Displays the current view of the open pipeline. A view is a visual representation of the data that composes the model and can be a simple line drawing or a 3D representation of the model, including all of its components. The Graphics window also allows you to see where spools occur in the pipeline. For easy identification, each spool is tagged with a name called a spool identifier. The pipeline in the following illustration consists of four spools, SPOOL-1, SPOOL-2, SPOOL-3, and SPOOL-4.
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You can use the Pipeline Explorer to view the components and erection items that make up a spool assembly. For more information, see Pipeline Explorer.
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You can control how the software imports and displays spool assemblies and spool identifiers in an open pipeline. You can also enforce automatic naming of spools. For more information, see Controlling interactive spooling in Import Piping Data.
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To clear all existing spool names and reallocate the spools, click Tools > Reassign Spool Identifiers.
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When you add a new weld to the pipeline, or make modifications to an existing weld, the software updates the view of the pipeline in the Pipeline Explorer and the Graphics window to show the impact the modification has on spool contents. For more information, see Welds.
The Graphics window can contain the entire pipeline or, when zoomed in, just a detailed portion of interest. By manipulating model views, you can organize the information within the model to better understand the data.
When a pipeline is open, you can create a copy of the current window, allowing you to display multiple graphic views of the same pipeline. When working with a large and complicated pipeline, for example, you can have an overview of the entire pipeline in one window and a zoomed in view in another window. Using the commands on the Window menu, you can open a new window and then cascade or tile your open windows to more easily navigate among them. The open document list displays an alphabetical list of open windows below the commands on the Window menu. You can access another open window by clicking one of the names on the list.
You can also use the Graphics window to interactively edit the pipeline on the screen. You can then use the Update Current View command to immediately review additions or changes to the pipeline.
Colors
Color plays a significant role in the identification of piping components in the Graphics window. The software uses color to identify the category of the various pipeline elements and welds, allowing the fabricator to tell at a glance where different parts of the pipeline are to be constructed. The following graphic shows the default colors for each category.
You can define a color scheme for each state using the options on the Options dialog box. For more information, see Change the color of pipeline elements.
Smart Cursors
When using Spoolgen to edit a pipeline, the shape of the cursor or mouse pointer) gives you important feedback and changes depending on the action or mode of operation you are performing.
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Smart Cursor |
Associated Placement or Task |
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Place additional material on the section of pipe or component directly beneath the cursor. For more information, see Add additional material. |
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Place a bolt on the section of pipe directly beneath the cursor. For more information, see Place bolts. |
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Places a wall penetration on the section of pipe directly beneath the cursor. For more information, see Place a wall penetration. |
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Place a floor penetration on the section of pipe directly beneath the cursor. For more information, see Place a floor penetration. |
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No placement of selected object is permitted. Displays when a command is active, but the cursor is not positioned over an object that allows the command to continue or be completed. |
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Place an annotation on the section of pipe or the component directly beneath the cursor. For more information, see Place an information item. |
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Place a new component into a section of pipe directly beneath the cursor. |
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Repositions the sketch so you can view another section of the pipeline model without changing the view magnification. For more information, see Pan views. |
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Input a reference point needs to enable a distance or displacement to be entered to locate an object with respect to a weld, tee, elbow, and so on in the pipeline. |
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Increase or decrease the display size of objects in the Graphics window. For more information, see Zoom in on an area or zoom out from a point. |
Another useful feature is fly text. When you pause the mouse pointer over a piping component, the software displays the nominal size, SKEY, and item code for that component in a box. This information is called fly text.
