How Do I ... select one or more node points in AutoPIPE


Applies To
Product(s):AutoPIPE
Version(s):ALL
Environment: N/A
Area: How do I...
Original Author:Bentley Technical Support Group
Date Logged
& Current Version		 Apr. 2016
10.01.00.05

Problem:

How do I select one or more node points in AutoPIPE?

Solution:

There are many different ways of selecting node points in AutoPIPE. Let us start with some basic scenarios and build to more complex ones. 

All procedures below are performed on the following AutoPIPE Example Model: Walkthru.DAT 

Using AutoPIPE 10.00.00.10 and higher model location: C:\ProgramData\Bentley\AutoPIPE CONNECT\Examples

Note: no point is considered to be selected unless the node point numbers change color from BLACK to RED. Red node numbers mean that the node has been selected, Black means that the node number has NOT been selected.

Scenario #1:
Select a Node point. 

This the most basic scenario, how to select  a single specific node point in a given model?

Procedure:

1. Using the mouse or key board arrows, make the node point to be selected the current node point. 

2. Use the following command: Select> Point

3. A small dialog will appear in the lower left Corner of the Application screen, Press OK. 

4.  Notice that the node has changed color from Black to Red.

5. Done, Node point B02 is now selected. 

Scenario #2:
Select multiple individual node points

There may come a time when multiple node points need to be selected all at one time. See the following procedure for tips in using the Keyboard and Mouse to accomplish this task. 

Procedure

Option #1: Use the Select Point Command

1. Use Scenario #1 procedure above to select a single node point (ex. B02).

2. Zoom, Pan, rotate the model to view the names of the next point to be added to the selection set (ex. A10). Use the AutoPIPE Command: Select> Point> insert the name of the new node point (ex. A10)  in the dialog in the lower left corner of the screen and press OK button.

3. Repeat Step #2 as needed. 

Option #2: Use the Select Point Command + keyboard

1. Use Scenario #1 procedure above to select a single node point.

2. Using the Keyboard, press and hold down the CTRL button, using the mouse select the node point dots that are to be added to the current selection set  (ex. A00, A06).

Note: Sometimes this is easier when the model is in Line Mode Viewing instead of Solid Model View. When in solid model view user have the tendency to select the piping / equipment between node points instead of a specific node point. Thus causing the selection process to be aborted and restarted.

3. Repeat Step #2 as needed to add more point to the select set.

4. Release CNTL button on the keyboard once the select set is complete. 

Scenario #3:
Select Piping / component between 2 node points

A segment can be one or more node points connected by pipe Runs, Elbow, Tees, Reducers, Valves, etc.. that have all the same segment Id. In the example above, B02 is part of segment B, indication is shown in step #4 above just to the Right of the active node point number B02.

In this scenario, let us select an item between 2 node points, .  

Procedure

There are multitude of Options here.

Option #1: using AutoPIPE Select command : Point

1. Use Scenario #1 procedure above to select a single node point (ex. B01)


2. Repeat Step #1, to select the next connected node point (ex. B02)

Option #2 - using AutoPIPE Select command : Range

1. Set the active point to the first node point in the selection set (ex. set B02 is the active point),

2. Use the AutoPIPE commands: Select> Range> enter next connected "to node point name in the small dialog in "to point:" field

Note: Enter any node point would select all node points and objects in the database between the selected node points

Example: enter range from B02 to A03

Option #3 - using the mouse.

1. Using the mouse, select the actual piping / component between 2 connected node points

2. The Piping / Component will be highlight RED and so will the 2 node points

Note: hold down the Keyboard CNTL key and continue using the mouse to select the start and end points of additional piping components.  

Example: After highlighting a single component as shown above, hold down the keyboard CNTL key, using the mouse to select the following node points in this order:  A06F, A07, A09F, A10, A01N, A00. 

Option #4 - using the Input Grids

1. With any model opened, select the Input Grid icon button or use the following AutoPIPE command: Edit> Grids or "CNTL+W"

2. After the grids open, scroll to the far left and select the "Press/Temp/PipeID" tab. 

3. After the tab has been selected, scroll down the listing looking for the pair of node points of interest, and click on the Arrow in front of the respective row to highlight the row 

This action will in turn select the node points in the model

Note: select multiple rows in the grids to select multiple items at the same time in one selection set.

Example: 

Select the first row as instructed above, afterwards now hold down the keyboard CNTL key and select the following rows: 

A06f - A07

A09f - A10

Option #5 - using the selection box

1. Using the mouse, click anywhere in the model area, while holding the mouse button down move the mouse around.  As the mouse is moved (while still holding the button down) a green dashed line box measuring from initial click location to the current mouse location is created. Create a box that encompasses an entire pipe running between connected points or equipment:

Example: select a box that surrounds B01 - B02 completely

2. Let go of the mouse button to create create the green dashed line box. Press keyboard button F6 to select all nodes and whole components inside of the Green Box region.

Note: Anything outside of the green box region or piping/components that could NOT be selected in their entirety are NOT part of the selection set.

Scenario #4:
Selecting multiple items in a selection sets

By no one should understand the basic concepts to making a selection set. However there are more powerful options available to the user. 

Option #1: See additional AutoPIPE Selection commands 

There are a multitude of different methods of selecting items using AutoPIPE command : Select>
(highly recommend to read AutoPIPE help on all these options)

Option #2: Using AutoPIPE input grids

As see above, it is very easy to select an item using the grids. However there is a lot more power here. Using the grid you can double click on any column heading that will put that current tab in chronological order of increasing, and then double clicking again on the same column heading again will put the table in chronological order decreasing. Then you can highlight rows on the active grid table as needed.  

Example: to quickly select all the short radius bends in a model, select the Bend tab on the input grid

Done:

Note: to return the grid to the default order, double click the mouse on the top most left square on any tab of the input / results grids.

 

Conclusion:

AutoPIPE provides many tools to select different objects one at a time or multiple points at a time. There is a lot of power with the:

These are just the basic tools that can be used in many different ways, try to be creative and establish ways of selecting items that works best for your situation. 

If you have any additional ways of selecting items in AutoPIPE, please log a Bentley Service Request mentioning what you like to see added to the program. Only by hearing from you can we make the application work better for you.

See Also

How Do I ..... in AutoPIPE: Table of contents

Bentley AutoPIPE