Symbols and connections

Choose and place a symbol #

Open Symbol catalogue to inspect the available artwork. Browse the category tabs and turn on Show connection points to see each symbol’s ports. The Lines tab shows the available line symbols.

To place a symbol, return to your drawing and choose Draw → Add symbol. Drag an item onto the canvas, or select it and choose Place at center. Move, rotate or flip the placed symbol using the editor controls.

The editor determines symbol dimensions and connection points. Catalogue measurement units describe the drawing’s scale; they are not equipment dimensions in metres.

Instrument tags #

The Instrument tag dialog asks for a Type and Number. For example, enter FT and 101 to make FT-101. The preview shows the tag before you place it.

• Type accepts one to six letters and is converted to uppercase.
• Number accepts one to eight digits.
• A duplicate complete tag on the sheet is refused. Different instrument types can use the same loop number.
• Changing Type suggests an available number; review it before choosing Place.

Select a placed instrument to edit its letters and loop number in Properties. Use Engineering → Validate to review the drawing’s tag checks.

Valves and actuators #

Select a valve to inspect its body, actuator, normal state and fail position. The on-canvas valve picker offers body and actuator choices for supported valves. None (manual valve) removes an actuator; a check valve does not offer the same actuator choices.

Normal state and fail position are separate settings. Record each in its own control, and check the resulting symbol. Process conditions and sizing results belong in Engineering data.

Connect compatible ports #

1. Choose Draw → Connect and the required line type.
2. Drag from a source symbol to a target, or click the source and then the target. The highlighted port and route preview show the proposed connection.
3. Release near the compatible target port. The editor creates the line and routes it between the symbols.

Process lines need process-compatible ports. Signal connections need compatible signal ports. Move closer to the intended nozzle if the preview selects a different one. Press Escape to cancel.

To reconnect a line, select it and drag an endpoint handle to another compatible port. An invalid drop leaves the connection unchanged. Use Re-route pipes to recalculate routes or Engineering → Straighten to align runs that are already close to their nozzle axes.

Catalogue artwork #

Browsing symbols and placing them does not require administrator access. Saving shared symbol artwork overrides does require an administrator; those overrides affect the shared library. Use the standard placement and property controls for drawing-specific changes.