Renaming parts in Catalog Editor

[pauljordan]

So, I've got a 6.00 Inch Buttweld - Outlet that comes with Autocad MEP. My fitters are having fits because it doesn't say 6.00 Inch ButtWeld - Weld-O-Let in the schedules. I know I can convert the schedule to a table and manually edit it but, doing that for several hundred spool drawings it a PITA.

I've tried just renaming it in the catalog editor and regenerating it but, in the properties, it then shows the Buttweld - Outlet with no picture and no way to modify it.

Am I missing a step somewhere?? I've copied the outlet.bmps and .jpgs, even went into the xml file and renamed the lines where it said Outlet.

Once I can get this straight, I'll go to the brazed copper fittings and change those to Thread-O-Lets and they'll be eggstat... ecsta.. exstat... really happy!

Any ideas??

[david_peterson]

Isn't that catalog just a basic .txt file? I think the WF beam and SMS's are all set up that way. So I think you've got that part figured out. If you're trying to get a new image, I want to say that there's got to be some kind of a link to a file (I'd guess a .xml) that links that style to an image (This is the issue correct? You can get the correct name to show up, but not the correct associated image?) Just trying to probe for a little more info, since I have no idea what a "Spool drawing" looks like. I have an idea, but some more info might help someone like Scott figure this out. :beer:

[pauljordan]

Isn't that catalog just a basic .txt file? I think the WF beam and SMS's are all set up that way. So I think you've got that part figured out. If you're trying to get a new image, I want to say that there's got to be some kind of a link to a file (I'd guess a .xml) that links that style to an image (This is the issue correct? You can get the correct name to show up, but not the correct associated image?) Just trying to probe for a little more info, since I have no idea what a "Spool drawing" looks like. I have an idea, but some more info might help someone like Scott figure this out. :beer:

From what I can see David, it's all in that mysterious .xml file. The issue is that I can't get the image to show up or click on it to select a different style in case the weld-o-let should be a thread-o-let.

The term Spool Drawing refers to a section of pipe with elbows, weld-o-lets, etc. that you take out of a larger drawing and send off to the shop so they can prefab that section. The shop can do things a lot faster and cheaper, even with having to send it back and forth.

The spool drawing uses a schedule for the parts (fittings and pipes) and all the info is pulled directly from the property sets.

One other issue I've had with Spool Drawings is that I'm taking them out of the main drawing using copy and paste. If I update either drawing, I have to go back and update the other. I've been talking to Jay Ayala about this a bit and he's looking into making some kind of selection set of some sort to make them work together. When I see demonstrations done by East Coast Cad and others, they're doing a small system and pulling a spool drawing into a layout view right in the same master drawing. On this job I'm on now, one floor has 106 spool drawings... and we all know what happens when you start cramming that many layout tabs in a drawing..

OK, that's it in a big nutshell..

[david_peterson]

I figured it was in the .xml file.
I don't do programming, just hacking so I'm not going to be any good at it.
Have you tried to drop Toby a line? He seemed to be rather responsive on your last request. He should be able to steer you in the right direction.
Just a thought. Sorry I'm not going to be much help on this one. Scott may have dealt with some of this type of stuff. You may want to drop him a PM. Either way, when you find out the solution, please post it back.

[toby.smith]

Hi Paul -

Renaming the parts in the catalog is a good idea for new work but it won't help with existing parts in a drawing. However, there is a fairly easy solution for that as well, it just requires some manual intervention.

My guess is that you're using the Style name in your schedules. To change the existing parts in a drawing, select an outlet then right-click and select Edit Pipe Fitting Style.... In the dialog box, make sure you're on the "General" tab then change the Name to whatever you like (such as 6.00 Inch ButtWeld - Weld-O-Let). The bad news is you need to do this manually. The good news is that it will update all of the same sizes (for example, all of the 6" ones will be updated). If you only have a handful of different sizes, it should go quickly.

To make this a more permanent fix, you'll need to update the parts in the catalog. The best thing to do is to create a new part and not modify the out-of-the-box parts. This is always our recommendation so your customized parts aren't affected when a new release comes out.

The best way to get a new part is to open an existing part in Content Builder and select Save Part Family As. Doing a "Save As" will create a new unique GUID for the part which is critical to distinguish this part from other parts. For the Part Name and Description, change it to your desired terminology (ButtWeld - Weld-O-Let). Save the part, close Content Builder then regenerate the Pipe Catalog.

Your new part is now ready to go. Be sure to update your Routing Preferences in your templates to use the Weld-O-Let for your takeoffs for new drawings.

BTW, we don't use the terms Weld-O-Let, Sock-O-Let (or other "olets") because they are registered trademarks of Bonney Forge. For legal reasons, we use the more generic term Outlet.

Hope that helps,

Toby Smith, PE, LEED AP
AutoCAD MEP Product Manager

[pauljordan]

The best way to get a new part is to open an existing part in Content Builder and select Save Part Family As. Doing a "Save As" will create a new unique GUID for the part which is critical to distinguish this part from other parts. For the Part Name and Description, change it to your desired terminology (ButtWeld - Weld-O-Let). Save the part, close Content Builder then regenerate the Pipe Catalog.

Your new part is now ready to go. Be sure to update your Routing Preferences in your templates to use the Weld-O-Let for your takeoffs for new drawings.

BTW, we don't use the terms Weld-O-Let, Sock-O-Let (or other "olets") because they are registered trademarks of Bonney Forge. For legal reasons, we use the more generic term Outlet.

Hope that helps,

Toby Smith, PE, LEED AP
AutoCAD MEP Product Manager

Hey Toby, should that be the Content Builder or the Catalog Editor??

Thanks a bunch for the help on this. It'll definitely make my fitters happier!!

[toby.smith]

No, Content Builder was correct. When creating new parts from existing, it's generally much better to go through Content Builder. Once parts are created however, it's typically easier to use Catalog Editor, depending on what values need to change.