PDMS guide | Beginners: Interface, Settings, Modeling and Drafting

1 Interface
1.1 Login
To be able to login to PDMS, user needs to select 1) Project, 2) Facility,
3) Sub Facility, 4) User Role, 5) Module (Design, Draft, etc.) and 6)
Databanks (Design, Draft, etc.), see picture 1 below.
Note that once selections have been made, they stay active until
changed again.

Picture 1, Project Login

1.2 Main Windows
PDMS interface consist of three main windows: Graphical Window,
Command Window and Draw List Window, which are shown in
pictures 2, 3 and 4.
Graphical window is the main window used to create, modify, delete
and view model elements.
Command window is used to key on different type of PDMS
commands, such as, query attributes, moving elements, etc. Note
that these commands can be also accessed from menu.
Draw List window is used to access elements in database hierarchy.
Current element is highlighted in Graphical Window. Elements can be
added or removed from the main window with different colors.

Picture 2, Graphical Window

Picture 3, Right-click Context Menu

Picture 3, Command Window

Picture 4, Draw list Window

1.3 Settings
Settings- menu can be used to change various settings, such as,
default colors (picture 5), representation (picture 6), size of aid CE
arrow and visible on/off, pline rules (picture 7), tolerances etc.
All changes made through Settings- menu are valid only for the
current session.

Picture 5, Color Settings

Picture 6, Representation Settings

Picture 7, Aid CE Arrow Settings

Picture 7, Pline Rule Settings

1.4 Position Control
Position control is used for position elements as shown in pictures 8
and 9 or when used dimensioning.

Picture 8, Position Control Settings, Pick Type

Picture 9, Position Control Settings, Pick Method

2 Modeling
2.1 Section Modeling
2.1.1 Create Section
Sections can be modeled by using Create > Sections > Straightfunction, see picture 10 below. Make sure that the default profile
specification has been set.
Section can be positioned by using Position Control. The first point
picked will be the start of the section and the second one the end
point. Section should be modeled pointing to either to north or to
east. After picking the points, press Dismiss.

Check off Secondary Nodes- option, if section is not to be

connected.
NOTES:
- Use always round numbers, for example, 1968 instead of 1968.37
when creating or modifying sections for drafting purposes.
- After creating the very first section, double-check the position of it
by querying the start and end positions (Q POSS POSE) and then
confirming them.

Picture 10, Section Creation

2.1.2 Modify Specification and/or Justification
Section specification can be changed by using Modify > Sections >
Specification- function, see picture 11 below.
Select section(s) to be modified by using CE, List or Pick- method.
After selection, press Apply and Dismiss.
NOTES:
- Make sure that Justification and Member lines are set correctly. (Both
should be the same).

Picture 11, Section Specification

2.1.3 Extend Section
Sections can be extended (trimmed) by using either one of the
following functions:
1) Position > Extend > Through (explicitly)
- Select pline > Apply > Dismiss
2) Position > Extend > By (relatively)
- Key in positive or negative distance > Apply > Dismiss
2.2 Panel Modeling

Picture 12, Create Panel

Picture 13, Modify Panel

3 Draft
3.1 General
There are three different applications within Draft, which can be
switched between by using buttons shown in picture 14.
Always navigate to the correct element in the Members list (eg. VIEW,
LDIM etc.) before applying function.
Picture 14, Drafting application buttons
3.1.1 Create Drawing
Use Create > Drawing > From Template- function to create a new
drawing.
3.1.2 Add Structural Members
Use Modify > View > Limits-Defined- function to add structural
members, see picture 14 below and follow the below shown steps:
- Goto the correct View- level in the hierarchy
- Select Graphics > Drawlist
- Select members from Reference List Members
- Add
- Dismiss
3.1.3 Modify View Limits
- Select Modify > View > Limits-Defined > Limits > Drawlist
Members- function
- Change limit coordinates (+1000 mm) and check the ccc- button
- Right-click on the screen and select View Frames On/Off
- Apply
- Update Design
- Remove structures, if needed, using Graphics > Drawlist- function
3.1.4 Update View
Use Graphics > Update > Design/Annotation/All- functions.
3.1.5 Delete Drawing

First remove the drawing first from the working sheet by pressing the
-- button
And then delete it by pressing the X- button.
3.1.6 Move View
View can be moved by using BY@ , BY X/Y or XYPOS- commands.
NOTE: Use always round numbers
3.1.6 Create View
View can be created by using Create > Copy > View- function.

Picture 14, Limits-Defined View

3.2 Dimensioning
3.2.1 Create Dimensions
- Select view
- Use Create > Dimension Toolbar- function to create dimensions,
see picture 15.

Picture 15, Create Dimensions

3.2.2 Modify Dimensions
Use Modify > Dimension Points- function to modify dimensions, see
picture 16.

Picture 16, Modify Dimension

3.2.3 Modify Projection Line Clearance
Use Modify > Dimension Points > Pos > Clearance > Cursor Allfunction or
type PLCM @ in Command Window, select option (see picture 17), and
indicate projection line to be changed.

Picture 17, Point option

3.2.4 Re-attach Dimension Line

- Select dimension line (DPPT)
- Type ON ID@ (element) or ON IDP@ (ppoint)
- Indicate new element or ppoint
3.2.5 Add New Dimension Line to an Existing One
- Goto to the correct element in hierarchy
- Type ON ID@ (element) or ON IDP@ (ppoint)
- Indicate new elemnt or ppoint
3.2.6 Remove Projection Line
Use Modify > Dimension Line Definition- function and select
Projection Line Only in Options or type DLFG PROJLINEONLY in
Command Window.
3.2.7 Change Line type of Projection Line
- Indicate dimension projection line
- Type PLPEN 136 for centerline
3.3 Labeling
3.3.1 Move Label
- Indicate label
- Type XYPOS
3.3.2 Change Rotation
- Indicate label
- Type ADEGREES
3.3.3 Hide Label
- Indicate label
- Use Modify > Label Blanking- function or type LVISIBILITY FALSE
3.3.4 Blank Label
- Indicate label
- Use Modify > Label Blanking- function or type BLNK TRUE
Article written by Marko Ervonmaa