P&ID Substitution Grips

I was talking to a client recently who pointed out that some things in P&ID that I find commonplace are new to others.  After all, I've been involved with this software for a few releases, but others may be seeing it for the first time.  So I figured I'd write some entries on some of my favorite bits of functionality.  Today's topic is Substitution Grips.

After you place a component in P&ID (like a valve) and then select it, a special grip that  looks like a downward pointing triangle might appear.  If you hover over this grip, a tool tip displays saying "Substitute with another Component"

  

Next, click on this grip to display a palette of other similar components that you can substitute for the current one.  As you hover over a symbol in the palette, tool tips help you find the one you are looking for.  Simply select any symbol from this contextual palette to substitute it into the drawing.  Shown here, I am substituting a Ball Valve (on the palette) for a Globe Valve (currently in the drawing):

After substituting the globe valve with a ball valve, the drawing would look like this.

 

It's that simple, really.  Instead to erasing one symbol, finding the correct one on the tool palette or menu, and inserting it, you can just click on the Substitution Grip and pick the desired symbol. The system does the rest.          

Comments

[scott]

Hi,

I have used the substitution grips on existing PID objects (valves etc.) but now would like to add to some of our bespoke items we have created as PID objects. How? Probably very obvious but I cannot for the life of me figure it out. Many thanks, Scott.

[Ursula]

Hello Scott -
If you add your symbol to the project, it should "just work". By that I mean your new symbol should automatically appear under the substitution grip for that class.

I'll send you a more detailed email on the exact steps shortly.

[Ursula]

dang it - Scott, your email bounced. Can you send me your address directly? ursula.sadiq@autodesk.com

Thanks!