Customize Your AutoCAD Plant 3D
Isometric Configuration
Mike Musgrave
Design Technology Coordinator at SSOE Group
[email protected]
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Class summary
This class will teach you how to create and then
customize an AutoCAD Plant 3D iso style. Several
methods for creating an iso style, including the new iso
style wizard, will be covered. Instruction continues into
simple customization using Project Setup and then goes
beyond into advanced customization that requires direct
editing of the configuration files.
Key learning objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
Create and customize a new iso style
Populate an iso title block at run time using attributes linked to the
database or an external line list
Integrate a custom symbol, filter, and annotation scheme into AutoCAD
Plant 3D isometrics
Navigate the IsoConfig.xml to modify configurable items that are not
present in the GUI
Let’s Create an Iso Style!
Example 1: Create an Iso Style from a Template
Open Project Setup
Click the ‘+’ next to the Iso Styles drop-down
Example 2: Create a new Iso Style
Click the ‘+’ button in Project Setup
Iso Style Wizard
Guided setup
‘Create Style’ when complete
Example 3: Create an Iso Style Manually
Close Project Setup
Open Windows File Explorer
Browse to C:\Datasets\ES10519-L\Isometric
Select source style and then Copy/Paste
Rename copy to AU-Example03
Iso Style Customization
Example 4: Customization using Project Setup
Start with AU-Example04 Iso Style
Tasks
Open Project Setup
Change File Naming to Service LineNumber
Change output paths
Modify Advanced default settings
Suppress manual valve annotations, welds, and cut pieces
Refine connection annotations
Alter dimension offsets
Example 4: Customization using Project Setup
Tasks (continued)
Understand Themes
Toggle Dimension Types
Change sloped pipe annotation to Imperial Incline
Increase hatching percentage
Review Offset Piping display
Make bends round
Enable insulation and pipe supports
Example 5: Customize a Drawing Template
Start with AU-Example05 Iso Style
Tasks
Adjust to D-Size (22x34) sheet
Delete and purge existing Title Block only
Insert AU-D-Border and rename to Title Block
Assign Draw, No-Draw Areas
Place Bill of Material Table and modify
Adjust North arrow and modify it to point upper right
Insert Attributes including Excel line list data
Anatomy of an Iso Style
Root Isometric folder
Various settings files
Block libraries
Iso styles
Live Preview
Iso Style folders
Core configuration files
On-demand files
Output folders
Text Editors
XML markup language
Hard to read as text
Code highlighting
Editors
foxe
Notepad++
Visual Studio Code
Example 6: Integrate the INSTRUMENT spec
Open the AU-Example06 iso style
Tasks
Open Project Setup
Create new 2D iso symbol named AU-Instrument
Open IsoSkeyAcadBlockMap.xml
Create mapping for AU?? with instrument symbols
Open the IsoConfig.xml
Create AggregatedList Group to display BOM entries
Suppress spec breaks for INSTRUMENT components
Example 7: Custom Drawing and File Names
Browse to the AU-Example07 iso style
Tasks
Open the IsoConfig.xml
Open the Iso.atr file
Locate the FileNameFormat element
Service-LineNo-Sheet-Revision
Locate the DrawingNameFormat element
Service-LineNo-Sheet
Example 8: Display Insulation AND Tracing
Browse to the AU-Example08 iso style
Tasks
Open the IsoConfig.xml
Locate the Insulation element
Modify the UseDoubleLineInsulation attribute
Example 9: Custom Line Callouts
Browse to the AU-Example09 iso style
Tasks
Open the IsoConfig.xml
Locate the LineNumberScheme element
Simple - All attributes in order
Size-Spec-Service-LineNumber
Advanced
Size-LineNumber-Spec-Service
Create new PLANTDEFINECALCPROPERTIES property, LineSuffix
Update Iso.atr
Example 10: Customize Flange, Gasket, Bolt callouts
Browse to the AU-Example10 iso style
Tasks
Open Project Setup
Edit Isometric Symbols
Add a new block – AnnoGroupThreeSquare
Close Project Setup, then open the IsoConfig.xml
Create new AnnotationStyle named ThreeSquare
Enable FlangeGroupMulti, disable FlangeGroup
Edit FlangeGroupMulti to use new annotation style
Example 11: Property Breaker for Tracing
Browse to the AU-Example11 iso style
Tasks
Open Project Setup and verify the name of the property
Close Project Setup, then open the IsoConfig.xml
Create a new PropertyBreakerScheme element named
TraceBreaker
Set Field attribute to property name
Open iso.atr and add the TracingType property
Verify that data appears in the PCF file
Example 12: Create a Spool Drawing Iso Style
Start with the AU-SpoolExample Iso Style
Note that the ‘Spool format’ box is checked
Configuration Tasks
Set Breakup and Naming to pull from model
Modify title block
Add Cut list and BOM tables
Set Draw and No-Draw areas
Open the IsoConfig.xml
Configure the SpoolNameFormat
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