Placing User Defined static cells as custom Plumbing components


Product(s):AECOsim Building Designer
Version(s):V8i
Area:Plumbing Design

Problem Description:

How can I create custom plumbing components, e.g., a custom valve or a flange, using a User Defined static cell?


Steps to Resolve:

Plumbing components like valves or flanges are inserted using a set of programs and the data from the catalog database (MDB files). So, for a user defined static cell to be inserted as a valve or a flange, these things need to be in place:

  1. A properties schema that can be used for the catalog type for the new component (existing ones can also be used).
  2. A catalog type that should:
    1. Have an assigned discipline, i.e., Plumbing.
    2. Have a unique name.
    3. Point to the MacroKey that is executed when the command is evoked for any of the items under the catalog type.
    4. Have the required properties schema assigned.
  3. Catalog Item(s) for the applicable Catalog Type along with default values for the properties assigned to the Catalog Type, for each of the Catalog Items.
  4. A MacroKey that is executed when the command is evoked for any of the items under the catalog type. The MacroKey should point to the required sub-procedure inside the required EntryPoint module for the command.
  5. A sub-procedure in the EntryPoint module that would point to the class module for placing the cell.
  6. The class module that will place the cell.
  7. The cell itself.

Using scripting to have all of the above in place will ensure better control. The following video shows how a properties schema can be created.

The following video shows how to add a Catalog Type with proper attributes assigned to it. e.g., discipline, name, MacroKey, properties schema, etc., using scripting.

In the following video a new Catalog Item has been created, using scripting, within the Catalog Type that was created in the previous video. Default values for the properties are also assigned to it.

The next video shows creation of a MacroKey for the Catalog Type.

In the following video, a sub-procedure is created in the required EntryPoint module and points to the required class module. The required class module is a newly created one. The process of creating that is also included.

The following video points out the mandatory requirements for the cell file.

In the next video, the new plumbing component using a user defined static cell is placed in a project and tested for associativity with the connecting pipes.