On large Autodesk Plant 3D projects, a significant number of piping systems are typically modelled and managed. During the process design phase, individual pipe runs are assigned unique line numbers within the P&ID drawings. These line numbers are subsequently applied to the corresponding piping components during 3D modelling to maintain consistency between the P&ID and the plant model.
Where the project configuration is set up to map line numbers to dedicated layers, each line number can be associated with a specific layer and display colour. As a result, newly created pipelines can automatically inherit the appropriate layer assignment and graphical colour representation, improving visual identification and model navigation.
The command discussed in this exercise is used to refresh and propagate acquired property data throughout the model. In particular, it ensures that line-number-driven property updates are applied not only to the pipe segments themselves but also to the associated piping fittings. This addresses a limitation of the out-of-the-box Plant 3D behaviour, where fittings may not automatically inherit updated acquired properties following changes to line number assignments.
Because the native PLANTREFRESHACQPROPERTY command is both lengthy and not easily remembered, repeatedly entering it from the command line can be inefficient. To streamline this workflow, a custom command button is being created and added to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). This allows users to execute the refresh operation with a single mouse click, improving usability, reducing manual input, and ensuring that acquired property data remains synchronized throughout the piping model.
Once familiar with the process of creating custom commands and toolbar macros, users can extend this approach to automate and simplify a wide range of frequently used Plant 3D and AutoCAD workflows. By encapsulating commonly executed commands within custom buttons, repetitive command-line input can be eliminated, improving both efficiency and user productivity.
3DORBITCTR, which allows the user to define a custom orbit centre point, enabling more precise navigation and model inspection by rotating the view about a user-selected location rather than the default orbit centre.
The @0,0,0 coordinate input can streamline geometric construction tasks when executing point and plane filters during object placement and editing operations.
By assigning these functions to custom toolbar buttons or macros, users can reduce command-entry overhead and gain faster access to essential modelling and navigation tools, resulting in a more efficient drafting and plant design environment.
There are other methods of creating automation in AutoCAD, But the method shown in this blog are easy in comparison and you may find use of the commands themselves or of the process covered so that you may program your own buttons.
If you need help adopting the AEC Collection or Autodesk Forma in your practice or you are looking to invest in hardware, please contact Micrographics so that we may be of assistance.
