COLUMN FOR CUMULATIVE LENGTH ON THE FLEX TABLE and HOW TO SORT HGL FROM UPSTREAM TO DOWNSTREAM ON T-BRANCHED NETWORKS

Question

Hello guys, I have a very long water distribution network imported via model builder from a GIS-based data.My questions are;- 
 1. Is there a way to create a new column on the "pipe" flex table to show the cumulative length of the length of pipes available?Its quite tiresome to input certain varying parameters like the size/type of pipes along the total length of pipe at certain specified distances(Let us say in 3000m, the pipe diameter varies as follows,1200m=16",800m=12" then the rest 1000m=8").How can I easily achieve this?Creating a flex table cumulative column looks like the best method for me. 
 You can also assist by defining a new user data extension. 
 2. On a dense network model or a branched /T-network, how can I easily sort my HGL from upstream to downstream along one branch then finish up with HGL data from the junction to the 2nd branch lets say on a T-network.(R1 to J 1,then J1 to node 1 and J 1 to node 2: How can I sort my HGL data on the flex table from upstream to downstream from R 1 to node 1 through J 1 then the rest of the network HGL data from J 1 to node 2 to follow right below.

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Hello Allan, 
 I can understand that this may be useful for rural, branched systems, but most WaterCAD/WaterGEMS models would not be able to use such a feature as they tend to be more complicated, with looping and flow direction that changes (for example a tank filling or draining). 
 For a branched system, you can accomplish this using the workflow in the following article I have just published to our Wiki: 
 Tracking cumulative length (stationing) for a branched water network 
 As a side note, in the model you sent, it looks like junction "(Point)-35" is overlapping a pipe but not connected. If you click and drag it away, you will see, and you may want to fix the topology if needed. (you can right click > split if needed) 
 I have split this pipe and followed the above procedure in your model, then saved it in case you need it for reference. Note that you'll need to be using the latest version in order to open this copy. You can read more about what has been added in the CONNECT Edition and CONNECT Edition Update 1 releases here and here. 
 Cumulative length update.zip 
 Regarding sorting upstream/downstream - in WaterCAD and WaterGEMS, this can be done by sorting on hydraulic grade (which is also involved in the above process). See the following article from our Wiki: Sorting and relabeling a flextable based on upstream-downstream order

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Allan, you'll need to filter the flextable first on the correct branch, similar to the workaround from the wiki article I linked to. You can use the "find shortest path" query to select the elements on a particular branch, then open the junction flextable on selection and sort by HGL.

Jesse Dringoli · Answer

Hello Allan - Yes, this is what I meant by using queries to select one branch at a time, then filtering on the flextable. This is also the method I used to populate cumulative distance. 
 For example, in Network Navigator, choose Network Trace > Find Shortest Path, select your pump as the Start Node, then select the end of the first branch as the Stop Node (for example "(Point)-156"). Click Ok, then click the Select In Drawing button at the top. With the elements selected, right click in the drawing, choose Edit Group, then double click the junction table. This will open a table filtered to show only junctions along that first path. You can then short on HGL to order them from upstream to downstream. 
 The above steps are mentioned in the wiki article I had previously linked to.