This is the first ever feature of "What is it? Where is it? What does it do?" or What? Where? What? But what is the "What is it? Where is it? What does it do?" feature? Well what I will do is find an AutoPLANT file, command or neat thing in AutoPLANT then describe what that does, where it is located and in general why it should not be fooled around with. And if the what where what is a program file describe why it should not be edited and then describe some basic fixes and minor customizations.
Today's first ever What? Where? What? is the AT.INI file. But why review the AT.INI file first? Its because it's the only file that I know of that if removed or completely corrupted AutoPLANT will not even pretend to open, run, or even start. AutoPLANT will not start, Document Manager will not start, Project Administrator will not start.
The at.ini an AutoPLANT initialization file and it is one of the first files that AutoPLANT access when AutoPLANT starts. If removed the various AutoPLANT products will display an error on startup stating there is an error or missing at.ini file.
If you feel so inclined move at.ini out of its folder to the desktop then try to start Document Manager or even AutoPLANT and you will see the at.ini error. DON'T FORGET TO MOVE IT BACK!!!
At.ini is system specific file that is located in the documents and settings folder; the specific location is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Plant XM\CFG. Because of its location at.ini is not project specific it is workstation specific.
At.ini contains basic startup for most of the AutoPLANT products and preference information. For example below is a partial selection of [GENERAL] section of at.ini (Do not use this as a reference). As you can see it contains back end path reference information and user preference information such LastUser and SavedUserPW.
[GENERAL]
APTMP=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Plant XM\Tmpdir\
CADAPP=D:\Program Files\AutoCAD 2007\acad.exe
ProjectDetailsForLogin=0
LastUser=Supervisor
SavedUserPW=Supervisor|~~371A151213110810020451504F495146
CurProject=0001
AP=%NETWORK_ROOT%
APWS=%LOCAL_ROOT%
Other sections such as [Vision] has information about window size and location. All the available sections have all or some combination of preference information, and path locations.
The paths and preferences are automatically updated by AutoPLANT and the paths should never need to be updated or created manually.
The only manual modification that a normal user may need to change is the
"CADAPP" entry for equipment, piping, raceways, and isometrics. CADAPP reference can change if a new AutoCAD is installed.
For example I installed AutoCAD 2009 before AutoPLANT V8i was released to use its updated audit, purge and recoverall tools. Because of this install the CADAPP path was changed to the AutoCAD 2009 executable. Old and new path example below changed section is bolded for emphasis.
Before 2009 install CADAPP=C: \Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\acad.exe
After 2009 install CADAPP=C: \Program Files\AutoCAD 2009\acad.exe
Document Manager and Vision uses CADAPP path when a new document is created or opened. The path is now pointing to the AutoCAD 2009 acad.exe. Document manager will open and created all new documents using AutoCAD 2009 which was is not compatible with AutoCAD 2009.
To correct this issue open the at.ini file find all references for CADAPP and change the AutoCAD path from AutoCAD 2009 to AutoCAD 2008.
Problem
How do I create an AutoPLANT model through Vision using AutoCAD template file (*.dwt)?--How do I create an AutoPLANT model through Vision using AutoCAD template file (*.dwt)?
Solution
1. Open the file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Plant 2004\CFG\AT.INI.
2. Under each application group that has a REG_APP value, add the following two lines (as the example below for the PIPING section):
[PIPING] DWG= YourTemplateName.dwg PATH=C:\...<--Your Specified Path