Vantage Plant Design

Multi Discipline Supports Application

for PDMS
User Guide

MDS4.1.1 Man1
Issue 190503 Rev 0
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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 5
1.1 About This Guide............................................................................................................... 5
1.2 An Overview of the MDS Application............................................................................... 5
1.3 Administrators Role.......................................................................................................... 6
1.4 The MDS Cats and Specs................................................................................................... 6

2 APPLICATION ENTRY.............................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Entering the MDS Application ........................................................................................... 7
2.2 Creation of a Multi Discipline Support.............................................................................. 8
2.2.1 Creation by Cursor .............................................................................................. 14
2.2.2 Creation by Clearance ......................................................................................... 15
2.2.3 Create by Dimensions.......................................................................................... 16
2.2.4 Changing the size of the steelwork....................................................................... 17
2.2.5 Adding A Packing Piece...................................................................................... 18
2.2.6 Creating connections to external steelwork ......................................................... 19
2.2.7 Miscellaneous Options ........................................................................................ 19
2.2.8 Ending the Creation of the Support...................................................................... 22
2.2.9 Modifying a Support............................................................................................ 23
2.2.10 Deleting a Support............................................................................................. 23
2.2.11 Copying a Support............................................................................................. 24
2.2.12 Modifying an Ancillary Type............................................................................. 25
2.2.13 Modifying Ancillaries Dimensions.................................................................... 25
2.2.14 Modifying a Support Name ................................................................................ 26
2.2.15 Viewing the Application Defaults...................................................................... 27
2.2.16 Adding A Drawing Comment............................................................................. 28
2.2.17 Adding a Support to the Drawlist...................................................................... 28
2.3 Administration Options .................................................................................................... 28
2.3.1 Reloading Defaults .............................................................................................. 29
2.3.2 Align Guide to Support........................................................................................ 30
2.3.2 Associate Pad with Shoe ..................................................................................... 30
2.4 Miscellaneous Options..................................................................................................... 30
2.4.1 Querying an Ancillarys Size............................................................................... 30

3 SPECIAL SUPPORTS ............................................................................................................... 31

3.1 Creating A Special Support.............................................................................................. 31
3.2 Creating A Special Support from a Combination of Standards ........................................ 32
3.3 Creating A Project Special Support................................................................................. 33
3.3.1 Project Specials for piping /MDS/SPECIALS/PIPE ........................................... 34
3.3.2 Project Specials for HVAC /MDS/SPECIALS/HVAC........................................ 35
3.3.3 Project Specials for TRAY /MDS/SPECIALS/TRAY........................................ 35

Contents-i
4 TRUNNIONS .............................................................................................................................. 36
4.1 Creating a Trunnion.......................................................................................................... 36

5 HANGERS .................................................................................................................................. 40
5.1 An Overview of the MDS Application for Hangers ..................................................... 40
5.2 Creation of an MDS Hanger ......................................................................................... 40
5.2.1 Using the filters button......................................................................................... 43
5.2.2 Selecting a Creation Mode .................................................................................. 45
5.2.3 Creating the Hanger ............................................................................................. 46
5.2.4 Ending the Creation of the Hanger ....................................................................... 48
5.3 Modifying a Hanger...................................................................................................... 48
5.4 Manipulating a Hanger.................................................................................................. 51
5.4.1 Rotating all the Hanger members......................................................................... 51
5.4.2 Reconnect a Hanger to a new Steelwork Beam................................................... 52
5.4.3 Additional Modification options ......................................................................... 53
5.4.4 Changing the rods lengths .................................................................................... 54
5.4.5 Modifying the Hanger Configuration.................................................................... 54
5.4.6 Changing the Hanger type form Fixed to Variable ............................................... 55

6 DATA ACCESS CONTROL..................................................................................................... 57

6.1 Data Access Control ........................................................................................................ 57
6.2 MDS with Data Access Control....................................................................................... 57
6.2.1 Application Entry ................................................................................................ 57
6.2.2 Create Mode....................................................................................................... 57
6.2.3 Additional requirements for MDS with DACS.................................................... 58

7 STANDARD DATA SHEETS.................................................................................................... 59

7.1 MDS Application Standard Data Sheets .......................................................................... 59

8 MDS WIZARD............................................................................................................................ 60
8.1 MDS Wizard .................................................................................................................... 60

9 MDS REPORTS ......................................................................................................................... 61

9.1 MDS Reports ................................................................................................................... 61

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 About This Guide

This manual is designed to give the Vantage Plant Design support design engineer guidance
on how to create Multi-Discipline Supports (MDS). It is assumed that the PDMS support
design engineer has a basic understanding of the PDMS program.

1.2 An Overview of the MDS Application

The MDS application allows the user to create standard supports for the pipe work, cable
racks and HVAC disciplines. The application is highly interactive, enabling the user to design
supports with the minimum of effort. The MDS application is also highly configurable; allowing
the Vantage Plant Design Administrator to define project related defaults, to control the design
of supports and to determine the range and types of ancillary support components that can be
used on the project.
The standard supports in this application are designed utilising structural sections, and are
template driven, so in essence the template reflects the Standard. A default set of structural
templates based on British Standard Steelwork Sections is supplied with the application. The
office or project to adopt any relevant National standard for steelwork sections may
configure all of the supplied templates. For further information see the MDS Application
Framework Template Administrators Guide
Ancillaries are in fact the items that are attached to the pipe such as a u-bolt, bolt on shoe,
anchor, or slip-unit; the ancillaries associated with the template reflect those available (or
suitable for) with the Standard. If the available templates do not reflect what you want to build
either ask you Administrator to investigate with AVEVA Solutions to get your requirement
designated as a new Standard hence template or create a Special. A good example of a
special would be where you want to add an extra member to an existing template
configuration. This would have to be designed (or converted to) as a Special and the extra
member added in with the standard PDMS Beams and Columns application.
Vessel Supports are identified as Template/ Standard driven.
Ancillaries for Cable Tray and HVAC sometimes referred to as fixings are deemed to be the
responsibility of the relevant contractor and are not dealt with in this application.

The creation principles for every support follow a similar pattern thus.

Select standard support type from menu or icons.

Enter name of support.

Create datum attachment and select ancillary type.

Set distance/position of datum attachment.

Choose steelwork size from available list.

Create by the required creation method.

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 Use any miscellaneous option required.

Select packing if required.

Select OK and check with Support Integrity Checker.

1.3 Administrators Role

The Vantage Plant Design Administrator is responsible for the initial set-up of the default files
and the design template database associated with the MDS application.

1.4 The MDS Cats and Specs

The MDS application is supplied with a catalogue and specification, the range of bore and
components in the catalogue are fixed and should be adequate for all Vantage Plant Design
projects. The catalogue and associated specification /MDS must NOT be modified by the
Vantage Plant Design project administrator or any other user.

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2 APPLICATION ENTRY

2.1 Entering the MDS Application

In order to enter the MDS Application select Multi Discipline Supports from the Design (see
Figure 1) menu located on the Main application form. The system will then test for the
existence of the design template database /MDS/TEMPLATES and the specification /MDS. If
either of these does not exist the MDS entry will exit with an error and enter the General
application. If this occurs contact your Vantage Plant Design Administrator so that he may
add these databases to your MDB.

Figure 1 Design Bar menu.

The application will then display a form listing all valid zones found in the current MDB (see
Figure 2). The default file DES-SUPP-ID controls the selection of which zones are to be
displayed. For more information on how these zones are selected please refer to the MDS
Administration Guide. The user is then required to select a zone, which will be used to create
all the support structures that the designer builds.

Figure 2 Default Creation Site form.

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 The Design module bar menu will re-initialise to include functions specific to the Multi
Discipline Supports module. The Main bar menu will now display headings to the pull down
menus, for creating and manipulating the supports items. Located under the menu bar will be
two tool bars. To the left will be the icon buttons to control the general set-up and display
operations. From the centre to the right are several icons that are short cuts to all the
available menus in the MDS Application. If the cursor is located over each of these icons a
Tool Tip is displayed. This table explains each the icons action.

Multi Discipline Supports General Supports

Cable Racking Supports HVAC Supports

Anchors Fixed Hangers

Variant Hangers Constant Hangers

Guides and Stops Slip Units

Specials Springs

Trunnions Vessels Supports

Copy Supports Modify Support

Delete Support Lock/Unlock Support

Defaults Wizard

Reports Manuals

2.2 Creation of a Multi Discipline Support

There are two ways to access the Multi Discipline Support forms. The first is to select the
appropriate icon, by clicking on as explained in the previous section. The second is to select
appropriate menu and sub menu from the main bar menu (see Figure 3).

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Figure 3 Create pull down and Sub-menu

The following form (see Figure 4) will be displayed showing all the available supports that can
be created.

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Figure 4 Multi Discipline Support form.

This form will contain all the available supports, as per the MDS Application default file DES-
SUPP-DEFS, which is located in the project default directory. Any supports that are not
available, require a different description to be displayed to the user, or require a different

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name to the standard name supplied, can be modified in this file. Please refer to the MDS
Application Administrators Guide for further information.
In the example form above the prefix of X has been added to the entire support default names.
The user must now enter the name of the support to be created. If a legal name is entered
then the OK button on the form will become active. The user may also select the MDS auto
naming option to name the support. Please refer to the MDS Application Administrators Guide
for further information. Now select the support type required and press the OK button.
In this example we will create support type XFT09, using the name FT09. The following form
(see Figure 5) will be displayed.

Figure 5 XFT09 form.

The first operation is to make sure the pipes, cable rack or HVAC you require to support are
added to the drawlist, along with any other elements required to create the support. This may

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include any steelwork or panels that may be required, depending on the creation mode that is
to be used. I.e. they must be added to the graphical view to be identified.
Now create the Datum attachment. This is the attachment on the first pipe that will be
associated with the support structure. This must be a pipe and not a cable rack or HVAC
element. Select the Create datum support atta button at the top of the form. The user will be
presented with the cursor so that he can identify a pipe, when the user has done this the
Ancillary Selection form will be displayed (see Figure 6). This contains a list of all the
available ancillaries at the selected pipe bore. Again these may be restricted for each
framework type. For more information please refer to the MDS Application Administration
User Guide. Now select the ancillary P2105 (Bolt on Shoe) from the Ancillary Selection form.

Figure 6 Ancillary Selection Form.

Select OK. The application will now create the pipe shoe on the selected pipe and position it
at the previous component or branch start, with a graphical tag of Datum for easy
recognition. The Create Datum Support Atta button will now be deactivated.
The shoe now needs to be positioned in the pipe. This can be achieved by using either the
Distance button, with a distance value placed in the text box next to it, or any of the available
options with the Through button, which include such options as Through ID Cursor, Through
Back Mark, etc.
The user can now continue to add all the pipes, HVAC and Cable Rack that he requires to
support. These can be added using the first three icons on the XFT09 form.

The only difference from adding a datum atta is that the application will now position the new
attachments with respect to the datum atta. The example in Figure 7 shows two pipes, HVAC
and Cable Rack elements added to the support.

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 3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 7 Design Screen 1

You will notice that the HVAC and Cable Rack support attachments have a lollipop
representation. This is because the fixings to the steelwork are regarded as supplied by the
HVAC and Cable Rack Contractor and no allowance is made for the selection of different
fixings in the MDS Application. The lollipop representation will be removed when the support
is completed, returning to its original drawing level before the support was created. There are
no obstruction properties associated with the lollipop representation so no clashes will be
reported.
At this point the user can choose the template he requires the support to be created from by
selecting the steelwork size icon and selecting a template available from the list presented
on the form (see Figure 8). The template list will show all available templates. For this
exercise choose the second option 80x80x10 Angle, Internally Welded.

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 Figure 8 Template Selection
There are three different options that we can use to create the steel framework, these are:
Create by Cursor, Clearance or Dimensions. We will create the framework with all three
options and see what differences they make.

2.2.1 Creation by Cursor

On the XFT09 form select the Create by Cursor icon . The user will now be presented
with the cursor, and prompted from the Status form, to identify steelwork, boxes or panels.
First select the horizontal steelwork member parallel to the pipes on the left. Next select the
horizontal steelwork member to the right of the pipes. The application will now create the
support using to dimensions gained from the positions of the identified steelwork. The view
will now look like Figure 9. On completion the application will fill in all the dimensions with their
correct values. These will be stored against the support when it has finished, enabling future
modifications of the support to be achieved.

3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 9 Design Screen 2

At this point we need to add a cross member to support the HVAC and Cable Rack. Select
the add cross bar icon . . The user will then be presented with the cursor asking him to
identify the support attachment/s to support with a crossbar. Identify the HVAC and Cable

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 Rack lollipop and select the cancel button on the status form. The application will then create
the crossbar, positioning it at the correct elevation.
The user has to identify both attachments, as the crossbar will then be associated with both
support attachments. This information is used later to check the packing distance between
the crossbar and the support attachment in the Support Integrity Checker. The support
integrity checker is executed when the user has finished the support by pressing the OK
button. The view should then look like Figure 10.

3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 10 Design Screen 3

With the Create By Cursor method of creation, two separate elements have to be identified
and these elements must be parallel to the pipe run. The following method Create By
Clearance shows how to create the structure by identifying just one element.

2.2.2 Creation by Clearance

Select the Create by Clearance icon and the user will be presented with the cursor to
identify a steelwork member, box or panel. Select the horizontal steelwork member that is
perpendicular to, and above the pipes. The application will now create the support using the
dimensions gained from the position of the identified steelwork member. The clearances will
be calculated from the default values, obtained from the Support Application Default form, and
will be used to calculate the positions of the vertical members. This value, and all other default
values, can be queried by displaying the MDS Application Defaults form, from the Defaults

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 >Applications in the Settings pull down menu in the main Headings. For more information on
this and the other defaults used refer to the MDS Application Administration User Guide.
Again at this point the application will fill in all the dimensions used to create the support
framework. The view will now look like Figure 11.

3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 11 Design Screen 4

2.2.3 Create by Dimensions

Enter the following dimensions to the MDS Framework form,

Dimension 1 = 1300mm
Dimension 2 = 350mm
Dimension 3 = 1000mm
Dimension 4 = 1100mm
The location of each dimension can be viewed by pressing the View... button, which will
display a plotfile with these dimensions shown. Select the Create by Dimensions icon
and the application will now create the support using the dimensions entered. This method
can be used when the required steelwork is not yet entered into the 3D model, enabling the
support designer to continue with his work. The view will now look like Figure 12.

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 3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 12 Design Screen 5

2.2.4 Changing the size of the steelwork

3
2

Datum Pipe 1

Elevation

Figure 13 Design Screen 6

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 To modify the size of the steelwork template, reselect the template form and select the size
required. The application will recreate the support using the dimensions that are entered on
the form with the new steelwork size. Try this by selecting option 4, 152 x 89 Channel
Internally Welded. The view should now look like Figure 13.

2.2.5 Adding A Packing Piece

When a packing piece is needed to make up the height difference between the crossbar and
the support attachment, the user can select the add packer icon from the MDS XFT09
form. This will present the user with the cursor and a Status line prompt to Identify the
Support atta to add a Packing Piece to. The user will be presented with the Packing Piece
form, which he can now complete to his requirements as shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14 Packing Piece form.

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2.2.6 Creating connections to external steelwork

Once a user has created the structural steel for the framework he may be required to creates
joints to the external steelwork. In the first instance this is achieved by selecting the create
connections icon This will only create the connection if the application knows the identity
of steelwork that the user requires to connect to. This is stored if the user has used the,
create by cursor or clearance methods. This will create snod/sjoi elements in the connecting
sections. For this purpose it is essential that the user have write access to create the
necessary elements. The user will see the snod represented in the graphical view. The MDS
application defaults control to what level a user can create joints to external steelwork. Please
refer to the MDS Administration Guide for more details of these options.

At this point the user can select the modify joints icon and he will be presented with a
form that displays all the joints that are available to him. The user can then select the joint for
the joints connected to the external steelwork.
If the user has identified the external steelwork to connect to with either create by cursor or
clearance there are a small number of situations that the application may choose the wrong
pline to connect to. If this is the case the user may force connect the joint to a specific pline
by selecting the force connect joint icon and his will be asked to identify the required
pline with the cursor.
In the case where the user requires the connection to be deleted he can select the delete
connections icon

2.2.7 Miscellaneous Options

We can now modify the support using the various options available to us on the MDS XFT09
support form. A description of each option, along with its associated icon, is explained below.
The access to each icon is dependant on the configuration being used, if the individual icon
is not required it will be greyed out.

Mirror Framework will mirror the support, perpendicular to the datum

attachment, repositioning the framework members through the structure origin.

Align Support enables the user to pick two points, with the EDG application.
It will then calculate the distance between the two points, using the datum attas
leave direction. This allows the user to position the support more accurately.

Modify Support Section will allow the user to modify a section belonging to
the support, with the standard modify section start/end form. If a section is
modified using this facility, any future regeneration of the support will not
include these modifications, and it will return to the default configuration.

Add Packer. This enables the user to add packing pieces to support attas that
are not sitting directly on the steelwork.

Delete Packer. This will enable the user to delete a packer already added to
the support framework.

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Rotate All attas can be used when the support type is used with vertical
pipes. It will rotate all the attachments by the angle entered into the text gadget
next to the icon.

Rotate Atta can be used to rotate individual attas. It will rotate all the
attachments by the angle entered into the text gadget next to the icon.

Modify Datum Atta. This will enable the user to modify the datum atta, from
one atta to another, added to the same support. This may be used if an atta
that has been chosen, as the datum needs to be removed from the support.

Bedplate Reference is used to associate a support steelwork member with a

bedplate. This information is then added to the subsequent drawing, which
can be created with the MDS Automatic Drawing Production Application.

Associate Atta can be used to associate an attachment with a crossbar. An

example of this is, if when we added the crossbar in the example given above,
we had only identified the HVAC support attachment, we could later associate
the Cable Rack support attachment when the crossbar has been built.

View Associations shows the support attachments that are associated with
each crossbar. This can be very useful when the Support Integrity Checker
has told us there is large packing distance between the support attachment
and the associated crossbar. Often the reason for this is that the attachment
is associated with the wrong crossbar.

Modify Atta can be used to modify the ancillary type or the dimensions of the
support attachment.

Delete Atta can be used to delete an attachment from the support framework.
The DATUM attachment cannot be deleted from the support.

Nudge will nudge the support with the flow or against the flow depending on
which icon is pressed by the distance value entered in the text gadget next to
the icons.
Spooling will allow the user to create spools for the steelwork erection
procedure. The MDS ADP drawing will display in the material list, which spool
the steelwork section, belongs to.

Set materials of the steelwork sections.

Copy Like can be used to identify another support of the same standard and
the dimensions will be copied from the identified support. The number of
associated pipes, cable trays and HVAC elements do not have to be the same
on each support.

View Standard can be used to display the standards associated plot file.

Connect template section to existing main steel.

Modify connection to existing steel

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 Force connect to existing main steel

Disconnect template sections from existing main steel

Show/Hide Framework Dimensions can be used to graphically display the

dimension of the support standard.
Centre on Support can be used to refresh the graphical view with the support
being created or modified in the centre of the view. The view scale will not be
modified.

ADP Draw list Control can be modified from the Design module. The
support steelwork and all its associated members will be added by default. The
user may add extra elements to the drawlist, up to a maximum of ten. This can
be used to add steelwork that does not belong to the support framework.
Specify a location position for ADP dimensions.

Identifies a trimmer requirement (by others)

Ancillary Material setting

Copy Ancillary

Nudge Ancillary

Add a note to the Ancillary to appear on the drawing deliverable

There are a few other icons available on other support standards, which are explained below.
The icons and options, which appear on each support type, depend on its usage and
orientation, therefore not all icons and options appear on every support form. If the option is
not available for the current standard then the icon will be deactivated.

Rotate Frame will rotate the framework about the datum attachment.

Flip Field Weld is used when a support type can be built with the field weld at
either end of the framework steelwork member. It will place the field weld at
the other end of the steel and depict with a textural aid.

Identify Steel for calculation of Trunnion lengths.

Set Trunnion Material

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 Flip Atta is used to flip an attachment within the line; this can be used to flip
non symmetrical attachments.

Reconnect is used to reconnect a hanger to another beam.

2.2.8 Ending the Creation of the Support

When the user has finished the support he can press the OK button. The application will then
perform a series of Integrity Checks to ensure the support is completed. These can be
categorised in three sections messages, warnings and errors. If any errors are found then
the OK gadget is deactivated and the support will not be completed until the user has rectified
these errors. The checks performed are as follows.

Messages

Packing distance is greater than 2mm but not greater than allowable packing distance

If the support is a special a message is issued to the user to create the structural
steelwork.

If no warning or errors are found

Warning Messages

Maximum length of steelwork is not to be exceeded. In the design template database

each member can be given a maximum length that it may not exceed.
Error Messages

Checks to see if the maximum packing distance has been exceeded, as per the maximum
packing distance value on the Application Default form.

Checks to see if any of the support attachments overlap the crossbar, as per the
maximum overlap value on the MDS Application Default form.

Checks to see if any of the dimensions values associated with the support ancillaries i.e.
shoes. Do not exceed the values defined in the default file (DES-SUPP-PARS) in the
Project Default directory.

Checks to see if any reference used within the MDS application. I.e. Bedplate reference
no longer exists.

The typical example used in this guide (FT09), is just one of many support types available in
this application. The basic principles for every support follow similar guidelines.

Select standard support type from menu or icons.

Enter name of support.

Create datum attachment and select ancillary type.

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 Set distance/position of datum attachment.

Choose steelwork size from available list.

Create by the required creation method.

Use any miscellaneous option required.

Select packing if required.

Select OK and check with Support Integrity Checker.

2.2.9 Modifying a Support

When a support requires modification, select Support from the pulldown menu, under the
heading Modify, or use the appropriate icon from the tool bar. This will then display the
Modify Support form as shown in Figure 15; you are then able to identify the support you
require to modify in three different ways.

1. By typing the name into Support name text gadget.

2. By pressing the CE button, to modify the Current Element, if it is a support.
3. By Identifying by Cursor any member of the support.
When the user then presses the apply button the same form, as used to generate the support,
is displayed with all the dimensions correctly filled in. The method of modification follows the
same principles as when the user creates a support. If the user decides to cancel the support
by selecting the Cancel button, while in modification mode, the user is prompted to confirm
his request. The support will then is regenerated to its original dimensions, size etc as before
the modification process was entered. If the user deletes a support attachment while in
modification mode, this regeneration process will not be possible. The user is advised of this
restriction when a support is deleted. When the support has been identified the user may use
the centre on support icon to view the support in the centre of the graphical view.

Figure 15 Modify Support form.

2.2.10 Deleting a Support

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 When you required to delete a support select Support from the pull down menu, under the
heading Delete, or use the appropriate icon from the tool bar. This will then display the Delete
Support form as shown in Figure 16. You are then able to identify the support you require to
delete in three different ways.

1. By typing the name into Support name text gadget.

2. By pressing the CE button, to modify the Current Element, if it is a support.
3. By Identifying by Cursor any member of the support.
When the user then selects the Apply button the support, and all its associated members is
highlighted and the user is asked to confirm the deletion process. When the support has been
identified the user may use the centre on support icon to view the support in the centre of the
graphical view.

Figure 16 Delete Support form.

2.2.11 Copying a Support

To copy a support select the Create>Copy Support... menu or icon. This will then display the
copy support form as shown in Figure 18. You can then identify the support to copy in three
different ways.
1. By typing the name into the Support Name text gadget.
2. By pressing the CE button to modify the Current Element, if it is a support.
3. By Identifying by Cursor any member of the support.
Enter the Number of copies required and the Distance to copy the support. Each support
that is copied must be renamed by entering the new name in the form that will be displayed
each time a copy is made. When the support has been identified the user may use the centre
on support icon to view the support in the centre of the graphical view.
A Confirm form will be displayed to Retain the Copy. Click Yes to accept.

24
 Figure 17 Copy Support form.

2.2.12 Modifying an Ancillary Type

To modify an Ancillary select Ancillary Typefrom the heading Modify pulldown menu. This
will then display a blocking form asking the user to select the new Ancillary Type, (as shown
in Figure 6) depending on the size of the pipe identified and any restriction of ancillary type
that may be created. The type will only be selected if the new type is available at the branch
bore size.

2.2.13 Modifying Ancillaries Dimensions.

If an ancillary has modifiable parameters, (e.g. a U-Bolt has not, but a pipe shoe has) then
use the Modify Support form to modify the support and then select the Modify Ancillary icon.
This will display the Modify Ancillary form, as shown in Figure 21, with the appropriate options
that can be modified for the ancillary selected. It may be modified by typing a new value in
the text gadgets provided, as long as the new value does not exceed the minimum or maximum
values defined in the MDS Application Default file DES-SUPP-PARS. An error will be
displayed if the value entered exceeds the minimum or maximum value. The user can also
reset the ancillary parameters to the default values by selecting the Set Parameters to
Default button.

25
 Figure 18 Modify Ancillary Form.

2.2.14 Modifying a Support Name

In order to modify a Support Name; select Support Name from the Modify pulldown menu.
This will display the Modify Support Name form as shown in figure 19. The user can select
the support to be modified in three different ways.
1. By typing the name into the Existing Support Name text gadget.
2. By pressing the CE button to modify the Current Element, if it is a support.
3. By identifying with the Cursor any member of the support.
Enter the new support name into the Change to Support Name text box.
The user can now select the Apply button. The support and associated members will be
modified to the new name.

26
 Figure 19 Modify Support Name form.

2.2.15 Viewing the Application Defaults

To view the Defaults in use by the MDS Application select the Defaults> Applications from the
Settings pull down menu. This will then display the Support Application Defaults form as
shown in Figure 20. For details of each default and its use, refer to the MDS Application
Administration Guide.

Figure 20 MDS Application Defaults form.

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2.2.16 Adding A Drawing Comment.

A feature of the MDS Automatic Drawing Production Application is the ability to add a
comment to the drawing. Select Drawing Comment from the Modify pulldown menu. The
Modify Drawing Comment form will be displayed as shown in Figure 21. Select the support
that the comment needs to be added to and type the comment in the text pane displayed.
This comment will then be added to the drawing above the line identification box.

Figure 21 Drawing Comment form.

2.2.17 Adding a Support to the Drawlist

To add all the members of a support to the Drawlist, select one of the three sub-options
available from the Add Support/s. selection under the Utilities pulldown menu.
1. Explicit entering the Support Name into the displayed form.
2. All Below CE select CE to add all members below current element in the hierarchy.
3. All add all supports within the current multiple database.

2.3 Administration Options

The Administration options have been added to assist the user in the administrative options of
the MDS Application. An explanation of each option and where they should be used is given
below.

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2.3.1 Reloading Defaults

In order to load the latest defaults as per the MDS Application Default files DES-SUPP-DEFS,
DES-SUPP-PARS select from the Settings pulldown menu >Defaults>Dimensions. This will
display the Dimensions Defaults form as in Figure 22. The user may then select to load an
individual type, or all types. A session log is displayed at the bottom of the form. The user
may also select to reload the defaults for: -
User parameters for the CE.
Non-user parameters for CE.
Non-user parameters for all supports found.

Figure 22 Dimension Control form

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2.3.2 Align Guide to Support

From the Modify pulldown menu select >Align Guide to Support. If a support has a guide
associated with it, and it is modified, then the guide will be modified along with the support. In
the case e.g. where the guide has not been modified for some reason, this option may be
used to realign the guide with its associated support

2.3.2 Associate Pad with Shoe

When a pipe shoe has reinforcing pad it must be associated with the shoe in order for the
shoe to allow for the thickness of the pad. If for some reason the pad and shoe are not
associated, the user may use the Modify > Associate pad with shoe menu selection in order
to associate the shoe with the pad.

2.4 Miscellaneous Options

2.4.1 Querying an Ancillarys Size

If the user requires to query the size of an ancillary, then select >Properties from the
Query pulldown menu. This will display the sizes, description, etc, by using the data set
supplied with the application. An example of a shoe is shown below.

Figure 23 Ancillary Properties

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3 SPECIAL SUPPORTS

3.1 Creating A Special Support

When a support is to be created that does not conform to any of the supplied configurations,
it may be created as a Special. It can be assigned a support name and a special support
number. This special support number may be unique to the support or it may be used on
several supports as required. This is controlled via the DES-SUPP-DEFS default file. For
details on modification of this value refer to the MDS Application Administration Guide. A
prefix is also used to identify a special support and is also controlled by the same default file.
To create a Special Support select the Special Support icon from the tool bar, or select
>Special... from the Create pulldown menu on the main bar menu. The form displayed is
shown below.

Figure 24 Special Support Details form.

The user must now enter the Support Name, Special Support Number, and select the Special
Support Type. The Special Support type can be Multi Discipline, Cable Racking or HVAC.
At this point the special support number is checked to see if it is unique, (only if the default
setting is for a unique support number.) The user can now select OK and the form, as shown
in Figure 26, is displayed. The user may also use the MDS auto naming facility.

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 Figure 25 Special Support Creation form.

The user can now select all the elements to be supported and position the support in the same
way as the Multi Discipline Support example given in Section 2. The only difference is that no
steelwork section can be created. When the user has finished then the OK button can be
selected and a minimal check performed by the Support Integrity Checker will take place,
obviously not checking anything that is concerned with steelwork. A message is displayed in
the Support Integrity Check form informing the user that he can now use the Steelwork
Application to create the steelwork members required to complete the support framework. A
structure element will be created so that the user can create the steelwork within it, using the
same name as the support name. The MDS Automatic Drawing Production Application will
produce a drawing similar to any of the standard support types.

3.2 Creating A Special Support from a Combination of Standards

The Special Support form may also be used to create a Special from a combination of
standards, enabling the user to create the individual standards using the full facilities of the
application. If this is the case, the user must select the 'From Existing MDS Supports' option
in the create gadget on the Special Support form. (Figure 27).

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 Figure 26 Special Supports from a Combination of Standards Form.

The user can identify each existing MDS support in turn and add it to the list of support to be
combined. The first support identified will be used as the master support, using the datum atta
from this support as the datum atta for the resulting special support. If the user requires a
different support to be used as the master he can select the support from the list and select
the Use Selected Support as Master button. When the user selects the OK button the list of
supports will be taken and the databases will be configured so that the individual supports are
created as one support under the new name.

3.3 Creating A Project Special Support

In order to speed up the process of creating a special support with a complicated

configuration that may be used repeatedly on a project a project special may be copied into
the existing special framework. These project specials can be predefined in a site called
/MDS/SPECIALS contain three zones called /MDS/SPECIALS/PIPE,
/MDS/SPECIALS/HVAC and /MDS/SPECIALS/TRAY containing the respective special types.

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3.3.1 Project Specials for piping /MDS/SPECIALS/PIPE
This zone contains all the available project specials for piping, the user selects the icon,
and this will list to the user the available templates as shown in the form below.

Figure 27 Special Supports from a Combination of Standards Form.

When the user has selected the type of standard the steelwork configuration will be copied to
the datum support. An example the selected support configuration is shown below.

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 When the application has copied the steelwork no resizing will be performed and the user is
expected to complete the special support.

3.3.2 Project Specials for HVAC /MDS/SPECIALS/HVAC

This zone contains all the available project specials for piping, the user selects the icon,
and this will list to the user the available templates similar to the form for piping. When the
user has selected the type of standard the steelwork configuration will be copied to the datum
support. The specials for HVAC are based on a 500mm by 500mm duct and the framework
will be modified to suit the new size of duct selected. The user is then expected to modify the
interface points with other steelwork. For more information on the configuration of these
projects special frameworks please see the MDS Framework Templates Administration Guide.

3.3.3 Project Specials for TRAY /MDS/SPECIALS/TRAY

This zone contains all the available project specials for trays, the user selects the icon,
and this will list to the user the available templates similar to the form for piping. When the
user has selected the type of standard the steelwork configuration will be copied to the datum
support. When the application has copied the steelwork no resizing will be performed and the
user is expected to complete the special support.

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 4 TRUNNIONS

4.1 Creating a Trunnion

There is a principle for trunnion creation that needs some clarification. A trunnion is in fact to
a standard; the standard trunnion can have ancillaries associated with it, which in their own
right are also standards. So for example a trunnion standard XTT06- Base ELL and Pipe
Support Variable NPS 2-36 could require a reinforcing pad where it is welded to the pipe, this
pad is put into the design as a standard General Ancillary-XAT05-Reinforcing Plate cut from
pipe.
Special Notes regarding Reinforcing Plates for Trunnions
1.The Plates are in fact cut from another elbow of the same size, which is itemized as extra
material on the Isometric.
2. To get the best graphical representation of the plate and Trunnion in Design set Holes On
and Arctol =1.
Furthermore its also possible to create just a trunnion branch (Create > Trunnion Branch),
which is in fact just a piece of tube (a new PDMS Branch is created in the model), this
trunnion branch can also have ancillaries associated with it for example a u-bolt.
To create a standard trunnion select the Trunnion icon from the tool bar, or select
>Trunnion... from the Create pulldown menu on the main bar menu. The form displayed is
shown below.

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 Figure 28 Trunnion support type form

After selecting an applicable support the user must now enter the name of the support to be created. If
a legal name is entered then the OK button on the form will become active. The user may also select the
MDS auto naming option to name the support. Please refer to the MDS Application Administrators
Guide for further information. Now select the support type required and press the OK button.
In this example we will create support type P1101A, using the name P1101A , the following form will be
displayed.

Figure 29 Trunnion creation form

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On selecting a pictorial icon for an elbow, tube, eccentric reducer or cross from the Trunnion creation
form the user will be presented with the cursor so that he can identify a respective branch member
applicable to the icon chosen (i.e. identify ELBO to create base support) . The user is then prompted to
identify steelwork to connect to, the following form is then displayed with the Length and trunnion bores
being active.

Figure 30 Trunnion creation form (After selection of Bran member)

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There is also an option gadget available on the forms for other support types where trunnions may be
created or modified. This allows the piping specification of the trunnion material to be selected from a
list of the available piping specifications in the current MDB.

Selecting the Select Trunnion Material icon will present the user with a choose form, shown below, to
select the Trunnion Material from an alternative piping specification, available within the current PDMS
project.

Figure 31 Choose Form - Available alternative Piping Specs for Trunnion

Material

When a trunnion is added to a reducer/elbow and no connection point is found i.e. P3 MDS will scan
the current pipe specification to find the appropriate reducer/elbow and reset the specification
reference to the new reducer

When a trunnion is added to a tee MDS will change the tee to a cross and scan the current pipe
specification for a suitable cross. This is required because a tee only has one connection reference.

When the trunnion is deleted any element reselected will be replaced with the original specification
reference.

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5 HANGERS

5.1 An Overview of the MDS Application for Hangers

The MDS application for hangers allows the user to create fixed and variable pipe hangers.
The application is highly interactive, enabling the user to design various types of hangers with
the minimum of effort. The application is also highly configurable; allowing the Vantage Plant
Design Administrator to define project related defaults, to control the design of hangers and to
determine the range, types and configuration of hanger components that can be used on the
project.
The various configurations of the hangers in this application, which are designed
utilising a hangers components catalogue of a given supplier, are template driven.
Two sets of hangers templates based on two catalogues of different hangers
component suppliers are supplied with the application. The project administrator can
configure and customize those templates to adopt any relevant companys hanger
configurations or any other hangers components catalogue. For further information
see the MDS Administrators Guide.

5.2 Creation of an MDS Hanger

There are two ways to access the MDS hangers forms. The first is to select the appropriate
icon, by clicking on it and the second is to select the appropriate menu from the main bar
menu (Figure 32).

40
Figure 32 Create pull down menu

The second way is by clicking on the appropriate icon (Figure 33).

Figure 33 The Fixed, Variable and Constant Hanger icons

Click on the icon to create a fixed hanger.

The following form will be displayed showing all the available hanger configurations that can be
created

41
Figure 34 MDS Hangers configurations form.

NOTE- On initialisation this form will display all available Hanger Configurations

In the example form above the description of the hangers contains three initial/prefix
characters: T (for Top), M (for Middle) and B (for Bottom). For example, a T1 M2 B4 hanger
means that the hanger has a T1 type top connection, M2 type middle connection and a B4
type pipe connection. These types of connection can represent different suppliers catalogues
components and/or different company standards. Now the user should enter the name of the
hanger to be created. If a legal name is entered then the OK button on the form will become
active. The user may also select the MDS auto naming option to name the support. Please
refer to the MDS Hangers Administrators Guide for further information.
At this point the user can select a hanger type from the list and click the OK button. The user
will then be asked to identify the pipe he wants to support and the steelwork beam (if relevant
to the selected hanger type) he wants to connect the hanger to. However, since the list of
hanger types contains all the hangers types available, regardless of the pipe size, the pipe
insulation and the type of the steelwork connection, the user may find that the hanger type he
has selected is not suitable for the pipe he wants to support or is not suitable for an insulated
pipe. This situation can be avoided by using the filters buttons in the bottom of the form.

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5.2.1 Using the filters button

The filters button of the MDS Hangers types form (see Figure 34) can be used to filter the list
of available hanger types by the following filtering criteria:
Hanger category
Pipe size
Pipe insulation (YES/NO)
Top beam type

There are ten filtering categories represented by the following ten buttons

1. Single hangers connected to a 6. Single hangers connected to an

beam offset component

2. Single hangers connected to a 7. Single hangers connected to

double-channel beam another pipe

3. Double-hanger hangers with 8. Hangers that supports the pipe

both hangers connected to a from below (No rods).
beam

4. Double-hanger hangers with 9. Hangers that can be used for a

both hangers connected to given pipe size
double-channel beams

5. Double-hanger hangers with 10. All Hangers types.

one hanger connected to a
beam and the other hanger
connected to a double-channel
beam

The MDS Hanger configurations form filters

By default the ALL filter is activated and the form displays all available hangers categories.
To filter the list, the user needs to click on one of the filters button. The application will then
prompt him to take further action depending on the filter selected.
The VIEW button enables you to display the Standard Data Sheets for the selected Hanger.
The VIEW Config button displays a 3D view of the selected Hanger Configuration to enable
early model appreciation of the configuration selected.

Clicking on the filter (single-hanger connected to a beam). The application will prompt you
to identify the tube you want to support. In any stage, you can press the ESC key to escape

43
the application prompt. Otherwise, identify the tube. Note that the tube size and the insulation
thickness of the identified pipe will be displayed in the selection area just below the filter
buttons. This area shows the current selection data. At this stage the list should display the
available hanger configurations for the selected category (single-hanger connected to a
beam), pipe bore size and insulation thickness.
Now the application will prompt you to identify the steelwork beam you want to connect the
hanger to. The identified beam type will be appended to the selection data in the form
selection area. In case of double-hanger hangers or hangers connected to a double-channel
beam the application will prompt the user to identify the required additional beams.
The form now displays a filtered list containing only the hanger configurations that meet the
selection criteria (Figure 3).

Figure 35 The filtered MDS Hanger configurations form

To create the hanger you should now enter the hanger name in the Name of Hanger input
field. You can also use the auto-naming feature by clicking on the MDS Autoname button.
The MDS Hanger Application Administrator can set the auto-naming convention. Please refer
to the MDS Hangers Administrators Guide for further information. Note that as soon as we
give a name to the hanger, the OK button becomes active.

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5.2.2 Selecting a Creation Mode

The MDS hanger types form offers three modes to create hangers.
The three modes are:
Create and Modify In this mode, when the user clicks the OK button, the
application displays the Hanger form (Figure 3). This form allows the user to modify the
hanger, accept it or cancel it. The MDS hanger configurations form (Figure 34) will be
closed. In order to create a new hanger, the user should use the application main
menu to re-display the MDS hanger types form.
Create Once This mode can be used to create multiple hangers of the same
configuration or of different configurations with a minimum of keystrokes. The user
identifies the pipe and the beam/s and clicks the OK button. The application creates
the hanger, activates the ALL button of the MDS hanger configurations form and re-
displays it. The user can then enter the name of the next hanger that he wants to
create, click on a filter button, identifies the tube and the beam/s and create the next
hanger. In this mode, the hanger can be cancelled or modified only by first accepting
it and then deleting it or modifying it. Please refer to Modifying a Hanger and/or
Deleting a Hanger later in this guide.
Multi Create This mode can be used to quickly create multiple hangers of the same
configuration. After clicking the OK button, the application creates the hanger and
prompts the user to select a new tube and a new beam or beams for the next hanger.
The hangers are named automatically using the naming convention set by the
application administrator.

The required mode can be selected from the form option menu (Figure 3)

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 Figure 36 The Creation Modes menu

The default mode is the Create and Modify mode.

5.2.3 Creating the Hanger

In this example we will create a hanger configuration of type T1 M2 B6. We will use the name
HANG1. Please confirm that the current create mode is the Create and Modify mode. Click
on the OK button. The form shown below will be displayed.

46
Figure 37 The Hanger Form

The application has created the hanger using the data entered in the MDS hangers
configurations form.
If the selected beam intersects with the pipe, the hanger will be positioned in the intersection
point. In this case the Distance and the Through buttons will be de-activated. That is
because the hanger cannot be moved as long as it is connected to the beam.

You can still move the hanger by using the Reconnect to another beam button (the
icon).
If the beam selected is parallel to the pipe, the hanger will be positioned as close as possible
to the start of the identified beam. The application tries to locate the position by moving the
hanger along the beam until the hanger can be connected vertically. If the application cannot
find a valid connection point within the beam, it will issue an error message and will allow the
user to select another beam. If a valid connection point is found, the application will create the
hanger. In this case the Distance and the Through buttons will be activated, allowing the
user to modify the position of the hanger. Please note that moving the hanger with these
buttons will also move the steelwork connection point/s and its associated fitting/s accordingly.
When creating the hanger, the application does the following:
Creates an atta in the identified tube. The attas name is the name given for the
hanger. If the hangers configuration is such that the hanger is connected directly
to the pipe, the hanger will be connected to this atta. If the hangers configuration
is such that the hanger is connected to the pipe through a trunnion, a welded lug
or any other standard pipe support, the hanger will be connected to the atta of the
standard support. The stex attribute of the hangers atta will be set to: Connected

47
 to <standard_support_name>. In this case the cref attribute of the hangers atta
will remain unset.
Creates the fitting/s as a member/s of the steelwork section/s. In case of a double-
channel beam, the fitting is created only in one of the steelwork sections. The
name of the fitting will be the name of the hanger appended by /FITT/H and by the
fitting sequence number (e.g. /HANG1/FITT/H1).
Creates the hanger and connects it to the atta and to the fitting.

5.2.4 Ending the Creation of the Hanger

At this stage the user can accept the new hanger by clicking on the OK button or cancel it
by clicking on the Cancel button. The user can also use any of the additional icons of the
form to perform additional actions like changing the hangers configuration, rotate the hanger
components and display the hanger dimensions.
Click the OK button. The Hanger form will close.
You have successfully created a hanger.

5.3 Modifying a Hanger

There are two different states in which you can modify a hanger. One state is when you
create the hanger and just before you accept it. The other state is to modify the hanger after
you have created and accepted it
In order to re-display the Hanger form, select the Modify submenu from the main menu and
then select the Support option in this submenu (Figure 3).

Figure 38 Entering the Hanger modifying mode

48
This will display the Modify Support form (Figure 39)

Figure 39 The Modify Support form

In this form you can either click on the CE button to modify the current hanger, or click on
the Identify By Cursor button to identify the hanger you want to modify.
Another way to tell the application which hanger you wish to modify is by explicitly entering its
name into the text box.
After doing any of the above options, the application will display the name of the hanger to be
modified in the Support Name text box. Click on the Apply button, the Hanger form will be
displayed.
You can click on any of the following form icons:

49
1. Rotate all Hanger Elements rotates the hanger components about the world
Z-axis by a given angle. Some components cannot be rotated (e.g. A pipe
clamp). If the hanger has more than one hanger, the application will prompt the
user to identify the hanger that he wants to rotate.
2. Rotate a Hanger Element rotates a hangers component about the world Z-
axis by a given angle. Some components cannot be rotated while other
components can only be rotated together with adjacent components (e.g.
Clevis with nut and steelwork welded lug). The application will rotate the
adjacent components if necessary.
3. Modify Hanger displays a form with additional modification options (e.g.
change the rods lengths, change the hangers configuration)

4. View Standard displays the standard sheets for the hangers

5. Show/Hide Hanger Dimensions can be used to graphically display the

dimension of the hangers standards.

6. ADP Draw list Control can be modified from the Design module. The hanger
steelwork and all its associated members will be added by default. The user
may add extra elements to the draw list, up to a maximum of ten. This can be
used to add steelwork that does not belong to the hanger.
7. Centre on Hanger can be used to refresh the graphical view with the support
being created or modified in the centre of the view. The view scale will not be
modified.
8. Reconnect the hanger can be used to reconnect the hanger to another beam

9. Add a note adds a note to be displayed in the hanger drawing

The Hanger form Icons

50
5.4 Manipulating a Hanger

5.4.1 Rotating all the Hanger members

Click on the icon. The application will open the Rotate All Hanger members form.

Figure 40 The Rotate All Hanger members form

Enter the angle in degrees by which you want to rotate the hanger and click on the Apply
button. All hangers component that can be rotated will rotate about the world Z-axis by the
given angle. If the hanger has a configuration with more than one hanger, the application
prompts the user to identify the hanger he wishes to rotate.

Rotating an hangers element

Click on the icon. The application will open the Rotate One Hanger member form ()

Figure 41 The Rotate One Hanger member form

Enter the angle in degrees by which you want to rotate the hanger member and click on the
Apply button. The component will rotate about the world Z-axis by the given angle. If the
component cannot be rotated, the application will issue an appropriate message. Some
components can only be rotated together with other adjacent components. In such a case,
those components will be rotated too.

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5.4.2 Reconnect a Hanger to a new Steelwork Beam

Click on the icon to reconnect the hanger to a new steelwork beam.

Hangers that are connected to a steelwork beam can be reconnected.
If necessary, the application will move the hanger to a new position, in order to satisfy the
new connection point. The old fitting will be deleted and a new fitting will be created below the
new steelwork section. Also, if necessary and if the hanger contains rods, the rods length will
be adjusted accordingly.
If the new connection is not valid (e.g. hanger will not be vertical, hanger rods will be too long
or too short) an error message will be displayed and the application will restore the hangers
original state.
Notes: For a steelwork section that is parallel to the pipe, you can use the Distance or the
Through buttons. This is not considered as a reconnection action since the fitting will only
move to the new position and will not be replaced with a new fitting.
For double-hanger hangers there is one connection for each hanger. The application will
prompt the user twice for the two beams. If only one connection needs to be modified, for the
connection that you don not want to modify, you can identify the same beam again and the
hanger will be re-connected to the same beam.
For hangers that are connected to a double-channel beam, the application will again prompt
the user twice to identify each of the channels. A check is made that the two identified
channel sections form a valid double-channel beam (e.g. same top level, facing each other
back to back).

52
5.4.3 Additional Modification options

To access the form for additional modification options click on the icon of the Hanger
form.
The Modify Hanger form will be displayed (Figure 42).

Figure 42 The Modify Hanger form

Note that some of the buttons are deactivated. That is because they are not applicable for the
current hanger configuration. We will discuss those buttons later when we will learn how to
change the hangers configuration. At the moment, we will deal with the active buttons only.
Our current hanger type is a fixed single hanger with a turnbuckle and two rods.
We can change the rods lengths, make the rods length equal, change the hangers
configuration (still leaving it as a fixed hanger) or transform the hanger to a variable hanger.
We will go through each of these options in details. As we proceed, additional buttons will be
activated and explained.

53
5.4.4 Changing the rods lengths

To change the rod length, just enter the required length in the appropriate input box. The rod
length will be modified as required. Please note that each rod has a minimum and maximum
allowed length. These values depend on the limits set by the MDS Administrator. Please refer
to the MDS Administrator Guide for more information.
Changing the length of one rod will automatically update the length of the other rod so that the
total hangers height will not change.

To make the rods lengths equal click on the icon.

5.4.5 Modifying the Hanger Configuration

You can change the hanger configuration with the following restrictions:
The new and existing configurations should have the same basic connection types. A
hangers configuration in which the hanger is connected to the pipe using a pipe
clamp can have its configuration changed to a similar configuration with a different
type of pipe clamp. However this configuration cannot be changed to a hanger with a
connection to a pipe lug or an elbow trunnion and vice versa.
If the type of connection to the steelwork of the new configuration is different from the
type of connection to the steelwork of the existing configuration, the application will
prompt the user to identify the steelwork section/s accordingly.

54
 To modify the hanger configuration click on the icon.
The MDS Hanger configurations form opens with the appropriate filter activated. In this case
the first filter ( ) is activated.
You can select a new configuration from the displayed filtered list or click on another filter
button to select another type of configuration.
In this example we will select the T3 M2 B6 configuration from the filtered list. Since we are
not changing the activated filter, the application tries to replace the current hangers
configuration with the new configuration based on the current pipe and beam connections. If
the new configuration has a different beam connection (e.g. double-channel connection, two
beam connections for a double hanger), the application will prompt the user to identify the
beam/s for the new connection type.
Click on the T3 M2 B6 hangers configuration and then click on the OK button.
The MDS Hangers configurations form closes and the Hangers form is displayed.
Note that the title of the form has changed to reflect the new configuration.

Click on the icon to open the Modify Hanger form. Note that the rod lengths are
deactivated and cannot be changed. This is because the T3 M2 B6 configuration has a fixed
length welded eye rod. The bottom rod length cannot be changed either because doing that
that will change the total height of the hanger.

5.4.6 Changing the Hanger type form Fixed to Variable

Click on the icon to open the MDS Hangers configuration form. This time the form lists
only variable hanger configurations. Again, the active filter is the filter for the single-hanger
hangers ( ). That is because our hanger is a single-hanger hanger and the application
assumes that in most cases you will modify the configuration within the same hangers
category. However, if you wish to make such a modify the category, you can still do by
clicking on a different filter icon.
In this example we will use the default filtered list and select the T10 M2 B6 configuration.
Select the T10 M2 B6 configuration and click on the OK button.
The MDS Hangers configurations form closes and the Hanger form opens.
The hangers configuration will have changed. The hanger now contains a variable spring and
a turnbuckle.

Click on the Modify Hanger icon ( ) to open the Modify Hanger form.

A new icon has been activated. Click on this icon to change the spring size.
A selection form will open with a list of spring sizes that are available for this specific spring
type (Figure 43).

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Figure 43 The Spring Sizes Selection form

Select the line for the Spring size 13 and click the OK button. The current spring will be
replaced with the new spring size. The rods lengths will be updated automatically to allow
appropriate space for the new spring size. If you wish, you can now experiment with the other
icons available in the Hanger form. You can try to rotate the spring and see that the
application will also rotate the beam-welding lug attached to it and the pin.

Click on the icon to display the hanger dimensions.

Click the same icon again to hide the dimensions.

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6 DATA ACCESS CONTROL

6.1 Data Access Control

Up until now, the method of controlling data access in PDMS has been by means of the teams
owning databases mechanism. At PDMS 11.3 this rule still applies, but new access control
features allow you to specify in much more detail what operations a user can carry out on
which elements in the database. To make use of Data Access Control (DAC) it must be
switched on for the Project, otherwise only the teams owning databases controls will apply.
However, once you have switched on DAC, all General Users will be preventing from carrying
out any operation on any part of the database unless they have specifically been given the
necessary access rights. DAC uses the following new Admin database elements: -
Roles define the type of operations a user can carry out, for example, creating, modifying
and deleting elements. Roles are defined as a collection of permissible Operations
(Perops).
Scopes define the part of the database in which a user can work.
Access Control Rights (ACRs) are a combination of a Role and a Scope. Users can, and
usually will, have several ACRs, which will allow them to carry out the specified operations
on the specified parts of the database.

6.2 MDS with Data Access Control

MDS has been modified to use DAC control if the project DAC control has been switched on
otherwise MDS will use the teams owning database controls. The following paragraphs explain
the process that MDS will use if DAC control is being used.

6.2.1 Application Entry

When the user enters the application the user will be presented with a list of zones that he
may create structure elements. If no such zones can be found the application will not be
entered and an error message will be reported.

6.2.2 Create Mode

When a user selects a pipe to create an ancillary the application will first check if he can
claim the branch. The user will be presented with an error if he cannot claim the branch. The
check is made at branch level because another user may modify the branch while it is being
supported. This may compromise the integrity of the model because the user may move the
branch leg that is being supported.
A further check will then be made if the user can claim the element to see if the user has
sufficient access rights to create an atta with data access controls. The user will be presented
with an error if he cannot create an atta.

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 When in create mode the user may decide to create the connections to structural steel, a
check is made to find out if the user can firstly claim the steelwork and create snod elements.
If the user cannot do either of these, the create, modify, force connect and delete icons will
be deactivated.
Having created the support the user should be allowed to modify/delete the same components
that have been created and modify/delete additional components (i.e. Elbow, Reducer, Bend).

6.2.3 Additional requirements for MDS with DACS

In the creation of dummy branches/trunnions the user may be required to create and set
attributes of other piping components. These are as follows: -

Create
Branches For the creation of dummy legs/trunnions
Tees For the creation of dummy legs/trunnions to straight pipe
Cross For the creation of dummy legs/trunnions to straight pipe

Modify
Elbow ARR,LEA,CREF,ORI
Reducers CREF
Tees All attributes for tees
Cross All attributes for crosses

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7 STANDARD DATA SHEETS

7.1 MDS Application Standard Data Sheets

The MDS Application is supplied with a series of Support Data Sheets; these are used as a
default set of support configurations. The default files supplied with the application reflect the
dimensions and properties depicted on these supports data sheets. In order to modify the
dimensions and properties from their default values, for an office or project environment, the
defaults files should be modified in accordance with the MDS Administrators Guide. These
support data sheets MUST NOT be considered to be the Master Office or Project Support
Standard, as the Office or Project should still use their own support standards and configure
the default files to suit their own requirements. These are shown in the associated document
MDS Standard Supports

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8 MDS WIZARD

8.1 MDS Wizard

This utility is aimed at helping the user to more quickly identify pipes or structural sections
that may be used in the support process. The user may select MDS Wizard from the
Utilities pulldown menu or the icon in the main bar menu and he will be presented with the
form as in Figure 44.
First the user should select the add type by selecting the pipes or steelwork toggle. This will
determine which type of element is searched for and added to the graphical view.
Next the user should select the cursor icon to identify an element to use as the datum of a
volume called the reach box. A graphical representation will be added to the view so the user
can see the volume to be used. The extent of this reach box will be determined by the reach
value enter in the reach gadget. The user may modify this value so that the reach box can be
made smaller or larger.
The user may then select the draw list icon and the application will search within the reach
distance from the element and add all types of the add type to the draw list that it finds.
It is intended to enhance this Utility at a later date, to include such functionality as suggesting
the configuration of a support to be used etc.

Figure 44 MDS Wizard Form.

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9 MDS REPORTS

9.1 MDS Reports

To create a Report select the Report icon from the tool bar, or select Utilities > MDS Reports... from the
Utilities pulldown menu on the main bar menu. The form displayed is shown below.

Figure 45 MDS Reports Menu

After selecting an applicable report the user can press the Apply button and the user will have a default
report on the whole of the current MDB which the user is asked to confirm, the report is then displayed
to the screen. Alternatively the CE button can be pressed so that a report can be run on the current
element within the members list, likewise the output format can be changed to either text or csv so that
an output file can be created which is located in the %MDSREPORTS% environment path.

Extra run time filter expressions can be input to make the report more selective.

Report headings can be suppressed by toggling the Headings gadget to off or on to display the defaults
header within the report.

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Alternative report headings are available by selecting Report > User Defined from the menu on the top
of the MDS Reports form which will display the form below.

Figure 46 MDS Report Headings

By selecting alternative headings you can customize your report, a new name for the document is to be
entered before saving ( Control > Save as Default Report ). The saved report will automatically be
shown in the output report names selection list when the form is dismissed, it can also be made
available to other users if they select Control > Reload Default Reports.

It is also possible to specify sorting, subtotaling and totaling output options for a given report. These can
be predefined by the administrator and overridden by the designer. The button Sorting and Totaling
displays the form shown on the next page:

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 Figure 47 Sorting and Totalling

The report sorting and totaling form has settings for each header column defined for a given report. The
options are as follows:

Sort Precedence this should be set to zero 0 is no sorting is required or a numeric value to
control the order of the sorting for each column. In the above example only one column is
sorted (column 41). It has precedence 1 which means sort this column first. If we wished to
sort the report by two columns, say columns 41 and 31 we would set column 41 to precedence
1 and column 31 to precedence 2.
Sort Ascending if sorting is in effect for this column then this toggle gadget determines if the
sort will be ascending (on) or descending (off).
Subtotal On Column this controls subtotaling of the column values when the column
referenced in this gadget changed value in the report output. In the above example columns 32,
31 and 5 are subtotaled on column 41. In other words when output values in column 41 change
then a subtotal for this column is output in the report. Note: you can only subtotal on a sorted
column (where the sort precedence is not zero 0)
Sort Values this controls when values in the column will be output. Options are ON/OFF/SUB
and FIRST:
o ON - values are always output
o OFF values are never output (unless a subtotal for this column is being output)
o SUB only output a value when a subtotal is written in any column in the report
o FIRST only output a value for the first occurrence of a group of common values on a
sorted column
Total Column if this is ON then a total will be generated at the bottom of the report for this
column. Note: only numeric column headers can be totaled.

When the designer has modified any of the fields on the form the OK button becomes active. At this
point actioning the OK button will run a validity check on the form contents. If any inconsistencies are
found then a detailed report is generated and the designer is prompted to correct the errors.

End Of Document

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