| Applies To | |||
| Product(s): | AutoPIPE, | ||
| Version(s): | 2004, XM, & V8i | ||
| Environment: | N/A | ||
| Area: | Stress Iso | ||
| Subarea: | |||
| Original Author: | Bentley Technical Support Group | ||
Problem:
In addtion to the "StressISO_Troubleshooting.pdf" document found on your hard drive, see the following information:
TR Number: None
Product: AutoPIPE
Version: n/a
Area: General
Problem ID#: 72015
Answer:
solution 500000088706
Information:
Isogen is a 3rd party software that is bundles with many cad applications such as Bentley AutoPIPE to automatically produce an isometric drawing. Isogen is very particular about the format of the data being converted into an DXF, DWG, or DGN file format. If there is one error in the data Isogen may hang, display a message about warnings with the file, etc...
Use the following steps to trouble shoot an Isogen related issue with AutoPIPE:
1. Known issues
Known issues are documented in the StressISO_Troubleshooting.pdf located in the AutoPIPE folder. Review this document to see if it is a known issue.
2. Isometric based on actual pipe components:
For an example, AutoPIPE can model a tee where the branch axis matches the same direction as the tee's header pipe axis. This is wrong modeling but can be done in AutoPIPE.
However, Isogen will abort because it knows that a tee like that cannot be constructed. In order to export the model, the tee must be fixed so the branch axis does not match the header axis.
The goes for all other pipe components, if the actual component cannot be drawn because of dimensional issues or arrangement, then isogen will abort trying to create a stress iso.
Recommend:
a. Review all valves and flanges closely. Be sure all are modeled correctly
b. Review Tools> Model Consistency Check report to reduce number of warnings.
c. In general, review model looking for obscurities.
Typical issues:
---------------------
a. Flanged valve in middle of pipe run without attached flanges, add flanges to both sides of valve.
b. In middle of pipe run, back to back flange set. Upon closer inspection, there are 3 flanges. Remove the correct flange.
c. Known limitation, reducer cannot be the start or end of segment. Add short pipe run from reducer.
d. Middle of pipe run where 2, 4 inch dia, branches are placed side by side on top of the pipe. However branch center lines are only 3 inches apart causing an overlap. This can be modeled but not exported to Isogen. Fix by reducing branch size or moving center lines apart.
e. Kink in pipe of 179.9 deg, remove pipe kink.
f. W726-170:The tee at point E00 has only two legs, fix by adding a branch run pipe, or change Tee node to a Point node.
3. Where is the warning occurring
If the following is displayed:
---------------------------
ExecISO
---------------------------
There were some warnings and/or errors while executing ISOGEN.
Do you want to review messages:
---------------------------
Yes No
---------------------------
Select the Yes button and
C: \Bentley \AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries \PISOGEN \PROJECTS \APIPEPROJ \FINAL \OUTPUTFINAL.MES
is automatically displayed. Review the entire document and try to resolve any and all warnings displayed.
4. Disconnected systems:
Before creating a stress iso, review the model segments to be sure they are connected and do not stop at a component (i.e. valve, reducer, bend). Sometimes a run of pipe is broken into multiple segments on the same run of pipe. Remove any additional segments by jointing them at node points.
In addition, with a complicated model use the following feature: Select> Connected segments> choose only one box to highlight a connected series of pipe. AutoPIPE stress iso cannot process 2 disconnected segments at the same time.
With one group of piping selected, create a stress iso as before, and be sure to confirm the "use connected segment" check box is checked ON.
Note: If using "Modeling a "dummy leg" as a structural member or a pipe" modeling technique, stress Iso cannot generate the dummy support. Only 2 workaround suggestions: a. use a different modeling technique allowed by ISOgen or b. manually modify isometric after being created in a cad application.
5. Clean folder
Create a new folder on the Desktop, copy the model's DAT file to the new folder, start AutoPIPE, open the file from the new folder location, run the analysis, try to create a Stress iso DXF file instead of DWG or DGN file.
6. Model Size Limitation:
Isogen has some model size limitations. Try selecting a portion of the model that is completely connected and creating a stress iso based on the select set. See #5 above for technique to select connected segments. Otherwise, need to manually create a selection set of connected segments.
7. Stress iso Template files
AutoPIPE V8i 9.3 and lower:
All Stress iso template files need to be saved into AutoCAD 2000 format only; see the following procedure:
1. Open the isogen title bock in AutoCAD
2. Once open, run an audit by typing A-U-D-I-T in the command line.
AUDIT command evaluates the integrity of a drawing and corrects some errors.
3. When completed, purge the drawing by typing P-U-R-G-E in the command line. The PURGE command removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing.
After the above has been completed, copy the file to the AutoPIPE folder
….C:\Bentley\AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries3\PISOGEN\BORDERS
In order to use the new border file, under "Isogen Settings" confirm: Drawing Frame File, User Defined, Plot Frame, Drawing Size, AutoCAD units, Dimension/Tex formats settings.
See following link as help
AutoPIPE V8i 9.4 and higher:
Skip the last step for saving to previous version and only A-U-D-I-T, P-U-R-G-E is required before saving the file to 2010 - 2012 format.
8. Switches:
There are 100's of switches that can be adjusted for isogen. Recommend resetting these switches by overwriting the Stressiso.ini and Apipe.opl files with a default copy of each file. Or, use a copy from a person's computer who does not have such issues when creating an iso from the same file that you are having troubles with.
Reset Default Settings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stress iso stores dialog settings and other information in a variety of files/locations:
___a. Stressiso.ini
___b. Apipe.opl
___c. C:\Bentley \AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries \PISOGEN \PROJECTS \APIPEPROJ \Final
Depending on configuration, settings enter, or anomalies there could be a conflict when creating a stress iso. Only after completing all the above steps 1-8 should this resolution be considered. The best solution is to reload the default settings again before trying to run stress iso. The easiest method of resetting the default values is over write the current files with a copy of the original files when the application was installed. If you do not have a copy of the original files, suggest uninstall/reinstall the application.
9. Register DLL
The following is displayed in the Final.MES:
***** POD Error(s) *****
Unable to initialise POD : Failed to generate POD - Conversion failure :
Register all DLL
---------------------------------------
a. Close AutoPIPE
b. Log into computer with Admin Rights
c. Locate Register.dll, generally found in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley Shared\Plant V8i\Isogen".
d. Right click on the file, select "Run as Administrator" option
e. The screen will display the Dos cmd window and automatically register the following DLL's in the system:
____pipeline.dll
____skey.dll
____importexport.dll
____pod.dll
____pisogen.dll
____materialdata.dll
____smartrad.dll
____catmanager.dll
____idfgen.dll
Note: these DLL should have been registered when the application was installed. Something had prevented them from being registered correctly.
f. Restart AutoPIPE and try to create a new stress Iso drawing.
Register specific DLL
---------------------------------------
a. Close AutoPIPE
b. Locate POD.dll, generally found in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley Shared\Plant V8i\Isogen".
c. Open the command-line prompt
____Start Menu> Run
____Type "cmd"
____Press "ENTER" or "Return" keyboard key
d. Using the POD.dll filename and path, call regsvr32, i.e. at the command-line prompt, type:
____ regsvr32 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley Shared\Plant V8i\Isogen\pod.dll"
____ Press "ENTER" or "Return" keyboard key
e. You should see a regsvr32 window, confirming success: Close it.
____RegSvr32
____DllRegisterServer in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley Shared\Plant V8i\Isogen\POD.dll succeeded.
Press "OK" button.
f. Restart AutoPIPE and try to create a new stress Iso drawing.
10. Dimensioning Stress Iso
On the "Stress Isometric Options" dialog, click on the "Isogen Settings" command button, or select Tools > Settings > Isogen…> select the "Dimension / Text tab" displays the current options/settings for adding dimensions and text on a stress Iso drawing.
The Stress Iso utility has a limited number of options available for dimensioning a model and are all listed in the dialog. Any options or type of dimensioning not listed would be considered an enhancement. Please log a service ticket requesting the enhancement in detail.
11. Dimensioning across segments and flanges appear incorrect
A stress Iso was created for a given model. On the stress Iso, it has been observed that the total length of pipe from the pipe end to a flange set (Dim A) and distance from flange set to bend TIP point (Dim B) adds up to be correct total distance. However Dim A and Dim B do not equal the actual values in the model. Additional note, the flange set is at the junction point between 2 connected segments.
As AutoPIPE does not have the length for the flange and it cut the pipe to arrange the space for the flange. As for normal pipeline this scenario works perfect but there is a limitation in AutoPIPE that if the flanges placed on the segment continuation point then the space allocation for flanges can be cut from the one side. By that there was the change in the length which is equal to the flange hub length (ex. 305mm).
The avoidance is to join the segments by selecting the node point between the segments (ex A04) and go to "Edit > Segment > Join" and then export to stress ISO. Then Dim A and B on the model match that in the exported stress Iso drawing. The CAE development team will be adding a 2 point flange in AutoPIPE V8i 9.7project to dismiss such scenarios as seen above.
12. Nothing happens after pressing OK on Isogen settings dialog
(iso not created)
Application was not installed using full administrative rights. Uninstall and re-install AutoPIPE with full admin rights
13. Drawing file is not created, but PCF file is:
___A. Be sure that AutoPIPE was installed on the computer with a person who has has full admin rights. If unknown, completely uninstall the program, delete AutoPIPE folder, reboot the computer logging in with admin rights, reinstall the application.
___B. Check to see if the version of AutoPIPE installed is listed in "add/remove programs" (Win XP) or "Program and Features" (Win 7). If not listed, completely uninstall the program and reinstall with full admin rights.
___C. If the above does not resolve issue send computer information by performing the following:
Computer's system information:
1) Start> Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Information.
2) After the program has been opened, select File> Save> save file
3) Send me a copy of systemname.NFO file for review.
___D. Also, perform the following:
1) Start DOS command, select Start> Run> type "cmd"
2) Type, cd .. until c:\> is shown
3) Type, c:\> Dir /s /o /ogne>systemname.txt
4) Send me a copy of the systemname.txt for review.
These files may be large and can be shrunk by adding it to a ZIP file. Create a service ticket and send files for review
14. Anchor symbol is not drawn correctly:
Please follow these steps.
1. Close AutoPIPE
2. Open AutoPIPE's installation folder, C:\Bentley\AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries\
3. Locate the following file "PCFout.map"
4. Open this file in any text editor (i.e. notepad)
5. Go down to line 41, see the following:
ANC SUPPORT 01AN
6. Change "01AN" to "ANCH", should look like:
ANC SUPPORT ANCH
7. Save the file.
8. Open AutoPIPE, run an analysis, process a new stress iso.
The problem should be solved.
15. Cannot be resolved:
If the problem still persists and cannot be resolved by the above suggestions complete the following:
=================================
a. Create a new folder on the Desktop
b. Copy the model's DAT file to the new folder
c. Start AutoPIPE & open the file from the new folder location
d. Run the analysis
e. Create a Stress iso DXF file
f. If the warning in #2 above appears, select OK button
g. Close AutoPIPE
h. Zip all the files in the new folder on the desk top
i. Zip all the files in the following location:
"C:\Bentley \AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries \PISOGEN \PROJECTS \APIPEPROJ \FINAL"
j. Include the following files from the AutoPIPE application folder. "C:\Bentley \AutoPIPE V8i SELECTseries\:
_____ - i. Stressiso.ini
_____ - ii. Apipe.opl
k. Create a service ticket at:http://appsnet.bentley.com/srmanager/addcall.aspx
Attach both Zip files to the service ticket and submit for review.
See Also
External Links
Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase
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