Updating Groups????

[SageSlinger]

I am in the middle of laying out a process piping plan for a biogas fuel plant. I am drawing the entire thing in 2009 MEP, though they are about to convert me to 2010 midstream. I have a question when it comes to grouping though. I have 3-4 process that are going to be the exact same, each one being somewhat conveluded with all sorts of pumps, pipes, expansion tanks, by-pass's etc....

My plan was to intially draw one complete process, group it together, then copy it right down the line.

But like with most things, changes occur. The relocation of a pump happens, they change the route of a by-pass, add a pressure sensor here, one there... you get the picture.

Which brings me to this... I have grouped together my initial design and copied it through out the plant. If I change the initial design is there a way to update my other groups?

Thank You

[RobertB]

If possible, you may want to create the "group" as a separate model which you would then XRef for all the process areas.

The upside to this is that when you change something in the XRef model, the host drawing will be updated automatically for all the process areas.

The downside to this is that tagging objects will still work, but will not apply the property set data to the actual objects within the XRef. The PSD will reside with the tag in the host drawing.

[david_peterson]

I'd go with Robert on this one. I'd make an element drawing and x-ref it.
My only other idea would be to create a block so that you can at least update it. Then in the end when your design is finalized and each one system needs it's own tweeks, you could burst it back to basic parts.
I have no idea how well this will work since I don't play with MEP, it's just a thought.

[SageSlinger]

I appreciate the help guys. My only thing with Xref'ing in that I have process piping that needs to connect to digester supply and return water, along with biogas and natural gas headers. When I do a group I still hav live ends I can connect to. When I xref something in I seem to lose those "live" ends.

[david_peterson]

So I'm guessing you get the same issue with a block.
The problem with groups is that I believe they are one off instances that you can copy, but I believe they get created with a different group name and hence are not universally update-able.
I'm thinking that it might be best to use a block for the time being. While you won't be able to connect to the live ends right away, you could alway burst it when the design gets closer to final so you'd only have to update it once.
Just my 2 cents.