Using Off-Page and Utility Connectors - Intergraph Smart P&ID - 10 - Help - Intergraph

Intergraph Smart P&ID Help

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English
Product
Intergraph Smart P&ID
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Smart P&ID Version
10
Smart Engineering Manager Version
11
SmartSketch Version
10.0(2018)

A connector is not actually a label but more like a component that includes a label. Placement behavior for a connector is very similar to a standard piping component label. OPCs, utility connectors, and piping components are inserted into a line.

The drawing needs a connector when a process line or signal line continues on another drawing. The minimum information in the label portion is the drawing name to which the connector points and the connector number. Connectors do not have a property for flow direction, although most connectors use an arrowhead to indicate direction. When a connector is placed, it does not set or respond to flow direction. The connector represents continuation, not connectivity or flow.

During document creation, when the first connector of the pair is placed, the software places the partner in either the Plant Stockpile or the stockpile of another drawing of your choice. The default placement for the partner is in the Plant Stockpile. When you create a connector and place it in a drawing, the property for the drawing name is not defined. The partner in the stockpile reflects the drawing name in which its match was located. When you place the partner from the stockpile, the first connector is updated to reflect the drawing name where you placed the partner connector. As a result, you never need to type a drawing name and the software guarantees a valid match.

OPC pairs have a to and from orientation. The software does not use the graphical to and from distinctions, but reading the drawing is easier for you with this differentiation.

PPM All Outputs Graphic

  1. The OPC is a to connector if its connected point appears at the finish end of the connector.

  2. The OPC is a from connector if its connected point appears at the start end of the connector.

In order to switch between to and from orientations, you must disconnect the OPC from the line and then rotate or mirror it. Then you can reconnect the line to the other end of the OPC. At the time of placement, you can pause when placing the OPC and wait for the QuickPick tool in order to choose the correct orientation.

You can delete a connector from the drawing, and the software moves it to a stockpile and updates the properties of its partner. To delete a connector from a stockpile, both must reside there, and you delete both from a stockpile. After you delete a connector, you cannot reuse the same number. You can change the connector number but not the drawing name in these labels. However, you can change other properties. If you copy a connector, the software must generate new connector numbers and add a partner to a stockpile. The property for drawing name changes to Null or Undefined for the copy.

These properties exist for connectors:

  • Offset source is set to None.

  • Rotation is set to True.

  • Leader line is set to False.

In Catalog Explorer, Off-Drawing or Off-Unit OPCs are available for instruments. Two types of connectors are available for process lines: Off-Drawing or Off-Unit OPCs or Utility Connectors. The correct symbology differentiates OPCs. You define symbology in Options Manager.