Welding Book Link

You can generate data files for the Welding Book weld management application originally developed by Computer Line Associates (CLA). The export creates a Microsoft Excel file that describes the welds of an isometric drawing in an easy-to-read format. This format has also been used for data exchange and material management.

Adding a Welding Book template to project database

Welding Book export requires that the project database contains a Microsoft Excel template file.

Do the following:

  1. In Plant Modeller, select File > Environment > All Library and Project.

  2. In the Project Environment dialog, browse to [project] > Document Production > Excel Template.

  3. Select New > Excel Template, select the file %PMS_HOME%/pi/templates/WeldBookTemplate.xlsx (or your own template file), and click Open.

    The New Excel Template dialog opens.

  4. Enter a name and description (optional). The name can be anything (it is replaced when generating files), but make sure it has the filename extension of a Microsoft Excel file. Then click OK.

    The template is now ready and it can be selected in the export settings.

Defining Welding Book export settings

Welding Book export requires settings that define which Excel template to use and where is the export folder.

Prerequisites

Do the following:

  1. Do this if managing isometric drawings in Piping Isometrics & Spools:

    1. In the CADMATIC desktop, select the Piping Isometrics & Spools application and then Object > Settings.

    2. Right-click the application window and select Settings and then Automatic Annotation. The Automatic Annotation Settings dialog opens.

      Alternative method:

    1. In Plant Modeller, on the Documents tab, click Piping Isometrics. The Piping Isometrics dialog opens.

    2. Select Tools > Drawing settings and then Settings and Automatic Annotation. The Automatic Annotation Settings dialog opens.

  2. Do this if managing isometric drawings in Plant Modeller:

    1. Select File > Options > Shared Settings > Documents > Isometric Drawing.

    2. In the Automatic isometric annotations setting, click Define. The Automatic Annotation Settings dialog opens.

  3. In the Automatic Annotation Settings dialog, select the General tab, then select Welding Book file export, and click Define.

  4. If you are prompted to confirm that a Welding Book Excel template exists, click Yes.

    The Welding Book Export Settings dialog opens.

  5. Define the export settings:

    • Excel template – Click Select, select the Excel template from the project database, and click OK.

    • Output directory – Click Browse, select the output directory, and click Select Folder.

    • Attribute for area – Click Select, select the attribute from which to take the value for the Welding Book AREA attribute, and click OK.

    • Attribute for unit – Click Select, select the attribute from which to take the value for the Welding Book UNIT attribute, and click OK.

    Then click OK.

  6. Close the open dialogs.

Exporting Welding Book files

You can export information on the welds of isometric drawings to Welding Book files. If a file by the same name already exists, the export overwrites the existing file.

Prerequisites

Do the following:

  1. Do this if managing isometric drawings in Piping Isometrics & Spools:

    1. In the CADMATIC desktop, select the Piping Isometrics & Spools application and then Object > Run. The Isometric Drawings dialog opens.

    2. Select one or more isometric drawings, right-click the selection, and select Exports > Welding Book link.

      Alternative method:

    1. In Plant Modeller, on the Documents tab, click Piping Isometrics. The Piping Isometrics dialog opens.

    2. Select Drawings > Work with isometric drawings. The Isometric Drawings dialog opens.

    3. Select one or more isometric drawings, right-click the selection, and select Exports > Welding Book link.

  2. Do this if managing isometric drawings in Plant Modeller:

    1. Do one of the following:

      The Manage Piping Isometric Drawings dialog opens.

    2. Select one or more isometric drawings, right-click the selection, and select Export > Welding Book link.

  3. When the files have been generated, close the open dialogs.