autocad plant 3d large projects

8/10/2019 AutoCAD Plant 3D Large Projects

1/22

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2/22

AutoCAD Plant 3D Managing Large Projects Page 2

Contents

Getting Started .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Setting Up Your Project ................................................................................................................................. 3

Controlling Rights Between Disciplines .................................................................................................... 4

Working With Xrefs. ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Simplifying Working With Xrefs ............................................................................................................... 5

Modeling Using Xrefs ............................................................................................................................... 6

Managing Drawing Sizes With Xrefs ........................................................................................................ 7

Data Management ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Working In a Distributed Environment ..................................................................................................... 8

Managing Deliverables.................................................................................................................................. 9

Piping Isometrics ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Orthographic Drawings ........................................................................................................................... 11

Working with a Master Model .................................................................................................................... 13

Working with Navisworks ....................................................................................................................... 14

SQL Server ............................................................................................................................................... 17

Vault ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 18

Appendix 1 Managing Drawing Rights Access ......................................................................................... 19

Windows Folder Structure ...................................................................................................................... 19

Plant 3D Project Folder Structure ........................................................................................................... 21


3/22

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4/22

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5/22

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6/22

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7/22

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8/22


sub-racks which will encroach into process areas. The best practices approach discussed so far handles

this approach easily.

Managing piping models can be done in many different ways. Since Plant3D allows intelligent

connections across Xrefs. Thus piping models can be divided into sub-areas or by line numbers, with

each designer allocated a certain number of lines. There are no constraints on how to divide up thearea.

Data Management

AutoCAD Plant 3D uses an SQL database to manage non-graphic data. The default SQL database engine

delivered with Plant 3D is SQLite(www.sqlite.org) Everything you need to manage the data within a

Plant3D project is delivered with Plant 3D and you do not need to be a database expert nor do you need

to understand SQL databases in order to use SQLite. SQLite is a simple and effective solution for

managing data in smaller projects where integration with enterprise databases is neither necessary nor

desirable. Thus small companies can use SQLite for their projects and Plant 3D Data Manager will be aneffective interface to the project and drawing data. For more information on SQLite visit

http://www.sqlite.org/about.html

For larger organizations who have large amounts of data stored within Enterprise Databases, Plant 3D

will support SQL Server. The inclusion of SQL Express in the Plant 3D allows you to select whether to use

SQLite or connect to your corporate database.

When should I stick with SQLite and when should I use SQL Server? This is a difficult question to answer

and it depends more on how you use the data than on how many users need to access the project

database. If you are already using corporate databases and want to share the Plant 3D data with other

database applications, then SQL Server is definitively the correct answer. If your project users are

distributed geographically, then SQL Server may be the best solution as the database server will manage

the distribution of the database, or manage the centralization of the data.

Regardless of whether you use SQLite or SQL Server, the Data Manager allows you to extract data to

Excel spreadsheets for non-CAD users to manipulate the data.

Working In a Distributed Environment

Buzzsaw (www.buzzsaw.com) offers a very useful way of placing files in a central server to allow

distributed users to access these files if you do not have a central server and WAN for project

collaboration, or if you have external people/companies working on a project and you do not want to

grant them access to your local network.

Autodesk Buzzsaw software as a service (SaaS) delivers document, data, and design management

solutions to architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms and owner-operators. Autodesk

Buzzsaw helps organizations centralize and more securely exchange project information inside and

outside their organization. And with proven SaaS technology, your company can focus more on project

delivery and less on managing costly IT infrastructure.


9/22

AutoCAD Pl

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10/22

AutoCAD Pl

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11/22

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12/22

AutoCAD Pl

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13/22

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14/22


15/22

AutoCAD Pl

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16/22

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17/22


SQL Server

The decision to use SQL Server is driven by the number of users modifying project data at one time. The

default database type, SQLite is valid for up to 2 TB per file, so the project file size is not the issue.

Because the SQLite database is a single file, successful read/writes depend on fast access. When more

users access the database at one time, they have a higher chance of hitting the database at the sametime (or close enough).

Due to network configurations, server performance, computer performance, network loads, and a host

of other factors, a precise number of users cannot be given. However, through experience with various

clients, most people start to see performance degradation with between 6 - 10 users.

If you know you will have more than 10 active users, you should implement SQL Server Express or SQL

Server.

You must also use SQL Server if you plan to use Plant 3D with Vault.

Database Types

SQL Server An enterprise-level product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server with

administration tools for replicating databases between sites, and other advanced features

SQL Server Express A free product offering from Microsoft that includes a database server without

advanced administration tools. You can still configure backups.

SQLite An open source file-based database used by developers world-wide. The database engine is fast

with good performance.

Versions

AutoCAD Plant 3D has been run with SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2012.

Articles on setting up SQL Server Express and creating backups are available here:

http://www.pdoteam.com/series/plant3d-on-sql-express/


18/22


Vault

Autodesk Vault (http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-vault-family/features) is document

management software that integrates with many products in the Autodesk portfolio. In 2014, Vault

became integrated into the Plant Project Manager.

Vault should be used in the following conditions:

You have multiple sites that need to share data

Your Plant project structure contains all external references.

You can use SQL Server or SQL Server Express.

Vault allows you to store the drawing data in a central location, and have satellite offices check in/out

drawings on an as-needed basis. Currently, all xrefs must reside within the project structure, as Plant

uses its own working directory for Vaulted projects.

ConclusionsThis document is a guide to help you set up and manage a large project. It is a guide, not a bible, so feel

free to adjust the recommendations to suit the way you work. And remember, designers need to have

exclusive access to a model file while they work. So you need to have at least as many model files as

you have designers!


19/22

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