User interface

The CADMATIC P&ID application window consists of the following main elements.

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1. Customizable quick access toolbar.
2. Title row, displays <diagram name>/<workspace name> – <application version>.
3. Buttons for minimizing or maximizing the ribbon toolbar and accessing the help.
4. Ribbon toolbar; consists of tabs with tools arranged into groups.
5. Templates pane.
6. Properties pane.
7. Status bar, shows information fields on the left and tools on the right.
8. Message pane.
9. Context menus, opened by right-clicking the active diagram.
10. Working area, shows the open diagrams.

These user interface elements are described below.

• User interface
• Quick access toolbar
• Tabs
• Working area
• Template pane
• Property pane
• Status bar
• Message pane
• Context menus

Quick access toolbar

In the top-left corner of the application window is the quick access toolbar which you can use to access frequently used tools.

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Undo and Redo are always shown. Open the menu of the quick access toolbar to select which of these other commands should be shown:

• New
• Save locally
• Save to COS database
• Manage diagrams
• Export

You can also select whether the toolbar is to be located above or below the ribbon, and you can minimize the ribbon.

Tabs

The ribbon toolbar consists of tabs that contain toolbar buttons arranged into groups.

The tabs and their buttons are described in the following topics:

• File menu
• Home tab
• Insert tab
• Modify tab
• Drafting tab
• Tools tab

Working area

The working area is where the actual diagrams are created and viewed.

When you have several diagrams open, use the menu of the Windows status bar button to switch between the diagrams or to arrange the diagram windows.

Right-clicking the active diagram opens a menu with commands that are applicable in the given context. All context-menu commands are described in Context menus, and object type specific context menus are shown in Diagram object types.

Template pane

The Templates pane, which you can show or hide from Template pane, shows all the available object templates that define diagram symbols and connection lines. You can use this pane to insert object templates into P&I diagrams.

Opening the property pane docks the pane to the right side of the application window. You can drag the pane by its title bar to detach the pane from its current position and then either dock the pane to another part of the window or let the pane float anywhere on the screen, as appropriate.

The available templates are arranged into categories which you can edit from the arrow button. The templates in each category can be viewed as thumbnails or descriptions, or both at the same time, and they can be sorted by a specific attribute.

To insert an object template into the active diagram, double-click the template and then click the target location in the diagram.

• To customize the object hierarchies in the upper pane, click the arrow button (requires administrator rights).
• To customize how the object templates are listed in the lower pane, right-click the object list and select the appropriate option.
• To insert a new object into the active diagram, double-click the appropriate template.

Alternatively, you can use an object browser dialog for the insertion, as described in Template.

Property pane

The Properties pane, which you can show or hide from Property pane, shows the database data of the selected object and also allows editing the data.

Opening the property pane docks the pane to the right side of the application window. You can drag the pane by its title bar to detach the pane from its current position and then either dock the pane to another part of the window or let the pane float anywhere on the screen.

You can export the contents of all tabs into a Microsoft Excel file (.xlsx) or macro-enabled Microsoft Excel file (.xlsm) by clicking .

Property tabs

The Properties pane can display the following tabs, depending on the selected diagram object.

Basic information | Component model | eShare data | EDM data

Basic information

The Basic Information tab displays and allows editing P&ID object data.

Some of the basic information can be edited also when multiple diagram objects are selected. When the selected objects represent several object types, in the Selected items section you can choose which object types are affected by editing.

Note: To edit the value of a field that multiple object types have, in the database tables the fields must have the same name, same unit, same unit format, same range, and same maximum length.

Tip: You can edit multiple objects also via Home > Data > Edit > Multiple objects.

Component model

The Component model tab displays information on the component model that the diagram object is linked to. Opening this tab loads the component data from the COS database.

Clicking the "DmPartCode" value displays the component model in an object browser dialog.

eShare data

The eShare data tab displays P&ID related object data that is stored in CADMATIC eShare. Opening this tab loads the data of the currently selected diagram object from eShare, if the object has a position ID that can be found in eShare.

If you have eShare, you can click Examine to open the model object in eShare in examination mode.

See also Examine with eShare and Working with CADMATIC eShare.

EDM data

The EDM data tab displays the external data of the selected object.

See also View EDM data.

Property links

At the top of the Properties pane you can see the type and the name of the selected entity.

Blue property values are links to the properties of the related entity, such as the pipeline of the selected object. When you have viewed the properties of more than one diagram object or related entity, you can use the arrow buttons to revisit the their properties.

Some properties provide access to related settings:

• You can change the System, pipeline, electric circuit, or instrument tag of an object by selecting … and then Change system, Change pipeline, Change circuit, or Change loop, as appropriate.

• In the PosId row, you can select … and then:

  • Generate position ID – Assigns the next free position ID to the object. See Generate position ID.

  • Link object – Opens the Select Linked Object dialog where you can link the current diagram object to another diagram object of the same type. After this, the linked diagram objects use the same position ID and data.

  • Unlink object – Unlinks the current diagram object. You must enter a new PosId for the object. After this, the current object will have its own data in the database, instead of using shared data.

  • Take ownership – Editing the data of a diagram object sets the ownership of the data to that object. If you want to edit the data of linked objects and the current owner is some other object, use this command to take the ownership from that other object. Note that ownership cannot be transferred if the current owner has unsaved changes.

• In the Connector section:

  • You can generate a position ID for a connector: in the PosId row, select … and then Generate position ID.

  • You can link a connector to a connector in another diagram.

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    1. In the Out_From_Diagram or Into_Diagram field, select … > Link diagram.

       

    2. In the Select Target of Connector dialog, select the target connector and click Done.

       

    3. Save the diagram to COS.

  • You can remove the link between two connectors.

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    1. In the Out_From_Diagram or Into_Diagram field, select … and then Unlink diagram.

       

    2. Save the diagram to COS.

  See also Insert connectors.

• In the DmPartCode row, you can select … and then:

  • Clear field – Removes the current part code.

  • Select – Allows changing the component reference.

  • Map object nodes – Allows changing node mappings. See Mapping nodes between P&I diagram and the 3D model.

• In NS rows, you can add or remove a nominal size by clicking + or x, respectively. This can be needed for reducing valves or for release valves. Removal is only possible when the value is 0.

  

  Note: Parts that always have two nominal sizes should have them defined in the nodes of the symbol. Then the NS fields are automatically correct in the sub-table. A sub-table can have a maximum of five different nominal sizes, and the additional sizes must be defined in the database using the field names NS2 – NS5.

Status bar

At the bottom of the application window is the status bar.

The left side of the status bar displays the following information:

• The action the user is performing. For example, "Pick object".
• The name of the active diagram.
• The status of the active diagram: "Browse", "Edit" or "Modified".
• The origin point of the currently selected object.
• The origin point of the active diagram.
• "GRID" is displayed when the grid has been turned on. (You can toggle it with F7.)
• "ORTHO" is displayed when connection lines are preferred to be orthogonal. (You can toggle it with F8.)
• "SNAP" is displayed when snapping to the grid has been turned on. (You can toggle it with F9.)
• "Automatic Insert" indicates that the active insert command is repeated until the user cancels (Esc) the command.

The right side of the status bar displays the following tools:

• – Turns both the grid and snapping on or off. When enabled, the grid is displayed and the cursor snaps to the grid.
• – Turns Ortho on or off. When enabled, the program tries to keep connection lines orthogonal (aligned with the grid points).
• – Opens a menu with the following items:

  • The open diagrams. Select a diagram from the list to switch to that diagram.

  • Tile Horizontally – Select this to arrange the open diagrams horizontally.

  • Tile Vertically — Select this to arrange the open diagrams vertically.

  • Arrange – Select this to open a dialog where you can arrange the layout of the open diagram windows by dragging.

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• – Shows the message pane if it is hidden. See Message pane for details.

Message pane

The message pane can various messages such as the commands the user selects, the information the program shows to the user, and error messages. The pane can be floating on the screen or docked to the application window.

If messages are not visible, click (Show Message Pane) in the application status bar. In the Messages pane, click the arrow button on the left to open a menu where you can select what messages to show.

• Normal – This option provides a minimum level of messaging; the option is always on.
• Prompt – If selected, the log displays the prompts where the program requests the user to perform an action.
• HUD – If selected, the log displays HUD messages.
• Trace – If selected, the log shows very detailed messages.

Context menus

Context menu for selecting objects | Context menu for one object | Context menu for multiple objects | Context menu for selecting objects in commands

Context menu for selecting objects

When nothing is selected and there is no active command, right-clicking the diagram opens a context menu with the following commands.

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Command	Shortcut	Description
Select objects intersecting a box		Allows selecting objects that are partly or completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points. The options Allow selecting drafting objects and Allow selecting diagram objects define what this command can select.
Select objects inside a box		Allows selecting objects that are completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points. The options Allow selecting drafting objects and Allow selecting diagram objects define what this command can select.
Select objects connecting two points		Allows selecting diagram objects, connection lines, and connected labels along a route defined by selecting two connection points. There can be several possible routes between the selected points. In the Accept Route dialog, selecting Yes accepts the currently selected route, and selecting No tries to include additional routes in the selection. Show/hide image
Select by… System		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that use a specific System. Show/hide image
Select by… Line		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that use a specific line. Show/hide image
Select by… Type of object		Opens a dialog for selecting all objects that represent a specific object type or object sub-type. Show/hide image
Paste	Ctrl+V	Pastes the contents of the clipboard.
Allow selecting drafting objects		When enabled, selections can include drafting objects.
Allow selecting diagram objects		When enabled, selections can include diagram objects.
2D-digitize		Opens the menu described in 2D-digitize.
Grid on/off	F7	Shows or hides the grid.
Ortho on/off	F8	Enables or disables cursor movements being restricted to orthogonal directions.
Grid/Snap Settings	F10	Opens the Grid dialog. See Grid and Snap settings (F10). Snap is only applied to the cursor in relevant contexts, such as when you are moving an object.
Cancel	Esc	Cancels the context menu.

Context menu for one object

When a single diagram object is selected and there is no active command, right-clicking the diagram opens a context menu with the following commands.

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Main-level commands

In the context menu of diagram objects, the main level can contain the following items. Object type determines which of these menu items are shown.

Browse menu commands

The Browse node of the context menu of diagram objects can contain the following commands.

Context menu for multiple objects

When multiple diagram objects are selected and there is no active command, the context menu contains the following commands.

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Context menu for selecting objects in commands

When using a command that requires objects to be selected, the context menu contains the following commands.

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Command	Shortcut	Description
Select/Deselect	Space	Selects the object under the cursor.
Insert previous set	P	Re-selects a previously selected set of objects, if still possible.
Objects inside a box		Allows selecting objects that are partly or completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points.
Objects intersecting a box		Allows selecting objects that are completely inside a rectangle defined by selecting two corner points.
Objects connecting two points		Allows selecting diagram objects, connection lines, and connected labels along a route defined by selecting two connection points. There can be several possible routes between the selected points. In the Accept Route dialog, selecting Yes accepts the currently selected route, and selecting No tries to include additional routes in the selection. Show/hide image
Select by… System		Opens a dialog for selecting a System, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and use the given System. Show/hide image
Select by… Line		Opens a dialog for selecting a line, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and use the given line. Show/hide image
Select by… Type of object		Opens a dialog for selecting an object type or sub-type, and then allows the user to define a rectangle by selecting two corner points. Accepting the selection selects the objects that are completely inside the rectangle and represent the given object (sub-)type. Show/hide image
Select group under cursor	G	After activating Data > Edit > Single object, this command can be used to select the System or the connection line of the diagram object under the cursor, which then opens the database data of that System or line for editing.
Highlight selection	L	When this option is enabled, the objects that are selected in the active diagram are highlighted.