Designate an area on the network where the AutoPLANT Project root will be created. Ensure that the user has read/write access. If possible, user should have full access to those directories. If it is necessary to have restricted security to the documents and project information, Projectwise Explorer is recommended. The path to the AutoPLANT project should not be overly long. Overall count of characters to the project should be 120 or less do to certain limitations. As a rule, it is better to avoid using punctuation (periods, commas or slashes) in the folder names. The folder where the AutoPLANT Documents and/or projects are stored should be a mapped drive. All users should have the same mapped drive letter. The point is to be consistent in how projects and documents are accessed. If users access projects and documents by either a different drive letter or by UNC pathing (example: \\server name\folder path\folder path\); or if users switch back and forth in how the documents are accessed they will most definitely receive database errors and cause the drawings to be inaccessible.
WARNING: UNC pathing (example: \\server name\folder1\folder2\folder3\) may only be used when projects are stored at one site. If there are multiple locations where the AutoPLANT project will be accessed, then consistent mapped drive letters must be used. Most of the instructions below will be in reference to the AutoPLANT Project Administrator. To access this application, go to the desktop menu: Start > All Programs > Bentley > Plant V8i > Project Tools > Project Administrator.
The installation program creates 3 sample projects in the C:\Bentley Plant V8i Projects\ folder. These are provided as examples only and should not be considered for production. In order for projects to be accessible to all users, they should be created on the network from a mapped drive.
The first step in setting up a project is to create the project root directory. The root folder is the top level directory under which individual projects related to the root will reside. You can have more than one root directory with multiple projects defined under each.
A new project root folder may be created using one of the following methods:
HINT: If the "add root" button is grayed out, select the Standard Configurations folder. Then go to File > Add Root...In either instance, the dialog shown below is displayed.
You can navigate to the drive where you want to create the directory and press "Make New Folder". This will create a New Folder directory below the currently selected drive and will enable you to overwrite New Folder with the desired folder name.
Once you have created the folder, select it in the navigation tree, then press "OK" to assign the root. The new root will appear as a top level folder level in the Project Administrator's navigation tree.
Creating a new project root will create three new files (AT_PRODSV8i.DBF; AT_PROJ.DBF; ACCESS.MDB) in this project root directory. The AT_PROJ.DBF will contain a record for each project created under this project root. The file can be opened by creating an access database and linking to the DBF file. DO NOT MODIFY the DBF files in Microsoft Excel.
Once the project root is created, all other users should add the project root the same way. Rather than having to press the "Make New Folder" button, they will only have to select the Root folder created and then select OK.
The most typical database types used are MS Access and SQL Server. When creating a project using MS Access, the database (PROJDATA.MDB) will be created automatically with no additional configuring required on the part of the user. For SQL projects, the database and user privileges must first be configured. Follow the steps below to do this.
Hint: MS Access databases are recommended if only one or two users will be accessing the project at a time. If you have more users who will be accessing the project at the same time, it is strongly recommended to move toward a central database (either SQL or Oracle) due to MS Access limitations.
Hint: AutoPLANT projects also allow for the Oracle database type. However, it is recommended that a DBA (Database Administrator) who is properly trained configure and maintain the Oracle database. Contact Bentley Technical Support for a Quick Reference Guide to creating and connecting to an Oracle database.
First off, you need to have Microsoft SQL Server 2005 installed and SQL Server Management Studio available to create databases.
You now have a new user and database in SQL Server 2005 for use with AutoPLANT.
The Project Administrator provides a wizard driven interface to create new projects. The New Project Wizard will display a series of dialogs that walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a new project.The dialogs presented will depend on the method used to create the project. For example, if you are creating a new project from an existing one, then you will be required to specify if the data and documents from the source are copied into the new project. If you are creating a new empty project, you will not be prompted for this information, as there is no data and/or documents to copy. Please note the difference in the dialogs below. You will not be able to select the database type, schema location, Base schematic template or units if you are copying a project.
Note: It should also be noted that a new feature as of AutoPLANT XM and continued in V8i is to allow the data from the file ..\project name\projdata\SCHEMA.MDB to be stored in the central project database if Oracle or SQL Server are chosen as the database type. Since the schema data is accessed whenever a user opens the project, this would allow for further stability by avoiding MS Access connection limitations.
In the Base Template and 3D Settings dialog, you will have the option to select "central project mode" if you are creating a SQL database project. This ensures that all information for that project is stored in a central database (as opposed to individual local MDB files stored at the drawing locations). We recommend "Central Model", if you choose the SQL database for your project. After selecting "Next", you can then specify document paths and finally, the project name as well as other details.
Tip: To create a custom Base Schematic Template.... The Standard Base Project selection will use the database schema and Bentley P&IW standards from the NETWORK_ROOT\Base directory to create your new project. To create a custom Base Schematic Template, simply go to the directory: C:\Program Files\Bentley\Plant V8i\Base\Options\ and either copy or create a new template. In this case, KKS is copied. However, the "Project" and "Standards" sub folders from NETWORK_ROOT\Base could also be copied into a new folder to create a custom base schematic template.
As shown in the example below, when creating a new project (not a copy,) then the custom Base Schematic Template will be available from the pull down menu.
After selecting "Finish", the project will be created. If using a SQL database, you will be prompted to connect to the database . MS Access projects will not be prompted with this dialog. The connection screen for SQL looks as follows. In this example, the server name is OWL.
Don't forget the "Allow Saving Password" check. Once all the information is filled out, press the "Test Connection" button to confirm a proper link to the database. If there are any errors when testing the connection, it is typically due to incorrect privileges or rights in the SQL database. Have the Database Administrator go over the steps again to ensure the database is properly created and the user has DB_OWNER privileges.
There are several "typical" customizations to the project. First, the location for the specs should be specified in a network location so all users will be using the same set of specs. As shown below, the Master Specs Folder can be set to a network location. This should be set before creating documents. You will also want to double check that the specs are in the location you specify.
Note: If a project is copied, be sure to double check pathing. If certain paths were changed to a location outside the project root folder, they may not be updated properly during the copy process (example: ..\project name\Isogen\Input) Relationships (Line number, Unit, Area and Service) should also be created since they are required for component placement. You will want to specify a default value as well. When creating documents in AutoPLANT Piping, errors will occur if Line Number Area, Unit or Service are not specified via the Component Preferences toolbar.
Document paths can be setup at project creation. They can also be added via Project Administrator ..\project name\Database\Paths\ as shown below. Note: The path information is stored in the file ..\project name\PROJECT.INI and can be opened in Notepad if required.
Please note the many options for Isogen which are all configurable. Many solutions are already available either through the Bentley Select Services Knowledge base or through the BE Communties Wiki page. If you need further help on one, you may contact Bentley Technical Support for other documentation. The following is an example of one of those.
You may have also run into this one when inserting AutoPLANT Piping components.
Current elevation Elevation/:
at_CADCurrObjectSet_addToDrawing: Execution error.
This was a defect in AutoPLANT XM but was fixed in AutoPLANT V8i. But in addition to the fix, ensure that the Draw Mode in the Equipment Preferences is set to 3D. Setting the Draw Mode to a different value may cause AutoPLANT Piping model to show errors when inserting components.
Note: While Security features are accessible via ..\project name\Project\Main\, they are not fully utilized unless Projectwise is integrated with the AutoPLANT project. For true project security, Projectwise Explorer is recommended. Documents then should be created through a manager application (Document Manager, Vision, or Projectwise Explorer).
The term "briefcase mode" found in the AutoPLANT Help files has been coined to reference opening a model independent of the project similar to functionality found in AutoPLANT version 2.01.
Note: Process and Instrumentation documents require the use of a project. AutoPLANT 3D applications provide an additional briefcase mode option.
Briefcase mode replaces the former Standalone mode supported in AutoPLANT 3D Plant Design 2004 Edition. Briefcase drawings are associated with configurations instead of projects. This mode consolidates all of the data in the drawing file. It does not require a project, knowledge of a database, or any other extraneous information. Drawings created in a project may be saved as briefcase drawings, and briefcase drawings may be added to a project. This mode limits the functionality in AutoPLANT by not allowing multiple drawing selection.
Configurations can also be setup and configured similar to a project via the Project Administrator with some limitations as mentioned above. Please be aware of the following defect found in the V8i version that is currently being addressed by the development team.
Cannot create a configuration when using a Project that has a SQL based schema. The resulting configuration will display "Not accessible!" or "Unknown" under most of it's values. The resulting configuration can't be used for drawings and also can't be deleted through Project Administrator. Sometimes the following error is given, but only when the Schema is part of the Project database. Configuration Creation ErrorThe following error occurred creating the project:Authentication failed. [Provider]
Steps to Repeat Schema within the Project database
Schema with it's own SQL database
TR Number 13739Product: AutoPLANT Piping V8iVersion: 08.11.06.30Area: General, Problem ID#: 38843, TROUBLEREPORT