PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual

Version 11.6SP1

pdms1161/Paragon Reference Manual

Issue 280605
PLEASE NOTE:
AVEVA Solutions has a policy of continuing product development: therefore, the
information contained in this document may be subject to change without notice.
AVEVA SOLUTIONS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO
THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE.
While every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this document, AVEVA
Solutions shall not be liable for errors contained herein or direct, indirect, special,
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance or
use of this material.

This manual provides documentation relating to products to which you may not have
access or which may not be licensed to you. For further information on which Products
are licensed to you please refer to your licence conditions.

© Copyright 1991 through 2005 AVEVA Solutions Limited

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of AVEVA
Solutions.
The software programs described in this document are confidential information and
proprietary products of AVEVA Solutions or its licensors.

For details of AVEVA's worldwide sales and support offices, see our website at
http://www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Ltd, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HB, UK
Revision History

Date Version Notes

Oct 03 11.5 Format change and minor text changes.
August 04 11.6 Miscellaneous updates for 11.6.
June 05 11.6.SP1 Minor changes and corrections.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON Revision-History-i

Reference Manual
Version11.6SP1
Revision History

Revision-History-ii VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version11.6SP1
Contents

1 Introducing PARAGON..................................................................................1-1
1.1 What Does PARAGON Do? ........................................................................................ 1-1
1.2 About this Manual ........................................................................................................ 1-1
1.2.1 Manual Structure ........................................................................................... 1-2
2 Communicating with PARAGON ..................................................................2-1
2.1 Commands .................................................................................................................. 2-1
2.1.1 Command Description Format....................................................................... 2-1
2.1.2 Syntax Diagrams ........................................................................................... 2-1
2.1.3 Standard Command Tools............................................................................. 2-3
3 General PDMS Commands ...........................................................................3-1
3.1 Entering PARAGON .................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 Leaving PARAGON ..................................................................................................... 3-1
3.3 Saving and Restoring the Current Display Status ....................................................... 3-1
3.4 Saving Work and Updating Databases........................................................................ 3-2
3.5 Exit from PARAGON without Saving Changes............................................................ 3-2
3.6 Saving the Alpha Readout to File ................................................................................ 3-3
3.7 Audible Error Trace...................................................................................................... 3-4
3.8 Switching Text Output Off............................................................................................ 3-4
3.9 Defining Colours .......................................................................................................... 3-5
4 The Catalogue Database ...............................................................................4-1
4.1 What is the Catalogue For? ......................................................................................... 4-1
4.2 Principal Features of the Catalogue Database ............................................................ 4-1
4.3 Structure of the Catalogue Database .......................................................................... 4-2
4.4 Catalogue (CATA) ....................................................................................................... 4-4
4.5 Catalogue Sections (SECT and STSEC) and Categories (CATE and STCA)............ 4-4
4.5.1 Elements Used in Both Types of Catalogue Section/Category ..................... 4-6
4.5.2 Elements Used in Piping Sections/Categories .............................................. 4-6
4.5.3 Elements Used in Structural Sections/Categories ......................................... 4-6
4.6 Text (TEXT) ................................................................................................................. 4-7
4.7 Parameters .................................................................................................................. 4-8
4.7.1 Component Parameters................................................................................. 4-8
4.7.2 Insulation Parameters.................................................................................... 4-8
4.7.3 Structural Parameters.................................................................................... 4-9
4.7.4 Design DB Parameters ................................................................................ 4-10
4.8 Catalogue Components ............................................................................................. 4-11
4.8.1 Piping Component (COMP; SCOM) ............................................................ 4-12
4.8.2 Profile (PROF; SPRF).................................................................................. 4-13
4.8.3 Joint (JOIN; SJOI)........................................................................................ 4-13
4.8.4 Fitting (FITT; SFIT) ...................................................................................... 4-14

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON Contents-i

Reference Manual
Version11.6SP1
Contents

5 Navigating in the Catalogue Database Hierarchy .......................................5-1

5.1 Accessing a Catalogue Element on the Screen .......................................................... 5-1
5.2 Accessing a Catalogue Element by Name .................................................................. 5-1
5.3 Accessing an Element by Reference Number ............................................................. 5-1
5.4 Going to the Previously Accessed Element................................................................. 5-2
5.5 Ascending the Catalogue Hierarchy ............................................................................ 5-2
5.6 Accessing an Element via a Reference Pointer........................................................... 5-3
5.7 Other Navigation Commands ...................................................................................... 5-3
6 Component Design and Representation .....................................................6-1
6.1 Component Design ...................................................................................................... 6-1
6.2 P-point and P-line Representation............................................................................... 6-2
6.2.1 P-points.......................................................................................................... 6-2
6.2.2 P-lines............................................................................................................ 6-4
6.3 Geomset Primitive Representation .............................................................................. 6-6
6.4 Reference Section ..................................................................................................... 6-16
6.4.1 Model Settings ............................................................................................. 6-17
6.4.2 Setting Representation for Piping Components........................................... 6-20
6.4.3 Setting Profile Representation for Steelwork ............................................... 6-21
6.4.4 Setting Level Representation....................................................................... 6-22
6.4.5 Setting Obstruction and Insulation Representation ..................................... 6-23
6.4.6 Setting P-Point Representation ................................................................... 6-24
6.4.7 Setting P-Line Representation..................................................................... 6-25
6.4.8 The Full REPRESENTATION Syntax .......................................................... 6-26
7 Pointsets and Geomsets...............................................................................7-1
7.1 3D Pointsets (PTSET) ................................................................................................. 7-1
7.1.1 Axial P-point (PTAXI)..................................................................................... 7-2
7.1.2 Cartesian P-point (PTCAR) ........................................................................... 7-3
7.1.3 Mixed Type P-point (PTMIX) ......................................................................... 7-3
7.1.4 Position Type P-point (PTPOS) ..................................................................... 7-3
7.2 Structural Pointsets (PTSSET) .................................................................................... 7-4
7.3 3D Geomsets (GMSET)............................................................................................... 7-6
7.4 3D Geomset Primitives ................................................................................................ 7-7
7.4.1 Box (SBOX) ................................................................................................... 7-8
7.4.2 Boxing (BOXI)................................................................................................ 7-8
7.4.3 Cone (SCON) .............................................................................................. 7-10
7.4.4 Cylinder (LCYL) ........................................................................................... 7-11
7.4.5 Cylinder (SCYL)........................................................................................... 7-12
7.4.6 Slope-Bottomed Cylinder (SSLC) ................................................................ 7-13
7.4.7 Disc (SDIS) .................................................................................................. 7-14
7.4.8 Dish (SDSH) ................................................................................................ 7-15
7.4.9 Line (LINE)................................................................................................... 7-16
7.4.10 Line (SLINE) ................................................................................................ 7-16
7.4.11 Pyramid (LPYR)........................................................................................... 7-17
7.4.12 Circular Torus (SCTO) ................................................................................. 7-18
7.4.13 Rectangular Torus (SRTO).......................................................................... 7-19
7.4.14 Snout (LSNO) .............................................................................................. 7-20
7.4.15 Sphere (SSPH) ............................................................................................ 7-21
7.4.16 Tube (TUBE)................................................................................................ 7-22
7.4.17 User-defined Extrusion (SEXT) ................................................................... 7-23
7.4.18 Solid of Revolution (SREV).......................................................................... 7-24
Contents-ii VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON
Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Contents

7.5 Negative 3D Geomsets (NGMSET) and Negative Primitives .................................... 7-25

7.6 Structural Geomsets (GMSSET) ............................................................................... 7-26
7.7 Structural Geomset Primitives ................................................................................... 7-27
7.7.1 Structural Rectangle (SREC) ....................................................................... 7-28
7.7.2 Structural Annulus (SANN) .......................................................................... 7-29
7.7.3 Structural Profile (SPRO)............................................................................. 7-30
8 Manipulating the Catalogue Database .........................................................8-1
8.1 Basic Element Operation Commands.......................................................................... 8-1
8.2 Creating Catalogues, Sections and Catalogue Components ...................................... 8-2
8.3 Using Parameters ........................................................................................................ 8-4
8.3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 8-4
8.3.2 Expressions Using Parameters ..................................................................... 8-5
8.4 Examples of Parameterisation..................................................................................... 8-6
8.5 Constructing 3D Pointsets ......................................................................................... 8-10
8.5.1 Example of Defining a 3D Pointset .............................................................. 8-13
8.5.2 Defining an Axis........................................................................................... 8-13
8.5.3 Defining a Distance...................................................................................... 8-14
8.5.4 Defining an Explicit Position ........................................................................ 8-15
8.5.5 Defining a Direction ..................................................................................... 8-15
8.5.6 Defining Connection, Bore and Number ...................................................... 8-15
8.5.7 Controlling the Appearance ......................................................................... 8-16
8.5.8 Specifying Pipe End Conditions for use by ISODRAFT............................... 8-16
8.6 Constructing Structural Pointsets .............................................................................. 8-17
8.6.1 Example of Defining a Structural Pointset ................................................... 8-17
8.6.2 The Neutral Axis Reference......................................................................... 8-17
8.6.3 Defining an Axis........................................................................................... 8-18
8.6.4 Defining a Position....................................................................................... 8-19
8.6.5 Defining a Key ............................................................................................. 8-19
8.6.6 Controlling the Appearance ......................................................................... 8-19
8.7 Constructing 3D Geomsets........................................................................................ 8-19
8.8 Constructing Structural Geomsets............................................................................. 8-22
8.9 Reference Section ..................................................................................................... 8-23
8.9.1 Parameter-Controlled Attributes .................................................................. 8-23
8.9.2 Axial Attributes............................................................................................. 8-23
9 Other Uses of PARAGON..............................................................................9-1
9.1 Detailing Text............................................................................................................... 9-1
9.2 Material Text ................................................................................................................ 9-2
9.3 Connection Compatibility Tables ................................................................................. 9-2
9.4 Bolting Tables .............................................................................................................. 9-3
9.5 Unit Types.................................................................................................................... 9-4
9.5.1 Use of Units ................................................................................................... 9-6
9.6 General Text Elements ................................................................................................ 9-8
9.7 User-defined Nominal Dimensions .............................................................................. 9-8
10 Datasets........................................................................................................10-1
10.1 Attributes of DATA Elements ..................................................................................... 10-1
10.2 Querying Properties in DESIGN ................................................................................ 10-2
10.3 Real Properties of P-points, P-Lines and Geomsets ................................................. 10-3
10.3.1 Default Values ............................................................................................. 10-3
10.3.2 Querying ...................................................................................................... 10-4

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGO Contents-iii

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Contents

11 Checking Catalogue Database Consistency .............................................11-1

11.1 Initiating a Standard Data Consistency Check .......................................................... 11-1
11.2 What the Checking Facility Does............................................................................... 11-1
11.3 Controlling the Detailed Checking Procedure............................................................ 11-2
11.4 Error Messages ......................................................................................................... 11-3
A. P-point Conventions for Piping Components ............................................ A-1

B. Setting Up a Catalogue ................................................................................ B-1

B.1 Naming Conventions ...................................................................................................B-1
B.2 Example Connection Type Codes ...............................................................................B-1
B.3 The Connection Compatibility Table............................................................................B-4
C. Construction of Typical Piping Components ............................................. C-1

D. Summary of Element Types......................................................................... D-1

D.1 Glossary...................................................................................................................... D-1
D.2 Functional Groups ...................................................................................................... D-5
Index...................................................................................................................indexi

Contents-iv VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
1 Introducing PARAGON

1.1 What Does PARAGON Do?

PARAGON enables you to generate or modify a PDMS Catalogue, with facilities for
constructing Catalogue Components under fully interactive visual control, including 3D
colour-shaded representations of the items being designed.
PARAGON combines aspects of both catalogue creation and model design functionality
within a single module. This means that a catalogue designer not only has write access
to a project’s Catalogue databases, but may also read data from the Design databases. If
given write access, the catalogue designer could also experiment with new catalogue
component configurations in a trial design database. This approach simplifies catalogue
maintenance and design. Similarly, it is often useful for a plant design engineer to have
access to the Catalogue to query details of specific components.
PARAGON has a Graphical User Interface consisting of forms and menus. The interface
provides access to the most commonly used facilities. To enter direct command syntax,
use the Display>Command Line menu option to open a special window which accepts
command inputs and displays system outputs. Full details of using PARAGON’s menus
and forms are given in the on-line help, and how to design your own graphical user
interface is explained in the Plant Design Software Customisation Guide.

1.2 About this Manual

This document is a Reference Manual for PARAGON. It describes all of the

PARAGON keyboard-entered commands in detail. If you need information on how to use
PARAGON to carry out the principal Catalogue design activities with minimal use of
the keyboard, by using the graphical Forms and Menus interface, refer to the on-line
help for the PARAGON applications.
It is assumed that you have attended a PDMS training course and are familiar with the
basic concepts underlying the use of PDMS.
NOTE: The PARAGON and DESIGN modules share a common command syntax, but
differ in that PARAGON operates on a Catalogue database while DESIGN
operates on a Design database. Only the Catalogue construction commands are
explained in this manual; for details of commands for 3D design work, see the
PDMS DESIGN Reference Manual.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 1-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Introducing PARAGON

1.2.1 Manual Structure

• Chapter 2 describes how to enter commands and the notation used to describe
commands.
• Chapter 3 describes how to enter and leave PARAGON and explains some general
facilities.
• Chapter 4 gives details of the Catalogue database hierarchy and the ways in which
its constituent elements are defined.
• Chapter 5 describes the ways in which you can navigate to any given element within
the Catalogue database.
• Chapter 6 introduces the principles of catalogue component design and their
representation in graphical displays.
• Chapter 7 gives details of the various types of point set (p-points and p-lines) and
geometry sets (positive and negative 3D and 2D primitives) which are used in the
design of catalogue components.
• Chapter 8 explains the procedures for defining the various types of element which
represent the design components within the Catalogue database.
• Chapter 9 describes how to use PARAGON to define descriptive texts, connection
compatibility tables, bolting tables and units of measurement associated with the
catalogue components.
• Chapter 10 explains the concept of datasets, used to store catalogue data which
needs to be queried from DESIGN or DRAFT and which is not accessible by other
means.
• Chapter 11 describes how you can check the Catalogue database for inconsistencies
from within PARAGON, so that errors can be corrected before the data is used a
design.
• Appendix A summarises some p-point conventions which should be followed to
ensure the correct functioning of ISODRAFT.
• Appendix B explains the advantages of using logical naming conventions to ensure
reliable cross-referencing and the correct functioning of ISODRAFT.
• Appendix C lists some sample macros for the design of typical piping components in
the Catalogue database.
• Appendix D contains a glossary of the element types relevant in PARAGON, grouped
according to their function.
• The manual concludes with an Index.

1-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
2 Communicating with PARAGON

2.1 Commands

This section describes the conventions used in this manual to describe commands to be
typed in from the keyboard. The description of each command follows a standard format
which is designed to allow the basic attributes of a command to be interpreted easily. To
get the best out of this manual, you are strongly urged to read this section thoroughly.

2.1.1 Command Description Format

Once you have located the required command in this manual, you will find that it is
described in a standard format. This format is described below.
• Title (e.g. Setting Level Representation)

• Keywords This is a list of those PARAGON command words which are the prime
constituents of the command syntax which carries out the given function.

• Description This is a brief description of the use of the command.

• Example(s) These are examples of typical command lines that show the effect of
the principal options. Special notes on the behaviour of the command in specific
conditions are given here.

• Command Syntax This shows the actual command with its possible options. The
notation used for commands is described below (Section 2.1.2).

• Querying The relevant querying options are listed.

2.1.2 Syntax Diagrams

The commands described in this manual have their legal command and interrogation
options presented in the form of syntax diagrams. These diagrams formalise the
precise command sequences which may be used and are intended to supplement the
explanations given in the appropriate sections of the manual.
The following conventions apply to syntax diagrams:
• All diagrams have abbreviated names. Such names are composed of lowercase
letters enclosed in angled brackets, e.g. <expres>. These short names, which are

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 2-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Communicating with PARAGON

used for cross-referencing purposes in the text and within other syntax diagrams,
are supplemented by fuller descriptions where they are not self-explanatory.

• Commands to be input from the terminal are shown in a combination of uppercase

and lowercase letters. In general, these commands can be abbreviated; the capital
letters indicate the minimum permissible abbreviation.

NOTE: This convention does not mean that the second part of the command must be
typed in lowercase letters; commands may be entered in any combination of
uppercase and lowercase letters.
For example, the command
DEFault
may be input in any of the following forms:
DEF
DEFA
DEFAU
DEFAUL
DEFAULT
Commands shown wholly in uppercase letters cannot be abbreviated.
• Syntax diagrams are generally read from top left to bottom right.

• Points marked with a plus sign (+) are option junctions which allow you to input
any one of the commands to the right of the junction. Thus

>---+--- ABC -----.

| |
|--- PQR -----|
| |
|--- <dia> ---|
| |
‘-------------+--->
means you may type in ABC or PQR or any command allowed by the syntax given in
diagram <dia> or just press Enter/Return to get the default option.
• Points marked with an asterisk (*) are loop-back junctions. Command options
following these may be repeated as required. Thus

.------<------.
/ |
>---*--- option1 ---|
| |
|--- option2 ---|
| |
‘--- option3 ---+--->
permits any combination of option1 and/or option2 and/or option3 (each separated by
at least one space) to be used. The ‘options’ may define commands, other syntax

2-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Communicating with PARAGON

diagrams, or command arguments). The loop-back construction may form an exception

to the rule of reading from top left to bottom right.
The simplified format

.----<-----.
/ |
>---*--- name ---+--->
means that you may type in a list of PDMS names, separated by at least one space.

2.1.3 Standard Command Tools

Command Tool is a generic term covering command arguments (or atoms) and
command parts. Both classes of command tool fit into ordinary commands and provide
different ways of stating a particular requirement. Command tools may be PDMS-wide
or module-specific. This section describes the standard Command Tools that may be
used in PARAGON. They may be one of the following:
• Standard Command Tools - which fit into ordinary commands

• External Macro Facilities - which can be used in a stored macro file and which
control the behaviour of the macro when it is executed
• Standard Concepts - which apply globally within PARAGON

Some of the main command tools (or the PARAGON variations of them) summarised for
convenience:

¾ Command Arguments

Command arguments are also called atoms because they cannot be broken down any
further. They are individual units which PARAGON can recognise as constituents of a
complete command. They usually need to be separated by spaces so that they are
individually distinguishable. Command arguments are distinguished from the other
command parts by being written in lower case italics. The principal command
arguments are:
integer a positive or negative whole number, e.g. 2 -5 25

value a signed number with or without a decimal point, e.g. 2.5 5 -3.8

letter a single alphabetic character

word a sequence of up to four letters with significance to PDMS

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 2-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Communicating with PARAGON

text a string of alphanumeric or symbol characters, which may include spaces,

enclosed between single closing quotation marks ’...’ or |...| characters.
This is normally used to add descriptive material to an appropriate
attribute. For example, DUTY ’Low Pressure’. (Note that paired quotation
marks ‘...’ will not work.)

space the space bar (not usually specified unless of special significance)

name a sequence of characters preceded by a / character and representing a

PDMS Element name, e.g. /VALVE1.

filename an external file name of the format /filename

varid an identifier (for use with the VARIABLE command within macros) of the
format !name, where ‘name’ is a text string. For example: !COUNTER
!height

comma the , character, which can be used to concatenate PARAGON commands;

for example: NEW UNIT, BUNI INCH, DUNI FINC

plus minus the +, -, * and / characters, which can be used within

star solid expressions, for example: (1 + 2), (1 - 2), (1 * 2), (1 / 2)
(Note that there must be a space before and after each of these command arguments.)

¾ Command Parts

Command parts are subsets of the general command syntax which are used frequently
within other command sequences. The following command parts are summarised here:
Expressions
Any mathematical, logical or alphabetical expression whose result replaces it in the
command syntax.
Dimensions
A physical dimension entered using default or explicit units.
Catalogue Element Types
A word used to represent a specific type of element in the Catalogue database hierarchy.
Element Identifiers
Methods for specifying which database element you want your next commend to act
upon.
Cursor-picking Identifier (<sgid>)
This command part defines the most general method of identifying an Element. The
command is completed by picking an element using the cursor in a graphical view.

2-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Communicating with PARAGON

¾ Expressions (<eval>)

If a value given within a command needs to be calculated from other known values, you
can enter an expression from which the required result is to be evaluated by PARAGON
as it executes the command. Such an expression must be enclosed between parentheses
(...) to identify where it begins and ends.
Full details of the expression syntax are given in the Plant Design Software
Customisation Guide and Plant Design Software Customisation Reference Manual, and
are also available as on–line help.

¾ Dimensions (<uval>)

Once the working units have been specified, all dimensions input subsequently will be
assumed to be in those units unless you override them. (Note that these are simply
specific examples of the use of ‘real’ expressions. You can include explicit units of
measurement when entering a value in any expression.)
Examples
5 5 in current working units
5.5 EX 3 5500 in current working units
5.3/4 5.75 in current working units
5’ 5 feet (only use when working units are FINCH)
5’6 5 feet 6 inches (only use when working units are FINCH)
5’6.3/4 5 feet 6.75 inches (only use when working units are FINCH)
5 INCHES 5 inches (regardless of current working units)
5 M 5 metres (regardless of current working units)
5’6.3/4 IN 5 feet 6.75 inches (regardless of current working units)
NOTE: On output, values are rounded by default as follows:
• millimetres to the nearest millimetre
• inches to the nearest 1/32 or 0.1 inch.
However, rounding on output may be controlled by using the PRECISION
command. Within PARAGON, values are stored as accurately as the host
computer will allow.

¾ Catalogue Element Types (<snoun>)

This command part refers to an element type in the Catalogue hierarchy.

Catalogue administrative elements:
WORLd CATAlogue SECTion STSEction
CATEgory STCAtegory TEXT
Piping Components:
SCOMponent COMPonent number

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 2-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Communicating with PARAGON

Profile Components:
SPRFile PROFile number
Joint Components:
SJOInt JOINt number
Fitting Components:
SFITting
(NOTE: FITTing number is not a valid option)
3D Geomset elements:
GMSEt SBOX SDIsc SDIsk
SCOne LSNout SDSH BOXIng
SSLCylinder SSPHere LCYLinder SCYLinder
LINes SCTorus SREVolution SRTorus
TUBe LPYRamid SEXTrusion SLOOp
SVERtex
Negative 3D Geomset elements:
NGMSet NSBOx NSCOne NLSNout
NSDSh NSSLcylinder NSSPhere NLCYlinder
NSCYlinder NSCTorus NSREvolution NSRTorus
NLPYramid NSEXtrusion SLOOp SVERtex
Structural Geomset elements:
GMSSet SRECtangle SANNulus SPROfile
SPVErtex
3D Pointset elements:
PTSEt PTAXi PTCAr PTMIx
Structural Pointset elements:
PTSSet PLINe
Dataset elements:
DTSEt DATA
Detailing Text elements:
SDTExt DTEXt number
Material Text elements:
SMTExt MTEXt number
Bolt Table elements:
BLTAble BLISt SBOLt LTABle
MBOLt MBLIst DTABle
Connection Table elements:
CCTAble COCO
Units elements:
UNIT MSET MTYPe ATLIst
USECtion UDEFinition

2-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Communicating with PARAGON

Group World elements:

GPWL GROUp
Specification World elements (see the PDMS SPECON Reference Manual):
SPWL SPECi SELEc SPCOm

¾ Specific Element Identifier (<gid>)

This command part identifies a specific element either explicitly or by reference to its
relative position in the database hierarchy.
Examples
/VALVE10 Named catalogue element
SAME Previous element accessed
OWN Owner of Current Element
NEXT 2 2nd element in member list order at same level
4 4th member of Current Element
LAST 3 MEM 3rd last member of Current Element
END Next element up in hierarchy
SECT Section above Current Element
CATE 3 3rd Category

¾ Cursor-picking Identifier (<sgid>)

This command part defines the most general method of identifying an Element. The
command is completed by picking an element using the cursor in a graphical view.
Examples
ID @ Lowest level element hit by cursor
ID SBOX @ Box primitive hit by cursor
ID SCOM @ Piping Component hit by cursor

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 2-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Communicating with PARAGON

2-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
3 General PDMS Commands

The commands in this chapter are available throughout PDMS.

3.1 Entering PARAGON

Keyword: PARAGON

Description: This command is available throughout PDMS, allowing PARAGON to

be accessed at any time.

3.2 Leaving PARAGON

At any point during a PARAGON session, you can elect to leave PARAGON and enter
another module of PDMS. This is simply a matter of inputting the name of the module
to be accessed. At this point, PARAGON will automatically save the results of the
working session and change to the new module. However, all graphical displays, forms
and menus will need to be redefined at the beginning of the next session. In order to
avoid having to redefine a view and screen layout, it is possible to save the current
status of a working session by use of the RECREATE command.

3.3 Saving and Restoring the Current Display Status

Keyword: RECREATE INSTALL

Description: If the intention is to leave PARAGON for a short period only this
facility allows the display definition and status (including the full forms
and menus set) to be saved, for restoration later.
NOTE: Forms resized or moved using the cursor will be INSTALLed to their original
size.
Examples:
RECREATE /PARA1 - saves the display status in file /PARA1
RECREATE /PARA1 OVER - as above, but an existing file /PARA1 is overwritten
RECRE DISPLAY /PARA1 - saves nodal settings, e.g. units, representation etc.
Read back in using $M/name
INSTALL SETUP /PARA1 - restores the display definition stored in file /PARA1

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 3-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
General PDMS Commands

Command Syntax:

>-- RECReate --+-- DISPlay --.

| |
‘-------------+-- name --+-- OVERwrite --.
| |
‘---------------+-->
>-- INSTALL SETUP name -->

3.4 Saving Work and Updating Databases

Keyword: SAVEWORK GETWORK

Description: These two commands are complementary. SAVEWORK lets you update
the databases to incorporate any changes you have made during your
current PARAGON session (since your last SAVEWORK). GETWORK lets
you refresh your view of all READ or Multiwrite databases to pick up
any changes that others may have made since you first opened them.

Both commands can be restricted to specific databases within the

current MDB by following them with a list of numbers. These numbers
represent specific databases in the order they appear in the output of
the STATUS command, which may be given in MONITOR or in the
MDB mode of any GUI module. If no database numbers are given, then
the commands apply to the whole MDB.

It is good practice to use SAVEWORK frequently, to ensure maximum

data security. However, it should only be necessary to use GETWORK
when there are specific changes that you wish to pick up (in which case
it is likely that you will know which databases you will actually want to
refresh). GETWORK slows subsequent database access because the
information has to be re-read from disk, and should be avoided unless
you really need to use it.

GETWORK automatically updates all volume views to reflect any

changes in shared databases.

3.5 Exit from PARAGON without Saving Changes

Keyword: QUIT FINISH

Description: This command exits from PARAGON without saving any changes or
the display setup. QUIT has the effect of deleting any changes made
since the last SAVEWORK, module change or MDB change.

3-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 General PDMS Commands

Examples:
QUIT Exit from PARAGON (to MONITOR module)
QUIT DESIGN Exit from PARAGON to DESIGN module
QUIT FINISH Exit from PARAGON and from PDMS (returns to operating
system)
Command Syntax:

>-- QUIT --+-- modulename --.

| |
|-- FINish ------|
| |
‘----------------+-->

3.6 Saving the Alpha Readout to File

Keywords: ALPHA LOG ALPHA FILE

Description: This facility lets you save the alpha display information to a text file in
the computer operating system. Two types of output are available,
depending on the command used.

ALPHA LOG enables the contents of either or both of the COMMANDS

and REQUESTS alpha regions to be written to a file.

ALPHA FILE enables the contents of the REQUESTS region only to be

written to file.

The ALPHA LOG/ ALPHA FILE facilities may be used to save data or
as a general output facility.
NOTE: After an ALPHA file has been opened, subsequent output will be directed to both
the file and the screen until the file is closed, or until you change to another
PDMS module.

Examples:
ALP LOG - log information displayed in the COMMANDS
/LF1 COMMANDS
region in file /LF1
ALP LOG /LF1 OVER COMM - as above, but overwrite existing file /LF1
ALP LOG /LF2 - log information displayed in both alpha regions
in file /LF2
ALP FILE /LF2 - log information displayed in REQUESTS region
only
ALP LOG END - finish logging information
ALP FILE END

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 3-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
General PDMS Commands

Command Syntax:

>-- ALPha --+-- LOG --+-- name --+-- OVERwrite --.

| | | |
| | |-- APPend -----|
| | | |
| | ‘---------------+-- COMMands --.
| ‘-- END --> | |
| |-- REQuests --|
| | |
| ‘--------------+-->
|
‘-- FILE --+-- name --+-- OVERwrite --.
| | |
| |-- APPend -----|
| | |
| ‘---------------+-->
‘-- END -->

3.7 Audible Error Trace

Keywords: ALARM

Description: When a macro error occurs, there is an audible alarm at the

workstation to signal that the error has occurred. Occasionally, macro
errors can be anticipated and no audible warning is required. This
command allows the audible warning to be switched on or off either
interactively or via a macro.

If the audible warning is ON, it will sound whenever an error alert is

displayed.
Examples:
ALARM ON - Switches the audible tone on (this is the default).
ALARM OFF - Suppresses the audible tone until it is turned on again.
Command Syntax:

>-- ALARM --+-- ON ---.

| |
‘-- OFF --+-->

3.8 Switching Text Output Off

Keywords: TRACE

Description: This command, applicable in TTY mode only, controls the automatic
output of the Current Element name and attributes. With Trace set to

3-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 General PDMS Commands

ON, the attributes display is automatically updated for each element

accessed. With Trace set to OFF, the attribute display is not changed.
When macros are being run, TRACE is always set to OFF
automatically.
Examples:
TRACE OFF Stops the automatic output of attribute data.
TRACE ON Restarts automatic output of Current Element name and
attributes.
Command Syntax:

>-- TRAce --+-- ON ---.

| |
‘-- OFF --+-->

3.9 Defining Colours

Keywords: COLOUR ACTIVE CE VISIBLE AIDS

Description: These commands allow colours to be defined so that the status of

different types of item in the display may be distinguished by means of
colour. The colours used have default settings, but these may be
redefined.

The colours may be assigned by using the COLOUR command to define

the Red-Green-Blue mix for a colour number or to assign a predefined
colour mix by name. PARAGON allows the use of 100 user-definable
colours, plus some specific ones which are assigned to items which need
to be readily distinguishable in the display.
Definitions:
• The Active colour is used for the catalogue component being worked on (the
significant element, e.g. ELBO, VALV). If the current element is a geometric
primitive, the active colour is used for all primitives owned by the significant
element except the current primitive.

• The CE colour is used for the element currently being accessed (i.e. the element
highlighted in the Members list). This may be either a primitive or a significant
element.

• The Visible colour is used for any element in the display other than those to which
the active or CE colours apply.

• The Active and Visible elements together constitute the Draw List.

The predefined colour mixes which you may specify by name are as follows:

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 3-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
General PDMS Commands

Colour Red Green Blue

black 0 0 0
white 100 100 100
whitesmoke 96 96 96
ivory 93 93 88
grey 66 66 66
lightgrey 75 75 75
darkgrey 32 55 55
darkslate 18 31 31
red 80 0 0
brightred 100 0 0
coralred 80 36 27
tomato 100 39 28
plum 55 40 55
deeppink 93 7 54
pink 80 57 62
salmon 98 50 44
orange 93 60 0
brightorange 100 65 0
orangered 100 50 0
maroon 56 14 42
yellow 80 80 0
gold 93 79 20
lightyellow 93 93 82
lightgold 93 91 67
yellowgreen 60 80 20
springgreen 0 100 50
green 0 80 0
forestgreen 14 56 14
darkgreen 18 31 18
cyan 0 93 93
turquoise 0 75 80
aquamarine 46 93 78
blue 0 0 80
royalblue 28 46 100
navyblue 0 0 50
powderblue 69 88 90
midnight 18 18 31
steelblue 28 51 71
indigo 20 0 40
mauve 40 0 60
violet 93 51 93
magenta 87 0 87

3-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 General PDMS Commands

Colour Red Green Blue

beige 96 96 86
wheat 96 87 70
tan 86 58 44
sandybrown 96 65 37
brown 80 17 17
khaki 62 62 37
chocolate 93 46 13
darkbrown 55 27 8
The default colour assignments are:
Colour No Colour
Current element yellow
Visible elements lightgrey
1 grey
2 red
3 orange
4 yellow
5 green
6 cyan
7 blue
8 violet
9 brown
10 white
11 pink
12 mauve
13 turquoise
14 indigo
15 black
16 magenta

Examples:
COL 5 DARKGREEN Colour 5 will be changed to dark
green
COL 3 MIX RED 50 GRE 50 BLU 5 Colour 3 will change to the specified
mix of red, green and blue
COL VISIBLE BRIGHTRED Sets the colour for displaying
components to bright red
NOTE: When colours are mixed in their Red, Green and Blue constituents, the
command line must contain values for all three constituents in the correct
order. The numbers entered for the relative proportions of the basic colours
must each be in the range 0-100, but they are not percentages of the overall
colour and so do not need to add up to 100.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 3-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
General PDMS Commands

Command Syntax:

>-- COLour -+- integer -.

| |
|- ACTIVE --|
| |
|- CE ------|
| |
‘- VISIble -+- colour_name -->
|
‘- MIX RED integer GREen integer BLUe integer -->
where colour_name is the name of any of the predefined colour mixes listed above.
Querying:

>-- Q COLour --+-- integer -----.

| |
|-- ACTIVE ------|
| |
|-- CE ----------|
| |
‘-- VISIble -----+-->

3-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
4 The Catalogue Database

This chapter details the structure of the PDMS Catalogue database.

Note that words of four or five uppercase characters which appear in this chapter (for
example, CATA, BLTA, SPREF) are PDMS element names. When an element’s member
list is queried in PDMS, each element type will be displayed as a four-character name.
Five or six characters are occasionally used in this chapter where this gives a ‘PDMS’
name which is closer to the element’s ‘English’ name, for example SPREF (instead of
SPRE) for Specification Reference.

4.1 What is the Catalogue For?

The Catalogue in PDMS serves a purpose similar to a parts catalogue to which a

pipework designer or structure designer would refer when using ‘conventional’ design
methods. It contains details of all available components (piping and structural),
including their dimensions, geometry and drawing symbols. Whereas the conventional
parts catalogue is a book held in the Design Office, the PDMS Catalogue is a database
held on the computer.

4.2 Principal Features of the Catalogue Database

If a new Catalogue database (DB) is required, PARAGON can be used to construct it -

see Chapter 8 for details of creating and manipulating a Catalogue DB using
PARAGON.
The Catalogue data is held according to a strict hierarchy which is similar in form to
that of the Design data.
When a Component is selected by the designer using DESIGN, a Specification Reference
(SPREF) is identified and held in the Design database. The SPREF points to a
Specification Component (SPCOM) in the Specification. This in turn points to a
Catalogue Component (SCOM, SPRF, SJOI, SFIT, etc.) in the Catalogue (see Figure 4-
1).
Whereas the Design data is specific to a particular design, Catalogues and Specifications
may be specific to a company but general to a number of projects in that company. For
example, the same Catalogue Component may be referred to many times in a particular
design and may also appear in other design projects proceeding at the same time.
Catalogues are usually built up as a library of catalogue macros. A selection of these
macros can then be used to build up a project-specific Catalogue database containing
only those Components which might be used on that project.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

Design Element Spec Component

CATREF Catalogue Component

SPREF
DETAI Detailing Text Elements

Design Specification Catalogue

Figure 4-1 Interrelationship between Design Data, Catalogue and Specifications

4.3 Structure of the Catalogue Database

Catalogues are constructed as a hierarchy of elements. Each element has certain

attributes and some may contain further member elements. The complete Catalogue
hierarchy is shown in Figure 4-2.
Note that in any discussion of attributes which may appear in the rest of this chapter,
the ‘standard’ attributes of TYPE, NAME, OWNER and LOCK will not be mentioned, as
these are common to all the elements described below.
In addition, user-defined attributes (UDAs) may be used with Catalogue database
elements - see the LEXICON Reference Manual for details.

4-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

WORLD
(Connections) (Bolts) (Units) (Specifications) (Groups)

CCTA BLTA CATA UNIT SPWL GPWL

COCO SPEC GROU

BLIS LTAB MBLI MSET USEC

SELEC
SBOL DTAB MBOL MTYP UDEF

SPCO
ATLI
(Piping Catalogue) (Steelwork Catalogue)

SECT STSE

CATE STCA

GMSE GMSE MTEX SPRF SFIT GMSS PTSS GMSE NGMS PTSE SMTE
SCOM PTSE DTEX DTSE SJOI SDTE DTSE
SBOX BLTP SREC PLIN SBOX NSBO PTCA
BOXI DATA SANN BOXI PTAX DATA
PTCA
LSNO SPRO LSNO NLSN PTMI
PTAX
SCON SCON NSCO
PTMI SPVE
SSPH SSPH NSSP
LCYL LCYL NLCY
SCYL SCYL NSCY
SSLC SSLC NSSL
SCTO SCTO NSCT
SRTO SRTO NSRT
TUBE TUBE
LPYR LPYR NLPY
SDIS SDIS
SDSH SDSH NSDS
LINE LINE
SEXT SEXT NSEX
SREV SREV NSRE
SLOO SLOO SLOO

SVER SVER SVER

NOTES:
For ease of interpretation in text:
SCOM = COMP
SPRF = PROF CATE/STCA (Category) elements
SJOI = JOIN are optional. Their members can be
SFIT = FITT owned directly by a SECT/STSE.
SDTE = DTEX
SMTE = MTEX TEXT elements, which can
appear at several positions in the
Any negative 3D primitive (as shown below NGMS) hierarchy, have been omitted for
can also be owned by any positive 3D primitive. clarity.

Figure 4-2 The Catalogue Database Hierarchy

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

4.4 Catalogue (CATA)

CATA is the highest level element of the Catalogue hierarchy. Its attributes include:
• DESC - a text description of the catalogue.

• PURP - a PDMS word showing the specific purpose for which that catalogue is
intended. This should be set to the same word as the Specification with which it is to
be used; e.g. PIPE, FITT.

• CSTA - the Catalogue standard.

A CATA can contain a number of Catalogue Sections. These are of two types: Piping
Sections (SECT) and Structural Sections (STSEC). They are the principal
administrative elements by which the Catalogue is divided and arranged. The Catalogue
can also contain Text elements (TEXT) - see Section 9.6.
All elements referred to in a Specification (see the SPECON Reference Guide) must
exist within a CATA hierarchy, although elements may exist within a CATA which are
not referred to by a Specification.
Note that the following elements may also exist within the Catalogue database at the
same level as CATA:
• Units World (UNITS)
• Connection Tables (CCTAB)
• Bolt Tables (BLTAB)
• Specification World (SPWL)
• Group World (GPWL)

Units, Connection Tables and Bolt Tables are described in Chapter 9 of this manual, the
latter element type being described in more detail in the ISODRAFT Reference Manual.
Specification World elements are detailed in the SPECON Reference Manual.

4.5 Catalogue Sections (SECT and STSEC) and

Categories (CATE and STCA)

Sections and Categories are administrative elements which let you segregate particular
types of catalogue data into logical parts of the hierarchy. Sections, which subdivide an
overall CATA, are obligatory; Categories, which subdivide Sections, are optional
(although their use is recommended).
There are two types of Catalogue Section: Piping Sections (SECT) and Structural
Sections (STSEC). Both have the following attributes:

4-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

• DESC - a textual description of the section.

• PURP - a PDMS word showing the specific purpose for which that section is
intended.

• GTYP - a PDMS word showing the generic type for elements contained in the
section. This should be the same word as that used to identify the elements in
DESIGN; e.g. VALV, BEAM.

Similarly, there are two types of Category: Piping Category (CATE) and Structural
Category (STCA). Both have the following principal attributes:
• DESC - a textual description of the category.

• PURP - a PDMS word showing the specific purpose for which that category is
intended. This should be set to the same STYPE as in the Specification with which
it is to be used; e.g. GLOB, GATE etc. for a VALV.

• GTYP - a PDMS word showing the generic type for elements contained in the
section.

• SKEY - a textual symbol key showing how the item is represented in isometric
drawings (see the ISODRAFT Reference Manual).

• PTRE - a reference to a 3D P-point Set (PTSE).

• GMRE - a reference to a 3D Geometry Set (GMSE).

• DTRE - a reference to a Data Set (DTSE).

• CDET - a reference to Detailing Text (DTEX).

Both types of Catalogue Section or Category contain the elements 3D P-point Set, 3D
Geometry Set, Data Set, Detailing Text and Material Text, as described in Section
4.5.1. Piping Sections/Categories may also contain Piping Components, as described
in Section 4.5.2. Structural Sections/Categories may also contain Structural
Components (Profiles, Joints and Fittings), Structural Pointsets, Negative 3D
Geometry Sets and Structural Geometry Sets, as described in Section 4.5.3.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

4.5.1 Elements Used in Both Types of Catalogue Section/Category

The following elements may be used in either type of Catalogue Section or Category:
• 3D P-point Set (PTSET) (usually abbreviated to 3D Pointset) - a definition of the
position, direction, connection type and bore of a Component’s P-points, to be used by
DESIGN, ISODRAFT, etc.

• 3D Geometry Set (GMSET) (usually abbreviated to 3D Geomset) - a grouping of

3D primitive elements, defining the dimensions, orientation and obstruction
geometry of each primitive. Used by DESIGN and the Drawing modules.

• Data Set (DTSET) (usually abbreviated to Dataset) - a grouping of DATA elements,

holding any catalogue data not stored more specifically elsewhere and which is
required for use in DESIGN or DRAFT; e.g. the cross-sectional area of a structural
steel member calculated from its parameterised dimensions.

• Detailing Text (DTEX) - elements containing general descriptive text relating to a

Component. Referred to from SPCOM elements in the Specification. For further
details see Section 9.1.

• Material Text (MTEX) - elements containing text describing the material(s) from
which the physical Component is constructed. Referred to from SPCOM elements in
the Specification. For further details see Section 9.2.

4.5.2 Elements Used in Piping Sections/Categories

A Piping Section or Category may contain all those elements listed in Section 4.5.1 plus
the following:
• Piping Component (COMP) - an element defining a piece of pipework. It consists
of a list of values (known as component parameters) and references to a 3D
Pointset element and a 3D Geomset element. The Pointset and Geomset make use
of the component parameter values in defining the size, geometry and connection
types of the Piping Component.

4.5.3 Elements Used in Structural Sections/Categories

A Structural Section or Category may contain all those elements listed in Section 4.5.1
plus the following:
• Structural Pointset (PTSSET) - a definition of the position and direction of a
Component’s P-lines, to be used by DESIGN.

• Negative 3D Geometry Set (NGMSET) (usually abbreviated to Negative 3D

Geomset) - a grouping of 3D negative primitive elements (representing holes, end

4-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

preparations etc.), defining the dimensions, orientation and obstruction geometry of

each primitive. Used by DESIGN and the Drawing modules.

• Structural Geometry Set (GMSSET) (usually abbreviated to Structural

Geomset) - a grouping of 2D primitive elements, defining the dimensions,
orientation and obstruction geometry of each primitive. Used by DESIGN and the
Drawing modules.

• Profile (PROF) - a 2D structural Component defining the cross-section of a beam,

column etc. (a Section). It consists of a list of component parameters and references
to a Structural Pointset element and a Structural Geomset element. The
Pointset and Geomset make use of the component parameter values in defining the
size and geometry of the Component. In the design process, a length is associated
with a Profile to produce a Section.

• Joint (JOIN) - a 3D structural Component defining a physical means of attaching

one Section to another. It consists of a list of component parameters and references
to a Structural Pointset element, a 3D Pointset element and a 3D Geomset
element. The two Pointsets and the Geomset make use of the component parameter
values in defining the size and geometry of the Component.

• Fitting (FITT) - a 3D structural Component defining an object which is physically

attached to a Section but is not part of the structure formed by Sections and Joints.
For example, a Fitting may be used to attach a pipe hanger to a Section. The element
consists of a list of component parameters and references to a 3D Pointset element
and a 3D Geomset element. The Pointset and Geomset make use of the component
parameter values in defining the size and geometry of the Component.

The Catalogue structure as described so far may be used in various ways, but the
recommended method of use is to place only one type of element in each Catalogue
Section, and to place different kinds of Components in different Catalogue Categories.
For example, you might place all 3D Pointsets for Piping Components in one Piping
Section and all 3D Geomsets for Piping Components in another, with separate Piping
Sections for equal tees and reducing tees. When defining Profiles, you might place
Profiles for Universal Beams in one Structural Section, Profiles for Unequal Angles in
another, and so on.

4.6 Text (TEXT)

The Text is a general element that can occupy many positions in the hierarchy. It can be
used to store additional information about an owning or adjacent element. The TEXT
element should not be confused with the MTEX and DTEX elements described in
Section 4.5.1. See Section 9.6 for further details.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

4.7 Parameters

Parameters define the size, geometry and other characteristics of Components. They are
used in setting the attributes of the Pointsets, Geomsets and Datasets to which
Component elements refer.
All classes of Component can use component parameters, design parameters and
insulation parameters. Structural Components can also use attached and owning
design parameters. Component parameters are defined in the Catalogue; the other
classes of parameters allow characteristics to be set during the design process.

4.7.1 Component Parameters

Piping Components (COMP), Profiles (PROF), Joints (JOIN) and Fittings (FITT) all
have a PARAM attribute which lists the component parameters.
Section 8.2 describes how to set up the component parameters of a Component. You may
define default values which PARAGON will use if you are working with a Component
whose component parameters have not been set up. The values are set using the MODEL
SETTINGS command. For example,
MODEL SETTINGS PARAM 1 10
defines a default value of 10 for component parameter number 1. See Section 6.4.1 for
the full syntax of how to set default values.
These default values are set up only for the current PARAGON session. They are not
stored in the Catalogue DB. You must define the component parameters of a Component
before you use it in the Design DB.

4.7.2 Insulation Parameters

A design element in the Design DB refers to a main Catalogue Component (indirectly)
via its Specification Reference (SPREF) attribute. The design element may also refer to
a second Catalogue Component which defines the insulation of the first Component, via
its Insulation Specification (ISPEC) attribute. The second Component is the Insulation
Component of the design element.
Insulation parameters (IPARAM) allow the main Component to take dimensions from
the Insulation Component. When the main Component uses IPARAM 3, for example, it
picks up the value of the PARAM 3 of the corresponding Insulation Component.
When you define a Catalogue Component using insulation parameters, its dimensions
are not completely specified in the Catalogue. So that PARAGON can give some idea of
what the Component will look like when used in a design, you can define specimen
values for the insulation parameters. These specimen values apply to all Components,
unlike the component parameters which are attributes of a particular Component. The
values are set using the MODEL SETTINGS command. For example,

4-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

MODEL SETTINGS IPARAM 3 25

defines a specimen value for insulation parameter number 3. See Section 6.4.5 for the
full syntax of how to set values for insulation parameters. The values are not stored in
the Catalogue DB; they are set up only for the current PARAGON session.

4.7.3 Structural Parameters

These allow Joint and Fitting Components to take dimensions from the Section or
Sections (beam, column, etc.) to which they are physically connected. In this way, a basic
design of Joint or Fitting may be adjusted automatically in the Design DB to fit a
connected Section of any size. (Structural parameters are meaningless for Profiles.)
Structural parameters are of four types:
• Attached parameters (APARAM)
• Owning parameters (OPARAM)
• Design attached parameters (DES APARAM)
• Design owning parameters (DES OPARAM).

The types of structural parameter that a Component can use depends on whether it is a
Piping Component, Profile, Joint or Fitting. In the case of a Joint, it also depends on
how the Component is used in the Design DB.
Joints are of two types: primary and secondary. A primary Joint has an attached
Section in the Design DB; a secondary Joint has an attached Section and an owning
Section. (See the DESIGN Reference Manual for details of primary and secondary
Joints.) Note that primary and secondary Joints are represented by the same class of
Catalogue Component, but the settings of their attributes and the attributes of their
Pointsets and Geomsets are different.
A Fitting Component has an owning Section in the Design DB.
Components which have an attached Section (i.e. primary and secondary Joints) can use
attached parameters to define the attributes of their Pointsets and Geomsets. Attached
parameters correspond to the component parameters of the attached Section. For
example, when a Joint component uses APARAM 2, it picks up the value of the PARAM
2 of the Joint’s attached Section.
Similarly, Components which have an owning Section (i.e. secondary Joints and
Fittings) can use owning parameters in defining the attributes of their Pointsets and
Geomsets. Owning parameters correspond to the component parameters of the owning
Section. For example, when a Joint or Fitting component uses OPARAM 5, it picks up
the value of the PARAM 5 of the component’s owning Section.
You can define specimen values for structural parameters in the same way as for
insulation parameters. For example,

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

MODEL SETTINGS APARAM 2 300

defines a specimen value of 300 for attached parameter number 2. See Section 5.9 for
the full syntax of how to set values for structural parameters.

4.7.4 Design DB Parameters

These allow structural Components to take dimensions from Design Parameter Arrays
in the Design DB. Each design element has a Design Parameter Array with ten values.
(See the DESIGN Reference Manual for further details.)
Design DB parameters are of three types:
• Design parameters (DES PARAM)
• Design attached parameters (DES APARAM, structural items only)
• Design owning parameters (DES OPARAM, structural items only)

Design parameters allow any component with an SPREF to use values from the
design element which refers to it (via the SPREF). For example, the DES PARAM 4 of a
Component is the fourth value in the Design Parameter Array of the design element.
Design parameters can be used anywhere that component parameters can be used.
Design attached parameters and design owning parameters allow a Joint or
Fitting Component to use values from the design elements which represent its attached
and owning Sections. (Attached and owning sections are explained in Section 4.7.3.) For
example, the DES OPARAM 1 of a Component is the first value in the Design
Parameter Array of the design element of its owning Section. Design attached
parameters can be used anywhere that attached parameters can be used. Similarly,
design owning parameters in place of owning parameters.
You can define specimen values for Design DB parameters in the same way as for
insulation parameters. For example,
MODEL SETTINGS DES PARAM 7 9.5
defines a specimen value of 9.5 for design parameter number 7. See Section 6.4.1 for the
full syntax of how to set values for Design DB parameters.
Figure 4-3 summarises how the various types of parameters may be used with the
different classes of Component.

4-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

Applicable to: Piping Profile Prim'y Sec'y Fitting

Comp't Joint Joint
Parameter: (COMP) (PROF) (PJOI) (SJOI) (FITT)

Catalogue Component Parameters (PARAM) b b b b b

Insulation Parameters (IPARAM) b b b b b

Attached Parameters (Structural) (APARAM) b b

Owning Parameters (Structural) (OPARAM) b b

Design Parameters (Design DB) (DES PARAM) b b b b b

Design Attached Parameters (DES APARAM) b b

Design Owning Parameters (DES OPARAM) b b

Figure 4-3 Table of Parameters and Components

4.8 Catalogue Components

There are four classes of Catalogue Component:

• Piping Component
• Profile
• Joint
• Fitting.

Their attributes are described in the following sections. These attributes (other than the
component parameters) must be set to actual values (words or references to other
elements). They cannot be defined using parameters.
A reference to an element is usually set to the name of the element, for example /PTSR3,
but it can also be set as a general identifier, for example:
PTSE 4 OF SECT 2 OF CATA /ASA-CATA
The attributes of Pointsets and Geomsets may be defined using component
parameters, design parameters and insulation parameters. Where appropriate,
attributes for structural items may also be defined using design owning parameters and
design attached parameters.
A component parameter may be a numeric value, an expression or a word. (The full
syntax for expressions is defined in the Plant Design Software Customisation Guide.) An
insulation parameter, a structural parameter or a Design DB parameter may only be a
numeric value or an expression. The values assigned to parameters and the use to which
they are put, and the number of parameters used, are arbitrary, depending only on the
skill and experience of the user. Chapter 8 contains examples of the parameterisation of
typical Components.
Catalogue Components do not have member elements.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-11

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

4.8.1 Piping Component (COMP; SCOM)

The attributes of a Piping Component are:
• PTREF - reference to a 3D Pointset element.

• GMREF - reference to a 3D Geomset element.

• PARAM - the component parameters, a list of values used in the 3D Pointset and 3D
Geomset to define the Component.

• GTYPE - a word attribute indicating the generic type of the Piping Component,
selected from the following:
ATTA - attachment
BEND - pipe bend
CAP - end cap
CLOS - closure
COUP - coupling
CROS - cross piece
DUCT - ducting
ELBO - fitting elbow
FBLI - blind flange
FILT - filter
FLAN or FLG - flange
FTUB - fixed length tube
GASK - gasket
HELE - hanger element
INST - instrument
INSU - insulation
LJSE - lap joint stub end
NOZZ - nozzle
OLET - weldolets
PCOM - pipe component
REDU - reducer
SHU - standard hook-up
TEE - fitting tee
TRAC - tracing
TRAP - steam trap
TUBE - implied tube
UNIO - union
VALV - valve
VENT - open-ended pipe or vent
VFWA - four-way valve
VTWA - three-way valve
WELD - weld

4-12 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 The Catalogue Database

The GTYPE must be set as one of the above, otherwise a data consistency check
on a Branch containing the Component (see the DESIGN Reference Manual)
will not work correctly.

• DTREF - reference to a Dataset element.

4.8.2 Profile (PROF; SPRF)

The attributes of a Profile are:
• PSTREF - reference to a Structural Pointset element.

• GSTREF - reference to a Structural Geomset element.

• PARAM - the component parameters, a list of values used in the Structural Pointset
and Structural Geomset to define the Component.

• GTYPE - a word attribute indicating the generic type of the Profile. Any word value
may be used. The following are suggested:

BEAM - beam
BRAC - brace
COLU - column
GANT - gantry
GIRD - girder
JOIS - joist
PILE - pile
PROF - profile
PURL - purlin
RIDG - ridge
SDRA - side rail

• DTREF - reference to a Dataset element.

4.8.3 Joint (JOIN; SJOI)

The attributes of a Joint are:
• PSTREF - reference to a Structural Pointset element.

• PTREF - reference to a 3D Pointset element.

• GMREF - reference to a 3D Geomset element.

• PARAM - the component parameters, a list of values used in the Structural

Pointset, 3D Pointset and 3D Geomset to define the Component.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 4-13

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
The Catalogue Database

• GTYPE - a word attribute indicating the generic type of the Joint. Any word value
may be used. The following are suggested:
BASE - base
JOIN - joint
KNEE - knee

• CTYA - a word attribute indicating how the Joint is fixed to the attached Section
(the Joint’s connection type for the attached Section). Any word value may be
used. If the connection type attribute of the attached Section (CTYS or CTYE) has
not been set when the Joint is selected in the design process, the attribute will
automatically be set to the value of CTYA. The PDMS data consistency checks (see
the DESIGN Reference Manual) check whether the connection type attributes of the
Joint and attached Section match.

• CTYO - similar to CTYA, but for the Joint’s owning Section (secondary Joints only).

• DTREF - reference to a Dataset element.

4.8.4 Fitting (FITT; SFIT)

The attributes of a Fitting are:
• PTREF - reference to a 3D Pointset element.

• GMREF - reference to a 3D Geomset element.

• PARAM - the component parameters, a list of values used in the Structural

Pointset, 3D Pointset and 3D Geomset to define the Component.

• GTYPE - a word attribute indicating the generic type of the Fitting. Any word value
may be used, but the word FITT is suggested.

• CTYA - a word attribute used only if the Fitting is attached to a pipe hanger in the
Design DB. Any word value may be used. If the connection type attribute of the pipe
hanger (HCON or TCON) has not been set when the Fitting is selected in the design
process, the attribute will automatically be set to the value of CTYA. The PDMS
data consistency checks (see the DESIGN Reference Manual) check whether the
connection type attributes of the Fitting and pipe hanger match.

• DTREF - reference to a Dataset element.

NOTE: For details of the MODEL SETTINGS command syntax used to set default values
for component parameters, and specimen values for other classes of parameter,
see Section 6.4.1.

4-14 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
5 Navigating in the Catalogue Database Hierarchy

There are many ways in which you can explore the contents of the Catalogue database,
but they fall into three broad categories:
• Accessing a Catalogue element whose identity or hierarchical position is known
• Accessing a Catalogue element whose position in the hierarchy relative to the
current position is known
• Accessing a Catalogue element by picking it from the screen

It is important to appreciate that these navigation facilities provide you with access to
the complete Catalogue and not just those items shown on the graphical display.

5.1 Accessing a Catalogue Element on the Screen

In graphical form, you can jump straight to an element which is shown in the screen
display by positioning the cursor over the element and pressing the left-hand mouse
button. This identifies the item under the cursor and makes it the current element.
Alternatively, the cursor can be used in the Members menu (or the command window) to
pick a name from the text display.

5.2 Accessing a Catalogue Element by Name

You can jump straight to a known element simply by typing its name. You would
usually name an element when you create it.

5.3 Accessing an Element by Reference Number

All elements are automatically given a reference number when created. By stating this
reference it is possible to access an unnamed element. Reference numbers are not
normally shown in PARAGON, but may be obtained by the using the Q REF command.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 5-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Navigating in the Catalogue Database Hierarchy

5.4 Going to the Previously Accessed Element

Keywords: SAME CE

Description: SAME takes you to the element you were at before you accessed the
current element. Repeating the SAME command has the effect of
moving repeatedly between two items - it does not move back along the
list of items accessed.

If the previously accessed element has been deleted, the SAME

command will output an error message.

CE takes you to the current element itself. (This facility may seem
rather pointless in this situation; however the CE keyword is used in
many commands as a means of identifying an element to be the object
of that command.)
Example:
ADD CE - Add the current element to the display.
Command Syntax:

>-- CE -->
>-- SAMe -->

5.5 Ascending the Catalogue Hierarchy

Keywords: OWNER END

Description: Moving up the hierarchy involves fewer decisions than moving

downwards, as any element can have only one Owner. Two commands
(OWNER and END) allow you to move up to the immediate parent.

END differs from OWNER by allowing you to return to a Group element

from which the current element was accessed. As the Group does not
own that element, the command OWNER would go to the element’s true
Owner and not the Group.

It is possible to ascend the hierarchy in more than one step, by

inputting the type of element you wish to access. For example, to
navigate from a Piping Component to its Section would involve two
successive END commands (if a Category exists). However the command
SECT would have the effect of scanning up the hierarchy to find the
Section which owns that list, thus saving an END command.

5-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Navigating in the Catalogue Database Hierarchy

5.6 Accessing an Element via a Reference Pointer

Keywords: GOTO

Description: Many elements have reference attributes whose settings point to

associated elements. The latter (referenced) elements hold data which
forms part of the definition of the original (referencing) element. For
example, the geometric definition of a catalogue component is held in a
GMSET (geometry set) element which is pointed to by the setting of the
component’s GMREF attribute (see Chapter 7).

The GOTO command allows you to navigate directly to a referenced

element by specifying the corresponding reference attribute of the
current element.
Examples:
GOTO PTREF goes to the PTSET specified by the PTREF setting
GOTO GMREF goes to the GMSET specified by the GMREF setting
Command Syntax:

>-- GOTO -- <refatt> -->

where <refatt> is the name of any reference attribute of the current element whose
setting points to another element.

5.7 Other Navigation Commands

Keywords: FIRST LAST NEXT PREVIOUS MEMBER END TYPE

Description: Most of the above commands can be linked together with the OF
keyword to produce general navigation commands.
Examples:
FIRST SECT OF CATA /PIPECATA
LAST PTSE OF PREVIOUS 3 SECT
FIRST SCOM OF /CATE 5
Command Syntax:

(See <gid> syntax in Section 2.1.3.)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 5-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Navigating in the Catalogue Database Hierarchy

5-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
6 Component Design and Representation

This chapter introduces the methods of Component design and graphical representation
in PARAGON; in particular the MODEL, MODEL SETTINGS and REPRESENTATION
commands are detailed.

6.1 Component Design

Assuming that you have opened a suitable 3D view, the interactive graphical
Component design process in PARAGON is initiated using the MODEL command.
If a new Component is to be designed, then a new catalogue element must first be
specified by a command such as
NEW SCOM /CR2-1 (at SECT or CATE level)
or
NEW SPRF /UB4-A (at STSEC or STCAT level)
The command
MODEL CE
(for ‘Model Current Element’) will add the new component to the 3D view.
Note that the MODEL CE command is valid only for SCOM, SPRF, JOIN, and SFIT
elements.
Only complete Components may be displayed in this way - individual Pointsets and
Geomsets may not be, although these items will easily be distinguishable. (Geomset
and/or Pointset elements can be removed from the display with the aid of the
REPRESENTATION command - see next section).
The MODEL SETTINGS command can be used to specify the Component Design Data
attributes. For example,
MODEL SETTINGS DDRADIUS 75 DDHEIGHT 200
gives the Design Data attributes DDRADIUS and DDHEIGHT values of 75mm and
200mm respectively. The DDRADIUS, DDHEIGHT and DDANGLE attributes are the
Design parameters used in the selection process for variable Components. In PARAGON
it is possible to use these attributes as part of the Component design. For example,
whereas an attribute such as PHEIGHT would normally be defined in terms of
parameters, a command such as
PHEI DDHEIGHT

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

(assuming a suitable current element) would set PHEIGHT to the Design height. (In
such a case, a MODEL SETTINGS command would need to be followed by a MODEL CE
command before any change in the display would be observed.)
To produce a display of a Component with insulation, the bore, temperature and
working pressure of the Component must be known. To this end the MODEL SETTINGS
command can be used to set the BORE, TEMP and PRESSURE. This must be done
before the Insulation Specification, INSPEC, can be specified. For example,
MODEL SETTINGS TEMP 300 BORE 80
would set the temperature and bore Design Data attributes (the pressure would stay at
its default value, see below). The Insulation Spec may then be specified by a command
such as
MODEL SETTINGS INSPEC /INSUL1
Assuming the drawing REPRESENTATION (see Section 6.4) is correctly set, the
Component will then be displayed with insulation shown.
All Design settings can be restored to their defaults by
MODEL SETTINGS DEFAULT
NOTE: This command also deletes all default and specimen values of parameters. It
unsets the Insulation Specification.
The default values of the Design Data attributes, and the full syntax of how to set them,
are given in Section 6.4.
QUERY MODEL SETTINGS will output the Design settings currently in use. The Design
process is turned off by
MODEL END
which also has the effect of clearing the display.

6.2 P-point and P-line Representation

6.2.1 P-points
P-points may be displayed in PARAGON in one of two ways. The form of display is
controlled by the REPRESENTATION PPOINTS command as illustrated in Figure 6-1.

6-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-1 Specifying P-points On or Off

The size of the arrow may also be controlled by the REPRESENTATION PPOINTS
command, as illustrated in Figure 6-2. The overall length of the arrow is specified in
millimetres. The default length is 50mm. Specifying a length of zero causes the P-point
to appear as a dot.

Figure 6-2 Specifying P-point Length

The P-point numbers may be omitted, or they may be displayed any size, the size being
specified in millimetres. The default size is 5 mm. The size of the numbers is controlled
by the REPRESENTATION PPOINTS command, as illustrated in Figure 6-3.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-3 Specifying P-point Number Representation

Both LENGTH and NUMBERS may be set in the same command, for example:
REPRESENTATION PPOINTS ON LENGTH 25 NUMBERS ON SIZE 7
NOTE: P-points are always displayed in some form. They cannot be omitted from the
display completely.
See the Reference Section at the end of this chapter for the full syntax of the
REPRESENTATION PPOINTS command.

6.2.2 P-lines
P-lines may be displayed in PARAGON in one of two ways. The form of display is
controlled by the REPRESENTATION PLINES command as illustrated in Figure 6-4.

6-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-4 Specifying P-lines On or Off

The P-line identifier keys may be omitted or displayed. This is also controlled by the
REPRESENTATION PLINES command, as illustrated in Figure 6-5.

Figure 6-5 Specifying P-line Identifier Key Representation

P-line length (default 50mm) and size (default 5mm) can also be controlled. See the
Reference Section at the end of this chapter for the full syntax of the REPRESENTATION
PLINES command.
Unlike P-points, P-lines can be omitted from the display completely. Whether a P-line is
drawn or not depends on the settings of three of its attributes:

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

• LEVEL - the drawing level range

• CLFLA - the centreline drawing flag attribute
• TUFLA - the tube drawing flag attribute
LEVEL is a pair of integers. CLFLA and TUFLA are logical attributes which are set to
TRUE or FALSE (corresponding to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ respectively). When you first create a
P-line, CLFLA and TUFLA are both FALSE.
Control is initially on the setting of LEVEL. If the PARAGON LEVEL setting is within
the LEVEL range specified for the P-line (as its LEVEL attribute) then the P-line will
be considered for drawing, otherwise it will not be. If the level condition is satisfied, then
whether a P-line is displayed or not in PARAGON depends upon the settings of its
CLFLA and TUFLA attributes and upon the settings of the drawing options specified
by the REPRESENTATION command.
The REPRESENTATION command provides a means of effectively overriding the settings
of the P-line’s drawing attributes without changing them. An example REPRESENTATION
command is
REPRESENTATION TUBE ON CL OFF
(The word CENTRELINE may be used instead of CL.)
The drawing option settings interact with the drawing attributes of the P-lines thus: if
an ‘ON’ REPRESENTATION setting matches a corresponding ‘TRUE’ attribute setting
(e.g. REPRESENTATION CL ON and CLFL TRUE) then the P-line will be drawn,
otherwise it will not be drawn.
The drawing of Geomset primitives is controlled in a similar way. The next section gives
examples of how the LEVEL, CLFLA and TUFLA attributes interact with the
REPRESENTATION settings.

6.3 Geomset Primitive Representation

Whether a Geomset primitive is displayed or not depends on the settings of its LEVEL,
CLFLA and TUFLA attributes (as for a P-line) and also on its OBST attribute. (The
OBST attribute is a number which defines the degree of obstruction for clash checking.)
If the PARAGON LEVEL setting is within the LEVEL range specified for the primitive
(as its LEVEL attribute), then the primitive will be considered for drawing, otherwise it
will not be. If the level condition is satisfied then, the primitive will be displayed if it has
an OBST value of 1 or 2 and the REPRESENTATION setting is
REPRESENTATION OBSTRUCTIONS ON
The primitive will be drawn in solid lines if OBST = 2 (hard obstruction), dashed lines if
OBST = 1 (soft obstruction0.
The control mechanisms of tube, centreline and obstruction are quite independent of
each other. So, for example, if a primitive has an OBST value of 2 and the
REPRESENTATION setting is OBSTRUCTIONS ON, the primitive will be drawn
whatever the values of its CLFLA and TUFLA attributes and the REPRESENTATION

6-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

TUBE and CL settings (provided that the PARAGON LEVEL setting is within the
LEVEL range of the primitive).
NOTE: Whenever you use a REPRESENTATION command, the current design
Component is redrawn. If you want to change several REPRESENTATION
settings, put them all in the same line so that the Component is only redrawn
once. For example,

REPRESENTATION TUBE ON CL OFF OBST ON PPOINTS OFF

The following example shows the Catalogue representation of a control valve, and how it
might appear in PARAGON with various combinations of TUBE, CL and OBST settings.
All the illustrations have PPOINTS ON.

Figure 6-6 Catalogue Control Valve, showing all Primitives

For this example, the settings of the attributes of interest are considered to be:

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

SCYL 1 - OBST 2, CLFL FALSE, TUFL FALSE

SCYL 2 - OBST 2, CLFL FALSE, TUFL FALSE
SSPH 1 - OBST 0, CLFL TRUE, TUFL TRUE
SCON 1 - OBST 0, CLFL TRUE, TUFL TRUE
SDSH 1 - OBST 2, CLFL TRUE, TUFL TRUE
SCYL 3 - OBST 0, CLFL FALSE, TUFL TRUE
SCYL 4 - OBST 0, CLFL FALSE, TUFL TRUE
LSNO 1 - OBST 0, CLFL FALSE, TUFL TRUE
LSNO 2 - OBST 0, CLFL TRUE, TUFL FALSE
LSNO 3 - OBST 0, CLFL FALSE, TUFL TRUE
LSNO 4 - OBST 0, CLFL TRUE, TUFL FALSE
SCYL 1, SCYL 2 and SDSH 1 are obstruction volume primitives, that is, they
represent the obstruction volume of the Component, not its physical geometry and
dimensions. The other primitives represent the actual geometry and dimensions of the
Component.
The following illustrations show the appearance of the Component under various
REPRESENTATION settings.

Figure 6-7 REPRESENTATION OBST OFF TUBE OFF CL ON

6-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

This is the default REPRESENTATION setting for OBSTRUCTION, TUBE and

CENTRELINE. The attribute settings chosen for this example are ‘typical’ for a
Catalogue, and so Figure 6-7 shows the ‘normal’ appearance of the valve. Notice how the
OBST OFF setting does not affect the visibility of the obstruction dish (handwheel
space) since it has CLFL TRUE.

Figure 6-8 REPRESENTATION OBST ON TUBE OFF CL ON

Here the OBST ON setting matches the OBST 2 attribute value of the obstruction
cylinders and so they become visible, even though they have CLFL and TUFL both
FALSE.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-9 REPRESENTATION OBST ON TUBE OFF CL OFF

Here TUBE and CENTRELINE are both OFF but OBST is ON, and so only the
obstruction volume primitives are visible.

6-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-10 REPRESENTATION OBST ON TUBE ON CL OFF

Compared with Figure 6-9, those primitives with TUFL TRUE now become visible
because TUBE is now ON. The obstruction primitives remain visible because OBST is
still ON.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-11

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-11 REPRESENTATION OBST OFF TUBE ON CL OFF

OBST is now OFF and so the obstruction cylinders disappear. (The obstruction dish
remains because it has TUFL TRUE.)

6-12 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-12 REPRESENTATION OBST OFF TUBE ON CL ON

Here, all those primitives which have one or both of CLFL, TUFL TRUE are visible.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-13

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-13 REPRESENTATION OBST ON TUBE ON CL ON

In Figure 6-13, all the REPRESENTATION settings are ON and so all the Geomset
primitives are visible.

6-14 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Figure 6-14 REPRESENTATION OBST OFF TUBE OFF CL OFF

Here, all the REPRESENTATION settings are OFF and so no primitives are visible. The
Component P-points are still visible since the REPRESENTATION PPOINTS setting in
the example is ON.
The full default REPRESENTATION is:
CL ON
TUBE OFF
OBSTRUCTIONS OFF
LEVEL 0
PPOINTS ON LENGTH 50 NUMBERS OFF
PLINES ON PKEYS OFF
which is regained by
REPRESENTATION DEFAULT
Note that the TVISIBLE and BVISIBLE end visibility flags have no effect in
PARAGON.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-15

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6.4 Reference Section

This section gives the syntax of the MODEL SETTINGS command and the
REPRESENTATION command, as described in this chapter and in Chapter 4 (the latter
for setting component parameter defaults etc.).
The description of the syntax for the REPRESENTATION command is spread over a
number of separate sections, each showing how the command is applied to a particular
type of element. The final section summarises the complete REPRESENTATION syntax in
a single diagram.
Querying information is given, as are further examples, where appropriate.

6-16 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

6.4.1 Model Settings

Keywords: MODEL SETTINGS

Function: Sets default component parameters and design data attributes.

Description: Sets default values for component parameters and specimen values for
other classes of parameters (see Chapter 4). Also sets design data
attributes; the numeric attributes may be used in place of parameters
for defining Pointsets and Geomsets.
Examples of setting default component parameters:
MODEL SET PAR 3 35 Sets default value for component
parameter 3 to 35

MODEL SET IPAR 1 3.5 IPAR 2 4.5 Sets insulation parameter 1 to 3.5
and insulation parameter 2 to 4.5

MODEL SET APAR 1 250 Sets attached parameter 1 to 250

MODEL SET APAR 3 5.1 OPAR 2 19.75 Sets attached parameter 3 to 5.1
and owning parameter 2 to 19.75

MODEL SET CAT OPAR 3 2.5 Sets owning parameter 3 to 2.5

MODEL SET DES PARA 3 1.2 Sets design parameter 3 to 1.2

MODEL SET DES APAR 10 99 Sets design attached parameter 10

to 99

MODEL SET DES PAR 2 (ATAN(4 / 3)) Sets design parameter 2 to tan-1 4/3

MODEL SET DEF Deletes all default and specimen

parameters (also sets Design Data
attributes to default values)
The word CAT (short for CATALOGUE) in the fifth example is optional. You can use it
when setting default values for component parameters, and when setting specimen
values for structural parameters. You may find it helpful to use the word for clarity in
macros, to distinguish between Design DB parameters and other classes of parameters.
Values for any of these classes of parameters may be set in a single command, for
example:
MODEL SET PAR 2 12 IPAR 1 17 APAR 2 32 DES PAR 3 25 DES OPAR 5 6.3

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-17

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

Examples of setting design data attributes:

MODEL SET INSPEC /IS50 Set Insulation Specification to IS50

MODEL SET BOR 100 TEMP 350 PRESS 50

Set Component bore, temperature
and pressure to given Design values

MODEL SET DDHEI 2000 DDRAD 35

Set height and radius to given Design
values

MODEL SET DDANG (ASIN(6 / 7)) Set Design Angle to arcsin (6/7)

MODEL SET DEF Set Design Data attributes to default

values (also deletes all default and
specimen parameters and unsets
Insulation Spec)
Default values:
TEMP -100000
BORE 150.0 mm
PRESSURE 0.0
DDANGLE 90 degrees
DDHEIGHT 100.0 mm
DDRADIUS 225 mm
INSPEC Nulref (i.e. unset)

6-18 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Command Syntax:

.---------------------<------------------.
/ |
>- MODEL - SETtings --+--*- CATalogue* -. |
| |- DESign -----| |
| |--------------+- PARam --. |
| | |- APARam -| |
| | ‘- OPARam -+ |
| | | |
| |- IPARam ----------------+------. |
| | .-------------’ |
| | ‘- number -+- value ----|
| | ‘- <expres> -|
| | |
| |-- INSpec --- name -----------------------|
| | |
| |-- TEMp --- value ------------------------|
| | |
| |-- BORe --- value ------------------------|
| | |
| |-- PREssure --- value -------------------|
| | |
| |-- DDHEIght --- value --------------------|
| | |
| |-- DDRADius --- value --------------------|
| | |
| ‘-- DDANGle ---+--- value ----------------|
| ‘--- <expres> --------------|
| |
‘--- DEFault --------------------------------+-->
Querying Syntax:

>- Q - MODEL -- SETtings --+-- CATalogue --.

|-- DESign -----|
|---------------+-- PARam ---.
| |-- APARam --|
| ‘-- OPARam --+
| |
|-- IPARam ------------------|
| |
|-- INSpec ------------------|
| |
|-- TEMp --------------------|
| |
|-- BORe --------------------|
| |
|-- PREssure ----------------|
| |
|-- DDHEIght ----------------|
| |
|-- DDRADius ----------------|
| |
‘-- DDANGle -----------------+-->

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-19

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6.4.2 Setting Representation for Piping Components

Keywords: REPRESENTATION TUBE CL CENTRELINE

Description: The REPRESENTATION command allows piping components to be

represented by a single centreline (CL) or by a 2D outline (TUBE). In
some cases, it helps to switch between the two representations to
simplify an otherwise complicated view.

Switching TUBE On switches CL Off automatically, and vice versa.

TUBE and CL representations are not instantly updated on the screen.

To see the effects of a representation change, it is necessary to replace
the affected item in the Draw List by Removing and Adding it.
Examples:
REPR TUBE ON Sets tubing representation as double line
REPR CL ON Sets tubing representation as centreline
Command Syntax:

.---------------------<-----------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --*-- CL -------------------------. |
| | |
|-- CENTreline -----------------| |
| | |
‘-- TUBE -----------------------+-- ON ---|
| |
‘-- OFF --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR TUBE
Q REPR CL
Q REPR - queries all Representation options.

6-20 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

6.4.3 Setting Profile Representation for Steelwork

Keywords: REPRESENTATION PROFILE

Description: The REPRESENTATION PROFILE commands allow structural steel

profiles to be represented by a single centreline or by a 2D outline. In
some cases, it helps to switch between the two representations to
simplify an otherwise complicated view.

Changes to the representation are not instantly updated on the screen.

To see the effects of a representation change, it is necessary to replace
the affected item in the Draw List by Removing and Adding it.
Examples:
REPR PROF ON PROF CL OFF Sets profile representation as 2D outline
REPR PROF CL ON PROF OFF Sets profile representation as centreline
REPR PROF ON PROF CL ON Sets both types of representation on

.-----------------<--------------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --*-- PROFile --+-- CL ----------. |
| | |
|-- CENTreline --| |
| | |
‘----------------+-- ON ---|
| |
‘-- OFF --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR PROF
Q REPR - queries all Representation options.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-21

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6.4.4 Setting Level Representation

Keywords: REPRESENTATION LEVEL

Description: This command enables individual drawing levels to be specified for the
display of catalogue elements. Every basic primitive shape has an
associated drawing level range attribute stored in the Catalogue. If the
specified drawing level coincides with this range, the 3D object will be
drawn when it is added to the Draw List.

The practical effect of this facility is that it allows you to minimise

visible detail when representing catalogue items. For instance, at level
3, steelwork may be represented as single line only, whereas at level 1
the full detail may be visible. Level 3 may well be adequate for design
purposes.

LEVEL manipulation is not instantly updated on the screen. To see the

effects of a level change, use the REPR UPDATE command.
Examples:
REPR LEVEL PIPE 5 Sets piping level to 5. All pipes which are added
after this command will be drawn at level 5. Those
which were already in the view will remain
unchanged.
REPR LEVEL 2 Set level for all other Component types to 2
Command Syntax:

.-------------------<-------------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --*-- LEVel --+-- PIPE -------. |
| | |
|-- NOZZle -----| |
| | |
|-- STRUcture --| |
| | |
‘---------------+-- integer --+-->
Querying:
Q REPR - lists all REPRE options
Q REPR LEVEL - lists levels at which other Components are drawn
Q DISPLAY - gives units and tolerance settings, as well as
representation levels

6-22 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

6.4.5 Setting Obstruction and Insulation Representation

Keywords: REPRESENTATION OBSTRUCTION INSULATION

Description: Component Obstructions are often given LEVELS or TUBE and

CENTRELINE settings which render them invisible. Setting the
Representation of OBST On forces the system to override normal
LEVEL and TUBE settings and show all of the primitives, regardless of
the other settings.

Setting the Representation of INSU On or Off determines whether or

not insulation is shown on primitives.

These have the effect of considering all primitives which have an

obstruction level greater than zero and all primitives which are affected
by insulation parameters. As with changes to LEVEL representation,
the graphics display is not updated instantly. Use the RECR UPDATE
command to make any changes visible.
Examples:
REPR OBST ON INSU OFF
REPR INSU ON
REPR PROF OBST ON PROF INSU OFF
Command Syntax:

.--------------<------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --*-- OBSTruction --. |
| | |
|-- INSUlation ---+-----------|
| |
‘-- PROFile --+- OBSTruction -|
| |
‘- INSUlation --+- ON --.
| |
‘- OFF -+-->
Querying:
Q REPR Lists all Representation settings
Q REPR INSU Queries if INSU is ON or OFF
Q REPR OBST Queries if OBST is ON or OFF

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-23

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6.4.6 Setting P-Point Representation

Keywords: REPRESENTATION PPOINTS LENGTH NUMBERS

Description: P-point representation may be set to ON or OFF. The default setting is

PPOINTS OFF, although p-points will be shown automatically as part
of an identification operation.

When p-points are on, they are drawn as small arrows with a cross at
the p-point position and with the arrow indicating the p-point direction.
The size of the arrow is controlled by the LENGTH option. P-point
numbers may also be displayed, as controlled by the NUMBERS option.

As with changes to other representation settings, the graphics display

is not updated instantly. Items must be removed and re-added to the
Draw List before changes to the display of p-points becomes visible.
Examples:
REPR PPOINTS ON Sets the p-point representation to ON
REPR PPOINTS LENGTH 5 Sets size of p-point arrows
REPR PPOINTS NUMB ON Shows p-point numbers
Command Syntax:

>-- REPResentation - PPoints --+-- ON ---.

| |
|-- OFF --|
| |
‘---------+-- LENgth -- <uval> --.
| |
‘----------------------+--.
|
.--------------<---------------------’
|
+-- NUMbers --+-- ON ---.
| | |
| ‘-- OFF --|
| |
‘-----------------------+-->
Querying:
Q REPR PPOINTS

6-24 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

6.4.7 Setting P-Line Representation

Keywords: REPRESENTATION PLINES LENGTH PKEY

Description: P-line representation for structural Profiles may be set to ON or OFF.

The default setting is PLINES OFF.

When p-lines are on, the size of the arrow showing their direction is
controlled by the LENGTH option. P-line identifiers, in the form of the
settings of their PKEY attributes (TOS, BOS, NA, etc.) may also be
displayed, as controlled by the PKEY option.

As with changes to other representation settings, the graphics display

is not updated instantly. Use the RECR UPDATE command to see
changes to the display of p-lines.
Examples:
REPR PLINES ON Sets the p-line representation to ON
REPR PLINES LENGTH 6 Sets size of p-line arrows
REPR PLINES PKEY ON Shows p-line identifiers (settings of PKEY
attributes)
Command Syntax:

.---------------------<---------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --*-- PLINes -+- ON --. |
| | | |
| |- OFF -| |
| | | |
| ‘-------+- LENgth - <uval> -|
| | |
| ‘-------------------|
| |
‘-- PKEYs --+- ON --. |
| | |
‘- OFF -+-------------------+-->
Querying:
Q REPR PLINES
Q REPR PKEYS

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-25

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6.4.8 The Full REPRESENTATION Syntax

.----------------------<-------------------.
/ |
>-- REPResentation --+--*-- TUBE - <onoff> --------------------------|
| | |
| |-- CL ----------. |
| | | |
| |-- CENTreline --+- <onoff> -----------------|
| | |
| |-- HOLEs - <onoff> -------------------------|
| | |
| |-- OBSTruction - <onoff> -------------------|
| | |
| |-- INSUlation - <onoff> --------------------|
| | |
| |-- LEVel -+- PIPE ------. |
| | | | |
| | |- NOZZle ----| |
| | | | |
| | |- STRUcture -| |
| | | | |
| | ‘-------------+- integer ---------|
| | |
| |-- PPoints - <onoff> - <ppsiz> -------------|
| | |
| |-- PROFile -+- CL ----------. |
| | | | |
| | |- CENTreline --| |
| | | | |
| | |- OBSTruction -| |
| | | | |
| | |- INSUlation --| |
| | | | |
| | ‘---------------+- <onoff> -----|
| | |
| |-- PNODes --. .--------<---------. |
| | |/ | |
| |-- SNODes --*- <onoff> ----------| |
| | | | |
| | |- COLour - <colno> -| |
| | | | |
| | ‘-- SIZe - <uval-----+----------|
| | |
| |-- POINts - <onoff> ------------------------|
| | |
| |-- PKEYs - <onoff> -------------------------|
| | |
| |-- PLINes - <onoff> -+- LENgth - <uval> -. |
| | | | |
| | ‘-------------------+--|
| | |
Continued Continued

6-26 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Component Design and Representation

Continued Continued
| |-- HOLes - <onoff> -------------------------|
| | |
| |-- MASSproperties - <int> ------------------|
| | |
| |-- DARCtolerance - <uval> ------------------|
| | |
| \-- UPDATE ----------------------------------|
| |
‘-- DEFault ------------------------------------+-->

<onoff> is either ON or OFF

<ppsiz> is
>--+- LENgth - <uval> -.
| |
‘-------------------+- NUMbers - <onoff> -.
| |
‘---------------------+-->

<colno> is
>--+-- integer ----------------------------------------.
| |
|-- ACTive -----------------------------------------|
| |
|-- VISIble ----------------------------------------|
| |
|-- CE ---------------------------------------------|
| |
|-- CLASH ------------------------------------------|
| |
|-- OBST -------------------------------------------|
| |
|-- COMPAre --+-- MATCHed -----------------------. |
| | | |
| |-- MISMatched --------------------| |
| | | |
| |-- UNMAtched --+-- CONNector --. | |
| | | | | |
| | ‘---------------+--| |
| | | |
| ‘-- TEXT --------------------------+--|
| |
‘-- AIDS -------------------------------------------+-->

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 6-27

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Component Design and Representation

6-28 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
7 Pointsets and Geomsets

This chapter describes in detail the following Catalogue DB elements:

• 3D Pointset (PTSET)
• Structural Pointset (PTSSET)
• 3D Geomset (GMSET)
• Negative 3D Geomset (NGMSET)
• Structural Geomset (GMSSET)

Creation and manipulation of the Catalogue elements is described in Chapter 8.

7.1 3D Pointsets (PTSET)

A PTSET is a collection of P-point elements. P-points are used in the design process to
position and orientate Piping Components, and to define their connectivity to each
other. P-points may also be used in PARAGON to define the position and orientation of
the 3D Geomset primitives which make up Piping Components, Joints and Fittings.
(Profiles do not use P-points.)
A P-point has a 3D position and a direction, and is identified by a number. Each
PTSET includes a special P-point, P-point zero (P0), whose position is the component
origin and whose direction is the Z axis direction of the Component. It has no other
attributes. P0 is created automatically by PARAGON; you cannot change it in any way.
The numbering of the P-points of Piping Components must follow certain conventions -
see Appendix A for a summary of these, and the ISODRAFT Reference Manual for fuller
details. There are no special conventions for numbering the P-points of Joints and
Fittings.
A P-point has a connection type attribute, which is used only when the P-point
belongs to a Piping Component. The connection type attribute can be used to specify how
a Piping Component is connected to another at the position of the P-point, for example
by a butt weld or socket weld.
A P-point has a bore attribute, which is used only when the P-point belongs to a Piping
Component. It can be used to specify the bore of the pipe at that point.
PDMS’s data consistency checks (see the DESIGN Reference Manual) can be used to
check that the connection type attributes of Piping Components are compatible with the
corresponding attributes of the Components to which they are connected. The
compatibility of connection types is defined in a Connection Compatibility Table
(CCTAB) - see Section 9.3 for details.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

Use of the REPRESENTATION command affects how P-points are drawn by PARAGON;
see Section 6.2 for details.
A PTSET has the following attributes:
• DESC - a textual description of the Pointset
• GTYP - the generic type of the item for which the Pointset is
used
• SKEY - the Symbol Key to which the Pointset relates (see the
ISODRAFT Reference Manual)
• PURP - the purpose of the Pointset

A PTSET may contain one or more of the three types of P-point element:
• Axial P-point - PTAXI
• Cartesian P-point - PTCAR
• Mixed P-point - PTMIX

7.1.1 Axial P-point (PTAXI)

A PTAXI allows a P-point to be defined in terms of an axis and a distance along that
axis. A PTAXI has no member elements and has the following attributes:
• NUMB - the P-point number
• PCON - the connection type
• PBOR - the bore of the P-point
• PAXI - the axis of the P-point
• PDIS - the distance along the axis of the P-point
• PSKEY - the pipe fitting (end condition) type to be used by ISODRAFT
• DESC - a textual description of the P-point
• PURP - the purpose of the P-point
NUMB must be set as a value. PAXI must be set as a direction - see Section 8.5.2 for
details. The other attributes may be set as values or words (as appropriate), or in terms
of parameters (which in turn are values or words). The classes of parameter which may
be used depend on the class of Component (Piping Component, Joint or Fitting) which
uses the P-point - see Section 4.7 for details. PCON and PBOR are used for Piping
Components only. They have no meaning if the P-point is used by a Joint or Fitting. For
details of PSKEY settings, see Section 8.5.8.
These conventions also apply to the attributes of the PTCAR and PTMIX elements
described below. See Section 8.5 for examples of setting these attributes.

7-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.1.2 Cartesian P-point (PTCAR)

A PTCAR allows a P-point to be defined by specifying its position and direction
explicitly. A PTCAR has no member elements and has the following attributes:
• NUMB - the P-point number
• PCON - the connection type
• PBOR - the bore of the P-point
• PX,PY,PZ - the X, Y, Z coordinates of the P-point
• PTCDIR - the direction of the P-point
• PSKEY - the pipe fitting (end condition) type to be used by ISODRAFT
• DESC - a textual description of the P-point
• PURP - the purpose of the P-point
PTCDIR must be set as a direction - see Section 8.5.5 for details.

7.1.3 Mixed Type P-point (PTMIX)

A PTMIX allows a P-point to be defined by specifying the position explicitly but using
PAXI to specify the direction. A PTMIX has no member elements and has the following
attributes:
• NUMB - the P-point number
• PCON - the connection type
• PBOR - the bore of the P-point
• PX,PY,PZ - the X, Y, Z coordinates of the P-point
• PAXI - the axis of the P-point
• PSKEY - the pipe fitting (end condition) type to be used by ISODRAFT
• DESC - a textual description of the P-point
• PURP - the purpose of the P-point

7.1.4 Position Type P-point (PTPOS)

A PTPOS allows a P-point to be defined by specifying a position expression PTCPOS and
using PTCD to specify the direction expression. A PTPOS has no member elements and
has the following attributes:

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

• NUMB - the P-point number

• PCON - the connection type
• PBOR - the bore of the P-point
• PTCPOS - the position expression
• PTCD - the direction expression
• PSKEY - the pipe fitting (end condition) type to be used by ISODRAFT
• DESC - a textual description of the P-point
• PURP - the purpose of the P-point.

7.2 Structural Pointsets (PTSSET)

A PTSSET is a collection of P-line elements (PLINE). P-lines are used in the Catalogue
by Profiles and Joints. P-lines are used in the design process to position and orientate
Sections (derived from Profiles) and Joints.

Direction Position
of P-line of P-line

PROFILE X
(viewing in
-Z direction)

Position
Direction
of P-line
of P-line

X
SECTION Z

Figure 7-1 2D and 3D Views of a P-line

7-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

A P-line is the structural counterpart of a P-point. It is a line which runs the full length
of a Component parallel to its Z axis. Viewed in the XY plane, it appears as a point. This
point is its position. A P-line also has a direction. This is not the direction of the line
itself (which is always parallel to the Z axis of the Component), but a direction from the
line in the XY plane. The position and direction are defined in XY coordinates only.
Figure 7-1 shows a two-dimensional view and a three-dimensional view of a P-line on
the top of a Section.
P-lines may be used in PARAGON to define the position and orientation of the 2D
primitives in a Structural Geomset which make up a Profile. They cannot be used to
position and orientate the 3D primitives which make up a Joint.
One of the P-lines in a Structural Pointset must be designated as the neutral axis p-
line. This is used in DESIGN for positioning and orientating the Component. (The
neutral axis is the line where there is no stress in bending, and about which the
Component bends.) A P-line is designated as the neutral axis by setting the neutral
axis reference attribute (NAREF) of the Structural Pointset to the name of the P-line.
A PLINE has no member elements and has the following attributes:
• PKEY - the P-line identifier key
• PX,PY - the X, Y coordinates of the P-line
• PLAXI - the axis of the P-line, defining its direction
• LEVEL - the drawing level range attribute
• CLFLA - the centreline drawing flag attribute
• TUFLA - the tube drawing flag attribute
• DESC - a textual description of the Pline
• PURP - the purpose of the Pline

PKEY is a word attribute which identifies the P-line. It is equivalent to the NUMB
attribute of a P-point. PLAXI is a direction, equivalent to the PAXI attribute of a P-
point.
PKEY must be set as a word. PLAXI must be set as a direction - see Section 8.6.3 for
details. PX and PY may be set as values or in terms of parameters. The classes of
parameter which may be used depend on whether the P-line is used by a Profile or by a
Joint - see Section 4.7 for details. Chapter 8 gives examples of setting these attributes.
The settings of LEVEL, CLFLA and TUFLA and the use of the REPRESENTATION
command affect whether or not the P-line is drawn by PARAGON. LEVEL is a pair of
numbers specifying a range and CLFLA and TUFLA are set to TRUE or FALSE
(corresponding to ‘on’ or ‘off’ respectively). The way in which LEVEL, TUFLA and
CLFLA and the REPRESENTATION settings interact is discussed in Section 6.2. (The
settings of LEVEL, CLFLA and TUFLA also affect whether or not the P-line is drawn in
DESIGN.)
The primitives in the Geomsets also have LEVEL, CLFLA and TUFLA attributes, which
affect whether or not they are drawn in PARAGON and DESIGN.
NOTE: A P-line has its own set of axes, which are used in the design process (not in
PARAGON). See the DESIGN Reference Manual for details.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.3 3D Geomsets (GMSET)

A GMSET is a grouping of 3D primitive elements which are used to make up Piping

Components, Joints and Fittings. It specifies the dimensions, orientation and
obstruction geometry of each primitive. The Geomset defines the symbol that is drawn
for a particular Component by PARAGON (and DESIGN) and also defines the
obstruction geometry of the Component for use when checking for clashes. Each symbol
is built up from a combination of the following primitives:
• SBOX - rectangular box
• BOXI - boxing (used by HVAC and Ducting etc)
• SCON - cone
• LCYL - cylinder
• SCYL - cylinder
• SSLC - slope bottomed cylinder
• SDIS - disc
• SDSH - dish
• SLINE - line
• LINE - line
• LPYR - pyramid
• SCTO - circular torus
• SRTO - rectangular torus
• LSNO - snout
• SSPH - sphere
• TUBE - tubing
• SEXT - user-defined extrusion
• SREV - solid of revolution
GMSET has no attributes other than the standard ones. Each member element of a 3D
Geomset has the following attributes in addition to the standard ones:
• LEVEL - the drawing level range attribute
• CLFLA - the centreline drawing flag attribute
• TUFLA - the tube drawing flag attribute
• OBST - the obstruction attribute
• DESC - a textual description of the Geomset
• GTYP - the generic type of the item for which the Geomset is used
• PURP - the purpose of the Geomset

7-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

The settings of LEVEL, CLFLA and TUFLA affect whether the primitive is drawn or not
by PARAGON (or DESIGN), as they do for P-lines. See Section 7.2 for details.
OBST is a number which defines the obstruction level of the primitive for use by
DESIGN’s clash checking facility:
• OBST = 0: No obstruction. The primitive will not clash with anything (used for
symbols and negative volumes).

• OBST = 1: ‘Soft’ obstruction. Used for insulation, access volumes, penalty

volumes, etc.

• OBST = 2: ‘Hard’ obstruction. DESIGN’s clash checking facility will report hard
interference with any item having OBST 1 or 2.

The LEVEL, OBST, CLFLA and TUFLA attributes are common to all primitives. Each
primitive also has additional attributes depending on its shape; these are described in
the next section.

7.4 3D Geomset Primitives

The following primitive elements are used by 3D Geomsets. They all have the standard
attributes and the common attributes LEVEL, CLFLA, TUFLA and OBST.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.1 Box (SBOX)

SBOX has particular attributes as follows:
• PXLE, PYLE, PZLE - box dimensions in X, Y, Z directions
• PX, PY, PZ - box coordinates

Figure 7-2 SBOX Catalogue Primitive

7.4.2 Boxing (BOXI)

Components whose GTYPE attribute is TUBE can use BOXI elements to give, for
example, implied tube of rectangular cross-section. BOXI elements can be used for
modelling ducting, trunking and cable trays.

7-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

BOXI has the following particular attributes:

• PXLE - cross-section X-direction length
• PZLE - cross-section Z-direction length
• PAXI - position and orientation of normal to centre of end face
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-3 BOXI Catalogue Primitive

When implied tube is drawn using BOXI elements, the Y axis of the implied BOXI is set
to the PLeave direction of the preceding component. The X axis of the BOXI is set to be
mutually orthogonal to the PLeave and the Z axis of the preceding component (which
usually corresponds to the X axis of the component). The Z axis of the BOXI is then
derived from its X and Y axes (and usually corresponds to the Z axis of the component).
A 3D Geomset may contain more than one BOXI element and corresponding P-points
may be offset in the X or Z directions.
Note for Pipework Designers: If there is no preceding component (that is, if the
implied BOXI forms the Head of a Branch), the Y axis will be set to the Parrive of the
following component (that is, the first component in the Branch). If there are no
components, the BOXI will be set to the orientation of the Zone. (Since Pipe and Branch
elements have no coordinate system, this is the lowest level in the design hierarchy from
which an orientation can be derived.)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.3 Cone (SCON)

SCON has particular attributes as follows:
• PAXI - direction of axis of cone
• PDIS - height of vertex above base
• PDIA - diameter of base

Figure 7-4 Cone Catalogue Primitive

7-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.4 Cylinder (LCYL)

There are three types of cylinder primitive defined in different ways. LCYL is defined by
the distances from the origin to the two end faces. LCYL has particular attributes as
follows:
• PAXI - direction of axis of cylinder
• PDIA - diameter of cylinder
• PBDI - distance along axis to centre of bottom surface
• PTDI - distance along axis to centre of top surface
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-5 Cylinder (LCYL) Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-11

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.5 Cylinder (SCYL)

This type of cylinder primitive is defined by the distance to the bottom face from the
origin and the height. SCYL has particular attributes as follows:
• PAXI - direction of axis of cylinder
• PHEI - height of cylinder
• PDIA - diameter of cylinder
• PDIS - distance along axis to centre of nearest surface
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-6 Cylinder (SCYL) Catalogue Primitive

7-12 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.6 Slope-Bottomed Cylinder (SSLC)

This is similar to the SLCY available in the Design Data and has its main use in the
modelling of mitred bends. SSLC has the following particular attributes:
• PAXI - direction of axis of cylinder
• PHEI - height of cylinder
• PDIA - diameter of cylinder
• PXTS - inclination of top face to X-axis
• PYTS - inclination of top face to Y-axis
• PXBS - inclination of bottom face to X-axis
• PYBS - inclination of bottom face to Y-axis
• PDIS - distance from origin
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face
Y
PYTS (+n)

PAXI

PHEI

PXBS (+n) PXTS (-n)

PYBS (-n)
PDIS PDIA

X
ORIG PDIA

PAXI

PDIS PHEI

Figure 7-7 Slope-Bottomed Cylinder (SSLC) Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-13

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.7 Disc (SDIS)

The Disc primitive is a circular element of zero thickness. SDIS has particular
attributes as follows:
• PAXI - direction of axis of disc
• PDIS - distance along axis to centre of disc
• PDIA - diameter of disc

Figure 7-8 Disc Catalogue Primitive

7-14 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.8 Dish (SDSH)

This is similar to the DISH available in the Design Data. It allows symbolic modelling of
control valves and closer modelling of other Components. SDSH has the following
particular attributes:
• PAXI - direction of axis of dish
• PDIS - distance along axis to centre of top surface
• PDIA - diameter of dish base
• PHEI - maximum height of dished surface above base
• PRAD - corner radius

If PRAD=0 a spherical section dish is drawn, if PRAD>0 an ellipsoidal section dish is

drawn.

Figure 7-9 Dish Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-15

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.9 Line (LINE)

In addition to the three–dimensional primitive elements, 3D Geomsets may contain Line
(LINE). A LINE has one particular attribute:
• PTS - a set of numbers (up to six) representing P-point numbers of the P-
points in the corresponding Pointset, which determine the course of
the line.

The values held in PTS are set by the SETPoints command, followed by point
specifications in which each p–point identifier is preceded by ‘P’ or ‘T’, e.g. P1 P2 T3 P4.
When the P-point is preceded by P it is treated in the same way as a point element
(POINT) in the Design Data; when preceded by a T it is treated in the same way as a
tangent point element (TANP) in the Design Data. (See DESIGN Reference Manual for
further details).

7.4.10 Line (SLINE)

In addition to the three–dimensional primitive elements, an alternative to the LINE
element is the SLINE. This has two particular attributes:
• PTSPOS - Start position expression

• PTEPOS - End position expression

7-16 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.11 Pyramid (LPYR)

The main use of this element is in the creation of rectangular reducers for ducting etc.
LPYR has the particular attributes as follows:
• PAAX - direction of axis normal to top face of pyramid (the A axis):
this is taken to be in the Z direction
• PBAX, PCAX - the directions of the two axes perpendicular to the A axis and
mutually perpendicular to define the position of the B and C
sides
• PBTP, PCTP - length of top faces in B axis and C axis directions
• PBBT, PCBT - length of bottom faces in B axis and C axis directions
• PBOF, PCOF - top face offsets in B axis and C axis directions
• PTDI - distance from origin to centre of top face along A axis
• PBDI - distance from origin to centre of bottom face along A axis
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-10 Pyramid Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-17

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.12 Circular Torus (SCTO)

The circular torus is only part of a torus; it is not permitted to subtend more than 180
degrees. It is circular in cross-section. SCTO has particular attributes as follows:
• PAAX, PBAX - direction of axes normal to the end faces of the torus
• PDIA - diameter of the cross-section of the torus.
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-11 Circular Torus Catalogue Primitive

7-18 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.13 Rectangular Torus (SRTO)

The rectangular torus is similar to the circular torus except that it is rectangular in
cross-section. SRTO has particular attributes as follows:
• PAAX, PBAX - direction of axes normal to the end faces of the torus
• PDIA - width of the cross-section of the torus
• PHEI - height of the cross-section of the torus
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-12 Rectangular Torus Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-19

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.14 Snout (LSNO)

The Snout primitive is a cylindrical element of varying diameter along its length. It may
be eccentric or concentric. LSNO has particular attributes as follows:
• PAAX - direction of axis normal to top surface of snout (the A axis)
• PBAX - offset direction
• PTDI, PBDI - distance along A axis to top, bottom surfaces of snout
• PTDM, PBDM - diameter of top, bottom surfaces of snout
• POFF - the offset/eccentricity of the snout as measured in the PBAX
direction
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

Figure 7-13 Snout Catalogue Primitive

The sizes of the top and bottom surfaces of the snout may be defined in terms of their
radii instead of their diameters.
• PTRA, PBRA - radius of top, bottom surfaces of snout

7-20 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.15 Sphere (SSPH)

SSPH has particular attributes as follows:
• PAXI - direction of axis on which centre of sphere lies
• PDIS - distance along axis to centre of sphere
• PDIA - diameter of sphere

Figure 7-14 Sphere Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-21

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.16 Tube (TUBE)

Components whose GTYPE attribute is TUBE can use TUBE Geomset elements to give,
for example, implied tube of circular cross-section. TUBE has particular attributes as
follows:
• PDIAM - tube diameter
• TVISI - visibility of top face
• BVISI - visibility of bottom face

7-22 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.17 User-defined Extrusion (SEXT)

This primitive is generated by extruding a user-defined 2D shape, known as a Loop
(SLOO), whose outline is defined by a set of member elements called Vertices (SVER).
The lines joining adjacent SVERs form the edges of the SLOO. The extrusion distance is
defined by the height of the SEXT to give the final 3D volume.
In addition to the attributes defining its position, each SVER can have a radius which
applies a convex or concave fillet to the loop at that point.
SEXT has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY, PZ - coordinates of origin of SLOO
• PAAX, - directions of axes of SLOO
PBAX (these will define coordinate system for SVERs)
• PHEI - distance by which 2D SLOO is extruded to form 3D SEXT
SLOO has no special attributes.
SVER has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY - coordinates of vertex
• PRAD - fillet radius of loop at vertex position
PBAX of SEXT

(PX,PY)
of
SVER
PAAX of SEXT

PHEI of SEXT =Loop (SLOO)

(PX,PY,PZ) =Vertex (SVER)

of SEXT

Figure 7-15 User-defined Extrusion Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-23

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.4.18 Solid of Revolution (SREV)

This primitive is generated by rotating a user-defined 2D shape, known as a Loop
(SLOO), whose outline is defined by a set of member elements called Vertices (SVER),
through an angle about an axis. The swept angle must be in the range -360 to +360
degrees, 360 degrees giving a solid which is axially symmetrical.
In addition to the attributes defining its position, each SVER can have a radius which
applies a convex or concave fillet to the loop at that point.
SREV has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY, PZ - coordinates of origin of SLOO
• PAAX, - directions of axes of SLOO
PBAX (these will define coordinate system for SVERs)
• PANGLE - angle through which 2D SLOO is rotated to form 3D SREV
SLOO has no special attributes.
SVER has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY - coordinates of vertex
• PRAD - fillet radius of loop at vertex position
Y (PBAX)

SLOO = SVER
Origin
(PX,PY,PZ)

PANGLE

Z
X (PAAX)

Figure 7-16 Solid of Revolution Catalogue Primitive

7-24 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.5 Negative 3D Geomsets (NGMSET) and Negative

Primitives

A NGMSET is a grouping of negative 3D primitive elements which are used to represent

holes or end preparations for structural items. It specifies the dimensions, orientation
and obstruction geometry of each negative primitive. The attributes of NGMSETs are
the same as those of their positive equivalents (see Sections 7.3 and 7.4).
The Negative Geomset defines the symbol that is drawn for a particular Component by
PARAGON (and DESIGN) and also defines the obstruction geometry of the Component
for use when checking for clashes.
Each symbol is built up from a combination of the following negative primitives:
• NSBO - negative rectangular box
• NBOX - negative boxing
• NSCO - negative cone
• NLCY - negative cylinder
• NSCY - negative cylinder
• NSSL - negative slope bottomed cylinder
• NLPY - negative pyramid
• NSCT - negative circular torus
• NSRT - negative rectangular torus
• NLSN - negative snout
• NSSP - negative sphere
• NTUB - negative tubing
• NSEX - negative user-defined extrusion
• NSRE - negative solid of revolution
• NSRU - negative ruled surface
Negative Primitives have the same attributes as the corresponding positive primitives,
with the addition of the NAPP (Negative APPlies to) attribute, which controls whether
the negative primitive is removed from the item itself, or the attached or owning item.
The allowed values are:
-1 Default. See following table:
Item Remove from
PJOInt Attached SCTN or GENSEC
SJOInt Attached SCTN or GENSEC
SUBJoint Attached SCTN or GENSEC
SCOJoint Owning PANEl
PFITting Owning PANEl
COFItting Owning PANEl
FITTing Owning SCTN
FIXIng Owning GENSEC

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-25

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

0 Negative Primitive will not be removed from anything.

1 Negative Primitive will be removed from Attached item
2 Negative Primitive will be removed from Owner
4 Negative Primitive will be removed from the item itself
7 Negative Primitive will be removed from all items.
The positive values can be combined so that the hole will be created in more than one
item. For example, NAPP=6 means that the volume will be removed from the item itself
and the item’s owner.
The following table shows what Attached and Owner mean for items that can referenced
NGMSEs.

Item Attached Owner

PJOInt Attached SCTN or GENSEC -
SJOInt Attached SCTN or GENSEC Owning SCTN or GENSEC
SUBJoint - Owning PCOJ/SCOJ
SCOJoint - Owning SCTN or GENSEC
PFITting - Owning PANEl
COFItting - Owning PANEl
FITTing - Owning SCTN
FIXIng - Owning GENSEC

For example, if a SUBJoint references a NGMSE which contains an NSBOX with

NAPP=1, the NSBOX will be removed from the Subjoint’s attached Section.

7.6 Structural Geomsets (GMSSET)

A GMSSET is a grouping of 2D primitive elements used to make up structural Profiles.

It specifies the dimensions, orientation and obstruction geometry of each primitive. The
Geomset defines the symbol that is drawn for a particular Component by PARAGON
(and DESIGN) and also defines the obstruction geometry of the Component for use when
clash checking. Each symbol is built up from a combination of the following three types
of primitive:
• SREC - rectangle
• SANN - annulus
• SPRO - user-defined profile
Like the member elements of a 3D Geomset, each member element of a Structural
Geomset has LEVEL, CLFLA, TUFLA and OBST attributes.

7-26 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

NOTE: For correct clash detection, the maximum number of primitives with OBST set
to 1 or 2 in any GMSSET is 20; the order of these in the members list is not
important. See the DESIGN Reference Manual for details of the best way of
setting up Component data so as to minimise processing time for clash
detection.
The primitives have additional attributes as described in the next section.

7.7 Structural Geomset Primitives

The following primitive elements are used by Structural Geomsets. They all have the
standard attributes and the common attributes LEVEL, CLFLA, TUFLA and OBST.
The additional particular attributes of each element are as described below.
Note that each 2D primitive has effectively two types of positional attributes which
allow its geometry to be changed progressively as it is extruded in space to create a 3D
design element (such as a structural SCTN or GENSEC element). The P... attributes
define the geometry at the Start of an extruded section, while the D... attributes define
the change in that geometry between the Start and End of the extruded section.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-27

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.7.1 Structural Rectangle (SREC)

SREC has particular attributes as follows:
• PXLE, PYLE - rectangle dimensions in X, Y directions
• DXLE, DYLE - difference in rectangle dimensions in X, Y directions for
tapered sections
• PX, PY - coordinates of centre of rectangle
• DX, DY - offset of coordinates of centre of rectangle between ends of
section
• PLAXI - direction of Y axis of rectangle
Y

PXLEN

PLAXIS

PYLEN

PY

X
PX

Figure 7-17 SREC Catalogue Primitive

7-28 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Pointsets and Geomsets

7.7.2 Structural Annulus (SANN)

SANN has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY - coordinates of centre of annulus
• DX, DY - offset of coordinates of centre of annulus between ends of
section
• PRAD - external radius
• DRAD - change of external radius between ends of section
• PWID - width of annulus
• DWID - change of width between ends of section
• PANG - angle subtended by annulus
• PLAXI - start angle
NOTE: PANG must be in the range -180_ to +180_. Positive angles are anticlockwise
when the primitive is viewed in the -Z direction.
Y

PANGLE

PRADIUS

PLAXIS

PWIDTH
PY

PX X

Figure 7-18 SANN Catalogue Primitive

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 7-29

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Pointsets and Geomsets

7.7.3 Structural Profile (SPRO)

This element represents a user-defined 2D shape whose outline is defined by a set of
member elements called Structural Profile Vertices (SPVE). The lines joining
adjacent SPVEs form the edges of the SPRO.
In addition to the attributes defining its position, each SPVE can have a radius which
applies a convex or concave fillet to the profile at that point.
SPRO has particular attributes as follows:
• PLAXI - direction of Y axis of profile (this defines coordinate system for
SPVEs)
SPVE has particular attributes as follows:
• PX, PY - coordinates of vertex
• DX, DY - offset of coordinates between start and end of a tapered section
• PRAD - fillet radius of profile at vertex position
• DRAD - change of fillet radius of profile at vertex position between ends
of section
Y
SPVE (PRAD set to positive value)

SPVE SPVE
PLAXIS
SPRO

SPVE (PRAD zero) SPVE

PY

X
PX

Figure 7-19 SPRO and SPVE Catalogue Primitives

7-30 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
8 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

This chapter describes how to create and manipulate the member elements of the PDMS
Catalogue database.

8.1 Basic Element Operation Commands

Querying:

QUERY e.g. QUERY ATTRIBUTES

Creation, deletion etc:

NEW e.g. NEW SECTION

DELETE e.g. DELETE SREC
REORDER e.g. REORDER 5 BEFORE 3
COPY e.g. COPY /VALVES2-1
RENAME e.g. RENAME /UEANGLE80 /UEANGLE100
INCLUDE e.g. INCLUDE SCOM 6 OF /FLAN300 BEFORE 2

Implicit element referencing:

OLD
END
SAME
CE
OWNER
GOTO e.g. GOTO PTREF

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

List position changing:

FIRST (Can be just command word by itself or followed by element

LAST type, for example FIRST LCYL)
NEXT
PREVIOUS number list position number, e.g. ‘5’

Standard attribute setting

NAME
UNNAME
LOCK
UNLOCK

These commands are those which are common to all ‘constructor’ modules of PDMS and
some are used in this chapter without further explanation. However, the element types
which the above commands operate on relate to the Catalogue database rather than the
Design database (so, for example, NEXT SITE is meaningless in PARAGON).

8.2 Creating Catalogues, Sections and Catalogue

Components

Catalogues and Sections are created using the NEW command. You would normally also
specify names by which you can recognise and refer to the elements created. For
example:
NEW CATA /ANSI-CATALOGUE
will create a Catalogue with the name /ANSI-CATALOGUE in the Catalogue database.
NEW SECT /FLANGES
NEW STSEC /PROFILES
will create a Piping Section with the name /FLANGES and a Structural Section with the
name /PROFILES. Similarly,
NEW CATEG /ANSI-B16.5-CLASS-300-BLIND-FLANGES
NEW STCAT /UNIVERSAL-BEAM
will create a Piping Category and a Structural Category with the names given.
A Catalogue Component is represented by one of the Component elements SCOM,
SPRF, SJOI, SFIT (see Section 4.8).
NEW SCOM
will create a Piping Component with unspecified component parameters, the values of
which may be set later.

8-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

If the Component is to be named, this can be done at the same time; for example,
NEW SFIT /EKAA2VEE
The attributes of the Component (see Section 4.8) are set simply by following the
attribute with the word, name or value(s) to be assigned to it. For example:
NEW SCOM
GTYPE ELBO
PTREF /PSE1
GMREF /GSE1
PARAM 20 19.1 12.7 37.1 BWD
The above commands create a Piping Component, of generic type ELBO, which is
defined by 3D Pointset /PSE1 and 3D Geomset /GSE1, and which has the five
component parameters shown. The Pointset and Geomset which are referred to by name
must already exist; they would have been created by the commands
NEW PTSET /PSE1
NEW GMSET /GSE1
All five component parameters have been given values using a single command line, but
they can be given values individually by using commands such as
PARAM[1] 20
PARAM{2] 19
...
etc.
NOTE: You can only use the PARAM[number] syntax to change the value of a parameter
which has already been set.
This facility allows component parameter definitions to be ‘edited’. (Caution: If you
delete a COMP which is referred to by a SPCO - via the CATREF attribute of a design
component - this reference will be lost.). The use of component parameters and the other
classes of parameter is discussed and illustrated in the next section.
NOTE: If you give a PARAM command with, say, four values as a single command line,
PARAGON sets the values of the first four component parameters and deletes
all the rest.
You may define default values which PARAGON will use if you are working with a
Component whose component parameters have not been set up. See Section 4.7 for
details.
The attributes of a Component may be queried by a
QUERY ATTRIBUTES
command, or may be queried individually by name. Component parameters can be
queried as a set by using the command
QUERY PARAMETERS
or singly by using commands such as
QUERY PARAMETER[1]
QUERY PARAMETER[2]
etc.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.3 Using Parameters

8.3.1 Introduction
Piping Components, Profiles and Fittings each use one type of Pointset and one type of
Geomset. Joints use both types of Pointset and one type of Geomset. The attributes of
Pointsets and Geomsets may be defined in terms of parameters, set either explicitly or
as real expressions (which may themselves incorporate the current settings of other
parameters). (The classes of parameter which may be used depend on the class of
Component - see Section 4.7 for details.)
For example, the bore of a P-point could be defined by entering
PBORE (PARAM[1])
This means that the value assigned to the bore of the P-point is the value of the first
component parameter.
The Y dimension of a box in a 3D Geomset used by a Joint could be defined as the
expression
PYLEN (APARAM[2] + 3)
This means that the Y dimension of the box is to be given a value in the design process,
taken from the Section to which the Joint is attached. The value of the Y dimension of
the box is the value of the second component parameter of the attached Profile plus 3
mm.
The use of parameters makes it possible to use the same Pointsets and Geomsets for
large numbers of catalogue items. For example, there may be families of tees, valves, I-
beam profiles etc., each family containing items which are geometrically similar. In this
way, the Catalogue size and the effort needed to prepare input data are minimised.
Examples of the parameterisation of typical Components are given later in this chapter.
The values assigned to parameters, the uses to which they are put, and the number of
parameters used, are arbitrary, depending only on the skill and experience of the user,
except in the special case of a Piping Component which represents implied tubing
(GTYPE attribute set to TUBE) and which has no Geomset. In this case, component
parameter 2 must be the outside diameter. If the tube is to be insulated, insulation
parameter 1 must be twice the thickness of the insulation.
Note on the use of Insulation Parameters: Insulation parameters may be used in
two ways. They may be used in an additive manner to increase the diameter or length of
a primitive or, if there is a significant change in the geometry from the uninsulated to
the insulated form, they may be used to define a new primitive. Where there is no
insulation, the insulation parameters will be zero, yielding a primitive of zero diameter
(but probably non-zero length).

8-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.3.2 Expressions Using Parameters

Any expression which includes parameters and which evaluates to a real result may be
built into definitions of Pointsets and Geomsets. For example:
PDIA (4.5 * PARA[2])
PDIS (-PARA[2])
PBOR (PARA[7] + IPARA[1])
PHEI (PARA[2] + 50)
PDIS (APARA[2] - PARA[7])
PDIA (-(PARA[1] - PARA[5]))
PX (2 * OPARA[3])
PTDIS (PARA[2] * DESP[5])
PHEI (PARA[4] / ODESP[1])
PZ (5 * (ADESP[3] * PARA[9])
PDIS (3.1 * (PARA[1] + HEIG))
PHEI (PARA[1] * TAN (ANGL / 2))
(For the full range of expression syntax available, see the Plant Design Software
Customisation Guide.)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.4 Examples of Parameterisation

Example 1 A Slip-On Flange

Figure 8-1 Example of Parameterisation for a Slip-On Flange

A slip-on flange can be parameterised using five component parameters, as shown in

Figure 8-1.
• PARAM 1 - PBORE
• PARAM 2 - Outside Diameter
• PARAM 3 - Thickness
• PARAM 4 - Connection Type at P1
• PARAM 5 - Connection Type at P2

8-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Example 2 A Reducing Tee

Figure 8-2 Example of Parameterisation for a Reducing Tee

A reducing tee might be parameterised using 12 component parameters, as shown in

Figure 8-2.
• PARAM 1 - Nominal bore of main run (PBOR1)
• PARAM 2 - Outside diameter of main run
• PARAM 3 - Nominal bore of branch (PBOR3)
• PARAM 4 - Outside diameter of branch
• PARAM 5 - Half overall length of main run
• PARAM 6 - Standout length of branch run
• PARAM 7 - Connection type of main run
• PARAM 8 - Connection type of branch run
• PARAM 9 - Flange diameter of main run
• PARAM 10 - Flange thickness of main run
• PARAM 11 - Flange diameter of branch run
• PARAM 12 - Flange thickness of branch run
Other families of tees could be defined as follows:
• Equal and reducing welded tees using parameters 1-8
• Equal and reducing flanged tees using all the parameters

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Example 3 A Universal Beam Profile

Figure 8-3 Example of Parameterisation for a Universal Beam Profile

A Universal Beam Profile might be parameterised using four component parameters, as

shown in Figure 8-3.
• PARAM 1 - Overall height of Profile
• PARAM 2 - Flange width
• PARAM 3 - Web thickness
• PARAM 4 - Flange thickness

8-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Example 4 An Angle Joint

Figure 8-4 Example of Parameterisation for an Angle Joint

An Angle Joint might be parameterised using three component parameters and two
attached parameters, as shown in Figure 8-4.
• PARAM 1 - Overall height of angle leg
• PARAM 2 - Overall length of angle foot
• PARAM 3 - Thickness of leg and foot

• APARA 1 - Height of profile of attached Section

• APARA 2 - Width of flange of attached Section

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.5 Constructing 3D Pointsets

A 3D Pointset defines the connection information of a Piping Component, Joint or

Fitting as explained in Section 7.1. For the three types of P-point elements which may
be contained in a 3D Pointset, you must define the following attributes:

PTAXI

• A P-point number (NUMB)

• An axis direction (PAXI) (parallel to X, Y, Z or in the XY, YZ or ZX plane)
• A distance along the specified axis (PDIS)

If the Pointset is used by a Piping Component, you may optionally define the attributes:
• Connection type (PCON)
• Bore (PBOR)
• P-point symbol key (PSKEY) (see Section 8.5.8)

PCON and PBOR are meaningless if the Pointset is used by a Joint or Fitting.

Figure 8-5 Example of three Axial P-Points

8-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

PTCAR

• A P-point number (NUMB)

• An axis direction (PTCDIR) (in any plane)
• An explicit position (PX, PY, PZ) (explicit coordinates)

If the Pointset is used by a Piping Component, you may optionally define the attributes:
• Connection type (PCON)
• Bore (PBOR)
• P-point symbol key (PSKEY) (see Section 8.5.8)

PCON and PBOR are meaningless if the Pointset is used by a Joint or Fitting.

Figure 8-6 Example of two Cartesian P-Points

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-11

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

PTMIX

• A P-point number (NUMB)

• An axis direction (PAXI) (parallel to X, Y, Z or in the XY, YZ or ZX plane)
• An explicit position (PX, PY, PZ) (explicit coordinates)

If the Pointset is used by a Piping Component, you may optionally define the attributes:
• Connection type (PCON)
• Bore (PBOR)
• P-point symbol key (PSKEY) (see Section 8.5.8)

PCON and PBOR are meaningless if the Pointset is used by a Joint or Fitting.

Figure 8-7 Example of two Mixed P-Points

8-12 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.5.1 Example of Defining a 3D Pointset

A suitable 3D Pointset for the reducing tee shown in Figure 8-2 would be created as
follows:
NEW PTSET /RTPTSE Create new 3D Pointset
NEW PTAX Create axial P-point element
NUMBER 1 P1
PAXI -Y Direction of P1 along negative Y axis
PDIS (PARA[5]) Distance along axis from P0 = half overall length
PCON (PARA[7]) Connection type at P1
PBOR (PARA[1]) Nominal bore at P1
NEW PTAX
NUM 2 PAXI Y PDIS (PARA[5]) PCON (PARA[7]) PBOR (PARA[1])
NEW PTAX
NUM 3 PAXI X PDIS (PARA[6]) PCON (PARA[8]) PBOR (PARA[3])
Notice how all the P-point attributes may be defined on one line. The last P-point (P3)
could alternatively be defined as a Cartesian P-point:
NEW PTCAR
NUM 3 PCON (PARA[8]) PBOR (PARA[3])
PX (PARA[6]) PY 0 PZ 0
PTCDIR X
Further examples of the construction of typical 3D Pointsets are given in Appendix C.
Reference information concerning the setting up of the P-point attributes is given in the
following subsections.

8.5.2 Defining an Axis

The PAXI attribute of a P-point can be defined in one of two ways:
• by a direction letter, e.g. PAXI Z
• by an angle in the XY plane (see below). You can specify the angle as
- a number
- DDANGLE
- a parameter
- TWICE a parameter

The classes of parameter which you can use depend on the class of the Component which
uses the P-point - see Section 4.7 for details.
If you do not define the axis, PAXI Y is assumed.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-13

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Figure 8-8 P-point Axis Definition

8.5.3 Defining a Distance

Distance in a PTAXI element is defined by the PDISTANCE keyword (minimum
abbreviation PDIS) followed by a value or a parameter function. For example:
PDIS 100 sets P-point position to 100 units along defined axis
PDIS (PARAM[1]) sets P-point position to (value of first component
parameter) units along defined axis
If you do not define the distance, a value of zero is assumed.
For the reducing tee shown in Figure 8-2, the position of P-point 3 could be defined by
the commands:
PAXI X
PDIS (PARAM[2])
since PARAM 2 is the dimension called ‘height’.

8-14 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.5.4 Defining an Explicit Position

Position in a PTCAR element and a PTMIX element is defined by the PX, PY and PZ
keywords, each followed by a value or a parameter function. For example:
PX 100 sets P-point X coordinate to 100
PY (0.5 * APARA[3]) sets Y coordinate to (0.5 times value of
third attached parameter) units
PZ (PARA[2] * SIN (ANGLE / 2)) sets Z coordinate to (second
component parameter times sine of
half design angle) units
If you do not define a coordinate, a value of zero is assumed.

8.5.5 Defining a Direction

Direction in a PTCAR element is defined by the PTCDIRECTION keyword (minimum
abbreviation PTCDIR), followed by the direction specified in terms of the X, Y, Z axes and
rotations towards those axes. For example:
PTCDIR X45Y - direction is along the X axis, rotated
45 degrees towards the Y axis
PTCDIR X(ANGL / 2)Y45U - includes an expression for the Y
component
For other examples, see Figure 8-6. Note that any one, any two, or all three of X, Y, Z
may be present in the PTCDIR command line, in any order. The rotation value may be
positive, negative or absent altogether (i.e. zero). If you do not define the direction, DIR
Y is assumed.

8.5.6 Defining Connection, Bore and Number

These three attributes are common to all three types of P-point elements, and are set by
the PBORE, PCONNECTION and NUMBER (minimum abbreviations PBOR, PCON, NUM)
commands respectively. PBOR and PCON may be set as parameter functions as well as
words. Examples:
PBORE (0.5 * PARAM[2])
PCONN BWD
PCONN (PARAM[7])
NUMBER 3
If you do not define the bore or the P-point number, a value of zero is assumed.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-15

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.5.7 Controlling the Appearance

How a P-point is drawn depends on the REPRESENTATION settings. This is discussed
in Section 6.2.

8.5.8 Specifying Pipe End Conditions for use by ISODRAFT

The symbol used by ISODRAFT to represent a particular piping component on an
isometric drawing is determined by the symbol key (SKEY attribute setting) for that
component. (See the ISODRAFT Reference Manual for a full explanation of this
concept.)
By default, each SKEY has associated with it a standard end condition (showing the
pipe connection type) which applies to each of the component’s connection points. The
end condition for any individual connection point may be modified, if required, by
setting the PSKEY attribute of the corresponding P-point to a PDMS word chosen from
the following:
BW Butt Weld
CP Compression
FL Flange
SC Screwed
SW Socket Weld
PL Plain
The effect of setting PSKEY to one of these words for a P-point of type PTAXI, PTCAR
or PTMIX is that ISODRAFT will then add the symbolic representation of the specified
end condition to the symbol derived from the corresponding SKEY when it plots an
isometric drawing showing the component. The default setting for PSKEY is always
NULL, which means that ISODRAFT plots only the standard end conditions for the
symbol.
Note that the effect is additive, so that ISODRAFT superimposes any user-specified end
condition (derived from a non-Null PSKEY setting) on top of any end condition which
forms part of the standard symbol associated with the SKEY. The use of the PSKEY
facility is, therefore, applicable mainly to components which do not have other end
conditions already defined, particularly those associated with user-defined symbols (as
detailed in the ISODRAFT Reference Manual).

8-16 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.6 Constructing Structural Pointsets

A Structural Pointset defines the connection information of a Profile or Joint as

explained in Section 7.2. A Structural Pointset has a neutral axis reference attribute
in addition to the standard attributes, and contains P-lines.

8.6.1 Example of Defining a Structural Pointset

A suitable Structural Pointset for the Profile shown in Figure 8-3 would be created as
follows:
NEW PTSSET /UBPTSE Create new Structural Pointset
NEW PLIN /UB-TOS Create P-line element for top of steel
PKEY TOS Define key
PLAXI Y Direction of P-line along positive Y axis
PY (0.5 * PARA[1]) Distance in Y direction from component origin =
half overall height. (There is no need to set PX,
because it is zero.)
CLFLA TRUE Display P-line in centreline representation
TUFLA FALSE but not in tube representation
NEW PLIN /UB-BOS Create new P-line element for bottom of steel
PKEY BOS PLAXI -Y PY (-0.5 * PARA[1]) CLFLA TRUE TUFLA FALSE
NEW PLIN /UB-NA - Create new P-line element for neutral axis
PKEY NAXI PLAXI Y CLFLA TRUE TUFLA FALSE
END Make the Structural Pointset the current element
NAREF /UB-NA Define neutral axis reference
Notice how all the P-line attributes may be defined on one line. Reference information
concerning the setting up of the P-line attributes is given in Sections 8.6.3 to 8.6.6.

8.6.2 The Neutral Axis Reference

The neutral axis reference identifies a P-line in the Structural Pointset. It is set by the
NAREF command. The attribute is usually set to the name of the P-line, but may be set
to the P-line’s number in the member list of the Pointset. For example:
NAREF /UB-NA Sets neutral axis reference to the P-line called
/UB-NA
NAREF 3 Sets neutral axis reference to the third P-line of the
Structural Pointset
If you do not set NAREF, DESIGN will make an assumption about where the neutral
axis is. You are strongly recommended to set the neutral axis reference in the
Catalogue.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-17

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

DESIGN will use as the neutral axis the first P-line in the Structural Pointset which
has a PKEY value of NA, if any. Failing that, it will choose the first P-line with a PKEY
value of NAXI, and failing that, it will choose the first P-line with a PKEY value of
ZAXI. If there are no P-lines with a PKEY value of NA or NAXI or ZAXI, DESIGN will
assume that the neutral axis of the Component lies at the component origin and has a
direction along the positive Y axis.

Figure 8-9 P-line Axis Definition

8.6.3 Defining an Axis

The PLAXI attribute of a P-line can be defined in one of two ways:
• by a direction letter, e.g. PLAXI Y
• by an angle in the XY plane (see below). You can specify the angle as
- a number
- DDANGLE
- a parameter
- TWICE a parameter

The classes of parameter which you can use depend on the class of the Component
which uses the P point - see Section 4.7 for details.

If you do not define the axis, PLAXI Y is assumed.

8-18 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8.6.4 Defining a Position

Position in a P-line element is defined by the PX and PY keywords, each followed by a
value or a parameter function. For example:
PX 50 sets P-line X coordinate to 50
PY (0.5 * DESPAR[2]) sets P-line Y coordinate to 0.5 * (value of
second design parameter) units
If you do not define a coordinate, a value of zero is assumed.

8.6.5 Defining a Key

A P-line is identified by its key in the same way as a P-point is identified by its number.
The key is defined by the PKEY keyword followed by a word. For example:
PKEY TOS sets P-line key to TOS
PKEY may be set to any desired word value. Typical values are:
TOS Top of steel, for a P-line at the top of the
Profile
BOS Bottom of steel, for a P-line at the bottom of
the Profile
NA, NAXI or ZAXI Neutral axis P-line

8.6.6 Controlling the Appearance

Whether a P-line is drawn or not depends on the settings of its LEVEL, TUFLA and
CLFLA attributes, and the REPRESENTATION settings. How a P-line is drawn also
depends on the REPRESENTATION settings. See Section 6.2 for details.

8.7 Constructing 3D Geomsets

A 3D Geomset is a grouping of the primitive elements which make up a Piping

Component, Joint or Fitting. It specifies the dimensions, orientation and obstruction
geometry of each primitive. The Geomset defines what is drawn for a particular
Component by PARAGON (and other PDMS modules), and also defines the obstruction
geometry of the Component for use when clash checking. Each Component is built up
from a combination of three-dimensional primitives, as listed in Section 7.3.
Creating a Geomset consists of creating the relevant member primitives and setting the
attributes for each primitive. For each primitive the OBST attribute must be set, whilst
for a primitive that is required to be drawn the LEVEL, TUFLA and CLFLA attributes
must also be set. (See Chapter 6 and the DESIGN Reference Manual for details of these
attributes.) 3D Geomset elements and their attributes are listed in Section 7.4.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-19

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

NOTE: Only the first 20 primitives in a Geomset with OBST values of 1 or 2 are
considered by DESIGN’s clash checking facility.
By using the TUFLA and CLFLA flags, you can create two different drawings of a
Component, a double-line representation (tube) and a single-line ‘stick’ representation
(centreline).
To define the tube representation for the tee shown in Figure 8-2 (with clash geometry)
the commands shown below could be used. (The P-points in the following examples
relate to the Pointset defined in section 8.5.1.)
NEW GMSET /RTGMSE Create new 3D Geomset
NEW SCYL Create cylinder primitive
PAXI -Y Direction of axis on which SCYL origin lies
PDIS (PARA[5]) Distance of SCYL origin from tee origin = half
overall length
PDIA (PARA[2]) Outside diameter of main run
PHEI (-2 * PARA[5]) Height of SCYL
OBST 2 Set obstruction value as ‘hard’
TUFL TRUE CLFL FALSE Set drawing flags
NEW SCYL
PAXI X
PDIS 0
PHEI (PARA[6])
PDIA (PARA[4])
OBST 2
TUFL TRUE CLFL FALSE
To define the centreline representation for the tee (with welded joints), the following
commands could be used. Figure 8-10 shows the symbol produced. The illustration is
drawn with REPRESENTATION PPOINTS ON LENGTH 0 NUMBERS ON. The P-points
are thus displayed as dots, but they cannot be seen because they lie on the displayed
LINEs.

8-20 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Figure 8-10 Centreline Representation of a Reducing Tee

NEW SSPH Create sphere primitive (to represent weld)

PAXI -Y Direction of axis on which sphere origin lies
PDIS (PARA[5]) Distance of sphere origin from tee origin = half
overall length
PDIA (0.1 * PARA[1]) Sphere diameter relative to bore size
OBST 0 Clash checking to ignore item
TUFLA FALSE CLFL TRUE Set drawing flags
NEW SSPH
PAXI P2 Set axis direction and origin in terms
of P-point 2
PDIS 0 PAXI P2 PDIS 0 is equivalent to
PAXI Y PDIS (PARA[5]))
PDIA (0.1 * PARA[1])
OBST 0
CLFL TRUE
NEW SSPH
PAXI P3 PDIS 0 PDIA (0.1 * PARA[3])
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE
NEW LINE P3 P0 Define line elements
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE DIAM 1
NEW LINE P1 P2
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE DIAM 1
Note how a P-point has been used to define an axis direction and origin for a primitive -
see the Reference Section at the end of this chapter for details.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-21

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

To put the flanges on the tee the first two representations (as given above) would remain
the same but the centreline representation would not need the SSPH elements (which
represent the welds). The latter are replaced by using the following commands to
represent the flanged connections:
NEW SCYL PAXI P1 PHEI (-PARA[10]) PDIA (PARA[9])
PDIS 0 OBST 2 CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE
NEW SCYL COPY PREV PAXI P2
NEW LCYL PAXI P3 PTDI 0 PBDI (-PAR[12]) PDIA (PAR[11])
OBST 2 CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE

8.8 Constructing Structural Geomsets

A Structural Geomset is a grouping of the 2D primitive elements which make up a

Profile. Like the 3D Geomset, it specifies the dimensions, orientation and obstruction
geometry of each primitive. It also defines the symbol that is drawn for a particular
Component and the obstruction geometry of the Component. The Profile is built up from
a combination of Structural Rectangles (SREC) and Structural Annuli (SANN), as
described in Section 7.6. Structural Geomset elements and their attributes are listed in
Section 7.7.
To define the tube representation for the Profile shown in Figure 8-3, the commands
shown below could be used. A simplified clash geometry for the Profile is specified by
defining a bounding box for the Profile with ‘hard’ obstruction and giving the primitives
of the Profile itself ’no obstruction’. The P-lines used are those defined in Section 8.6.1.
NEW GMSSET /UBGMSS Create new 2D Geomset
NEW SRECT Create rectangle primitive for web
PXLE (PARA[1]) Web thickness
PYLE (PARA[1] - 2 * PARA[4]) Web length
(PX and PY are zero, so there is no need to set them)
PLAXI Y Direction of axis of rectangle
TUFL TRUE CLFL FALSE Set drawing flags
OBST 0 Set obstruction value as ‘none’
NEW SRECT Create rectangle primitive for upper flange
PXLE (PARA[2]) PYLE (PARA[4]) Flange length and thickness
PY (0.5 * (PARA[1] - PARA[4])) Position of rectangle origin
PLAXI Y Direction of axis of rectangle
TUFL TRUE CLFL FALSE Set drawing flags
OBST 0 Set obstruction value as ‘none’
NEW SRECT Create rectangle primitive for lower flange
PXLE (PARA[2]) PYLE (PARA[4])
PY (-0.5 * (PARA[1] - PARA[4]))
PLAXI Y
TUFL TRUE CLFL FALSE
OBST 0
NEW SRECT Create rectangle which bounds the Profile
PXLE (PARA[2]) PYLE (PARA[1])

8-22 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

PLAXI Y
TUFL FALSE CLFL FALSE Set both drawing flags ‘off’
OBST 2 Set obstruction value as ‘hard’
A P-line may be used to define an axis direction and position for a primitive. The
example below shows how the upper flange could be positioned and orientated using a P-
line. See the Reference Section at the end of this chapter for details.
PLAXI TOS Set axis direction and origin in terms of
P-line TOS
PY (-0.5 * PARA[4]) Position of rectangle origin relative to
position of P-line

8.9 Reference Section

8.9.1 Parameter-Controlled Attributes

The following attributes of P-points, P-lines and Geomset primitives may be set equal to
parameters or functions of parameters (as well as to constant values):
PDIStance PBDIstance PTDIstance
PBBT PBTP PCBT PCTP
PDIAmeter PBDMeter PTDMeter
PRADius PBRAdius PTRAdius PWIDth PANGle
POFFset PBOFfset PCOFfset
PX PXLEngth PY PYLEngth PZ PZLEngth
PBORe PCONnect PHEIght
PXTShear PYTShear PXBShear PYBShear

8.9.2 Axial Attributes

Axial attributes of both 3D and 2D primitives define a position and a direction. An axial
attribute of a 3D primitive may be specified as a direction in one, two or three
dimensions or as a P-point. Similarly, the axial attribute of a 2D primitive may be
specified as a direction in one or two dimensions or as a P-line.
If an axial attribute of a 3D primitive is specified as a P-point, the direction of the axis is
taken to be the direction of the P-point, and the origin of the axis to be the position of
the P-point. If the axial attribute is specified as a direction, the origin of the axis is
taken to be the component origin, i.e. the position of P-point 0.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-23

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Examples:
PAAX -P2 sets PAAX to be opposite the direction of P-point 2 with
its origin at the position of the P-point
PBAX X34-Y sets PBAX to the given direction from the component
origin
PCAX X45Y30Z sets PCAX to the given direction from the component
origin
PAXI X DDANG Z takes the Design DDANGLE and calculates the
direction accordingly
Syntax:

>--+- PAXIs --.

| |
|- PAAXis -|
| |
|- PBAXis -|
| |
‘- PCAXis -+- sign -.
| |
‘--------+- P - number -------------------------------.
| |
‘- <axis> -+- value -----. |
| | |
|- <expres> --+- sign -. |
| | | |
| ‘--------+- <axis> -|
| |
‘---------------------------------+-->
where <axis> is

>--+-- X --.
| |
|-- Y --|
| |
‘-- Z --+-->
If the axial attribute of a 2D primitive is specified as a P-line, the direction of the axis is
taken to be the direction of the P-line, and the origin of the axis to be the position of the
P-line. If the axial attribute is specified as a direction or direction expression, the origin
of the axis is taken to be the component origin.
Examples:
PLAX PLIN NAXI sets PLAX to be the direction of the P-line whose PKEY
attribute is NAXI; the origin of the axis is at the
position of the P-line
PLAX X60-Y sets PLAX to the given direction from the component
origin

8-24 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Manipulating the Catalogue Database

Syntax:

>- PLAXis -+- sign -.

| |
‘--------+- PLINe - <plkey> -------------------------.
| |
‘- <axis> -+- value-----. |
| | |
|- <expres> -+- sign -. |
| | | |
| ‘--------+- <axis> -|
| |
‘--------------------------------+-->
where <axis> is

>--+-- X --.
| |
‘-- Y --+-->
and <plkey> is the PKEY attribute of the P-line.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 8-25

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Manipulating the Catalogue Database

8-26 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
9 Other Uses of PARAGON

PARAGON is used to set up:

• Detailing Text and Material Text
• Connection Tables and Bolt Tables
• Unit Types
• General Text
• User-defined Nominal Dimensions.

9.1 Detailing Text

Detailing Text (SDTE) elements contain descriptive text relating to a Component, which
is used during the construction of drawings, reports, take-off sheets etc. An SDTE
element exists at the same level in the Catalogue database hierarchy as a Component
element (i.e. it is a member of a Section or Category) and is referred to from SPCOM
elements in the Specification.
An SDTE element (which will usually be named) is created simply by typing, for
example:
NEW SDTE /C/T1
The text itself exists as an attribute of the SDTE element; namely one of the attributes
RTEX, STEX or TTEX. The text is input simply by typing the attribute name followed
by the text itself in quotes; for example:
STEX ’21DD-JJOOA2 12.31’
The choice of attribute name depends on the PDMS module which is to use the related
text. STEX and TTEX are used primarily by the detailing interface modules, and the
attribute to be used will be specified from that module. The format of the text depends
on the detailing module in use - see the appropriate Reference Guide for details.
RTEX is used by ISODRAFT, which also uses another SDTE attribute, SKEY. SKEY is
a four-character code which represents a geometric description of the associated
Component type. RTEX and SKEY must be set in order for ISODRAFT to work
correctly. A typical pair of commands would be:
RTEX ’COUPLING - SOCKET WELD 3000LB’
SKEY ’COSW’
(The SKEY codes are fixed for a given element type - see the ISODRAFT Reference
Guide for a list.)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 9-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Other Uses of PARAGON

9.2 Material Text

Material Text (SMTE) elements contain descriptive text describing the material(s) from
which the physical component is constructed, and is used during the construction of
drawings, reports, take-off sheets etc. An SMTE element exists at the same level in the
Catalogue database hierarchy as a Component element (i.e. it is a member of a Section
or Category) and is referred to from SPCOM elements in the Specification.
An SMTE element (which will usually be named) is created simply by typing, for
example:
NEW SMTE /5L-S-80
The text itself exists as an attribute of the SMTE element; namely one of the attributes
XTEX, YTEX or ZTEX. The text is input simply by typing the attribute name followed
by the text itself in quotes, for example:
XTEX ’SCM.80 API 5L GR.B SMLC’
The choice of attribute name depends on the PDMS module which is to use the related
text, the attribute to be used being specified from that module. XTEX is used by
ISODRAFT.

9.3 Connection Compatibility Tables

The Connection Compatibility Table (element name CCTA) holds a list of all the
compatible connection types for Piping Components in a set project. A CCTA is an
administrative element which exists at the same level as CATA in the hierarchy. A
CCTA has Connection Compatibility (COCO) elements as its members, each of which
has a pair of coded connection types stored as its CTYPE attribute. These connection
types are those referred to in the PCON attribute of a Piping Component’s P-points.
The commands below give an example of the setting up of a typical connection table.
NEW CCTA
NEW COCO /WELDWELD CTYPE WELD WELD (weld to weld)
NEW COCO /SCRDSCRD CTYPE SCRD SCRD (screwed to screwed)
NEW COCO /WELDBW CTYPE WELD BW (weld to butt weld)
Note that ISODRAFT uses the connection codes to derive bolting requirements, and so
the connection codes used must conform to certain standards - see Appendix B and the
ISODRAFT Reference Guide for details. Setting up the Connection Compatibility Table
should be one of the first tasks to be carried out when commencing a design project
using PDMS.

9-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Other Uses of PARAGON

9.4 Bolting Tables

The Bolt Table hierarchy contains information describing the nature of the bolted
connections of Piping Components in a project. Although the Bolt Table is part of the
Catalogue database, and so must be set up using PARAGON, it has been designed for
the exclusive use of ISODRAFT and so is described in detail in the ISODRAFT Reference
Guide; only a summary is presented here. Element creation and attribute setting is done
in the usual way.
The Bolt Table hierarchy is illustrated below:

WORLD

CCTAB CATA SPWL BLTAB UNITS

SECT

BLIST LTAB
BTSE

SBOLT DTAB
BLTP

The element types are as follows:

• BTSE - the Bolt Set is the administrative element for catalogue component bolting
information. It owns Bolt P-point (BLTP) elements.

• BLTP - the Bolt P-point stores the bolting information for an individual bolt for a
particular type of flange. It has the following attributes:

NUMBER - the bolt hole number in the bolt circle

BDIA - the bolt diameter
BTHK - the bolt length
BTYPE - the type of bolt

• BLTA - the Bolt Table is an administrative element.

• BLIS - the Bolt List is an administrative element which groups together Standard
Bolt (SBOL) elements.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 9-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Other Uses of PARAGON

• SBOL - the Standard Bolt element. This has the attributes:

NSTD - a pointer to a non-standard length array

BITEM - additional bolt items to be used when calculating bolt
length
BITL - the lengths of the additional bolt items

• LTAB - the Length Table holds a number of Diameter Tables.

• DTAB - the Diameter Table stores information on standard bolt lengths, held as a
string of values in its BLEN attribute. DTAB is accessed from the NSTD attribute of
the SBOL element.

9.5 Unit Types

PARAGON enables unit types to be set up which will then be linked to relevant
attributes of the various elements which appear throughout the PDMS databases. The
most common units (the default units) are millimetres, inches or feet and inches, which
are usually assigned to bore and distance attributes. These units currently apply to all
PDMS modules except PROPCON.
You may also define other units with conversion factors to relate one set of units to
another; unit definitions can be collected together into sets to be used for different
purposes.
Information controlling units is held in a UNIT element of the Catalogue Database. The
UNITS hierarchy is shown below:

WORLD

CCTA CATA UNIT SPWL BLTA

MSET USEC

MTYP UDEF

ATLI

9-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Other Uses of PARAGON

The elements of the UNITS hierarchy are as follows:

• UNIT - The UNIT element is the top-level element of the hierarchy. It has three
special attributes: BUNI, DUNI and DFUN. BUNI and DUNI can be set to
determine the default Bore and Distance units, respectively. They are set to any of
MM, INCH, MIL or FINC (for feet and inches). A typical sequence of setup
commands would be:
NEW UNIT
BUNI INCH
DUNI FINC
This would mean that, by default, all bore values are interpreted as inches and all
distance values, e.g. HEIGHT, DISTANCE, as feet and inches. If user-defined units are
to be used, then an MSET element should be named in the DFUN attribute of the UNIT,
indicating that that MSET element should be used as the default measurement set.
Each PDMS module has its default units initialised at run time to those defined in the
first UNIT element of the first Catalogue DB in the MDB being used. BUNI and DUNI
may also be set to NULL.
• MSET - Measurement Set. This element is used to form a collection of MTYP
(measurement type) elements. It is the MSET which is named in the DFUN
attribute of the UNIT element to indicate which collection of units are to be used. In
practice MSET may relate to say ‘S.I.’ or ‘IMPERIAL’.

• MTYP - Measurement Type. This element forms the link between a collection of
attributes and the Units Definition (UDEF) to be used for them. The attributes are
accessed via the ATLI (Attribute List) elements owned by the MTYP and the Units
Definition via its UREF attribute. The latter simply contains the name of the UDEF
element which is to be used for the attributes named in the member ATLI elements.

• ATLI - Attribute List. Each ATLI element contains (as its ATNA attribute) the
name of the attribute for which the UREF (see above) applies.

• USEC - Unit Section. This is an administrative element used to collect together

UDEF elements.

• UDEF - Units Definition. One UDEF is required for each non-PDMS unit that you
wish to implement. UDEF has the following special attributes:

• ABREV - Abbreviation. This is the abbreviation used when outputting a value

under the control of this UDEF, or when inputting a value which is in a UNIT
that is not the one for that attribute in the current MSET. The attribute is an
eight-character text.

• MULT - Multiplier. This is a conversion factor which is used in conjunction with

ADEN, to convert from input/output units to PDMS stored units. This is done on
the basis that:
Output value = (Stored value - ADEN) / MULT
Stored value = (Input value * MULT) + ADEN

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 9-5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Other Uses of PARAGON

The exponential facility is useful in the accurate setting of MULT

and ADEN. For example:
MULT 0.12345 EX -8
will set MULT to 0.0000000012345

• ADEN - see MULT above.

• SIGF and DECP - Significant Figures and Decimal Places. These relate to the
output of units.
To summarise, the unit is defined as:
(input_value * MULT ) + ADEN
and is output to SIG significant figures with DEC decimal places and suffixed by the
notation ABREV ( e.g. ‘psi’).

9.5.1 Use of Units

In certain PDMS modules, e.g. PROPCON, the choice of units to be used can be
indicated by using the command:
UNITS name
where name is the name of an MSET. If this is not done, the units will be those given by
the DFUN attribute of the UNIT element, as explained above.
Following this, whenever the value of a special attribute is set or queried, its name (e.g.
TEMP for temperature) will be compared with the ATNA attributes of all ATLIs under
the current MSET. If a match is found, then the UREF of the MTYP owning the
matching ATLI will be used to access the relevant UDEF.
When output, such values are followed by their abbreviations to remind you which units
are being used.
If you wish to input a value which is in a UDEF that is not referred to from the current
MSET, then you may use the abbreviation of that value as a key. For instance, in
PROPCON, if the current temperature unit is centigrade, but there is a UDEF defining
Fahrenheit (with abbreviation ‘deg. F’), it would appear as
TEMP 35 ’deg. F’

9-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Other Uses of PARAGON

As an example, if you require a PROPCON attribute ACBO (Actual Bore) to be output in

inches, then the following syntax would be required:
NEW USEC create a new Unit Section
NEW UDEF /INCH create and name a new Units Definition
ABREV ’IN’ -set ABREV and MULT attributes
MULT 0.254 EX 2
NEW MSET create a Measurement SetNEW
MTYP create a Measurement Type

UREF /INCH set the Reference Units that the MTYP refers to
NEW ATLI create an Attribute List for the MTYP
ATNA ACBO set the Attribute Name that is required to be
output/input in inches

This results in the following hierarchy:

If ACBO is referred to in PROPCON, the attribute name (ATNA) is searched for in the
UNIT hierarchy. The search then moves up the hierarchy to find the MTYP attribute
UREF. The MULT attribute of the UDEF (found from the UREF) is then applied to the
stored ACBO attribute and the ABREV is output with the resulting value.
As a further example, to define and use a unit system called /IMPERIAL, for which
temperatures (TEMP, PTEM and RTEM) will be in Fahrenheit and pressures (PRES,
RPRE and IPRE) will be in PSI, the instruction sequence would be:

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 9-7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Other Uses of PARAGON

NEW UNIT /EXAMPLE-OF-UNITS

NEW USEC
NEW UDEF /PSI
ABRE ’lbf/in2’ ADEN 0 MULT 6895.0
NEW UDEF /F
ABRE ’deg. F’ ADEN -17.778 MULT 0.55556
NEW MSET /IMPERIAL
NEW MTYP /IMPERIAL/TEMP
UREF /F
NEW ATLI ATNA TEMP
NEW ATLI ATNA PTEM
NEW ATLI ATNA RTEM
NEW MTYP /IMPERIAL/PRESSURE
UREF /PSI
NEW ATLI ATNA IPRE
NEW ATLI ATNA RPRE
NEW ATLI ATNA PRES
NOTE: It is possible to set up UNIT elements with MSETs containing duplicated
ATNAs. This is not prevented, but a warning is given on attempting to use such
an MSET.

9.6 General Text Elements

A TEXT element is used to store additional information about an owning or adjacent

element. The text string itself exists as the setting of the STEX attribute of the TEXT,
and can be up to 120 characters long. It is set in the usual way; for example
STEX ’High pressure pipeline’
Note that the STEX attribute of a TEXT element is completely independent of the STEX
attributes of the Detailing Text (SDTE) elements described in Section 9.1. The TEXT
element can occupy many positions in the hierarchy - it can be owned by UNIT, CATA,
SECT, CATE, STSE, STCA, CCTA, SPEC, BLTA, BLIS, LTAB or MBLI elements.

9.7 User-defined Nominal Dimensions

For users who required bores, bolt diameters and lengths, and rod diameters that are
not included in the standard nominal values stored in core, a facility exists for the
creation of tables that hold the required values in the catalogue database.
When being switched from module to module, the catalogue database is scanned for a
NBRWLD element with the PURP attribute set to BORE indicating that user-defined
nominal bores etc are to be used. If so, the nominal bore-checking routine is switched to
the user-defined nominal bores.

9-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Other Uses of PARAGON

Bores
For most users, the requirement is adding or removing a few bores. For this purpose, a
macro of standard PDMS bores is provided (nominal_bore.mac), which enables a user to
edit the values concerned and then input the User-defined Nominal Bore table into the
catalogue.
Bolts
When there is a need to use a bolting catalogue with both Imperial and Metric projects,
there is not always a direct conversion from one system to the other. For example, a ½
inch bolt may convert to a 12mm rather than a 13mm one.
To overcome the problem, User-defined Nominal Bolting tables for diameter and length
can be set up, as for the User-defined Nominal Bore table. The PURP attribute is set to
BDIA for bolt diameters and BLEN for bolt lengths.
Rods
When rods for hangers and supports are specified, the rod diameter is related to the
bore diameter. It is, therefore, necessary to have User-defined Nominal Rod Diameter
tables, if User-defined Nominal bores are being used.
If a hanger connects to a branch with different bores, the rod diameter is selected to
match the branch with the User-defined Nominal bore or, if this applies to neither
branch, the standard piping bore. The PURP attribute is set to ROD.
Database
The following addition is made to the catalogue database:
World element NBRWLD, with:
Attribute PURP.
Owns:
NOMINB elements, with:
Real attribute INCBOR Inch Nominal Value
Real attribute MMBOR MM Nominal Value.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 9-9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Other Uses of PARAGON

9-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
10 Datasets

A Dataset (DTSE) is a collection of DATA elements. These can be used to store any
items of catalogue data which need to be queried directly from within the DESIGN or
DRAFT modules and which are not accessible by other means.

10.1 Attributes of DATA Elements

Each DATA element has the following special attributes:

DKEY Data Key. A PDMS word which allows a specific DATA element to be
referenced from within DESIGN or DRAFT using the Q PROP dkey command.
PTYP Property Type.
DTIT Data Title. A text string describing the property stored in the DATA.
PPRO Property. Any expression which defines a property of the item with which the
dataset is associated.
DPRO Default Property Value. The value to be used if the true setting of the
Property cannot be evaluated at any time. See Section 11.3.1.
PURP Purpose. A PDMS word showing the purpose for which the stored property is
relevant. For example, PARA (for catalogue parameters), DESP (for design
parameters), DATA (for general properties).
NUMB Number. An integer which may be set to further categorise the specific
property stored in the DATA. For example, the identifying number of a
PARAM or DESPARAM.
PUNI Property Units. The units used when evaluating the Property value.
RUSE Real Property Flag. See Section 11.3.

The PPRO attribute is evaluated in response to the Q PROP . . . command in DESIGN

or DRAFT. The parameters in the expression may not be defined until the item is added
to the model. It can include any attributes which are valid for the design element,
including user-defined attributes; for example:
((:COST OF OWNER) * :LENGT).

The PPRO attribute can also be set to a parameterised expression which will be used in
the definition of Pointsets and Geomsets. See Section 11.3.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 10-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Datasets

10.2 Querying Properties in DESIGN

Consider the following examples, which allow you to query two properties of this
parameterised I-beam in DESIGN:
P3

P4 P1

P2

Example 1: The depth of the beam

Datakey: DEPT
Dtitle: ’Depth of beam’
Pproperty: (PARAM [1] )
Dproperty: 600
Purpose: DATA
Number: 1

The command Q PROP DEPT in DESIGN or DRAFT will return the depth of the
current beam (or the default of 600 if the true value cannot be evaluated).
Example 2: The cross-sectional area of the beam
Datakey: XSEC
Dtitle: ’Cross–section of beam’
Pproperty: (((P [1] - (2 * P[3])) * P[4]) + (2 * (P[2] * P[3]))
NOTE: PARAM has been shortened to P here to show the format of the
expression more clearly. The full version must be used when setting
the attribute.
Purpose: DATA
Number: not relevant here, so leave unset

The command Q PROP XSEC in DESIGN or DRAFT will return the calculated cross-
sectional area of the current beam.

10-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Datasets

Similarly, you could query the following attributes of this DATA element:
Q PRTI XSEC Data title

Q PRDE XSEC Data description

Q PRPU XSEC Data purpose

10.3 Real Properties of P-points, P-Lines and Geomsets

Pointset and Geomset attributes can be defined in terms of a Dataset pseudo-attribute

RPROP (Real Property). For example, the PBORE of a P-point can be defined by the
expression:
PBORE ( PARAM[1] + 20 )
If the dataset associated with the component contains a DATA element with the
Datakey DBOR, and DBOR has its PPRO attribute set to the expression ( PARAM[1] +
20 ), PBORE can be defined as:
PBORE ( RPROP DBOR )
Pointset and Geomsets with attributes defined in terms of RPROPs will have their
RFLG flag set to 1. Only elements with RFLG set to 1 need to be pre-evaluated when the
item is added to a model.
DATA elements have an attribute RUSE. If this attribute is set, the PROP attribute (or
default Property DPRO, see Section 11.3.1) cannot be set to a text expression or to an
expression containing the OF notation. RUSE is set (=1) and unset (=0) using the
commands:
SETRuse
UNSETRuse
DATA elements with PROP attributes property which can be used as RPROPs should
have their RUSE flags set. Only elements with RUSE set to 1 need to be pre-evaluated.

10.3.1 Default Values

The DATA element attribute DPRO can be used to store a default property value. When
a Design element is added to the model, the associated dataset is pre-evaluated and the
default value used if the PPRO attribute in the Dataset unset or cannot be evaluated.
The default property value can be queried from DESIGN using the pseudo-attribute
PRDE.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 10-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Datasets

10.3.2 Querying
The value of RPROP can be queried using the command:
Q RPROP datakey
This command will return the result ‘RPROP unset’ if the corresponding PPRO attribute
contains a text string rather than a real value.
The default value of a text or real property value may be queried from a Design
component using the command:
Q PRDE datakey
A list of the datakeys available at a Design item can be obtained using the command:
Q PRLS

10-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
11 Checking Catalogue Database Consistency

To avoid having to transfer component design or specification errors from the Catalogue
database to the Design database before data inconsistencies can be detected, a facility is
provided for checking the main settings of a piping catalogue as you build it in
PARAGON. (This facility is not yet available for checking a structural catalogue.)

11.1 Initiating a Standard Data Consistency Check

The basic command to initiate a database consistency check, using default settings, is
CHECK <gid>
where <gid>, the element below which checks are to be carried out, may be any SPEC,
SELE, SPCO or COMP.
If you start the check from within a specification (SPEC, SELE or SPCO) all components
referenced via the starting element will be checked. If you start the check at component
level (COMP), only that component and elements below it will be checked.
(See Section 13.3 for details of the ways in which you can modify the default checking
procedures.)

11.2 What the Checking Facility Does

The following tests may be carried out:

At SPEC level:
• Check that no question in the specification is repeated.
• Check that one question in the specification is TYPE.
• From the TYPE reference, check that the GTYPE of the COMP has the same setting.
• From the TYPE reference, check that the SKEY setting of SDTE is correct.
• From the TYPE reference, check that the point set has the correct geometry, as
required by ISODRAFT.

At SPCO level:
• Check that all of the following reference attributes are set: CATREF, DETAIL,
MATX, CMPR, BLTREF. (The BLTREF need be set only if the connection type
begins with F or L.)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 11-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Checking Catalogue Database Consistency

At COMP or equivalent level:

• Check that there is a valid PTREF and GMREF.
• At a PTSE, check that P-points are set and that there are no duplicate numbers.
• At a GMSE, check that there are primitives set and that they are not degenerate.
Check also that no invalid P-point numbers or parameters are used. Note that this
test uses catalogue parameters, so that if a primitive is constructed only from design
and insulation parameters, spurious warnings will be generated.
• Check that each P-point connection type exists in the COCO tables. P-points used for
construction purposes can have connections of 0.0, NUL or NULL. The connection
type will not be checked for validity for a specific type of component.
• Check that a P-point bore is valid for a recognised set of nominal bores. P-points
used for construction purposes, and a P-point with connection type CLOS, can have a
zero bore.

11.3 Controlling the Detailed Checking Procedure

You can modify the effect of the CHECK command by using additional syntax so that
you can check different types of catalogue without generating unnecessary errors.
The command options are as follows:
TOLerance CATAlogue CMPRef ON/OFF
switches Component Reference checking on or off for all component types in a SPCO.
TOLerance CATAlogue CMPRef word ON/OFF
switches Component Reference checking on or off for the specified component type in a
SPCO.
TOLerance CATAlogue GMREf ON/OFF
switches Geomset Reference checking on or off for all component types.
TOLerance CATAlogue GMREf word ON/OFF
switches Geomset Reference checking on or off for the specified component type.
TOLerance CATAlogue BORE ON/OFF
switches bore checking on or off for Pointsets.
TOLerance CATAlogue BORE value value
sets range of permissible bores to be checked for Pointsets.
TOLerance CATAlogue ISOMetric ON/OFF
checks for SKEY and similar ISODRAFT–related settings.
TOLerance CATAlogue DEFault
resets all checking options to their default settings.

11-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Checking Catalogue Database Consistency

These defaults are:

• Do not check any CMPREFs.
• Ignore GMREF settings for ATTA, FLAN, TUBE and BOLT.
• Check nominal bores in the range 6 mm to 2150 mm.
• Check all ISODRAFT-related settings.

To query any of the current data consistency checking settings, use the corresponding
command format
Q TOLerance CATAlogue ...

11.4 Error Messages

Error messages which can result from diagnosed data inconsistencies are as follows:
C10 Spec error: Question word asked more than once
C20 Spec error: Question TYPE never asked
C30 Spco error: DETA not set
C40 Spco error: Unknown ref for DETA
C50 Spco error: MATX not set
C60 Spco error: Unknown ref for MATX
C70 Spco error: CMPR not set
C80 Spco error: Unknown ref for CMPR
C90 Spco error: BLTR not set
C100 Spco error: Unknown ref for BLTR
C110 Spco error: CATR not set
C120 Spco error: Unknown ref for CATR
C130 Comp error: PTRE not set
C140 Comp error: Unknown ref for PTRE
C150 Comp error: GMRE not set
C160 Comp error: Unknown ref for GMRE
C170 Ptset error: Duplicate ppoint number integer
C180 Ptset error: No ppoints set
C190 Ptset error: Unknown connection type word for ppoint
C200 Comp error: GTYPE word different from spec TYPE
word
C210 Ptset error: Non standard bore value for ppoint

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON 11-3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Checking Catalogue Database Consistency

C220 Gmset error: Unknown parameter integer for primitive

C230 Gmset error: Axis defined with unknown Ppointinteger
for primitive
C240 Isometric error: Ppointinteger not defined
C250 Isometric error: Cannot calculate angle between
Ppointinteger and Ppointinteger
C260 Isometric error: Incorrect angle between
Ppointinteger and Ppointinteger. Angle is value and
should be value.
C270 Isometric error: Incorrect angle between
Ppointinteger and Ppointinteger. They should not be
parallel.
C280 Gmset error: primitive may be a degenerate primitive
C290 Isometric error: Ppoint1, Ppoint2 and Ppoint0
should be colinear
C300 Gmset error: primitive cannot be constructed
C310 Gmset error: Expression error for primitive
C820 SKEY not set
C830 SKEY word is used with generic type word, not word
C840 SKEY word not known. Assumed to be user defined.

11-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
A. P-point Conventions for Piping Components

You must use the following conventions for numbering the P-points of Piping
Components so that ISODRAFT can recognise them:
• For tube components, there must only be one P-point, P1, which defines the bore
and connection type of both ends of the piece of tube.

• For nozzles, the connection P-point (i.e. the P-point for connection to the head or tail
branch) must be P1.

• For two-way components, the arrive and leave P-points must be numbered P1 and
P2 (in either order). For two-way valves, the spindle direction must be indicated by
P3.

• For three-way components, the offline leg must be indicated by P3. The spindle
direction for three-way valves must be specified by using a P-point greater than
P3, which must have its bore unset.

• For four-way components, the two straight-through flows must have P-points
P1/P2 and P3/P4. The spindle direction for four-way valves must be specified by
using a P-point greater than P4, which must have its bore unset.

• For eccentric reducers without a connection point, the flat side must be
indicated by P3. Eccentric reducers with a connection point must use P3, with
a valid bore set, to indicate the connection point and must use P9, with bore unset,
for orientation of the flat side.

• For U-bends, the P-points must be set as shown in Figure A-1.

P4 P3 P5

P1 P2

Figure A-1 P-point Numbering Convention for U-bends

See the ISODRAFT Reference Manual for further details.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON A-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
P-point Conventions for Piping Components

A-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
B. Setting Up a Catalogue

B.1 Naming Conventions

It is important that certain items in the Catalogue database are named as they are
referenced from other databases as well as internally. It would be impracticable to allow
system-generated database reference numbers to be referenced as this would lead to
meaningless output from reports and isometrics.
Figure B-1 shows the relationship between the Design, Specification, and Catalogue
databases. Consistency when naming items is important, making cross-database
connections as easily identifiable as possible.
In ISODRAFT, bolt lengths for Piping Components are derived by referring to the SBOL
name. Item detail is picked up from the RTEX attribute of the DTEX and the material is
picked up from the XTEX attribute of the MTEX.
Note that the item code name on an isometric is obtained from the second part of the
SPREF attribute of a Component, i.e. its name in the Specification. In the example in
Figure B-1, the name would be output as FLANWN300100. See the ISODRAFT
Reference Manual for further details.

B.2 Example Connection Type Codes

Naming of the P-point PCON attribute of a Piping Component requires early

consideration. The PCON name is for use mainly in data consistency checking, but also
by ISODRAFT for working out bolting details. The rules for ISODRAFT are as follows:
• The first letter of the PCON attribute of a flange must be ‘F’ or ‘L’ (the latter for lap
joints)
• The first letter of the PCON attribute of a gasket must be ‘G’
• The first letter of the PCON attribute of a wafer fitting must be ‘W’

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON B-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Setting Up a Catalogue

The list below is not exhaustive and only shows example codes - it is not mandatory.
Item and/or Connection Type Code
300lb Raised-Face Flange FGD
300lb Gasket GGD
Pipe Bevelled End TUB
Butt Weld BWD
Socket Weld SWF
300lb Wafer Fitting WGD
Screwed Male SCM
Screwed Female SCF

B-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Setting Up a Catalogue

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON B- 3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Setting Up a Catalogue

B.3 The Connection Compatibility Table

The table in the previous section can be used to construct a PDMS Connection
Compatibility Table (CCTA) which sets out all the permissible connection pairs.
If an attempt is made to connect two pipework components in DESIGN, then a check is
made to see if the p-leave PCON attribute of the first component and the p-arrive PCON
attribute of the second component appear as a matching pair in the connection table. If
there is such a matching pair then the components are connected, otherwise a similar
check is made on the p-leave PCON attributes of each component. If a matching pair is
now found, the second component is ‘flipped’ and connected to the first. If no matching
pair is found then an ‘incompatible connection type’ error message is output and
the second component is left in its original position and orientation.
The following sample connection table uses the connection list given in the previous
section:
NEW CCTAB
NEW COCO /FGDGGD
CTYPE FGD GGD
NEW COCO /TUBBWD
CTYPE TUB BWD
NEW COCO /GGDWGD
CTYPE GGD WGD
NEW COCO /TUBSWF
CTYPE TUB SWF
NEW COCO /SCMSWF
CTYPE SCM SWF
NEW COCO /SCFTUB
CTYPE SCF TUB
The COCO (Connection Compatibility) elements are named so that the allowable
connections are easily queried.
The above table shows, for example, that tube can be connected to a screwed female
connection but not to a screwed male connection.
Different ratings of flanges and gaskets should have different connection attributes to
ensure that different pressure fittings cannot be connected without a warning message
being issued. This principle also applies to different flange face characteristics, e.g. flat
face and raised face: however, there are some exceptions. On some jobs a flat-faced
flange on a piece of equipment may be butted up to a raised-face flange. If this is a
common occurrence, it may be worth inputting a new COCO to allow the connection.

B-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
C. Construction of Typical Piping Components

This Appendix gives sample macros for the construction of typical Catalogue Piping
Components using PARAGON.
Each macro starts at CATEGORY level. The view parameters used to produce the
drawings shown vary between each example, and so are not given here. Each drawing
has REPRESENTATION settings of TUBE ON CENTRELINE ON PPOINTS ON
NUMBERS ON. Some of the Components are too large to fit onto a typical view area
when drawn at the default SCALE value of 1. Values of 0.5 are suggested for examples 1
and 3, and 0.05 for example 6.
The definition for each Component includes the possibility of insulation being present,
although this is not drawn. Note how the clash geometry and component geometry have
been combined.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-1 A Control Valve, using the SDSH primitive

NEW PTSE /CVMWPS

NEW GMSE /CVMWGS
NEW SCOM /CVMW
GTYP INST PARA 25 100 133 17.5 FLGD
PTRE /CVMWPS
GMRE /CVMWGS
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[5]) NUMB 1 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS (PARAM[2]) PAXI -Y
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[5]) NUMB 2 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS (PARAM[2]) PAXI Y
NEW PTAX

C-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

PCON NULL NUM 3 PBOR 0 PDIS (2.50 * PARAM[4]) PAXI X

/CVMW
GOTO GMRE
NEW SCYL
PDIS (PARAM[2]) PHEI (-2 * PARAM[2]) PDIA (PARAM[3]) PAXI Y
NEW SCYL
PDIS 0 PHEI (2.5 * PARAM[2]) PDIA (1.6 * PARAM[2]) PAXI X
NEW SSPH
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIS 0 PAXI -Y PDIA (0.50 * PARAM[1])
NEW SCON
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIS (2.5 * PARAM[2]) PDIA (1.6 *
PARAM[2])
PAXI X
NEW SDSH
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIA (1.6 * PARAM[2]) PHEI (0.8 * PARAM[2])
PDIS (2.5 * PARAM[2]) PAXI X
NEW SCYL
OBST 0 TUFL TRUE PDIS (PARAM[2]) PHEI (-1 * PARAM[4])
PDIA (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1]) PAXI -Y
NEW SCYL COPY PREV PAXI Y
OBST 0 TUFL TRUE PDIS (PARAM[2]) PHEI (-1.0 * PARAM[4])
PDIA (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1]) PAXI Y
NEW LSNO
OBST 0 TUFL TRUE PTDI (PARAM[2] - PARAM[4]) PBDI 0
PTDM (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1]) PBDM (1 + IPARAM[1])
PAAX -Y PBAX Z
NEW LSNO COPY PREV PAAX Y
NEW LSNO
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PTDI (PARAM[2]) PBDI 0
PTDM (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1]) PBDM (1 + IPARAM[1])
PAAX -Y PBAX Z
NEW LSNO COPY PREV PAAX Y
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-2 An Unequal Tee

NEW PTSE /MWTPTSET

NEW GMSE /MWTGMSET
NEW SCOM /MWNEQTEE
GTYP TEE PARA 100 80 114 90 BWD 105 80 15 10
PTRE /MWTPTSET
GMRE /MWTGMSET
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[5]) NUMB 1 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS (PARAM[6]) PAXI -Y
NEW PTAX COPY PREV PAXI Y NUM 2
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[5]) NUMB 3 PBOR (PARAM[2])
PDIS (PARAM[7]) PAXI X
/MWNEQTEE
GOTO GMRE
NEW LINE
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE P1 P2
NEW LINE

C-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

OBST 0 CLFL TRUE P3 P0

NEW SSPH
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PDIS 0 PAXI P1 PDIA (PARAM[8])
NEW SSPH
COPY PREV PAXI P2
NEW SSPH
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE LEVE 0 2 PDIS 0 PAXI P3
PDIA (PARAM[9])
NEW SCYL
TUFL TRUE PDIS 0 PHEI (-2 * PARAM[6])
PDIA (PARAM[3]) PAXI P1
NEW SCYL
TUFL TRUE PDIS 0 PHEI (PARAM[7])
PDIA (PARAM[4]) PAXI X
END
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-3 A Weld Neck Flange

NEW PTSE /MWFLPS

NEW GMSE /MWFLGS
NEW SCOM /MWWNFLAN
GTYP FLAN PARA 100 114 254 30 56 180 TUB FLGD 20
PTRE /MWFLPS
GMRE /MWFLGS
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[8]) NUMB 1 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS 0 PAXI -Y

C-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[7]) NUMB 2 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PAXI Y
PDIS (PARAM[4] + PARAM[5])
/MWWNFLAN
GOTO GMRE
NEW SCYL
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIS 0 PHEI (PARAM[4])
PDIA (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1]) PAXI Y
NEW LINE
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE P1 P2
NEW SSPH
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PDIS 0 PAXI P2 PDIA (PARAM[9])
NEW LSNO
TUFL TRUE PTDI (PARAM[5] + PARAM[4])
PBDI (PARAM[4]) PBDM (PARAM[6] + IPARAM[1])
PTDM (PARAM[2] + IPARAM[1]) PAAX Y PBAX X POFF 0
END
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 7

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-4 A Concentric Reducer

NEW PTSE /MWRPTSET

NEW GMSE /MWRGMSET
NEW SCOM /MWCR2
GTYP REDU PARA 100 80 110 90 102 0 BWD 15 10
PTRE /MWRPTSET
GMRE /MWRGMSET
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
NUMB 1 PCON (PARAM[7]) PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 0 PAXI -Y
NEW PTCA
NUMB 2 PCON (PARAM[7]) PBOR (PARAM[2]) PX 0
PY (PARAM[5]) PZ (-1 * PARAM[6])
NEW PTAX
NUMB 3 PDIS 0 PAXI -Z
/MWCR2

C-8 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

GOTO GMRE
NEW LINE
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE P1 P2
NEW SSPH OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PDIS 0 PAXI P1 PDIA (PARAM[8])
NEW SSPH OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PDIS 0 PAXI P2 PDIA (0.65 * PARAM[9])
NEW LSNO
TUFL TRUE PTDI (PARAM[5])
PBDI 0 PTDM (PARAM[4] + IPARAM[1])
PBDM (PARAM[3] + IPARAM[1])
PAAX Y PBAX -Z POFF (PARAM[6])
END
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 9

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-5 An Elbow

NEW PTSE /MWPS35

NEW GMSE /MWGS34
NEW SCOM /MWEL5
GTYP ELBO PARA 50 60 25 75 15 SWF
PTRE /MWPS35
GMRE /MWGS34
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[6]) NUMB 1 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS (PARAM[3]) PAXI -Y
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[6]) NUMB 2 PBOR (PARAM[1])
PDIS (PARAM[3]) PAXI Y 45 X
/MWEL5
GOTO GMRE
NEW LINE
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE P1 T0 P2
NEW SCTO
TUFL TRUE PAAX P1 PBAX P2 PDIA (PARAM[2] + IPARAM[1])

C-10 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

NEW LSNO
OBST 0 CLFL TRUE PTDI (PARAM[5]) PBDI 0.00 PTDM (PARAM[4] +
IPARAM[1])
PBDM (PARAM[4] + IPARAM[1]) PAAX P1 PBAX Z TVIS FALSE
NEW LSNO COPY PREV PAAX P2
NEW SCYL OBST 0
TUFL TRUE PHEI (PARAM[5])
PDIA (PARAM[4] + IPARAM[1]) PAXI P1
NEW SCYL COPY PREV PAXI P2
END
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 11

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-6 A Mitred Elbow, using SSLC Primitives

NEW PTSE /MWPTESTC1

NEW GMSE /MWGTESTC1
NEW SCOM /MWLOBST-51
GTYP ELBO PARA 500 2000 398.7 -550 -152.2 -1234.6 -585.5 BWDN
PTRE /MWPTESTC1
GMRE /MWGTESTC1
MODEL CE
GOTO PTRE
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[8]) NUMB 1 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS (PARAM[2])

C-12 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

PAXI -Y
NEW PTAX
PCON (PARAM[8]) NUMB 2 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS (PARAM[2])
PAXI X
NEW PTCA
NUMB 3 PX (-PARAM[6]) PY (PARAM[5]) PZ 0
PTCDIR -X 24 -Y
NEW PTCA
NUMB 4 PX (-PARAM[7]) PY (PARAM[7]) PZ 0
PTCDIR -X 45 -Y
NEW PTCA
NUMB 5 PX (-PARAM[5]) PY (PARAM[6]) PZ 0
PTCDIR -Y 24 -X
/MWLOBST-51
GOTO GMRE
NEW SRTO
PAAX P1 PBAX P2
PDIA (-1.2 * PARAM[4])
PHEI (PARAM[3])
NEW SSLC OBST 0
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIA (PARAM[4]) PHEI (-PARAM[3]) PDIS 0
PAXI P1 PXTS -11.5
NEW SSLC OBST 0
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIA (PARAM[4]) PHEI (-PARAM[3]) PDIS 0
PAXI P2 PXTS 11.5
NEW SSLC OBST 0
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PDIA (PARAM[4]) PHEI (-2 * PARAM[3])
PDIS (PARAM[3]) PAXI P3 PXTS -11.5 PXBS 11.5
NEW SSLC COPY PREV PAXI P4
NEW SSLC COPY PREV PAXI P5
END
$.

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 13

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

Figure C-7 A Rectangular Cross Section Pipe, using BOXI primitives

PARAGON Syntax:
NEW PTSE /PBOXI2
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 1 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 0 PAXI -Y
END OF END
NEW GMSE /GBOXI2
NEW BOXI
PAXI P1 PXLE (PARAM[3]) PZLE (PARAM[2]) CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE
END OF END
NEW PTSE /PELBO
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 1 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 250
PAXI -Y
END
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 2 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 250
PAXI X
END OF END
NEW GMSE /GELBO
NEW SRTO
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PAAX P1 PBAX P2 PDIA (PARAM[2])
PHEI (PARAM[3])
END OF END
NEW PTSE /PVELBO
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 1 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 250
PAXI -Y
END
NEW PTAX

C-14 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Construction of Typical Piping Components

PCON BWD NUM 2 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 250

PAXI Z
END OF END
NEW PTSE /PWELD
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 1 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 0 PAXI Y
END
NEW PTAX
PCON BWD NUM 2 PBOR (PARAM[1]) PDIS 0 PAXI -Y
END OF END
NEW GMSE /GWELD
NEW SSPH
CLFL TRUE TUFL TRUE PAXI P1 PDIA (PARAM[2])
END OF END
NEW SCOM /BOX100
GTYP TUBE PARA 300100 100 300
END
OLD SCOM /BOX100
PTRE PTSE /PBOXI2 GMRE GMSE /GBOXI2
NEW SCOM /HELBO100
GTYP ELBO PARA 300100 300 100
END
OLD SCOM /HELBO100
PTRE /PELBO GMRE /GELBO
NEW SCOM /VELBO100
GTYP ELBO PARA 300100 100 300
END
OLD SCOM /VELBO100
PTRE /PVELBO GMRE /GELBO
NEW SCOM /BWELD100
GTYP WELD PARA 300100 200
END
OLD SCOM /BWELD100
PTRE /PWELD GMRE /GWELD
SPECON Macro:
NEW SPECIFICATION /BOXI.SPEC
MATREF =0
FLUREF =0
RATING 0.000
LINETYPE NUL
HEADING
TYPE NAME PBOR0 CATREF DETAIL MATXT CMPREF
BLTREF
TUBE */D300X100 300100.0 /BOX101 =0 =0 =0
=0

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON C- 15

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Construction of Typical Piping Components

HEADING
TYPE NAME PBOR0 STYP CATREF DETAIL MATXT CMPRE
BLTREF
ELBO */HB300X100 300100.0 H /HELBO101 =0 =0 =0
=0
ELBO */VB300X100 300100.0 V /VELBO101 =0 =0 =0
=0
HEADING
TYPE NAME PBOR0 CATREF DETAIL MATXT CMPREF
BLTREF
WELD */W300X100 300100.0 /BWELD101 =0 =0 =0
=0
$.
DESIGN Syntax:
NEW PIPE
SPEC BOXI.SPEC
NEW BRAN /BOXIBRAN
HPOS E0 HBOR 300100 HDIR N HCON BWD
TPOS E2500 N7000 U1000 TDIR S TBOR 300100 TCON BWD
NEW WELD SEL CONN TO PH AND P0 IS U
SPRE /BOXI.SPEC/W300X100 LSTU /BOXI.SPEC/D300X100 ORIF TRUE POSF
TRUE
NEW ELBO SEL WI STYP V
THRO N5000 DIR U
NEW ELBO SEL WI STYP H
THRO U1000 DIR E
NEW ELBO SEL WI STYP V
THRO PT DIR N
NEW WELD SEL CONN TO PT AND P0 IS E
END
Note that it is assumed that a COCO element allowing BWD to BWD connections
already exists in your database.

C-16 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
D. Summary of Element Types

This appendix contains a glossary of the element types which you can use in PARAGON,
and a list of them grouped according to their function. Some element types can be
created and deleted in PARAGON, and have their standard attributes of NAME and
LOCK changed, but must have their particular attributes set by other PDMS modules.
These are indicated by references to the appropriate manuals.
The list of element types is the list of ‘special nouns’ for PARAGON (its <snoun> syntax
diagram).

D.1 Glossary

For each element type, this glossary gives

• the short name (four characters) as it is displayed on the screen
• the full name: the minimum abbreviation which can be used in a command is shown
in uppercase
• a brief description

Short Full Name Description

Name

ATLI ATLIst Attribute List

BLIS BLISt Bolt List
BLTA BLTAble Bolt Table
BOXI BOXIng Boxing (3D Geomset primitive)
CATE CATEgory Piping Category
CATA CATAlogue Catalogue DB
CCTA CCTAble Connection Compatibility Table
COCO COCO Connection Compatibility Element

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON D-1

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Summary of Element Types

Short Full Name Description

Name

COMP COMPonent Piping Component

DATA DATA Data
DTAB DTABle Diameter Table
DTEX DTEXt Detailing Text
DTSE DTSEt Dataset
FITT FITTing Fitting Component
GMSE GMSEt 3D Geomset
GMSS GMSSet Structural Ge
GPWL GPWL Group World
GROU GROUp Group
JOIN JOINt Joint Component
LCYL LCYLinder Cylinder (3D Geomset primitive)
LINE LINEs Line (3D Geomset primitive)
LPYR LPYRamid Pyramid (3D Geomset primitive)
LSNO LSNOut Snout (3D Geomset primitive)
LTAB LTABle Length Table
MSET MSET Measurement Set
MTEX MTEXt Material Text
MTYP MTYPe Measurement Type
NGMS NGMSet Negative 3D Geomset
NLCY NLCYlinder Negative Cylinder (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NLPY NLPYramid Negative Pyramid (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NLSN NLSNout Negative Snout (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NSBO NSBOx Negative Box (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NSCO NSCOne Negative Cone (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NSCT NSCTorus Negative Circular Torus (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)

D-2 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Summary of Element Types

Short Full Name Description

Name

NSCY NSCYlinder Negative Cylinder (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)

NSDS NSDSh Negative Dish (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NSEX NSEXtrusion Negative User-defined Extrusion (Negative 3D Geomset
primitive)
NSRE NSREvolution Negative Solid of Revolution (Negative 3D Geomset
primitive)
NSRT NSRTorus Negative Rectangular Torus (Negative 3D Geomset
primitive)
NSSL NSSLcylinder Negative Slope-Bottomed Cylinder (Negative 3D Geomset
primitive)
NSSP NSSPhere Negative Sphere (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
NTUB NTUBe Negative Implied Tube (Negative 3D Geomset primitive)
PROF PROFile Profile Component
PTAX PTAXis Axial P-point
PTCA PTCAr Cartesian P-point
PLIN PLINe P-line
PTMI PTMIx Mixed Type P-point
PTSE PTSEt 3D Pointset (with P-point member elements)
PTSS PTSSet Structural Pointset (with P-line member elements)
SANN SANNulus Structural Annulus (Structural Geomset primitive)
SBOL SBOLt Single Bolt (or Standard Bolt) Element
SBOX SBOX Box (3D Geomset primitive)
SCOM SCOMponent Piping Component
SCON SCONe Cone (3D Geomset primitive)
SCTO SCTOrus Circular Torus (3D Geomset primitive)
SCYL SCYLinder Cylinder (3D Geomset primitive)
SDIS SDISc/SDISk Disc (3D Geomset primitive)
SDSH SDSH Dish (3D Geomset primitive)

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON D- 3

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Summary of Element Types

Short Full Name Description

Name

SDTE SDTExt Detailing Text

SECT SECTion Piping Section
SELE SELEc Selector - see the SPECON Reference Guide.
SEXT SEXTrusion User-defined Extrusion (3D Geomset primitive)
SFIT SFITting Fitting Component
SJOI SJOInt Joint Component
SLOO SLOOp Structural Loop (3D Geomset primitive)
SMTE SMTExt Material Text
SPRF SPRFile Profile Component
SPWL SPWL Specification World - see the SPECON Reference Guide.
SPCO SPCOm Specification Component - see the SPECON Reference
Guide.
SPRO SPROfile Structural Profile (Structural Geomset primitive)
SPEC SPECi Specification - see the SPECON Reference Guide.
SPVE SPVErtex Structural Profile Vertex (Structural Geomset primitive)
SREC SRECtangle Structural Rectangle (Structural Geomset primitive)
SREV SREVolution Solid of Revolution (3D Geomset primitive)
SRTO SRTOrus Rectangular Torus (3D Geomset primitive)
SSLC SSLCylinder Slope-Bottomed Cylinder (3D Geomset primitive)
SSPH SSPHere Sphere (3D Geomset primitive)
STCA STCAtegory Structural Category
STSE STSEction Structural Section
SVER SVERtex Structural Vertex (3D Geomset primitive)
TEXT TEXT Text
TUBE TUBE Implied Tube (3D Geomset primitive)
UDEF UDEFinition Units Definition
UNIT UNIT Unit Element
USEC USECtion Unit Section

D-4 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Summary of Element Types

D.2 Functional Groups

3D Pointset elements:
PTSEt PTAXi PTCAr PTMIx

Structural Pointset elements:

PTSSet PLINe

3D Geomset elements:
GMSEt SBOX SDISc SDISk SCONe
LSNOut SDSH BOXIng SSLCylinder SSPHere
LCYLinder SCYLinder LINEs SCTOrus SRTOrus
TUBE LPYRamid SEXTrusion SREVolution SLOOp
SVERtex

Negative 3D Geomset elements:

NGMSEt NSBOx NSCOne NLSNout NSDSh
NSSLcylinder NSSPhere NLCYlinder NSCYlinder NSCTorus
NSRTorus NLPYramid NSEXtrusion NSREvolution SLOOp
SVERtex

Structural Geomset elements:

GMSSet SRECtangle SANNulus SPROfile SPVErtex

Dataset elements:
DTSEt DATA

Piping Components:
SCOMponent COMPonent number

Profile Components:
SPRFile PROFile number

Joint Components:
SJOInt JOINt number

Fitting Components:
SFITting (NOT FITTing number)

Material Text elements:

SMTExt MTEXt number

Detailing Text elements:

SDTExt DTEXt number

Group World elements:

GPWL GROUp

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON D- 5

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Summary of Element Types

Specification World elements (see the SPECON Reference Guide):

SPWL SPECi SELEc SPCOm

Catalogue administrative elements:

CATAlogue SECTion STSEction CATEgory STCAtegory
TEXT

Bolt Table elements:

BLTAble BLISt SBOLt LTABle MBOLt
MBLIst DTABle

Connection Table elements:

CCTAble COCO

Units elements:
UNIT MSET MTYP ATLIst USECtion
UDEFinition

D-6 VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
Index

ABREV, 9-5 DDHEIGHT, 6-1, 6-17

ACTIVE, 3-5 DDRADIUS, 6-1, 6-17
ADEN, 9-6 DECP, 9-6
AIDS, 3-5 DES APARAM, 4-10
ALARM, 3-4 DES OPARAM, 4-10
ALPHA, 3-3 DES PARAM, 4-10
ALPHA FILE, 3-3 Dimensions, 2-5
ALPHA LOG, 3-3 DTAB, 9-4
APARAM, 4-9, 8-4 DTEX, 4-6
ATLI, 9-5 DTSET, 4-6, 10-1
BLIS, 9-3 END, 5-2, 5-3
BLTA, 9-3 Expressions, 2-5
BLTP, 9-3 filename, 2-4
BOXI, 7-8 FINISH, 3-2
BTSE, 9-3 FIRST, 5-3
CATA, 4-4 FITT, 4-7, 4-14
Catalogue, 4-4 GETWORK, 3-2
Catalogue Element Types, 2-5 GMSET, 4-6, 7-6, 8-19
CATE, 4-4 GMSSET, 4-7, 7-26, 8-22
Category, 4-4 GOTO, 5-3
CCTA, 9-2, 4 INCBOR, 9-9
CE, 3-5, 5-2, 6-1 INSTALL, 3-1
CENTRELINE. See CL INSULATION, 6-23
CL, 6-6, 6-20 integer, 2-3
COCO, 9-2, 4 IPARAM, 4-8, 8-4
COLOUR, 3-5 JOIN, 4-7, 4-13
comma, 2-4 LAST, 5-3
COMP, 4-6, 4-12 LCYL, 7-11
Cursor-picking Identifier, 2-4, 2-7 LENGTH, 6-24, 6-25
DATA, 10-1 letter, 2-3
DDANGLE, 6-1, 6-17, 8-13, 8-18 LEVEL, 6-6, 6-22

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON Index-i

Reference Manual
Version11.6SP1
Index

LINE, 7-16 PLINE, 7-4, 8-17

LPYR, 7-17 PLINES, 6-4, 6-25
LSNO, 7-20 plus, 2-4
LTAB, 9-4 PPOINT, 7-1, 8-10, 8-11, 8-12
MEMBER, 5-3 PPOINTS, 6-2, 6-24
minus, 2-4 PREVIOUS, 5-3
MMBOR, 9-9 PROF, 4-7, 4-13
MODEL, 6-1, 6-17 PROFILE, 6-21
MSET, 9-5 PSKEY, 8-16
MTEX, 4-6 PTAXI, 7-2, 8-10, 8-13
MTYP, 9-5 PTCAR, 7-3, 8-11
MULT, 9-5 PTCDIRECTION, 8-15
NA, 8-17 PTMIX, 7-3, 8-12
name, 2-4 PTSET, 4-6, 7-1, 8-10
NEW, 8-2 PTSSET, 4-6, 7-4, 8-17
NEXT, 5-3 PURP, 9-9
NGMSET, 4-6, 7-25 PX, 8-15, 8-19
NOMINB, 9-9 PY, 8-15, 8-19
NRBWLD, 9-9 PZ, 8-15
NUMBER, 8-15 QUERY, 8-3
NUMBERS, 6-24 QUIT, 3-2
OBST, 7-7, 7-27 RECREATE, 3-1
OBSTRUCTION, 6-6, 6-23 REPRESENTATION, 6-2, 6-4, 6-6, 6-20, 6-
21, 6-22, 6-23, 6-24, 6-25
OPARAM, 4-9
SAME, 5-2
OWNER, 5-2
SANN, 7-29, 8-22
PAAX, 8-23
SAVEWORK, 3-2
PARAGON, 3-1
SBOL, 9-4
PARAM, 4-8, 8-4
SBOX, 7-8
PAXI, 8-23
SCOM. See COMP
PBORE, 8-15
SCON, 7-10
PCON, 1, 4
SCTO, 7-18
PCONNECTION, 8-15
SCYL, 7-12
PDISTANCE, 8-14
SDIS, 7-14
PKEY, 6-25, 8-17, 8-19
SDSH, 7-15
PLAXI, 8-18
SDTE, 9-1. See DTEX

Index-ii VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1
 Index

SECT, 4-4 SSPH, 7-21

Section, 4-4 star, 2-4
SETTINGS, 6-1, 6-17 STCA, 4-4
SEXT, 7-23 STSEC, 4-4
SFIT. See FITT SVER, 7-23, 7-24
SIGF, 9-6 Syntax diagram conventions, 2-1
SJOI. See JOIN text, 2-4
SKEY, 8-16 TEXT, 4-7, 9-8
SLOO, 7-23, 7-24 TRACE, 3-4
SMTE, 9-2. See MTEX TUBE, 6-6, 6-20, 7-22
solid, 2-4 TYPE, 5-3
space, 2-4 UDEF, 9-5
Specific Element Identifier, 2-7 UNIT, 9-5
SPRF. See PROF UNITS, 9-6
SPRO, 7-30 USEC, 9-5
SPVE, 7-30 User-defined Nominal Dimensions, 9-8
SREC, 7-28, 8-22 value, 2-3
SREV, 7-24 varid, 2-4
SRTO, 7-19 VISIBLE, 3-5
SSLC, 7-13 word, 2-3

VANTAGE PDMS PARAGON Index-iii

Reference Manual
Version 11.6SP1