The H-Factor

Reducing Entropy

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  • Using Separate Part Number Databases in HydraLIST for Different Suppliers

    From a customer today:

    Question: Is it possible to set up separate databases for HydraLIST so that I can have part numbers that match up to the Supplier part nos.? I Know HydraLIST has alternate part-no options but I think it might be easier if I just set up a different database?

    We primarily use 4 suppliers-

    Viking Supplynet
    Ferguson Fire
    Core & Main (A/K/A HD Supply)
    Fox Sprinkler

    Answer, from Paul McKenna here at Hydratec:

    You can create separate databases for each supplier –

    1. Open Explorer or My Computer and go to the Hes\Hydlist\Ver50\data folder

    2. Copy the SetUp folder 4 times and paste them in to the original Hes\Hydlist\Ver50\data folder

    3. Rename the copied folders

                    SetUp-CoreAndMain

                    SetUp-Ferguson

                    SetUp-Fox

                    SetUp-Viking

    You should end up the five folders names that start with SetUp

    Db1

    Inside HydraLIST you can switch from one vendor to another.

    5. Pick the Utilities Pull down menu and select Switch General Data Location:

    Db2

    Click on Data folder in the tree. Pick on the folder you want to use

    Db3

    For this example we will pick on SetUp-Viking and pick OK

    If you pick the Reset Default button the path will be setback to the original path to the original SetUp folder

    Db4

    You will get a message that lets you know that you are switching the data location. Pick OK

    Db5

    If you hover over the General Data Icon a tool tip will tell you which database you are currently using:

    Db6

    From here you can decide what needs to be done to each database. Contact us before you spend a lot of this altering the data in the folder, as there are preferred methods of altering the data in each folder.

     

     

  • Backing up your workspace

        With HydraCAD v56 for AutoCAD 2019 and updates for HydraCAD v54 and v55 due to be released soon, this would be a good time to revisit backing up your workspace. A common reason some of our users decide to hold off on running a HydraCAD update is due to the fact they'll end up losing their toolbar positions in their AutoCAD work area. This is your 'workspace', and with this blog post we'll cover saving and recovering it. Near the bottom of this post you'll see steps on sharing workspaces between computers and pulling a workspace from an older AutoCAD into a new AutoCAD.

        AutoCAD's Customization Menu, the toolbar along the bottom right of your screen with a LOT of buttons, should have a gear icon, this is for your Workspace Settings. If you cannot see the gear icon, click the hamburger icon at the far right then turn on the Workspace Switching option. You can also turn on the Workspaces toolbar, found in the Acad group of toolbars.

    SAVE YOUR WORKSPACE

        Before anything, we must save your configuration. Select 'Save Current As…' from the list (or type in WSSAVE at the command prompt) and type in a name for the workspace. If you've already saved one, select it from the list to overwrite it with a new one. Personally, I like to use the current date so I'll remember the last time I backed up my workspace, but whatever you decide is up to you.

       Img1

    You can confirm it was saved by selecting the list of workspaces as you'll now see it as an option .

    Img2 ps

    RUN THE UPDATE

        At this point you'll run the HydraCAD update. At its conclusion, you'll notice your toolbars have realigned themselves to their default locations and your workspace is no longer in the list of saved workspaces.

    RECOVER THE WORKSPACE

        See the image below for help with steps 2 through 5.

        1. From the workspace drop-down menu (shown in the image above), Select Customize.

        2. In the Customize User Interface window, select the Transfer tab (a), then the Open button (b) on the right side.

        3. Depending on your version of AutoCAD/HydraCAD, you will navigate to one of the following folders;

                Acad 2015-2016 HydraCADv53 -\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version53\Backup

                Acad 2017 HydraCADv54 -\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version54\Backup

                Acad 2018 HydraCADv55 -\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version55\Backup

                Acad 2019 HydraCADv56 -\HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version56\Backup

        4. You'll find a sub-folder based on the date and time of when you ran your backup. Double-click it then double-click 'HCADWIN.CUIX'.

        5. On the right pane, you will see your previously saved workspace in the list.  Click and drag it from the right to the left pane where it says 'Workspaces'.

        6. Click OK in the Customize User Interface window to return to the drawing and a command prompt.  You'll now see your saved workspace has returned to the list.

    Step5

    SHARING WORKSPACES

        You can use this method to copy a workspace from one computer to another; the file you'll be looking for is HCADWIN.CUIX, use the one found under \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Version5_\ and your least intrusive method is to copy it to the desktop of the new computer and browse to that location when going through the transfer process. Delete the file from your desktop when complete.  

    INSTALLING A NEW VERSION OF AUTOCAD

        This method should work fine between versions of AutoCAD as well (as long as the AutoCADs don't have too many years between them). When installing a new AutoCAD, always remember to NOT migrate your settings over. When the Acad and Hcad installs are complete, you'll use the steps above to transfer your older version Acad workspace over to your newer version Acad workspaces.

     

  • Listing a Plug at the top of a Tee in HydraCAD

    From a customer: Can I AutoList a plug at top of this tee?

    Pt1

    From my co-worker Bill – yes you can:

    This will list the correct tee at the end of the riser nipple and will list the plug with the miscellaneous material.

    1. Insert a sprinkler head block defined as “directly connected” at the riser nipple

    Pt2

    2. We often use Head5 for this purpose because of how it looks

    Pt3

    3a. Define the PLUG/sprinkler as “point down” and “at bottom” if the plug is at the bottom of the riser nipple. Note: use at Bottom – if the 1’-6” long pipe is lower than the 2’-3 ½” pipe in our example

    Pt4

    3b. Select Choose 3D Head Block and select Plug1 as the 3D representation

    Pt5

    4. Scale the plug/sprinkler block down a bit so you can tell it is there, but not so large as a sprinkler block

    Pt6

     

  • Using Velocity Pressures in Hydraulic Calculations

    My co-worker Paul produced this blurb, on request from a customer who was attempting a Velocity Pressure calculation (a velocity pressure calculation is required by NFPA when designing Fixed Spray deluge systems). This type of calculation requires the use of the Input Types field, discussed in this post a ways back: Why Use Input Types?

    For this kind of calc, The program needs to know which pipes are perpendicular at pipe intersections. The perpendicular pipe is where the velocity pressure is used to determine the flow into the pipe.

    You can use any of the default Input Types from in the selection box, in this example we have used the Letters A B & C as the Input Types for clarity

    All of the pipe where the flow goes straight through must have the same Input Type. Outlet pipes where the flow is determined by the velocity pressure must have a different Input Type.

    In addition to the perpendicular pipe outlets the velocity pressure is also used to determine the flow at a K-Factor where a sprinkler head is directly connected to a pipe. (The sprinkler is the perpendicular outlet).

    We used A for the Input Type from the remote sprinkler back to the supply point.  We used Input Type B for the pipe that comes off perpendicular to the Input Type A pipes and Input type C for the pipe that comes off perpendicular to the Input Type B pipes.

    Based on this, the program knows where all the perpendicular pipe locations are and can calculate the velocity pressures correctly. 

    Below is a flow diagram showing all of the B Input Type Pipe Marked in Yellow and all of the C input Type Pipe Marked in Pink. The pipe not highlighted is Input Type A pipe.

    The Velocity calculation is performed at the intersection of the different Input Types and the K-factor location.

    This link will get you the example job used for this post. We suggest you place it in your \HES\HydraCALC\Ver50\Data\Jobs\Example Jobs folder. Velocity Pressure.WXF

    Illustration for labeling Input Types

    Vp1

     

  • Rolling Back or Uninstalling Windows Updates

    From time to time a Windows update will cause havoc with AutoCAD or another program you may be using. There is a way to 'roll back' updates, as described in this How-to-Geek web publication:

    How to roll back or uninstall a problematic windows update

     

  • Aligning Heads When Using a Head Guide

    From a customer a little while back:

    Q: I would like the head guide to have an option to spot the head based on the last one (with Ortho on so they line up). Kind of like the insert multiple sprinklers  Or add the option to the “insert multiple” where you can access the head guide. I am using the custom guide to layout heads in an attic and am having a hard time getting them to line up.

    A: This one took me a little bit to figure out. Changing the program for Head Guide is problematic, since we are taking advantage of a specific feature available inside AutoCAD – one that I won't bore you with, but is not used very often by drafters, if ever. Because if the way it works, we can't just make it do other things while running it. There is, however, another way to achieve what this custom wants as a result. And that means activating a command before running Head Guide. That command is SNAP (not, OSNAP). Setting the SNAP point will make the cross-hairs move in an Ortho-like motion. We already have a command to automate this – Align Crosshairs with Ceiling.

    This is the room. We can use a head guide to run a line of heads up the middle:

    Ax2

    Pick Align Crosshairs with Ceiling on the Sprinkler Toolbar.

    Ax1

    Picking this will ask you to select a base point. Select a corner of the room, or even the midpoint of the lower leg

    Ax3

    The cross-hairs will now jump in 1 foot increments as you move them. This will work, but it may be a little too 'jiggly' for some. To change the SNAP increment, type in SNAP at the command prompt and type in the desired increment. 2' would probably be best for most situations. But, if you have specific spacing requirements, you could set it to that. A reminder – SNAP can be toggled on and off with the F9 key.

    Pick on of the four Head Guide commands. i am using the first one, the Standard guide.

    Ax4

     

    Now, hover the Head Guide over the insertion point of the first head. Then, left click and insert the head.

    Ax1

    Next, move the cross-hairs up to the next insert point and left click again, until you have your heads spotted.

    Ax2

    Remember, hit F9 to turn off SNAP or pick Align Crosshairs with Ceiling again. That will turn off SNAP before prompting you to pick another insertion point to align.

     

  • Pointing HydraCALC (or HydraCAD/HydraLIST) to Look in Other Job Folders

    ustomer from Sweden asked the following this week:

    "I have a question about HydraCALC, is there a way to change the default path for where the program initially finds its projects to open?

    For instance, now when I press OPEN, it always open “C:\HES\HydraCALC\Ver50\Data\Jobs”, we have our projects in a different location, so for me it would be nice if I could change the default location into our project folder."

     

    The way to do this is through the desktop shortcut for HydraCALC. Right-click on the shortcut and pick Copy. Then right-click somewhere on your desktop and pick Paste. This will give you a second shortcut to work with, while preserving the original one,

    Sh1

    Right-click on the shortcut and pick Properties. Then, pick the Shortcut Tab. Notice the Start in: field. That tells HydraCALC where to look for Jobs when you open or save one.

    Sh2

    Change the Start in: field to be the location you want. Pick OK

    Sh3

    Right-click again on the shortcut and pick Rename. Give the shortcut an appropriate name, so you can find it next time.

    Sh4

    You can make as many shortcuts as you like, setting each one to a different job location. The same goes for HydraLIST and HydraCAD.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Creating Sprinkler Head Symbols in HydraCAD

    Want to make your own symbols? Easy
    Want to use the same symbol for two different temperature heads? Easy

    The answers all come down to the same thing. The second one albeit a little differently. And…a trick concerning the word 'same'

    The answer is to start with an existing HydraCAD head, making changes to it (or not) and saving it.

    HydraCAD heads are stored in the \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\heads folder by default. (you can specify a central location as well per this post: Specify a Central Location for Sprinkler Heads)

    To make a new symbol follow these easy steps

    1. Open the head drawing most similar to the one you want (ie HEAD1, HEAD2, HEAD15)
    2. Using SaveAs, give the drawing a new name
    3. Change the symbol as desired and save it

    Example – Making a new head symbol

    1. Open HEAD7

    Nh1

    2. Immediately SaveAs HEAD30 (immediately, so that you don't save over the original)

    Nh1

    3. Make Changes to head, as desired and Save it

    Nh1

    The 'trick' concerning wanting to use the same symbol for two like heads, but of different temperatures is as follows:


    Example – Using the same symbol for two different temperature heads

    1. Open HEAD7

    Nh1

    2. Immediately SaveAs HEAD7A

    Nh1

    That's it! When you are defining sprinkler heads, just define one as 165º and the other as 212º (or whatever)

  • Using Long Descriptions in HydraLIST

    From a customer in Indiana:

    Q: Over the past few years we have added several items to our database and many of the items require a long description. I have tried to abbreviate as much as I can but I am unable to get the description small enough to fit in the “Item” description box in HydraLIST.  Is there any way of getting this to be more than 30 characters long.  Thanks for all you help.

    A: From co-worker Paul McKenna - We have had a long description in HydraLIST for some time now although most people do not use them

    You must be in the General Data section where you alter the data associated with HydraLIST. In there, pick P/N Table

    The items that have long descriptions will have the description highlighted in orange.

    Ld1

    The long description is accessed by right clicking on the fitting description.

    Ld1

    Enter the long description and pick OK to save the description. Pick cancel to return to the P/N Table without saving. Pick Delete to remove the long description and return to the P/N table. Pick Audit to eliminate long descriptions that are in the long description file but have not entries in the P/N table. Long descriptions can be added to the database when picking sprinklers for the Head Selector or Valves for the Valve selector by answering ‘Yes’ when prompted when collecting data.

    Long Descriptions are included in the data when exporting or importing data in the P/N table. You will see the Long Description when you print out the Raw Materials List

    Ld1