the 1030 line and open the Isometric drawing
result.

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The results should look like the images below:

Tip: The detail sketch is actually an XREF that is automatically added to the Isometric drawing,
therefore it is controlled by the Xref Database Fade Control (in BricsCAD under Options). It is
shown here with a Fade value of 30.
Because the detail sketch is an XREF, the drawing should ideally be sent to someone at another
location via Etransmit if they are not able to access the original path of the Xref.
When creating Detail Sketches, it is recommended that your detail sketch size match the actual
size inserted into the Isometric drawing. E.g. the detail sketch here is within a 2” x 2” limit.
This detail sketch was also saved down to 2007 .DWG version.

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One additional point of interest you should be aware of is that our margin at the top of our
drawing area has increased. Isogen increases the drawing margin at the top of our drawing to
make room for multiple detail sketches.

13. Exit the Isometric drawing and return to the style editor.

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I-9 - Editing an Iso Style – Additional Tweaks


We’ve achieved quite a bit so far! We completed our initial modifications to the style already,
listed below:
 The drawing is currently generating on an A2 sheet size. We will change the backing
sheet (the border template) and the sheet size.
 The units are generating as Metric. We will change these to Imperial.
 On the new backing sheet, we have CAD attributes that we want to map Isogen
attributes to so Isogen fills these in automatically.
 We will change the bill of material to match the new backing sheets border and
columns.
 We’ll increase the dimension standout.
 Some existing attributes such as the Pipeline Reference need to be removed to
accommodate attribute mapping instead.

Let’s touch up the Isogen style a bit more. We’ve already set the font and text height on the
material list and detail sketch, but our drawing area is still generating from its original settings.
1. Return to the Final-Basic style editor.
2. In the Drawing Area pane, click Text

3. Expand Settings, then set the Custom Size and Font values to match below

Note: It is recommended you only use AutoDesk fonts for AutoCAD or BricsCAD
applications. Not all fonts that are available are fully supported as some are intended for
other piping applications.

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Now our drawing area text should match the rest of the text on our Isometric drawing.

Now let’s change how some of our dimensions are displayed:

4. In the Isogen Configuration window, in the Dimensions pane, click Display Format.

5. Expand Imperial Dimensions and Coordinates, then set the display format to Space
Dash.
6. Click the radial button for Use feet and inches if above [ ] inches and type 12 in the
field, as shown below.

If you leave this value at 0, you would get just inches. E.g. 36” instead of 3’

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Now if we ran a new Isometric, our dimensions would display as below:

Next, we’ll alter the layer and scale of fittings to make them standout more.
7. SAVE THE STYLE!
8. Return to the main Isogen Configuration window and in the Drawing Area pane, click
Graphics.

9. Expand Definitions, then click the arrow to the right.

This is a list of all definitions that have been added to the style. There are many more available
for different objects or entities. What we are going to change is the General Fittings, and all of
the Valve definitions.

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10. Match the information in the image below.


11. To add the last entries, simply click the blank pulldown at the bottom of the list and pick
the entry from the dropdown list, then enter the data shown.

Here we can change what layer the group of components are generated on, the scale, the line
thickness and the color.
12. SAVE THE STYLE!
13. Still in the Drawing Area > Graphics menu, click Layers and expand the layers list by
clicking the arrow to the right.

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Here we can define colors for the layers of our components we defined above.
14. Set the Fittings layer to use color 6 (Magenta) as shown below.

15. Save the style when finished and return to CADWorx Plant to run another test Isometric.
The results should look like the image below:

Notice our fittings, flanges, valves, supports, tees and elbows (bends) are on the new layer.
Some of the line thicknesses have been adjusted, and some scales have been modified.

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This particular backing sheet we are using has a layout tab designed for plotting. You can add
this to any backing sheet.
16. Click the ISO layout tab at the bottom left corner of our CAD drawing area.

This gives us more plot friendly version of our Isometric style:

In the next exercise, we will enable a Weld List and a Cut List to generate on our backing sheet.

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I-10 - Editing an Iso Style – Weld List & Cut List


Notice that our Isogen Style’s backing sheet has a place for a weld list and a cut list:

We’ll need to enable both the Weld List and the Cut List in our Isogen style, then position them
and add the desired columns.
1. Close any open Isometric drawings and return to the Final-Basic style in I-Configure.
2. Click on Drawing Setup Tool

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3. At the bottom right corner of the Drawing Setup Tool window, in the Reports section,
check the boxes to enable the Weld and Cut Lists.

Notice we now get tabs for the Weld List and Cut List at the top of the Drawing Setup Tool.

While we could configure most of what we need here, lets go and modify the lists from within the
normal edit window.
4. Click OK to exit the Drawing Setup Tool.
5. From the main Configuration/Edit window, navigate to the Cut List by going to Cut
Pieces > Drawing Cut List > Settings

Notice that the Cut List check box is activated. This is the same switch that we enabled in the
Drawing Setup Tool. Our Active List is set to UserDefined which gives us full control over the
contents and position.

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6. Click the Identifiers menu beneath Settings.


7. Change the Identifier Type to Alphabetical

8. Skip the down to the User Defined Columns menu, expand Columns add the
attributes and offsets shown in the image below.

These will be the attributes that generate in our Weld List columns. Make sure you get
the offsets!
9. When finished, click on the User Defined menu above the User Defined Columns.

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10. Fill out the data on the User Defined menu to match the image below:

11. When finished, check the drawing preview window to the right of the editor.
You should see a preview sample of a cut list:

Now let’s enable the weld list.

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12. Go back to the main Configuration/Editor window and save your style.
13. Now navigate to the Weld List from Welds and Joints > Drawing Weld List > Settings

The weld list is enabled, and we are using a User Defined style.
14. Click on the User Defined Columns menu and expand Columns.
15. Add the columns and offsets shown in the image below.

16. Click on the User Defined menu above User Defined Columns.

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17. Fill out the data on the User Defined menu to match the values shown in the image
below.

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We should now have a sample preview of a weld list showing on the preview window to the
right.

18. When finished, return to the main Configuration/Editor window and save your style.
Since we will want to easily match the welds in our weld list to the drawing, we need to enable
weld identifiers on our drawing. Note, for Weld Lists to successfully overflow to additional
sheets, weld identifiers must be enabled.
19. From the Isogen Configuration/Editor window, click on Numbering under Welds and
Joints.

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20. Click on the Controls menu and match the information in the image below:

21. When finished, save your style.


22. Return to CADWorx Plant and run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 line.
We should be getting a generated Weld List and Cut List, as well as Weld Identifiers.

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I-11 - Editing an Iso Style – Additional Tweaks II

Take a few moments and find the following switches or settings in your I-Configure style and
match them to the images.
1. Change the Linear Quantity Style for the Material List, below:

2. Change the Drawing Generation Date Format to American, below:

3. In the Piping Component’s Alternative Texts, change the Flange, Gasket, and Bolt
Part Number prefix to “F”, “G”, and “B” as shown below:

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4. Modify the Continuation’s Name Style to include the Pipe Reference, and the
Continuation Name to True.

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5. Save the style changes and return to CADWorx and run another Isogenbatch on the
1030 line. Our style should look like the below image:

Tip: When using AutoCAD Field Attributes, such as the one populating the drawing name above,
you can hide the grey field by setting the FIELDDISPLAY variable to 0 for off.
You can set this in the styles backing sheet so it is always off. In the image above, a REGEN
command was required to update the field and hide the grey box.

The next section of the guide will dive deeper into Isogens capabilities.

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I-12 – Troubleshooting Isometrics


Eventually you’ll run into an issue with a pipeline that won’t Iso. This exercise will show you how
to troubleshoot the most common issues.
1. In CADWorx Plant, open the Discon_Sample.dwg model from C:\IsogenTrainingModels
2. Run the ISOGENBATCH command and select the 2”-DC-150 line number. Click OK.

Notice that we receive command line feedback that the line was not successful, and contains an
error.

Lets try that again with a regular Isogenout command.


3. Run the ISOGENOUT command and Click OK in the Select Isogen Style window.

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4. When prompted for an option for selection, type “L” then press Enter.

5. Prompted to select a component or show a line list, type “L” and press Enter.

6. Select the 2”-DC-150 line from the list and click OK.

Now we receive the Isogen Results window, along with some additional information.

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Sometimes there is information here that is easy to understand, such as the below content:

While there are many more errors in the results window, this is telling us that an Olet is not
connected to the main line. Sometimes this results window can be helpful in troubleshooting why
your Isogen style failed, though sometimes the errors can be quite obscure.
In the event that you can not determine what is causing the line to fail, you can click the View
Extraction Logs button:

The View Extraction Logs window contains all of the log files written by Isogen during the run
attempt. You can double-click on a log file to view the contents (we will examine the pisogen.log
later in this class to troubleshoot custom scripting) or click the Collect Data button to gather all
of the style control files and log files to be sent to Hexagon support for troubleshooting.

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After clicking Collect Data, the Collect Data window opens and shows all of the files that were
gathered. Notice the Isogen style control files are present (.alt, .bdf, .ddf, .mld, .opl, .pos, .wdf)
as well as all of the drawings, font file, .fls file etc… you can click the Add File… button to add
any additional files that might be missing.

If you click the Collect button at the bottom left, the files will be compressed into a .zip folder.
You can then click Send as Email or Save As to save it and then attach it to a support ticket.

7. Click OK or Cancel to close out of any Isogen windows you have open and return to the
model.
To troubleshoot what is causing our Iso failure, we can first start by Isolating that line number.
8. Open the CADWorx Plant Line View palette:

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9. In the Line View palette, click View All, then Reload.


10. Right-click on the 2”-DC-150 line and select Isolate Selection.

The reason we want to check the Line View’s line number Isolate is, for Isometrics generated by
line number (such as an ISOGENBATCH), any component in the middle of the pipeline that is
not on the correct line number would show as a gap to Isogen, resulting in a disconnect.
Here we can see that a Valve disappears from our line when we isolate the line. This means it is
not on the 2”-DC-150 line number:

This alone would cause our line to fail and needs to be resolved.
11. Click the View All button at the top of the Line View palette, followed by the Reload
button.

Get in the habit of refreshing your Line View list constantly. It is not a live view!

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Let’s fix the line number on our valve.


12. Click the Set button in the Line Number pulldown on the CADWorx Plant ribbon.

13. Prompted to select a component to set a line number, click any pipe.

This sets the current line number to 2”-DC-150

1. Apply the new line number to the valve component by clicking the Assign button in the
Line Number pulldown on the CADWorx Plant ribbon.

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2. Select all components with a Crossing Window, then press Enter.

3. Prompted to Enter an option, type A, then press Enter to apply to all.

4. Isolate the line again with the Line View palette to make sure everything looks correct.
Remember to Refresh List before Isolating!!

We’ve fixed a major issue already, but if we were to run the Iso again it would still fail.

This is a good time to use the Discontinuity View palette to troubleshoot disconnects.
5. Open the Discontinuity View palette by clicking on its icon in the Palettes panel of the
CADWorx Plant ribbon.

6. Set a Tolerance Minimum and Maximum value as shown below:

There are color settings and filter settings you can apply here as well, but we’ll just look
at it in it’s default state.
7. Click the Refresh icon at the top left and a list of all Disconnects, Overlaps, or Not On
Line errors should show:

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We can see components under the 2”-DC-150 line number, what gap they report if any, the long
description of affected components, the category and component type, as well as the X,Y,Z
coordinates.
8. Click on the first Disconnected component in the list. This should be a disconnect
between a 90 LR ELL and a Pipe.

Notice when you click on the first disconnect, it also shows the component it expects to
relate to.

CADWorx zooms in to the selected disconnect:

We can clearly see the gap here. In this case, this model is using modeled welds and one was
left off after a copy at this connection or was accidently deleted.

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Lets add a weld to fix this disconnect.

9. Click the Spec View palette Icon in the Palettes panel of the CADWorx Plant ribbon.

10. Click Browse.

11. Select the Inch_Specs.prj from the IsogenTrainingModels folder, then click Open.

12. On the Spec View palette, set the specification to 150 and the size to 2”

13. Click OK when finished.


14. Insert a WELD GAP, 1/8” THK component on the pipe end of our disconnect.

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While we’ve filled the gap with a weld, we still may have a disconnect issue from this
component. The inserted end recognized what it is attached to, but the other end of the weld
does not recognize the Elbow without being re-associated.

15. Click on just the Elbow component next to the weld and notice there is a Plus Grip
denoting an open connection on the weld end.

Sometimes this can happen in a high-coordinate environment where components can no longer
accurately track their position.

16. To resolve this, run the REASSOCIATEMODEL command on the entire model, then
check the elbow to make sure there is no plus grip on the weld end.

17. Save your model.

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18. Return to the DiscContinuity View palette and click the Refresh icon. Notice the first
disconnect is no longer present and is resolved.

19. Click the next reported disconnect, the Ubolt.

While there is a discontinuity type called “Not on Line”, CADWorx refers to a support that is not
attached to the pipes centerline as a Disconnected component. In this case, the Ubolt has been
inserted incorrectly and needs to be attached to the pipes center line.

We actually have two ubolts in our list with the same issue, so we can resolve them both now.

20. Type the MOVE command and move the Ubolt onto the pipes centerline by using its
insertion point as the base point. Snap it into position on the pipes centerline by using
the PERPENDICULAR snap to snap just below support.

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21. Repeat the same steps for the other Ubolt support.

22. Refresh the DisContinuity Palette when finished.

While not required here, a REASSOCIATEMODEL command is a good practice after


moving disconnected components, or moving/copying large groups of components.

23. Click on the next entry in our list, the WELD-O-LET, BW, ASTM A105

Notice this entry is reported as Not on Line. Not on Line issues are usually O-lets.

In this instance, we can’t move just the O-let. We’ll need to move the entire branch down. If this
branch was connected to another component, we could just come back and lengthen the pipe to
re-connect it.

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24. Using the Olets insertion point as a base, use the MOVE command to move it down and
snap onto the pipe centerline with the Perpindicular snap.

25. Refresh your Discontinuity palette when finished and verify the O-Let entry is no longer
present.

26. Save the model.

Our remaining DisContinuity Palette entries are Overlaps. These are overlapping components.
In this case, an accidental import caused a duplicate of the entire model on top of itself. We can
easily resolve these by using the Remove Selected Overlaps icon at the top of the palette.
CADWorx will remove the duplicates and leave only one component behind.

27. Hold down the Shift key and select the first Overlap entry, then select the last Overlap
entry to highlight all overlaps:

28. With the overlaps selected, click the Remove Selected Overlaps icon at the top of the
DisContinuity View Palette.

CADWorx may appear frozen while it works to remove all overlaps, let it finish.

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After the overlaps are removed, our DisContinuity View Palette should be cleared of any
reported issues.

29. Save the model and run an ISOGENOUT command. Select by line number and List
and generate an Iso on the 2”-DC-150 line number.

The line should generate successfully:

If a line still fails but you’ve resolved all of the entries on the DisContuinity View Palette, try
Isolating it and manually looking for plus grips that don’t belong. Depending on the type of
disconnect, or the tolerance values set, it may not be reported. Using the
REASSOCIATEMODEL command is a good “refresh” prior to looking for plus grips to ensure
that all connections are updated. Remember that some components have plus grips in the
middle of them, such as pipes or reducers. Don’t confuse these for the plus grips at the end
connections.

If you are having issues running an ISOGENBATCH command on a line, troubleshoot adjacent
lines. Isogen will read the continuation line numbers as well and if a continuation line has a
disconnect, (i.e. Line A is connected to Line B), then the batch may fail.

Proper modeling techniques should prevent almost all disconnect issues, such as using the
router to model. Copy-pasting, moving, or mirroring are common culprits.

User shape components may also cause problems if not created correctly, or if they are
assigned incompatible SKEYS. To test a line with a user shape, Isolate just the user shape and
try to run an Iso on the individual component. If it does not generate, it may be the cause of the
failure.

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I-13 – Populating Attributes - .ATT & .FDF


In this exercise, we will look at two different methods for populating attributes on our backing
sheet from an external line list.
The first method is compatible with older Isogen styles and utilizes the .ATT file as our line list
with attributes. It maps attributes in the .ATT file to the -900 series of Attributes in Isogen, which
can be placed on the backing sheet using I-Configure. This functionality has been around since
Pre-I-Configure.
The second method utilizes an Excel based .CSV file as our line list with attributes. This method
requires the POD Graphics Processor and a GED file (GetExternalData.xml) to map attributes
from the Excel file to the attribute mapping of our CAD attributes in I-Configure. This functionality
has only been around since CADWorx 2016.
Later in the IsogenReporting labs, you will learn that there is another newer method by utilizing
the Isogen Reporting functionality to map values from an external database such as an Excel file
or an Access .MDB file to populate attributes on a generated Isometric. This can be used for
pipeline attributes, or to create weld counts/totals and more.

For this exercise we will work with the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg model.


1. Close out of the Discon_Sample.dwg and open the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg model.

For the purpose of this training, we are not going to replace the CAD attributes present on our
backing sheet. Instead, we will add a “Note” attribute in the “Notes:” field. This will not be a CAD
attribute on the backing sheet - Isogen will place it automatically with whatever data we have
added to the lines Note field in the line list .ATT file.

Although we are only demonstrating a single attribute with the .ATT file method, you can use the
same method to generate additional attributes such as the Project No, Line Number, Service,
etc..

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2. Open a Windows File Explorer and navigate to C:\IsogenTrainingModels


3. Double-click to open the Pipeline_Attributes.txt file.

Notice the simply formatting here.


First, we list out the count and name of our attribute. If we had 32 attributes and the 32 nd
attribute was called TEST, it would be 32TEST. These are separated by a single
comma.
Next, our attributes definitions are separated from the values by a dashed line.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Underneath the dashed line, we list the values we want Isogen to populate in our
pipeline in the order that we defined them.
Since our first attribute is 1LINE REF (Pipeline Reference or Line Number), the first
value is our line number.
The line reference is required as it is what Isogen will look for to match the rest of the
values in the line list to the correct pipeline.
Separated by a single comma, our second attribute is the one we are going to place on
our Isometric: 2NOTE. We can call it anything we want – this could just as easily be
2OPTEMP. We’ll map this to a valid Isogen attribute in the -900 series later.
4. Save this text file as Training_Pipeline_Attributes.txt to the
C:\IsogenTrainingModels folder.

5. Exit Notepad or the text editor you used to view the txt file.
6. Open a Windows File Explorer and navigate to the C:\IsogenTrainingModels folder.
7. Right-click on the Training_Pipeline_Attributes.txt file and select Rename and rename
the extension of the file to .att

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8. Open I-Configure and edit the Final-Basic style.


9. In the Drawing Manager pane, click Input Files

10. Expand Pipeline Attributes and click the Enabled checkbox to enable a pipeline
attributes file.
11. Click the ellipsis next to Path and browse to C:\IsogenTrainingModels and select the
Training_Pipeline_Attributes.att file, then click Open.
12. Expand the Data field and type “FULL-REFERENCE -900” in the window.

The -900 series of attributes are the attributes we are going to use to map our pipeline data to.

13. Save the style.

Now we need to create a Function Definition File (.fdf) to map our attribute values that we
created in our Training_Pipeline_Attributes.att file, such as 1LINE REF and 2NOTE to a valid
Isogen attribute such as -900 and -901.

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14. In a Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\IsogenTrainingModels and double-click to


open the Function_Definitions.txt file.

The .FDF file needs the FUNCTION-DEFINITION-FILE and PIPELINE-ATTRIBUTE-FILE


statements at the top, followed by DELIMITER-CHARACTER , which is the type of character we
are using to delimit our pipeline attribute values in our .att file.

We could tell Isogen to ignore double-quotes with the IGNORE-CHARACTER “ statement. In


the example below, the IGNORE-CHARACTER tag is not given a value since our line number
has a double quote in it: 8”-150…

The next entries are mapping -900 series attributes to our .att attributes.

15. Save this file as Training_Function_Definitions.txt


16. In Windows File Explorer, right-click on the Training_Function_Definitions.txt file and
rename the extension to .FDF

Now that we’ve created the .FDF file, we need to path Isogen to it.

17. Return to I-Configure.


18. From the Input Files menu, expand Summary
19. Click the arrow next to Input Files to expand Input Files.
20. In the empty field, click the pulldown and select FUNCTION-DEFINITION
21. Click the ellipsis to select C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Training_Function_Definitions.fdf

22. Save the style.

The only thing left to do is to place -900 series attributes on the backing sheet. Since we are
only going to use 2NOTE, we will place a single attribute.

23. In I-Configure, open the Drawing Setup Tool

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24. Once open, click on the Attributes tab

25. At the bottom of the screen, add the Attribute101 attribute to the backing sheet with the
settings shown below:

Note: 900 series = 100 series in I-Configure. So Attribute101 = -901, etc…

26. Click OK to exit the Drawing Setup Tool, then Save the style and return to CADWorx.

27. Run an Isogenout by Line Number/List on the 8"-S150-1030-150 line.

You should get the following results:

Remember you can use any of the 900-999 (Attribute100-199) series in your pipe line list.

28. Exit the Isometric drawing and return to CADWorx.

In the next exercise we will look at a similar route that can populate the CAD attributes on the
backing sheet we’ve already mapped. This route will let us use an Excel format .csv file and
since we are generating values within a CAD attribute, it can be queried from the model files vs.
the plain text Isogen generates.

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I-14 – Populating CAD Attributes – PGP & GED

In this exercise, we look at the POD Graphics Processor (PGP).


The POD Graphics Processor is an Isogen Pre-Processor that runs before the Isogen Out is
translated to the final drawing output.
When Isogen creates output files (dwgs or reports), a temporary POD file is created that
contains, in a neutral format, all the graphic vectors and text that are converted to the user-
specified output formats.
Manipulating the POD file, such as with the POD Graphics Processor, allows you to change the
final drawing to create additional tables of data on the drawing or in reports.
Later in this guide, we will also manipulate the POD file using the new Isogen Reporting
functionality.

For this exercise, we will need to utilize the Get External Data (GED) functionality. This is built
into Isogen and is used to manipulate data in spreadsheets or databases to set attributes or
properties of pipelines and components. Later in this training, you will see how you can utilize it
to place information on an Iso, manipulate a database, or to replace default attributes with
information from a spreadsheet.

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Several different steps are required for the POD Graphics Processor to be set up correctly.
These are:
a) POD Graphics Config file (XML) creation and linking to the Isometric style.
b) GED Configuration file (XML) creation.
c) Defining a named range in the external data source spreadsheet. The size range needs
to cover all the required records and fields in the spreadsheet.
d) Specifying the POD Graphics Pre-Processor in the Iso Style.
e) Enabling PCF Attributes from the CADWorx Config File.
f) Mapping PCF Attributes to the DWG backing sheet attributes. (We did this earlier!)

Let’s get started by creating the POD Graphics Config file.


1. In a Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic
folder. This is the Isogen style folder we created and have been editing.
2. Right-click inside the Final-Basic folder and select New > Folder.
3. Name this new folder AdvancedData

4. Open the AdvancedData folder and right click inside of it. Select New > Text
Document.
5. Name the new text file PODProcessor.xml (delete the original .txt file extension)

6. Prompted with a file extension warning, click Yes to continue.

It is suggested that you use an XML File editor to edit the PODProcessor.xml and other XML
files we create in this class, but this training guide will assume you only have Notepad installed.
Notepad++ is a free file editor that reads XML files and is a great tool to use for this purpose.

7. Right-click on the PODProcessor.xml file and select Open With > Notepad

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8. Type in the information shown below. Do not use the space bar for indentations.
Indentations shown are made with the TAB key.

The comments in angle brackets that follows the GET-EXTERNAL-DATA function are
not needed for the code to work, but it is good practice to comment any code you write
so that you understand what it does if you ever need to return and edit it. This is
especially helpful for others not familiar with what the functions in your file do.
Notice we used a file path macro called $STYLE$ here. This is a relative path macro that points
to the styles folder and keeps us from having to specify a specific path that might change
depending on where we move the Isogen style. For example, if you initially set this style up on a
network drive called Z:/, you would have to edit any file paths in these xml files if you later
moved the style to another network drive called Y:/
9. When finished, save the file.
In the PODProcessor.xml, we pointed to a file called PODProcessorSettings.xml that does not
exist yet. This will be our GED file that we’ll need to create in a bit.
10. Open I-Configure and edit the Final-Basic style.
11. Go to Drawing Manager > Input Files > Summary and expand the Input Files menu.
12. Click the pulldown next to the empty field at the bottom of the Type list and add the
PODGRAPHICS-CONFIG-FILE Type to the list.
13. Click the ellipsis to the right of the Path field and select the PODProcessor.xml file you
created in C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\AdvancedData

I-Configure will recognize this is a relative path and add the $STYLE$ macro to the path name.
14. Save the style.

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15. In a Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic


folder.
16. Right click inside of the AdvancedData folder and select New > Text Document.
17. Name the new text file PODProcessorSettings.xml (delete the original .txt file
extension)

18. Prompted with a file extension warning, click Yes to continue.

19. Right-click on the PODProcessor.xml file and select Open With > Notepad
20. Type in the information shown below. Do not use the space bar for indentations.
Indentations shown are made with the TAB key.

Indentations are not required and are only to improve readability. You may skip the
comments in this code if you wish. It is recommended you save the GED file to the same
location as your POD Graphics Config file.

21. Save and close the file.

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Now we need to set up the external data source. In this case, we will use an Excel file.
22. In a Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\IsogenTrainingModels
23. Right click on the PipelineAttributes.xls file and select Copy.
24. Now navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\AdvancedData
25. Right click inside of the AdvancedData folder and select Paste.
26. Double-click the copied PipelineAttributes.xls file to open it with Excel.
We’ve already set up some random sample values within a few columns to use. These include
the Line Number, Operating Pressure, Operating Temperature, Design Pressure and
Design Temperature columns.

Each line number row contains its own information and can be unique to that line number. When
Isogen executes our POD Graphics Config file, it will then read our GED file which in turn calls
on the values for any line number in the Excel file that matches the line number of the pipeline in
our Isometric drawing.
You can add more columns as needed, but we are just going to demonstrate with the columns
already entered.
There is one additional step that you must take for an Excel file, and that is to set up a Named
Range.
27. In the Excel file, click on the Name Manager in the Defined Names section of the
Formulas tab.

If we were using an Access Database (MDB), we could simply specify what table and
column we wanted to use, but Excel requires a Named range be established and it is the
named range that is referenced like a table.
28. Click the New button in the Name Manager.

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This step is very important. Not only must we create the Named Range, we must also make
sure the Named Range matches what we specified in the SQL query of our
PODProcessorSettings.xml:

29. Enter PIPELINEATTRIBUTES for the Name.

30. Click the arrow icon at the bottom right corner of the New Name window to select our
cell range.

31. Hold down the SHIFT key and click the A1 column then the E5 column to select the cell
range shown below.

You’d normally want a larger range selected, but this works for this exercise. If we tried
to add more line numbers to our Excel file however, any line numbers outside of the
named range would not yield results.

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32. Your New Name – Refers to: window should look like the below image.
33. Click the icon at the bottom right corner when the cell range has been selected.

34. Click OK to exit.

The Name Manager now shows a Named Range:

35. Click Close at the bottom of the Name Manager when finished.

36. Save the PipelineAttributes.xls file and exit Excel.


37. Open I-Configure and Edit the Final-Basic style.
38. From the Configuration/Edit window, go to Drawing Manager > Pre and Post
Processors

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39. Expand the Settings menu and click on the ellipsis next to POD-processor.
40. Navigate out to C:\CADWorx 2019\Plant\Isogen\I-Configure and select the
PODGraphicsProcessor.exe.
41. Click Open.

42. Save the Isogen style.


43. Navigate to Drawing Border > Attribute Display > Backing Sheet Data from the main
Configuration/Edit window.
44. Find the attribute fields on our backing sheet and match them to their correlating
ATTRIBUTE0-4 values as shown below.

Note: The Attributes display by numerical order starting with the first digit. For example,
ATTRIBUTE4 will be between 39 and 40. ATTRIBUTE 9 would be between 89 and 90,
etc..
45. Save the Isogen style.
46. Return to the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg in CADWorx Plant and generate a new Isometric
using the ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 line.

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Your results should look like the image below:

Ideally, we would not want to use a mixture of attribute population methods. Once you’ve
enabled the POD Graphics Processor to handle attribute population to backing sheet attributes,
you could replace the Isogen generated -900 series attribute population in the style.

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I-15 – Retrieve Data from an External Source


This exercise will cover some Get External Data basics and the retrieval of data from an external
source. While we have essentially done this with the previous exercise, these exercises take
advantage of newer functionality added to Isogen by utilizing the Isogen Reporting Config file.
This will require three files to import our data into the POD file – an Isogen Reporting Script
XML, a GED file, and an external data source.
Technically there is a Front End POD file and a Back End POD file. While Smart Plant
Isometrics can modify both, CADWorx only interacts with the Back End POD file which is
produced by Isogen when you generate a drawing.
Some of the objects contained within the POD file include:
 POD
o Piping Object Data
o Piping Data (lines, parts, annotations)
o Optionally a 2D schematic
 Pipeline
o A collection of piping data
o Optional graphics (drawing frame attributes)
 Component
o An instance of physical piping objects (can also be welds)
o Optional graphics
 Material
o A typical piping object like item code, schedule or rating
 Information Element
o A message or other annotation
o Optional graphics
 Attributes
o Data about an object – POD, Pipeline, Component, Material, and Information
Elements all have attributes.

You could easily spend several days learning everything about this, so lets do some hands on
exercises to demonstrate some of the functionality you can achieve. Additional documentation
provided by Alias (developers of Isogen) is included in the IsogenTrainingModels\Alias folder.

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1. In a Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\IsogenTrainingModels


2. Double-click the Training.mdb file to view it.
3. Double-click the tables on the left to view their contents:

Notice we have created a COMPONENTS table that contains individual components and their
data, a PIPELINES table that contains the line number and it’s pipeline data, and a WELDS
table that contains weld data.
This is the database that we will use as our external data source for Isogen to pull information
from, though it could just as easily be in Excel form.
4. Close the Training.mdb file.
5. In Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-
Basic\AdvancedData
6. Right click inside of the Advanced Data folder and select New > Text Document.
7. Name the new text file GetExternalData.xml (delete the original .txt file extension)

8. Prompted with a file extension warning, click Yes to continue.

Remember, it is suggested that you use an XML File editor to edit the XML files. XML
editors can help you troubleshoot your code and make writing them easier.
9. Right-click on the GetExternalData.xml file and select Open With > Notepad

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We already have a GED file called PODProcessorSettings.xml, but that is using the
PODGRAPHICS-CONFIG-FILE input and will not let us do some of the things we want to
achieve. For this, we will be using the REPORTING-CONFIG-FILE input type.
10. Enter the code shown in the image below. Save and exit the file when done.

We’ve pointed our GED file to the Training.mdb, stated that we want to retrieve all data from the
PIPELINES table where the [LINE_NUM] value equals our pipeline reference (line number) and
then we mapped Isogen attributes to our database columns.
Now that we have our GED file, we need to create a new XML script file that will call the
GetExternalData.xml we just created.
11. In Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-
Basic\AdvancedData
12. Right click inside of the Advanced Data folder and select New > Text Document.
13. Name the new text file IsogenReportingScript.xml (delete the original .txt file
extension)

14. Prompted with a file extension warning, click Yes to continue.

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Remember, it is suggested that you use an XML File editor to edit the XML files. XML
editors can help you troubleshoot your code and make writing them easier.
15. Right-click on the IsogenReportingScript.xml file and select Open With > Notepad
16. Enter the code shown below. Save and exit when finished.

So far we have created our GED file and our Isogen Reporting script. Now we tell Isogen to call
on the reporting script when it runs so it can find our GED file.
17. Open I-Configure and edit the Final-Basic style. In the Drawing Manager category
pane, click Input Files.
18. Add the REPORTING-CONFIG-FILE type to the list, then click the ellipsis and select the
IsogenReportingScript.xml from the Final-Basic styles AdvancedData folder.

19. Save the style


20. Open CADWorx and run the ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 line of the 8-S150-
1030-150.dwg.
The Isogen results should not look any different. We haven’t told Isogen what to do with the
information we’ve pulled. What we want to check is, whether the information has made its way
into our POD file. If it has, then we can tell Isogen what to do with it later.
To do that we need to view one of the temporary log files that Isogen has created when the style
was run, called the pisogen.log.

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21. Open a Windows File Explorer and type %TEMP% in the address bar. Press Enter.
22. Find the pisogen.log file in the Temp folder and double-click it to view.
Sorting by Date modified may make this easier as it should be one of the most recent
files created.

There is a lot of information in the pisogen.log file, but what we are looking for is that Isogen has
found our GetExternalData.xml, read it, processed it, connected to our Training.mdb file, and
successfully mapped our attributes.
23. Scroll down in the text file until you see the Processing GET-EXTERNAL-DATA
commands from Configuration File… line.

Step 1 above shows that Isogen found our GetExternalData.xml and executed it.
Step 2 above shows that it read our xml and the database connection to Training.mdb was
successful.
If you do not see this section, look for an “Error” entry. The log file should tell you what issues it
ran into when attempting to execute our script. This usually points to syntax errors.

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24. Scroll further down in the log file. You should see the results of the external mapping:

Step 3 shows each attribute being mapped to our external data, and what the value is set to.
Step 4 shows that the Get External Data was successful.

25. Close the pisogen.log file if your import was successful.

Again, all we have done is import data into the POD file. We are not displaying this data on the
drawing or in a report yet.
We will come back to this data later.

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I-16 – GED & Using VBScript


This exercise will demonstrate using Visual Basic Scripting within the Get External Data script.
We will retrieve information from components in our Training.mdb, merge them together and
then map them to a component attribute.
1. Open the GetExternalData.xml in Notepad. Remember this is in
C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\AdvancedData
2. Type the following code into the GetExternalData.xml. This will go immediately beneath
the <EXTERNAL-DATA Version="POD3" DiagnosticLevel="3"> tag.

You may skip the <! - - Comments - - > if you wish.

3. When finished, return to CADWorx and run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030
pipeline in the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg.
4. Close the Isometric drawing it generates, then go to %TEMP% in Windows File Explorer
to view the pisogen.log file.

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5. Scroll down the pisogen.log file until you find the >>> Processing VBScript macro
definition line. You should see the script executing.

6. Close the pisogen.log file.


So far, this data is just present in the POD file and is not being utilized by a drawing or report.

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I-17 – Isogen Report Table – Weld Count


In this exercise, we will output a weld count table on the Isometric drawing.
In its current state, our Isogen backing sheet does not contain a weld table. You can easily add
one to the backing sheet, but we have a secondary backing sheet we can use that we’ve
squeezed a small weld table into.
1. Open I-Configure and edit the Final-Basic style.
2. Click on the Drawing Setup Tool in the bottom right corner of the main
Configuration/Editor window.
3. Under the default Basic Setup window, click the ellipsis next to the Backing Sheet
Template.
4. Select the WELD_Ansi_D_Backing_Sheet.dwg and click open. The template should
now be set as shown below:

If you view the border in the preview window, you should see the new weld table area
appear:

5. Click OK to exit the Drawing Setup Tool and save the Final-Basic style.

Now we’ll need to do the following steps:


I. Create placeholder pipeline attributes and map them to the drawing frame.
II. Write a GED script to store a weld counter in weld attribute 2, 3 and 4. They are
used as flags to identify the category of the weld.
III. Write an Isogen Reporting script to output the weld count table which is split by size
and category.
IV. Write an Isogen Reporting script to output the total count of welds by category.

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6. Close the Final-Basic style edit/configuration window to return to the initial I-Configure
screen.

7. At the top left corner of I-Configure, click on the Training project to highlight it.

8. With the project highlighted, Click Edit > Project Defaults at the top of the screen.

The Training Project Defaults window opens.


9. Click the Attributes tab, then scroll down the Pipeline attributes until you find
Attribute18.

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10. Double click on Attribute18 to edit the attribute.


11. Set the Display name, Default value, and Set Value and Units to the values shown
below.

12. Click OK when done.


13. Now double click ATTRIBUTE19 and enter the data shown below. Do not set the
units. Set the display name and default values provided below. Make sure to set all
attribute’s Set Value to Default.

ATTRIBUTE19 = V1[FabQTY], ATTRIBUTE20 = V1[ErecQTY]


ATTRIBUTE21 = V1[OffQTY], ATTRIBUTE22 = V2[FabQTY]
ATTRIBUTE23 = V2[ErecQTY], ATTRIBUTE24 = V2[FabQTY]

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14. Once you have configured the attributes, click OK to exit the Training Project Defaults.
15. Select the Final-Basic style and click EDIT, then open the Drawing Setup Tool.
16. In the Drawing Setup Tool, click the Attributes tab.
17. Add the following attributes to the WELD COUNT border within the drawing area:

Since we squeezed in a small Weld Count border, we are leaving the Text Height at .1
We aren’t placing attributes for the Total Diam. fields as they will be generated by the Isogen
Reporting Script later.
18. When finished placing and positioning the attributes, click OK to exit the Drawing Setup
Tool.
19. Save the Final-Basic style.
The next step is to add a bit of code to our GetExternalData.xml
20. Open the GetExternalData.xml from C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-
Basic\AdvancedData in Notepad.
21. Add the code shown on the next page to the GED file.

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The code is spaced out to make it easier to read, but you can condense it more if you wish, such
as the example below:
<COMPONENT>
<MDB> C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Training.mdb </MDB>
<EXECUTE Criteria="'$M.Group$'='Welds'">
<SQL> SELECT IIF('$C.CATEGORY$'='FABRICATION',1,0) AS GEDFabricationFlag </SQL>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE2" ExternalName="GEDFabricationFlag"/>
</EXECUTE>
<EXECUTE Criteria="'$M.Group$'='Welds'">
<SQL> SELECT IIF('$C.CATEGORY$'='ERECTION',1,0) AS GEDErectionFlag </SQL>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE3" ExternalName="GEDErectionFlag"/>
</EXECUTE>
<EXECUTE Criteria="'$M.Group$' = 'Welds'">
<SQL> SELECT IIF('$C.CATEGORY$'='OFFSHORE',1,0) AS GEDOffshoreFlag </SQL>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE4" ExternalName="GEDOffshoreFlag"/>
</EXECUTE>
</COMPONENT>

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22. When finished, save the GetExternalData.xml.


23. Open the IsogenReportingScript.xml from the same folder location.
24. Add the following code within the <ISOGEN-REPORTING> tags and under the <GET-
EXTERNAL-DATA> … tag.

Since this code is a little denser, it will also be rewritten on the next page. Though the formatting is
slightly different to maintain similar line length, referencing it as well as the image above may help.
25. Save the IsogenReportingScript.xml file when finished.

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<GET-EXTERNAL-DATA
File="$STYLE$\AdvancedData\GetExternalData.xml"
LogFile="$STYLE$\AdvancedData\GetExternalData.log" />

<TABLE
Name= 'WeldTable'
Source= 'Components'>

<COLUMNS>
<COLUMN Name="Group" Content="M.Group" />
<COLUMN Name="Status" Content= "C.STATUS" />
<COLUMN Name="Size1" Content = "C.SIZE1" />
<COLUMN Name="Category" Content="C.CATEGORY" />
<COLUMN Name="FabricationFlag" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE2" />
<COLUMN Name="ErectionFlag" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE3" />
<COLUMN Name="OffshoreFlag" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE4" />
<COLUMN Name="SheetNo" Content="C.SheetNumber"/>
</COLUMNS>

<GROUPBYTABLE
Name="GroupedWelds"
Filter= "(Group='Welds' AND (ISNULL(STATUS,'X') = 'X' OR Status='STANDARD' OR Status=''))"
Fields="Size1,SUM(FabricationFlag) FabQTY,SUM(ErectionFlag) ErecQTY,SUM(OffshoreFlag) OffQTY"
GroupBy= "Size1">

<VIEW
Name='V1'
Sort="SheetNo, Size1 ASC"
DisplayBySheet="True"
Direction="Down"
Spacing="5"
MaxRows="4" >
</VIEW>

</GROUPBYTABLE>

<GROUPBYTABLE
Name="GroupedWeldTotals"
Filter= "(Group='Welds' AND (ISNULL(STATUS,'X') = 'X' OR Status='STANDARD' OR Status=''))"
Fields="SUM(FabricationFlag) FabQTY,SUM(ErectionFlag) ErecQTY,SUM(OffshoreFlag) OffQTY"
GroupBy="SheetNo">

<VIEW
Name="V2"
Sort="SheetNo ASC"
DisplayBySheet="True"
Direction="Down"
Spacing="5"
MaxRows= "4">
</VIEW>

</GROUPBYTABLE>

</TABLE>

Remember, this code goes inside of the <ISOGEN-REPORTING> tags and under the
<GET-EXTERNAL-DATA> … tag, as shown in the image on the previous page.

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26. Return to CADWorx Plant and run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 pipeline
of the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg.
27. Your results should look like the image below:

We now have Isogen counting the size, and our total welds per type, then generating the
sum of each weld type.
The next part, the Total Diam. will be tackled in the following exercise.
28. Close your Isometric drawing.

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I-18 – Isogen Report - REPLACE


To create our Total Weld Diameter fields, we will use the REPLACE element.
The REPLACE element can replace text strings, such as default attribute values, with values
from the POD file.
REPLACE element(s): A fixed string in the POD file is replaced by a value that is returned by
one of the supported functions – Sum, Count, Min and Max etc.

We will use this to output the total weld diameter based on category. We will place attributes on
the backing sheet, assign default string values to those attributes, and then have the REPLACE
function replace the string text that would generate within the attributes with total weld diameter
from the POD file.
20. Exit the Final-Basic style (if open) and click on the Training Project.
21. Click Edit > Project Defaults

22. Click the Attributes tab.


23. Double click on the following attributes, then set their Display Name, Default Value,
and Set Value as shown below:
Attribute25 = <FWD>, Attribute26 = <EWD>, Attribute27 = <OWD>

Make sure you change the Display Name and Set Value!
24. Click OK to exit the Training Project Defaults window when done.

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25. Select the Final-Basic style in I-Configure and click Edit.


26. Open the Drawing Setup Tool.
27. Click on the Attributes tab.
28. Place the following attributes and match their position below:

If we left it at this point, the attributes would come in when we generate an Isometric, but they
would come in with the defaults we assigned them:

We need Isogen to replace these text strings with the actual diameter, so we’ll have to write
some more code.

29. Open the GetExternalData.xml from C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-


Basic\AdvancedData in Notepad.
30. Add the code on the following page below the last </EXECUTE> tag, but above the
last </COMPONENT> tag:

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For reference, the code will also be typed below.


<EXECUTE
Criteria="'$M.ComponentType$' = 'Workshop-Weld' AND '$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-UNDIMENSIONED' AND
'$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-UNDIMENSIONED'">

<SQL> SELECT $C.Size1$ As WW </SQL>

<EXTERNAL-MAP
Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE20"
ExternalName="WW" />
</EXECUTE>

<EXECUTE
Criteria="'$M.ComponentType$' = 'Site-Weld' AND '$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-UNDIMENSIONED' AND
'$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-DIMENSIONED'">

<SQL> SELECT $C.Size1$ As SW </SQL>

<EXTERNAL-MAP
Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE21"
ExternalName="SW" />
</EXECUTE>

<EXECUTE
Criteria="'$M.ComponentType$' = 'Offshore-Weld' AND '$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-UNDIMENSIONED' AND
'$C.STATUS$' &lt;&gt; 'DOTTED-DIMENSIONED'">

<SQL> SELECT $C.Size1$ As OW </SQL>

<EXTERNAL-MAP
Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE22"
ExternalName="OW" />
</EXECUTE>

Note: The “EXECUTE Criteria..” lines have no carriage return (Enter/Return), it wraps to the next
line due to the text size of the above code. The image at the top of the page shows it correctly.

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31. Save the file and exit when finished.


32. Open the IsogenReportingScript.xml and add the following REPLACE
commands at the bottom of the file, above the </ISOGEN-REPORTING> tag but
below the </TABLE> tag.

Code also shown typed below:


<REPLACE String='&lt;FWD&gt;' SumBySheet='C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE20' Format="F1"/>
<REPLACE String='&lt;EWD&gt;' SumBySheet='C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE21' Format="F1"/>
<REPLACE String='&lt;OWD&gt;' SumBySheet='C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE22' Format="F1"/>

Here we are telling Isogen to replace the default strings with the SumBySheet of the
specific component weld attributes.
33. Save the IsogenReportingScript.xml and exit when finished.
34. Return to CADWorx Plant and run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030
pipeline of the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg.
You should get the following results:

35. Close the Isometric drawing.

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I-19 – Isogen Report – REPORTS


This exercise demonstrates how you can generate reports from selected properties and
attributes. In this exercise, we will create a Weld Report.
To do this, we need to decide which properties or attributes we want to output to the report,
create a GED script to output component properties into weld attributes, then write an Isogen
Reporting script to output the report.
We are going to create our report with the following attributes:
Line-Ref, Spool-ID, Spool-No, WeldNo, NS, Units, ItemCode1, ItemCode2, Component1,
Component2, Group, SKEY, Category, Status, Loc, WeldType, Type, Revision
We’ll also update the GED to get information of adjacent components connected to the welds.
ItemCode1, ItemCode2, Component1, Component2
1. Open the GetExternalData.xml and add the following code below </COMPONENT>
and above <VBSCRIPT>

The code is typed out below for reference:


<JOINT Type="Welded">
<MDB> C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Training.mdb </MDB>
<EXECUTE Type="Welded">
<SQL> SELECT $C0.Size1$ AS WA1,'$M1.ItemCode$' As WA2,'$M2.ItemCode$' As WA3,'$M1.ComponentType$'
As WA4,'$M2.ComponentType$' As WA5 </SQL>
<C0>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE10" ExternalName="WA1" />
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE11" ExternalName="WA2" />
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE12" ExternalName="WA3" />
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE13" ExternalName="WA4" />
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WELD-ATTRIBUTE14" ExternalName="WA5" />
</C0>
</EXECUTE>

</JOINT>

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2. Save the GetExternalData.xml and close when finished.


3. Open the IsogenReportingScript.xml in Notepad.
4. Add the following code below the REPLACE commands, but above the </ISOGEN-
REPORTING> tag:

The code is typed out below for reference:


<TABLE Name="Welds" Source="Components" >
<COLUMNS>
<!-- Weld NS units = Imperial -->
<COLUMN Name="Line-Ref" Content="P.PIPELINE-REFERENCE" />
<COLUMN Name="Spool-ID" Content="S.IDENTIFIER" />
<COLUMN Name="Spool-No" Content="S.SEQUENCE-NUMBER" />
<COLUMN Name="WeldNo" Content="C.REPEAT-WELD-IDENTIFIER" />
<COLUMN Name="NS" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE10" />
<COLUMN Name="NSUnits" Expression="2" />
<COLUMN Name="ItemCode1" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE11" />
<COLUMN Name="ItemCode2" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE12" />
<COLUMN Name="Component1" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE13" />
<COLUMN Name="Component2" Content="C.WELD-ATTRIBUTE14" />
<COLUMN Name="Group" Content="M.Group" />
<COLUMN Name="SKEY" Content="M.SKEY" />
<COLUMN Name="Category" Content="C.CATEGORY" />
<COLUMN Name="Status" Content="C.STATUS" />
<COLUMN Name="Loc" Expression="IIF(Category='FABRICATION','S','F')" />
<COLUMN Name="WeldType" Content="C.WELD-TYPE" />
<COLUMN Name="Type" Expression="IIF(Group='Welds',WeldType,SKEY)" />

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<COLUMN Name="IDF-Date" Content="P.IDF-DATE" />


<COLUMN Name="Revision" Content="P.REVISION" />
<COLUMN Name="SheetNo" Content="C.SheetNumber"/>
</COLUMNS>

<!-- Weld data written to spreadsheet -->


<REPORT Name="W1" Filter="(Group='Welds' AND (ISNULL(STATUS,'X') = 'X' OR Status='STANDARD' OR
Status=''))"
Sort="Line-Ref ASC, Group DESC"
OutputType="Excel"
ReportMode="OverWrite"
OnDuplicate="DeleteExisting"
Path="$STYLE$\Reports\W_$POD$.xlsx"/>
</TABLE>

We selected the type of information we wanted to apply to attributes, then created the columns
we wanted to see in our report. Then we specified the type of report and the location as well as
the name.
5. Save the IsogenReportingScript.xml file and return to CADWorx Plant.
6. Run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 pipeline.
7. If successful, Isogen should generate the following .xlsx file in
C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\Reports

Notice each weld entry also specifies the component it is attached to in the Component1 and
Component2 columns.
8. Close the Weld report .xlsx file.

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I-20 – Isogen Report – HGG Output


In this exercise we will configure Isogen to generate a .PCD file which contains the list of pipe
parts that a pipe profiling machine needs to cut. HGG cutting machines are controlled using their
ProCAM® software package, which accepts a .pcd XML file.
1. Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to C:\IsogenTrainingModels.
2. Find HGG.xml file and the LookupTables.mdb file. Hold down the Control key and
click on both files to select them, then right-click on one and select Copy.
The HGG.xml is a template file we’ll need to reference in the Isogen Reporting Script.
3. In Windows File Explorer, navigate to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-
Basic\AdvancedData
4. Right-click in the AdvancedData folder and Paste both files.
5. Open the IsogenReportingScript.xml file in Notepad.
6. Add the following code to the IsogenReportingScript.xml above the </ISOGEN-
REPORTING> tag and below the </TABLE> tag:

The code is also typed out below for easy reference:


<FABRICATION-INTERFACE>
<HGG
Path="$STYLE$\Reports\Training_HGG.PCD"
ReportMode="OverWrite"
GroupBy="Spool"
Template="C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\AdvancedData\HGG.xml">

<MAPPING>
<WALL-THICKNESS> WALL-THICKNESS </WALL-THICKNESS>
<OUTSIDE-DIAMETER> OUTSIDE-DIAMETER </OUTSIDE-DIAMETER>
</MAPPING>
</HGG>

</FABRICATION-INTERFACE>

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7. Save and exit the IsogenReportingScript.xml file.


8. Open the GetExternalData.xml file in Notepad.
9. Add the following code to the bottom of the file above the last </EXTERNAL-DATA> tag
and below the last </PIPELINE> tag.

The code is also typed below for easy reference:


<COMPONENT>

<MDB>
C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\AdvancedData\LookupTables.mdb
</MDB>
<EXECUTE
Criteria="'$M.Group$' &lt;&gt; 'Welds' AND '$M.Group$' &lt;&gt; 'Gaskets' AND '$M.Group$' &lt;&gt;
'Bolts' AND '$M.Group$' &lt;&gt; 'Supports'">

<SQL>
SELECT * FROM [OD_WT] WHERE '$C.PIPING-SPEC$' = [PipeSpec] AND $C.Size1$ = NS
</SQL>
<MATERIAL>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="OUTSIDE-DIAMETER" ExternalName="OD"/>
<EXTERNAL-MAP Name="WALL-THICKNESS" ExternalName="WT"/>
</MATERIAL>
</EXECUTE>
</COMPONENT>

The <MAPPING> tag identifies where the Wall Thickness, Outside Diameter, and Bevel Angle
are stored in the POD file.
Wall Thickness and Outside Diameter can be obtained from the GED if the values are available
in a look up table – such as our LookupTable.mdb.
10. Save the GetExternalData.xml when finished.
11. Return to CADWorx and run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 pipeline of the
8-S150-1030-150.dwg.
12. After the Isometric is generated, open Windows File Explorer and navigate to
C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\Reports.

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The .PCD file should be present in the Reports folder.

13. Close the Isometric Drawing and .PCD file.

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I-21 – Isogen Report – Fabrication Interface XML (FIX)


One of the fabrication-specific output format files supported by the software is the Isogen
Fabrication Interface XML (FIX) file. Intergraph developed the FIX file to provide a flexible and
consistent container for fabrication-specific data. The XML format of the FIX file promotes easy
data exchange between the 3D design system and the pipe fabricators without the need to
parse Isogen-specific data.

Data in the FIX file, which includes the pipe, parts, welds, coordinates, and keypoints, is sorted
and presented in a logical order. Isogen uses this data to calculate information, such as local
coordinates, that is required for fabrication. Also, because the FIX file uses the same weld, part,
and pipe cut piece numbering as in the drawing, the potential for data inconsistencies is greatly
reduced. To produce an Isogen FIX output file, you must include a FABRICATION-INTERFACE
element within the Isogen Reporting configuration file.
Work Pieces: During isometric drawing generation, Isogen Reporting produces one FIX file for
each PCF (pipeline or system). The FIX file contains one or more pipelines, each of which
contains one or more spools. Each spool is composed of work pieces. A work piece is a
container for the pipe, part, and weld objects contained within the spool.
The spool shown in the following example includes:
 three pipes (cut pieces)
 four parts (weld neck flange, reducer, slip-on flange, and elbow)
 seven welds to be done in the workshop (welds #3 and #6 represent connections
between the work pieces)

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In turn, this spool can be split into three work pieces, including the welds that connect them.
Each work piece contains one of the pipe cut pieces and any parts that are welded to it.

In the FIX file output, each work piece typically contains the following objects, along with the
object attributes from the original PCF or IDF.

 A section of pipe, that is, a single cut piece. Each cut piece contains any needed holes
with a description of the required bending.
 Welds
 Parts or fittings that are welded to the pipe

Where possible, the FIX file also contains standard attributes for key properties such as wall
thickness, material, and piping specification.

 The work piece ID is derived from the spool ID and the cut piece ID. For example, a
work piece that is based on cut piece A in spool 1 is given the work piece ID 1_A.
 Each work piece is ordered, or sorted, into the sequence of the Isogen-generated
drawing.

Where the spool contains more than one work piece, the connection between the work
pieces is also described.
Attributes: All spool attributes, user-specified and calculated, are output to the Spool object
in the .FIX file.
Attribute metadata: Objects in the FIX file (Pipelines, Spools, Pipe, Parts and Welds) have
a set of attributes. The FIX file contains all attributes that contain a value. Each of the
following is listed for each attribute:
 The underlying name of the attribute, which is fixed
 The user-specified display name
 The data type (string, number)
 The units type (millimetre or inch)

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1. Open the IsogenReportingScript.xml file in Notepad.


2. Inside of the existing <FABRICATION-INTERFACE>, underneath the </HGG> tag, add
the following code:

The code is also typed below for your reference:


<ISOGEN Path="C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\Reports\Fabrication_Interface_XML.FIX"/>

3. Save the IsogenReportingScript.xml file.


4. Run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1030 pipeline of the 8-S150-1030-150.dwg.
5. Navigate to the C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-Basic\Reports and verify the .FIX
file has been generated:

That’s probably the easiest line of code we’ve written since we started this training!

Remember there are additional files in the C:\IsogenTrainingModels\Alias folder that list all of
the attributes you can reference, as well as primer slides on SQL, XML, the GED, Isogen
Reporting, and the POD file.
These go into a lot of detail on the capabilities of these different areas, provide examples, and
can help you create your own custom solutions.
There is also a sample of different Isogen Report capabilities in the IR_Standard_Reports.xml
file.

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I-22 - Isogen Repeatability


Isogen isometrics are a key deliverable from any CADWorx project. They clearly communicate
to fabrication personnel how to manufacture pipe spools, and for construction personnel, how to
assemble the spools to erect the complete pipeline on-site. It is often the case that piping
fabrication must start before the piping design is fully finished, or late design changes may be
needed that cause revised drawings to be issued. When design revisions are received after
manufacturing has commenced, this can cause significant issues for fabricators, particularly if
spools have already been made and welds have been tested. Receiving new drawings with
entirely new weld number sequences can cause uncertainty and consequently delays whilst
work packages are updated to take account of the changes, which not only impacts project
schedule, but also results in increased project cost.
Keeping part and weld number details consistent between revisions used to be a problem for
CADWorx users. Whenever a design changed, for example, a new branch was introduced, or
something was deleted or moved to a new location in the pipe, this would cause the numbering
sequence to completely alter subsequent Isogen generated drawings. The only way to correct
his was either to explicitly assign numbers to every component and weld throughput the entire
pipeline, which Isogen would then obey each time a new drawing was generated, or the revised
drawings had to be edited to change the numbers back to how they were on the previous
deliverable. Due to the time involved, neither approach was satisfactory.
Fortunately, CADWorx now takes advantage of Isogen isometric repeatability. This Isogen
capability aims to maintain part, weld and spool numbers, and split points, between drawing
revisions. This avoids the need to explicitly number piping components or welds and ensures a
consistent handover to fabrication.
After enabling this functionality in I-Configure, information for each drawing run is stored in an
Isogen repeat file. The IsogenSetting config setting controls what information is read from the
repeat file when either ISOGENOUT or ISOGENBATCH are used.

Let’s set up repeatability in our style and test it out.

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1. Type the SETUP command in CADWorx Plant then go to Configuration


Settings > IsogenSetting
2. Set the IsogenSetting variable to 1

 0 - Turns off all settings.


 1 - Imports Mark/Sheet data from the repeat file.
 2 - Imports Spool data from the repeat file.
 3 - Imports Mark/Sheet/Spool data from the repeat file.

3. Click Save and Close when complete.


4. Edit the Final-Basic style in I-Configure.
5. Go to Drawing Manager > Reports > Report Types
6. Click the small green plus sign next to Repeatability Return

This opens the Repeatability return report menu.

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7. Set the Report Location path to C:\Isogen_Training\Training\Final-


Basic\AdvancedData and call the file Repeatability.txt

8. In the main Repeatability return menu, click on File Formatting


9. Match the information shown in the image below:

10. Save the Isogen style when finished.


11. In CADWorx Plant, open 4-S150-150.dwg from the IsogenTrainingModels
folder.
Since we want to specifically include Welds in our repeatability configuration, we’ll need to
model explicit welds. By default, Isogen will add Implied welds, but we can’t assign mark
information to implied welds.
12. Type the command AUTOWELD to initiate automatic weld placement. When
prompted, select Automatic.

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13. Click to select a component from the main 4” line, then select a component on
the 2” bypass line.
All components should now be selected.

14. Prompted for a component to keep its position, press Enter.


We now have explicit welds in the model:

15. Run an ISOGENBATCH command on the 1020 line.


16. Open the completed Isometric Drawing and zoom in on the Control Valve:

Notice we have welds 9 & 10 here.


We want weld numbers 9 and 10 to stay the same even if we modify the drawing. Without
repeatability, Isogen would re-number all the components again.
17. Close the Isometric Drawing.

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18. Delete the ball valve, flanges and gaskets and welds shown below:

The line should now look like this:

19. Generate another ISOGENBATCH Isometric drawing on the 1020 line and view
the Iso.
Notice even though we have a different number of components and welds, the
numbering of our welds remains the same:

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The Weld List on the Isometric processes the welds with the assigned original weld numbers,
and our components are also processed with their original mark numbers.

Enabling repeatability can prevent someone from having to go and manually renumber these
welds or components if the model is adjusted, especially if fabrication has already started on it.
20. Close the Isometric and double click on the weld shown in the image below:

21. Click the Isogen button at the bottom of the Component Edit window.
Tip: You can also go directly there by typing ICEDIT and clicking the weld.

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The repeatability information has been written to each component in the model. The weld has a
Mark value of 9 which correlates to its weld number.

22. Close the Isogen Data window, and the Component Edit data window if open.
23. Now type the ICEDIT command and select the Control Valve.

The Control Valve is assigned mark 12, which correlates to it’s component Mark/Item number in
the BOM.

If you need to reset your repeatability information on components, you can clear it by typing the
ISOGENRESET command. You can select to clear the repeat information on specific
components, entire lines or select the entire model.

24. Close out of any Isometric models open.

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I-23 – Symbol Editor & Material Transfer

In this exercise, we will look at both modifying existing Isometric SKEYs (Symbols) and adding a
new symbol.

For this, we will utilize the Symbol Editor which is installed along with CADWorx Plant.

In this exercise, we will redefine the control valve SKEY Symbol to make a small modification.
You can redefine SKEYS to completely change how they look, or simply alter them slightly.

Currently, our Control Valve SKEY looks like this on our Isometric:

We want it to look like this:

We aren’t changing much about the original symbol. We’re just adding to small graphic elements
to it, and increase the scale for the individual symbol slightly.

1. Launch the Symbol Editor from either the bottom right corner of the Isogen pane in the
CADWorx Plant I ribbon within CADWorx Plant, or from the Start Menu under Start >
CADWorx 2019 > Symbol Editor.

The Symbol Editor launches prepopulated with all default SKEYs.

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2. Expand the All Symbols > Instruments > Control Valve group and right-click on the
CV** SKEY.
3. Select New Symbol.

To redefine an SKEY, we must overwrite the default with a new symbol of the same
name.

The New Symbol window appears show the current symbol that is selected as the default
description and graphic.

4. Name the symbol CV** and check the box to Copy original symbol graphics. Click
OK.

Copying the original graphics of the symbol makes the task of redefining it easier. Usually you
can just modify the existing graphic as needed. At the very least, it gives you the working scale
and allows you to draw a symbol the same size – whereas with a new symbol you may not be
sure of the size you’ve drawn it until you run an Isometric with it.

The double asterix following the CV allows this symbol to adopt the appropriate end type
dynamically. This symbol would work on a SW, THRD, or Flanged end type.

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The new symbol opens in a graphical editor in the main window. Here you can use various tools
to draw a new shape or select existing lines to move or modify them with square grips at their
end points. You can also select and delete existing lines.

For this exercise, we are just going two small lines above and below the symbol.

5. Click the Draw Line tool so we can draw straight lines.

6. Click each point within the space to draw the lines as shown below.

Tip: You can press Escape to end a line command.

The Symbol Editor also allows us to scale up individual symbols. We’ve adjusted the scale on
some component groups already via the I-Configure Definitions menu, but if you want just one
symbol larger, you can do it through the Symbol Editor.

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7. Right-click on the CV** symbol in the Library Explorer to the left of the Symbol Editor
and select Properties.

In the Symbol Properties menu, we can adjust the Scale, SKEY, Spindle (if applicable), and
layout options including dimensioning, orientation or whether it allows a flow arrow. The flow
arrow option must be enabled in Isogen for the flow arrow to work.

All we are doing here is increase the scale of the Control Valve.

8. Change the Scale Factor to 130, then click OK.

Before we configure Isogen to use this new symbol, we want to also add a completely new
symbol.

Tip: Try to keep new symbols within their logical group, or one very similar – as some symbols
will not function with certain components if their end type conditions or do not match. In other
words, if you are making a Thermowell SKEY, try using the Blind Flange group or a CAP group,
not an Angle Valve group.

9. Return to CADWorx Plant and add a ½” Sock-o-let to one of the vertical lines next to the
Control Valve as shown below:

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While this is technically an sockolet, we will repurpose it to behave as a Differential Pressure


Indicator Instrument.

10. Double-click on the Olet and modify the Component Property data as shown below:

11. Leave the Component Edit window open and return to the Symbol Editor.
12. Expand the All Symbols > Fittings > Sockolet group and right click on the SK**
SKEY.
13. Select New Symbol.

14. Name this new symbol DPII (two i’s) and change its description as shown below. Check
the box to Copy original symbol graphics.

15. Click OK when done.

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This is the sockolet symbol. The green point is the start point, and the red point is the end
point. We want our DPI symbol to sit a bit outside of the pipe, not on it, so we’ll adjust it’s
location from the start point slightly and change how this symbol looks.

16. Click the Draw Circle button at the top of the screen, and draw a circle approximately
twice the size of the current Olet symbol.

17. Press Escape once when finished.


18. Click once on the original Sockolet graphics, then press the Delete key to remove it.

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19. Zoom in slightly and click on the green start point. Positioning it approximately 2 grid
squares to the left of the circle. If you are zoomed in to far, you’ll see smaller squares. In
that case, go by the large set of grid squares.

20. Move the red end point to the opposite side of the circle. Place this on the edge of the
circle itself, as shown below:

21. Use the Draw Line tool and the Draw Rectangle tool to model two lines on the left side
of the circle on either side of the start point and the arrow in the middle.

Your SKEY symbol should look like the below image when complete:

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Now that we’ve redefined an existing symbol and created a new symbol with a new SKEY, we
need to tell Isogen to use these symbols instead of the defaults.

22. In the Symbols Editor, click the File pulldown menu then select Export Isogen
Symbols..

23. Save this to a new folder called Symbols within our Final-Basic folder.
24. Name the file Final_Basic_Symbols.asc
You’ll need to create the Symbols folder!

Note: You can also save this to an XML format using the File > Save

25. Now, open I-Configure and edit the Final-Basic style.


26. Navigate to Drawing Manager > Input Files > Summary and expand the Input Files
menu.
27. Add the ASCII-SYMBOLS Type and click the ellipsis to the right to path out and select
the Final_Basic_Symbols.asc file we just created.

Since the new SKEY symbol we created is an instrument, we’ll want it to appear with any other
instruments in our BOM. To do this, we need to define a Material Transfer.

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28. Return to the main Configuration/Editor window of the Final-Basic style.


29. Navigate to Materials > Drawing Material List > Material Group Transfers and
expand the Transfers menu.

Here we can specify a specific SKEY to appear with another identifier group in the bill of
material. We want to make sure our customized Olet appears next to Instruments in our BOM
and not with other Olets. You can transfer all SKEY’s within an Identifier group to a new group or
specify a specific SKEY to transfer.

To determine what Identifier we are working with for our Olet, we can reference the
SymbolKeys.pdf found in C:\CADWorx 20XX\Plant\Isogen\I-Configure\resdlls\0009

30. Open the SymbolKeys.pdf found in C:\CADWorx 20XX\Plant\Isogen\I-


Configure\resdlls\0009
31. Scroll down, or search the document (Ctrl-F) until you find the Sockolet (Socket weld)
SKEY – SKSW)

This will tell us what Identifier we need. In this case, we have multiple identifiers we can use.
We’ll need to tell Isogen to transfer the SKEY DPII from the 40 identifier group to the
Instruments group to make it behave like an Instrument.

32. Return to I-Configure and add the following information to the Material Group Transfer >
Transfers menu:

33. Save the Isogen style when done and return to CADWorx Plant.

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34. If your Sockolets Component Edit window is still open, click on the Isogen menu button
at the bottom left. Alternatively, you can type ICEDIT and then click the Olet to go
straight to the Isogen Edit menu.

35. In the Symbol Information section at the top left of the Isogen Data window, check the
Overwrite box next to SKEY and type in the new SKEY DPII

36. Click OK to exit the Isogen Data window when finished. Click OK to exit the Component
Edit window to finish if still open.

37. Run an ISOGENBATCH command and select the 1020 line number to generate an
Isometric.

Note: If your Isometric fails, you may need to clear the Repeatability settings depending on
how much you’ve done to this model. Use the ISOGENRESET command for this.

Your Isometric should generate with a Control Valve symbol that looks like the image below:

It should also generate with the repurposed sockolet component as a custom symbol
instrument:

There is a lot of customization that can be done with Isogen and the Symbol Editor. Ask your
instructor if you have anything you are trying to achieve for your projects!

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