Things You Didn’t Know:

Working More Efficiently with

AutoCAD Plant 3D and P&ID
Quentin Contreras
Autodesk Plant 3D Technical Support Specialist
About the speaker

Quentin Contreras
Professional 3D Computer Aided Design Specialist with
a solid understanding of process plant design utilizing
3D modeling software and piping and instrumentation
diagrams. Quentin has worked for Autodesk since 2012
and an expert for AutoCAD, Plant 3D and P&ID. He
has trained/instructed Computer Aided Design in
educational/work environments
 Learning Objectives
• Identify correct workflows and roadblocks for
initial project startup
• Interpret and apply AutoCAD Plant 3D and P&ID
tips and tricks to incorporate into your daily
workflow
• Locate pain points and create successful
workarounds
• Examine items that enable effective usage with
other Autodesk software packages
Let’s dive right in!
Identify correct workflows and
roadblocks for initial project
Making it manageable!
Four primary parts of the project that are
automatically created.
o P&ID Drawings
o Plant 3D Drawings

o Pipe Specs
o Related Files

Create folders in P&ID Drawings, Plant 3D

Drawings and Related Files.
o Layout designers
o Structural layout designers
o Piping designers
Good choices for managing project data…
read the fIne prInt
AutoCAD Plant 3D utilizes SQLite to manage
the local database for a project created with an
initial out of the box install.

SQLite should ONLY be used for 1-2 users.

o Stability as a project grows
o Users simultaneously access the project
o Data added to the database files
Good choices for managing project data…
read the fIne prInt
For large projects and if several users are
working on a project SQL Server should be
used.

SQL Server recommended for several users

o SQL Express download free
o SQL Server included administration tools
and other features
The Loner….Single User Setup
A single user would typically create a Plant 3D
project either locally on their hard drive or a
common network server.

Recommendations as a single user

• Use a network server and have a backup
system is in place so project can be restored.
• Network server would allow other users
access to the project.
Mi Familia….Multi-User Setup
A multi-user Plant 3D project would more than likely be
placed on a common network location to all contributors
working on the project.

Recommendations as a multi-user
• Assign a Project Mananger/CAD Manager to the project.
o CUI files
o Palettes
o AGE file
o Project start files/folders
o Company specific blocks
o Catalogs and specs
• Identify specific user(s) for setup and maintenance of the
project will ensure no unexpected changes are made.
Nail down that template project

As a first-time user of AutoCAD Plant 3D it will

definitely pay to invest setup time prior to
jumping into the first AutoCAD Plant 3D project.

Out of the box install of AutoCAD Plant 3D does

include most essential items to create a typical
piping project, there will be items that will be
unique to your project.
Where are those catalogs everyone is talking about?
AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor will be used to
create additional custom catalogs and specs to
use in your Plant 3D projects.

Catalogs and Spec are provided with the install

of AutoCAD Plant 3D and those are installed by
default at this location: C:\AutoCAD Plant 3D
20XX Content
Access denied!
Ideally you would want to have your specs ready to
go prior to pushing the Plant 3D project for users to
work on.

That is not the case all the time, there will be times
that specs and catalogs will need to be edited once
the project has started.
o Try to limit those that will be editing specs on
the project.
o Making changes when a user fully does not
understand how editing a spec or catalog might
affect the project.
There is an APP for that!
If you cannot find catalog content that is not part of
the install of AutoCAD Plant 3D, there is an app for
that!

By visiting the Autodesk Apps Store you can find

additional catalogs to install that are not part of the
install of AutoCAD Plant 3D. Most of these are free
and available to download.
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
When creating a new project you may want to carry
over settings from a previous project.

Make sure to allow the wizard to carry over the work

you did in a previous project by using the Copy
settings from the existing project.
Interpret and apply AutoCAD
Plant 3D and P&ID tips and
tricks to incorporate into your
daily workflow
Clearing the local data cache
When working on an AutoCAD Plant 3D network
project some data is cached locally to help minimize
network traffic.
• Unexpected issues with the project that is not part
of the normal workflow.
• AutoCAD Plant 3D does not normally go through
the cache location and clear all the data.
• Good rule of thumb clearing the cache should be
done periodically or even daily as you start your
day.
• Create a shortcut to the.
PnPLocalDataCachePurger.exe on the user’s
desktop.
To Audit, Audit or Audit?
Another way to clear residual information that should not be part of your AutoCAD Plant 3D project is to
perform an AUDIT. Users new to AutoCAD Plant 3D will be familiar to the normal AUDIT command.
AutoCAD Plant 3D includes AUDITPROJECT and PLANTAUDIT. So, the question will come up on what
each of these commands do?

AUDIT - It is an AutoCAD function PLANTAUDIT - Audits and AUDITPROJECT - Allows project

and it is totally different from Plant repairs project data and drawing managers or other administrators to
synchronization errors. Run from evaluate the integrity of a project
Audit. Evaluates the integrity of a
the command line and it will and corrects errors. Audit Project
drawing and corrects some errors.
command from the Project Manager
check for any Plant 3D items in a
menu will check for discrepancies
drawing that are not linked to the
between the data in the database
project database and delete
and the Plant 3D drawing files. Any
those items from the drawing.
items of data that are found in the
Plant Audit is run automatically database that are no longer linked
every time a drawing file is to a drawing will be deleted from the
opened in Plant 3D. database.
Wonky Display Issues
In some instances, as you are working through a project you
may encounter new display issues that did not appear when
you were previously working. Depending on the video card you
are using you can enable or disable hardware acceleration in
AutoCAD Plant 3D.

Follow these steps to turn on or off:

• Enter the GRAPHICSCONFIG command and click the
Hardware Configuration button.
• Enter the 3DCONFIG command and click the Hardware
Configuration button.
• Enter the OPTIONS command or choose it from the
Application menu to open the Options dialog box. On the
System tab, click the Graphics Performance button. Then
click the Hardware Acceleration button to turn it off or on.
• Click the GRAPHICSCONFIG performance button in the
lower-right corner of the AutoCAD application window.
Locate pain points and create
successful workarounds
It's still like an AutoCAD DWG.....right?
AutoCAD Plant 3D drawings do follow the normal
DWG format, project drawings are different.
• P&ID drawings contain symbols that have
information associated to each item.
• AutoCAD Plant 3D drawings are data rich
drawings that use the database files (DCF) that
aid in managing all this information.
It's still like an AutoCAD DWG.....right?
Incorrect method of sharing a drawing with someone
not using AutoCAD Plant 3D.
• Removing it from the project will cause it to be
disconnected from the database files.
• Should not be edited outside of the project then
reintroduce to the project as this could cause
drawing and database corruption
It's still like an AutoCAD DWG.....right?
How to share an AutoCAD Plant 3D drawing.
• Make sure to install AutoCAD Plant 3D Object
Enabler (Can check Windows Control
Panel\Programs\Programs and Features to see if
is installed).
• Otherwise when you open the drawing you might
see the drawing displayed like this.
It's still like an AutoCAD DWG.....right?
How to share an AutoCAD Plant 3D drawing.

Option 1
• Copy the drawing from the project and place
in another location.
• Opening the drawing in AutoCAD with the
Object Enabler installed for Plant 3D, the
property information can be seen when
selecting components in the drawings.
• AutoCAD will see these as proxy graphics,
and you cannot modify them.
It's still like an AutoCAD DWG.....right?
How to share an AutoCAD Plant 3D drawing.

Option 2
• Use EXPORTTOAUTOCAD command
while the project drawing is opened in
AutoCAD Plant 3D.
• Save in a specific location and will save the
drawing in an AutoCAD drawing file format
that you can edit.
• This will remove the drawing from the
project’s database and the component
information will not be seen in the
properties.
Custom detailed components and equipment... yes…
well sort of
AutoCAD Plant 3D projects can get very
complex and sometimes too detailed if you
are not careful what items are used.

• Impact on performance.
• Down time as you are waiting for drawings
to load or trying to navigate around one of
these complex drawings.
Custom detailed components and equipment... yes…
well sort of
Vendors do provide some great components
and equipment to download for free to use in
your drawings. However, they usually contain
more detail that is needed. Ideally you would
want to edit these drawings and remove some
of the detail.

• Impact on performance.
• Down time as you are waiting for drawings
to load or trying to navigate around one of
these complex drawings.

Create equipment in AutoCAD Plant 3D and

do not have to rely on vendor model.
Custom detailed components and equipment... yes…
well sort of
Inventor does have a workflow to where you
can reduce the size of the Inventor model by
creating a 'Shrinkwrap Substitute’.
Sticking with the origin

AutoCAD Plant 3D model components rely on

coordinate information to establish locations.
These can become complex calculations if the
model components located far away from the
World Coordinate System (WCS) of 0,0,0.
• The general rule of thumb should be that
coordinated which are high than 100.000
are impacted.
• Try not to model directly in large
coordinates such as a State Plane
Coordinate System or Gauss-Kruger and
instead model everything nearby 0,0,0.
Sticking with the origin
If you ever notice any of the items listed below
make sure that the model is not using high
coordinates.
• Slow performance
• Display issues
• Disconnection occurs
• Cursor will not show any more during creation
of orthographic drawings
• Offset between mouse and crosshair
• Faulty snap-behavior
• Insulation not displayed on bends or elbows
• Other unexpected behaviors (such as in
orthographic or isometric drawings)
Pipe models complete! Let’s see those iso’s!
Once pipe models have been completed it’s
time to get those isometrics generated so that
the fabricators can start assembly. However,
as you are running the iso’s you might
encounter some issues that don’t exactly get
you the results you were looking for.

Let’s visit some these items that might help:

• Use different line number tags and not only
a single line number tag for a longer
complex pipe line
Pipe models complete! Let’s see those iso’s!

Iso generating is taking longer to generate

than normal.
• Could be caused by a complex pipe
• All items are contained in one assigned line
number

Add isometric Break Points to the model to

split the pipe into multiple iso drawings.
Ortho view drawings, not just an average 2D drawing
AutoCAD Plant 3D allows you to create 2D views of your model
drawings. Views can contain piping, valves, equipment, and
structural steel sound in your Plant 3D models. The drawings can
have annotations, dimensions, matchlines (plan view only), pipe
gaps, and can show or hide lines and objects.
Ortho view drawings, not just an average 2D drawing

Ortho views are linked to the Plant 3D model

and this allows you to create bill of material
that are part of the ortho view.
• Never edit the model space portion on the
drawing as this could cause this link to the
Plant 3D model to be broken.
• No longer be updated if changes are made
to the Plant 3D model.
• Best to work in paperspace of the
orthographic sheet for dimensions,
annotations, etc. and not in modelspace.
Ortho view drawings, not just an average 2D drawing
Here are some additional items when working with Ortho’s
you should know.
• Keep the source drawings/3D models in the project. The
drawings should be added to the project and kept in
project subdirectories.
• Don’t move source drawings (moving will break the
link/path).
• Don’t rename source drawings (renaming will break the
link).
• If source drawings or external references are over-written
with newer versions (for example a structural drawing
update), use the same exact file name (otherwise, breaks
the link similar to above).
• Use one layout tab per orthographic drawing file.
• Use proper workflows and file formats when incorporating
models and drawings from other Autodesk or non-
Autodesk software products.
Examine items that enable
effective usage with other
Autodesk software packages
Navisworks

Navisworks might be an application you want

to use into your workflow. Navisworks design
teams can perform project reviews using
Navisworks Manage.
AutoCAD Plant 3D models can be combined
in a Navisworks project master file. You can
then access object and element properties,
build search sets and selection sets, and
check for clashes.
Navisworks
Follow these steps for this workflow:
• Create a Navisworks project and append the AutoCAD Plant 3D
model.
• Ideally, design has been performed with the same coordinates. If this
is not the case, move the appended models to the correct project
coordinates (translations and rotations).
• Create a clash detection test and choose the objects, sets, or files
you need to check.
• Specify type and tolerance to set up the clash detection test.
• Run the clash test.
• Analyze clash results, group them, and assign clashes to the right
stakeholders.
• Use the Switchback feature to identify elements in the design
software (AutoCAD Plant 3D) and modify them in context.
To export a Navisworks file from AutoCAD Plant 3D from the command
like type NWCOUT. This will create an NWC file from the Plant 3D
drawing which can then be opened in Navisworks.
Advanced Steel
AutoCAD Plant 3D does include some structure
elements that can be incorporated into you piping
models.

Autodesk Advanced Steel allows addition content and

works easier for the structural portion of the project.
AutoCAD Plant 3D allows the export of structural
elements created in Plant 3D to Advance Steel using
the ADVANVEDSTEELEXPORT command or can be
selected from the Structure Ribbon Tab.
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