Smart 3D Connections

This may need to be a phone conversation but I will try to explain the best I can. We run a check on each circuit of our system to find the "Most Limiting Series Element" (MLSE). This is not a check on the entire model but only on what is in a single circuit. We would like to be able to run reports on just capturing those items. There are attributes attached that identify properties. The problem with using a schematic style mode for this is that they do not have the level of detail that a 3D model has. For instance on a single line we show one line between two peices of equipment but that line might be 12 cables in the 3D model. In our report for the MLSE we need to know every single part in the circuit down to the connectors. Maybe we can set up a conference call for this one so we can all understand the goal.

I don't think a call is necessary. There's just a few things I'd like to clarify.

• How will the report be limited to one circuit? Can this be done by filtering (is there an attribute common to the circuit that could be filtered on such as Installation or Location)? Or will an object, or perhaps the starting and ending objects in the circuit need to be selected?
• The report is to help you determine the MLSE, the report itself will not be determining the MLSE, correct? Unless this could be achieved with simple sorting of the results.
• Are only objects with coincident hook points connected, or is anything that touches connected?
• How will the software distinguish "current-carrying, high-voltage elements" from items not to be included in the report? An attribute or part number field?

Good questions.  You are on the right track.

•How will the report be limited to one circuit? Can this be done by filtering (is there an attribute common to the circuit that could be filtered on such as Installation or Location)? Or will an object, or perhaps the starting and ending objects in the circuit need to be selected?

Was hoping that pick the first in last item and through some sort of smart connections the program would be able to know what to include.  Could do some sort of attributing but that makes it a bit more manual than we would hope to have it.

•The report is to help you determine the MLSE, the report itself will not be determining the MLSE, correct? Unless this could be achieved with simple sorting of the results.

No it will not.  This will take some calculations.  We want to be able to produce a list on the fly to import into another software we use to calculate this.

•Are only objects with coincident hook points connected, or is anything that touches connected?

Anything that touches.  We have set up our hook points to be specific to equipment, current, etc. so we don't have the coincident hook points throughout a circuit.  I think thats what you meant if we could filter it on a particular color hook point? 

•How will the software distinguish "current-carrying, high-voltage elements" from items not to be included in the report? An attribute or part number field?

Yes we have thought about this and thought to add "MLSE" to part that can be considered in the calculation.  The thought is to add this to the Parts Database.

I've submitted this as Enhancement TFS 349343.

By coincident hook points I just meant that two symbols could be considered connected if their hook points were on top of each other; I didn't mean the same color hook points had to be used throughout the circuit. In any case I wrote it up as "anything that touches".