The H-Factor

Reducing Entropy

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  • Converting Text (DTEXT) to MTEXT

    If you have a drawing with paragraphs of text all written in individual lines, you may find it troublesome to change the fonts, size of text, add formatting, or, heavens forbid, adjust the room the paragraph takes up. These individual lines are composed of old-school text tools like Dynamic Text (DTEXT), or regular text (TEXT).

    Multiline text (MTEXT) is far superior in all ways. You can create several paragraphs of text as a single multiline text (mtext) object. With the built-in editor, you can format the text appearance, columns, and boundaries. But, what if you don't feel like retyping existing TEXT into MTEXT?

    Express Tools to the rescue. Pick Express Tools, then pick Text. You will find the Convert Text to Mtext command there. Just select the text to convert, and it is converted!

    Mtext

  • Adjusting Long Segments of Coupled Pipe

    Some couplings result in a 1/8" or more pipe separation, after they are added to pipe. On long runs of pipe, the multiple separations accumulate, and result in a pipe that is too long overall. For example, a run of pipe with 16 couplings can result in the pipe creeping 1/8" per coupling for a total of 0-2". A pipe segment somewhere in the run of main should be adjusted 2" shorter so the overall main length will be correct.

    The example below shows mains that are a total of 168'-0" long from end to end. The main on the bottom has couplings cut in at exactly 10'-6" – resulting in 16 pieces exactly 10'-6" long. The main on the top has couplings cut in at 10'-6 1/8" – resulting in 15 pieces rounded to 10'-6" long and 1 piece 10'-4" long. Pipe dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/2" or 1/4" so the extra 1/8" in each pipe segment does not show up in the reported length. The INSTALLED length of both mains will end up being 2" longer than the total of the added "pipe length dimensions".

    After installation the bottom main will be 168'-2" long.

    Creep

    After installation the top main will be 168'-0" long as required.

  • AutoCAD 2017 SP1 Released

    The first Service Pack for AutoCAD 2017 was released a couple of weeks ago. I have had no troubles with it over the last two weeks.

    The update can be downloaded from the Autodesk Knowledge Base at: AutoCAD 2017 SP1

    The Readme file that accompanies the update explains how to install it and what changes were made. View here: Readme

     

  • Adding Miscellaneous Priced Items to a Stocklist

    Many companies keep their HydraLIST database pricing current, at least to the best of their abilities given how often prices change. If you enter a part number into HydraLIST, the pricing gets pulled up when the list is processed. If you use certain parts regularly, it makes sense to update the HydraLIST Database with those prices. This can be done one-by-one or with one of the Wizard in HydraLIST.

    But what if you just need to add some items that you only use once in a while, and don't feel like adding to the database. Can those be priced? Yes, they can.

    On the Miscellaneous tab enter in the Quantity and Item descriptions. Instead of typing in the (non-existent) part number, type in the price instead, as seen below:

    Misc1

    When the list is processed (assuming at least one of the pricing reports is turned on), these items will be priced under the Special Order Items, with the prices extended.

    Misc1

    Note, however, that the items are not grouped with like items, but are instead tossed into the Special Order Items category. If you want them to show up with their buddies, then define them in the database.

  • Rounding to the Nearest Inch for CPVC Jobs

    From a long-time customer and friend:

    'I had a question about center to center dimensions on pipe. We do tons of CPVC, and the ½” increments aren’t necessary. Can I force 1” increments on the center to center dimensions?"

    This can be done by setting the default drawing pipe dimension rounding to the nearest inch. The pipe must be sized before this process is begun.

    Pick 3D Modeling Options (3MO) from the 3D Modeling toolbar:

    Round1

    Pick the HydraPipe Settings tab and set the Rounding to 1". Pick Apply:

    Round2

    Raise the drawing to 3D. When it is brought back to 2D, you will see the pipe sizes are now to the nearest inch:

    Round3

  • Using the Rename Tool in AutoCAD to Rename Layers, Blocks, and Other Things

    I had no idea this command existed, but found it when looking for a better way to rename a layer after a customer reported an error while running an AutoList.

    The cause of the error was that the pipe block layer, SPRKDATA, was built in the drawing as sprkdata (lower case). While may of HydraCAD's routines are trained to work with either lower or upper case names, this routine was not.

    Enter the RENAME command. As you can see from the dialog below, you can use it to rename many things in the drawing.

    Re1

    There are also command line options, to automate the renaming of many layer at once, for example. Such a procedure will be added to checkups in a future HydraCAD update, to eliminate such problems.

  • Using the Properties Palette Quick Select Feature to Select Riser Nipples

    Say you need to select all 1" riser nipples but don't want to go through a large drawing looking for and selecting them individually. How to do that? This way:

    1. Select all items in the drawing. Alternatively, you could just isolate the riser nipple layer and select those

      Rn1

    2. Open the Properties palette by Right-Clicking and picking Properties or hit CTRL+1

    Rn2

    3. Pick the drop down list and pick HYDRAPIPE. This is the internal name of our riser nipples. All other items are now ignored

    Rn2

    4. Pick the Quick Select button

    Rn2

    5. Pick HYDRAPIPE under Object type then diameter under Properties, then type in 1 under Value. Make sure Include in new selection set is selected and pick OK

    Rn2

    6. You now have a selection set of only 1 inch riser nipples. You can change the diameter, length or whatever at this point

    Rn2

    Note: if you use inch marks on your diameters, then you would need to type in 1" as the Value in Step 5, above.

  • Align Crosshairs with Ceiling Working Again (Thanks to AutoCAD 2016/2015 Fixes – Updated)

    I was playing around with some lights and noticed that the Align Cross-hairs with Ceiling command works once again as it used to. That means that once again it only takes one pick to find an Intersection in a ceiling grid (or any hatch pattern)!

    This ability disappeared with AutoCAD 2015. I had reported it as a bug back then, but the word snuck through that it was deliberately disabled by Autodesk because of performance issues associated with parsing through so many potential intersections in large hatch patterns as users selected objects or panned around.

    I had installed AutoCAD 2016 SP1 late last year, but did not get around to reading the release notes (for shame) until I noticed this yesterday, and read them. It is reported as a bug fix, which is a bit of a stretch, but it's all good, as long as it was addressed.

    Axc

    Service Pack 1 also makes official Windows 10 compatibility. While earlier versions seem to work just fine on Win10, AutoCAD 2016 SP1 is the only version that Autodesk will support on Windows 10.

    For AutoCAD 2015, install the AutoCAD 2015 SP2 Hatch Intersection Osnap Hotfix

    For AutoCAD 2016, install the AutoCAD 2016 Service Pack 1 and make your sprinkler and light insertion a whole lot easier.

    For AutoCAD 2017, it just works

  • Importing Parts into HydraLIST

    Each HydraLIST update makes dozens of new parts and hundreds of new part numbers available for importing into the HydraLIST database. However, many people don't know this. Here is how to import parts:

    In HydraLIST, pick the General Data button:

    L1

    In the Data screen, on the P/N Table tab pick the Import Data button:

    L2

    This will open a file dialog where you can select the data file to import. The contents vary based on what version(s) of HydraLIST you have installed. The screen shot below is from V50.21, which will set the standard for quite a while:

    L3

    Pick the type of part to add. I picked 2-Grooved. I then picked Date Modified to sort by date and picked one of the new Victaulic I-R Fitting files:

    L1

    This brings in the parts and their descriptions, weights, etc.

    L2

    Pick Save Spreadsheet to save these to the database. The, pick the Project Data button to return to the Input screens

    L1

    Done!

    Keep a lookout for new parts after an update. And, feel free to contact us for parts you may be missing or would like to see in the database.

  • Designating Exclusion Zone Around Sprinkler Heads for Clash Detection

    So, you want to have an area carved out around sprinkler heads so that other trades don't impinge on your space (yeah, good luck with that!) but aren't sure how. Well, It's pretty easy – what you need to do is to edit some of our sprinkler heads and basically draw a 'cylinder' around them.

    HydraCAD's default 3D head folder is \HES\HydraCAD\Ver50\Programs\Heads\3dHeads. All of our stock 3D heads are in this folder.

    1. In AutoCAD/HydraCAD, open one of those heads (In this case, I opened 3DHead1). Immediately save it with a different drawing name, in order to reduce the chance that you will break the original. In this case I am using SaveAs to name it 3dHead1-WithClearance.

    Ss1

    The next step is to create an object around the head which will act as needed. While there is more than one way to do this, the best way is to draw a circle at the needed distance from the head. Why circles and not something fancier like an actual Cylinder? Circles are relatively 'light' space wise and won't bog your drawing down. This means they are lean and mean when it comes to display time and drawing size.

    2. Switch to the INTERFERENCE Layer. If this layer does not exist, simply create it with a color of White.

    3a. Start the CIRCLE command. Pick the Center Osnap and pick the Center of the sprinkler throat as the center point of the circle.

    C1

    3b. Pick on the Diameter option and type in 24 for a 2' exclusion zone.

    C2

    This results in a circle thusly:

    C3

    4a. Give the circle some depth (thickness) so that it can form a 'barrier'. Select it, right click and pick Properties

    C4

    4b. Set the Thickness to -6. This makes the extrusion go downward from the origin point. If this were an upright head, you might enter (+)6 instead

    C9

    This results in:

    C7

    5. Lastly, this cylinder must be converted to a Surface so that Navis can recognize it as a solid. Type in CONVTOSURFACE and pick the cylinder.

    C8

    Resulting in:

    C9

    6. After the head is saved, it must be assigned to a sprinkler head type in the drawing. This is done in the Sprinkler Setup command in the Definition screen – Choose 3D Head Block

    C8

    Once the model is raised to 3D in HydraCAD this 'zone' will appear as such:

    C10

    And in Navis, like this:

    C10