Node

On the Modify tab, the Node group contains tools for managing free nodes.

Connect

Use the Connect command to connect the free node of a connection line to a diagram object or a branch to a main line. The maximum distance between the entities you want to connect is 2 mm.

Unconnected nodes can occur for example when you route pipes and the Automatic insert on/off (F5) context menu option is turned off.

Do the following:

  1. In the Node group, select Connect.

  2. Pick an unconnected line end that is located on a diagram object or a connection line and select Yes when prompted to confirm the action.

    In the example below, the left image shows an unconnected node, and the right image shows the node after it has been joined.

  3. Pick another node to be joined or press Esc to exit the tool.

Delete

Allows deleting free nodes.

Do the following:

  1. In the Node group, select Delete.

  2. Pick the free node to be removed.

  3. Pick another node to be deleted or press Esc to exit the tool.

Move

Allows moving free nodes to a different location.

Do the following:

  1. In the Node group, select Move.

  2. Pick the node to be moved, and then pick the target location.

  3. Pick another node to be moved or press Esc to exit the tool.

Modify

Allows modifying the node properties.

Do the following:

  1. In the Node group, select Modify.

  2. Pick a node from the diagram. The Node Properties dialog opens.

  3. Edit the node properties as required.

    • If the node has been inserted manually, you can select the connection direction, edit the node number, select the flow direction and node type, and enter a node name.

    • If the node is defined in the diagram object template, you can select the connection direction, node type, and enter a node name.

    • If the node is an Equipment type object, you can type the required Nominal size value.

    • If the node is in an Armature type object and the armature has more than one nominal size (NS field) defined in the database, you can select which of the predefined nominal sizes to use.

      About defining Node Type:

      • Example: A valve has two piping connections and one instrument line connection.

        If the instrument line's Node Type is set to "Instrument", when the diagram piping network is released to 3D only the specified type of line can be connected to this node. But, if the type is "Generic" or "Piping", the topology check can only assume that this is a three-way valve and that a pipe run can be connected also to the instrument line's node.

        When drawing additional connection lines in diagrams, for example when an "Iline" is connected to a valve, the program sets the node type automatically.

  4. Select OK to accept the new settings.
  5. Pick another node to be modified or press Esc to exit the tool.

Insert

Allows inserting new free nodes to diagram objects.

Do the following:

  1. In the Node group, select Insert and then the required node direction: 0, 90, 180, 270.
  2. Pick the target location from an object.
  3. Insert another node or press Esc to exit the tool.

Related Topics

Nodes and connections

Creating 2D symbols for P&ID