Manage integration objects

Integration objects are COS objects which store attribute data that Plant Modeller has obtained from another software program. When an integration object is linked to a 3D model object, Plant Modeller can show the externally defined data as inherited object attributes. Using the Manage Integration Objects dialog, you can link integration objects to 3D model objects and remove these links.

Note: This dialog might show integration objects that are linked to model objects that do not exist in your model area. Consider the following scenario:
– Another user who is working in a different area inserts a new piece of equipment, links an integration object to it, saves the data to COS, and checks in the new model object.
– You open the Manage Integration Objects dialog. The program loads all integration objects from COS and shows the integration object as linked, but the model object is not in your area yet.
– You perform an area update. Now the new model object is also in your area.

Prerequisites

  • To be able to link or unlink model objects, the objects must be checked out to you.

Do the following:

  1. On the Tools tab, in the External Data group, select Manage > Manage integration objects. The Manage Integration Objects dialog opens, listing the integration objects that match the current filtering settings. All integration objects that have the same position ID are listed on the same row so that they can be linked to the same model object.

  2. The default column layout shows you the position IDs of the integration objects, linking information, and notifications.

    • "Broken model object reference" – Integration object is linked to a model object that does not exist. (This erroneous situation can be corrected by removing the link.)

    • "Multiple model objects linked" – Integration objects have the same position ID but are linked to different model objects.

    • "Multiple Position ID types" – Integration objects have the same position ID but the IDs are for different object types, such as Valve Position ID vs. Equipment Position ID.

    • "Partially linked to the model" – Integration objects have the same position ID but not all of them are linked to a model object.

    You can add more information to the object list by creating a custom column layout.

    • To create a new column layout, select Columns > New and define which additional columns you want to see in the object list.

    • To edit the current column layout, select Columns > Edit. (Trying to edit the default column layout creates a new custom column layout.)

    • To delete the current custom column layout, select Columns > Remove.

  3. You can filter the list to find the integration objects you are looking for.

    • Object Source – You can filter the list based on object type:

      • P&ID – Select this to show "EPD" objects created by CADMATIC P&ID or third-party applications.

      • External – Select this to show "EDM" objects imported from XML or created with CADMATIC Web API. See External Data Management (EDM) objects.

      • Electrical – Select this to show "Electrical Device" objects created by CADMATIC Electrical.

    • System – You can filter the list based on System:

      • Select a System from the drop-down list to show only objects that are assigned to that System. Alternatively, you can click Browse to select the System from an object browser dialog.

      • Select Show all systems to show objects that are assigned to any System.

      • Select Show objects with no system to show also objects that are not assigned to any System.

    • Status – You can filter the list based on object status:

      • Linked to Diagram

      • Linked to External

      • Linked to Electrical

      • Not Linked to Diagram

      • Not Linked to External

      • Not Linked to Electrical

      • Has Notifications

    • Search – You can filter the list by entering a text string. The text string can appear anywhere in the visible columns to be considered a match.

  4. Select one object row from the list and use the buttons on the right side of the dialog to manage the related objects. Only select multiple rows if you intend to perform linking by position ID or unlinking.

    Note: You cannot link EDM objects that have the attribute "External Position ID Status" set to "Deleted".

    • Details – Opens the Object Details dialog. There is a tab for each object source, showing the attributes provided by that source. Below the tabs you can see if the integration object has been linked to a model object. You can remove the link, for example, if several integration objects of the same type have the same position ID but only one of them should be linked to the model object.

    • Pick Model Object to Link to – Allows you to pick a model object from a work view. Pressing Enter links the model object to the integration object and returns to this dialog.

    • Find Model Object to Link to – Opens the Find and Select Objects dialog where you can search for a model object using the functions described in Find.

    • Link by Position ID – Links integration objects to model objects based on position ID, if found in the model. For example, if an EDM object has "External ID" set to "V001" and a model object has "Valve Position Id" set to "V001", this command links the objects.

    • Unlink from Model – Removes the link between the integration objects and the model objects.

    • Browse in Model – Opens the active work view and shows a rubber band line between the cursor and the model object. Press Esc to return to this dialog.

    • Query Model Object – Opens the Object properties dialog to display information about the linked model object.

  5. Click Done.