3 A Tour of the User Interface 3.1 Overall view
3.7 The Schematic Overview Window
This window provides an overall view of the schematic, with a rectangle showing the part of the network currently displayed in the schematic window. The rectangle tracks changes in the size and position of the main schematic window, but the rectangle in the overview can also be dragged to effect a scroll of the main schematic window.
Display of the Overview window, which is not shown on starting the program, is via the View | Schematic Overview menu option.
3.8 Menus
3.8.1 File Menu
The available options are as follows. The displayed options will vary, depending on whether or not a network is open.
New
Creates a new network. If licenses are available for more than one module type, a prompt will be displayed requesting the PIPENET module be selected; namely, Standard, Spray/Sprinkler or Transient.
Open
Opens an existing data file - files may be the old format data files, with a .DAT file extension, or the new style files, with a .SDF file extension.
Close
Closes the network - if changes have been made to the network, you will be prompted to save the file first before closing.
Save
Saves the current network and continue working.
Save As
Saves the current file under a different file name.
Export...
option, you should be aware that some graphical information will not be saved; for example, colour schemes. When prompted for a file name, enter the name of the .DAT file, and any associated library files will be saved with the same name, but with a different file extension.
Autosave...
AutoSave is a feature that can be used to automatically save your edits and
modifications periodically. Select this option to set the interval, in minutes, at which the network is to be automatically saved. The default is zero, indicating that the autosave feature is disabled.
Open Library
Opens an external system library.
Import Library
Imports a library file - opens a system library or old format library file (e.g., .pmp pump library file) and imports its definitions into the local user library.
Print the schematic or the grid - the one that is printed will depend on which of the two windows is selected. If in doubt, click in the desired window before selecting Print. If the grid is selected, the current grid page will be printed. If the schematic is selected then a dialog box is displayed, through which the user can select the scaling and hence the number of pages. required to print the schematic.
Print Preview
Previews the appearance of printed output.
Print Setup
This option displays a standard Windows dialog, from which the user can select a particular printer, landscape or portrait mode, etc.
Exit
Exits PIPENET.
Recently used file list
Provides a list of recently opened files.
3.8.2 Edit Menu
This menu provides a number of edit related functions:
Undo
Undoes the last operation - this command will undo the last change made in the Schematic, Properties or Tabular View window. Following the word Undo is a brief description of the last operation performed.
Redo
Redoes the last undone operation - as with the Undo command, following the word Redo is a brief description of the last undo operation.
Cut
Combination of a copy operation followed by a delete.
Copy
If the select tool is in operation, this will copy the attributes of the selected component.
Paste
If the select tool is in operation, this will paste the last copied attributes to the selected component, as long as the components are of the same type (i.e., both are pipes, both are pumps, etc.). If the Area tool is used, it will paste all components copied by the last copy operation.
Paste in column
This option is only available in the Tabular View. When a single cell in a column is selected, it will reproduce the contents of the cell in all cells in the same column.
Mirror
Used with the Area Tool to mirror the contents of the selected area left-right.
Invert
Used with the Area Tool to invert the contents of the selected area.
Undo/redo on the toolbar
Note the undo and redo operations are available via two shortcut buttons in the toolbar:
The left-hand button is the Undo button and the right-hand button is the Redo button.
3.8.3 View Menu
The view menu controls some aspects of the overall appearance of the various windows.
Toolbar
Displays or hides the main toolbar containing the file and edit related buttons - this is best left displayed at all times.
Status Bar
Displays or hides the Windows status bar - this is best left displayed at all times.
Palette
Displays or hides the palette bar, which is used to select the tool for drawing within the schematic window - this is best left displayed at all times.
Schematic Window
Opens the schematic window if, for some reason, it has been closed - only one schematic window can be open.
Data Window
Opens a tabular view window - more than one tabular view window can be open at any one time.
Properties
providing information on the currently selected component and its fittings.
Schematic Overview
Displays or hides the Schematic Overview Window.
Zoom
Used to zoom the network and/or the graphical underlay.
View graphical underlay
Selecting this option will display a graphical underlay that has been imported from a Windows extended metafile (.EMF), a Windows metafile (.WMF) or an AutoCAD . DXF file.
Import graphical underlay
Imports a graphical underlay from a Windows enhanced metafile, which has the file extension .EMF. These files can be produced by many graphics programs, and there are utilities available for converting from some CAD formats to extended metafiles.
The imported graphic is displayed near the centre of the window, and is scaled to fit the current size of the window. The size of the imported graphic can be controlled by zooming (see above). Its position is currently not controllable. However, using the Area tool to move the network, the relationship between the underlay and the PIPENET network can be adjusted. The intensity of the displayed image, specified as a
percentage, can be controlled via the underlay tool (i.e., the U button) on the Options toolbar.
3.8.4 Libraries Menu
Before attempting to use libraries, the user should first read the chapter on libraries.
The Libraries menu contains a number of module-specific entries. Those for the Transient module include:
Schedules
Define or edit pipe schedules in the local user library.
Fittings
Define or edit pipe fittings in the local user library.
Valves
Define or edit valves in the local user library.
Pumps - coefficients unknown
Define or edit pumps with unknown coefficients in the local user library.
Pumps - coefficients known
Turbo pumps
Define or edit turbo pumps in the local user library.
Selecting any of these options displays a tabbed dialog for the appropriate library. It is important to note that any changes are applied to the definitions in the Local User Library.
To edit the System libraries, select the last option (i.e., Edit system Libraries).
The final option in the Libraries menu opens a very similar window, except that, in this case, edits are performed on a named System Library. It is important to re-emphasis the distinction
between Local User Libraries, where changes made affect only the current user, and System Libraries, where changes may affect other users.
3.8.5 Options Menu
The Options menu displays a tabbed dialog for viewing and setting the various options in use:
Title - Title for the network, for which up to four lines of text may be specified.
Transient Options - Various modelling options.
Units - Units to be used.
Fluid - Fluid properties.
Pipe Types - Define or edit pipe types.
Display options - Schematic display options.
3.8.6 Colouration Menu
This menu contains three items that can be used to set up the colouring of nodes and/or pipes and ducts, based on the value of one or more attributes. The options are described in detail in Colour Schemes.
Simple rules
This option is used to define the colouring of links and/or nodes, based on the value of a single attribute or result. For example, node elevation, pipe length, velocity of fluid through pipe, and so on.
Complex nodes
This option is used to define more complex colouring rules for nodes, based on the values of more than one attribute or result.
Complex links
This option is used to define more complex colouring rules for pipes and ducts, based on the values of more than one attribute or result.
3.8.7 Calculation Menu Options...
Displays the set of tabbed dialogs for setting the calculation options.
Go...
Displays the dialog for setting the calculation output options prior to performing a calculation.
3.8.8 Output Menu Report...
This will prompt for an output viewer, for which the default is the PIPENET supplied viewer:
Select the desired viewer from the options provided.
This will launch the graph viewer for displaying the graphical output produced by the calculator.
3.8.9 Tools Menu
The tools menu provides a number of useful tools:
Tag selected items
Used in colour coding to tag (or mark) selected components as being significant in some way, so that they can be colour coded.
Remove tags
Marks all tagged components as untagged.
Make Path
Used in the construction of an elevation profile to construct a path though two or more selected nodes.
Export clipboard
Copies the schematic to the clipboard, from where it can be pasted into other applications.
Export HP-GL/2
Exports the schematic as an HP-GL/2 file containing instructions for off-line plotting.
HP-GL/2 is Hewlett-Packard's standardized Graphics Language supported by many CAD and graphics programs and peripherals. On selecting this option, you will prompted to supply an output file name.
Export DXF file
Exports the schematic as an AutoCad DXF file, which can be used as input to many CAD programs. On selecting this option, you will prompted to supply an output file name.
Add multiple pipes
This tool provides a means of defining a run of pipes, based on a table of elevations and distances. From this data, if supplied in a suitable form, the PIPENET module can automatically generate a sequence of pipes with the correct lengths and rises (elevation changes). For further information on this facility, see the Add multiple pipes section.
3.8.10 Window Menu
In addition to the standard Windows window menu, offering options to Tile or Cascade windows, this menu also offers an option to switch the appearance and ordering of the menus between two styles: Windows style, which closely resembles other windows programs, and PIPENET style, which has a similar ordering to earlier versions of the program. However, there are some obvious differences. For example, there is no view menu, and most options are
displayed on a tabbed dialog. To revert to the old style of menu, select the menu option Window
Windows menu style.
3.8.11 Help Menu
Help topics
Display help contents.
About PIPENET VISION
Details of PIPENET version numbers. Note that, unlike previous versions of
PIPENET, the calculators have version numbers that are different to those displayed in the graphical user interface. In the early releases of the software, the version numbers are of the form:
Graphical user interface - version 1.nn Transient calculator - version 6.nn Key Status
Status and information relating to the Hasp security key and associated licences.
Selecting this option will display the current licences available on the fitted key, the following being an example of the display:
Selecting OK closes the window, whilst selecting Save will save the displayed details to a text file (the save feature is not implemented).
Update Key
This option is only available in the Help menu when no PIPENET file is open.
Activating this option will initiate an update to a local HASP security key using a licence
Sunrise on the Internet
This option will open a new page in your default web browser, set to the Sunrise Systems web page.
3.9 Toolbars
3.9.1 Transient Toolbar
This toolbar contains, from left to right, the following tools:
A group of five general tools:
Select- Used to select an item on the schematic; for example, to display properties of a component, to drag a node, to select an item for deletion.
Pan and zoom - Used to pan and zoom.
Area tool - Used to select a rectangular area for copy/paste operations.
Polygon tool - Similar to the Area tool, except that it allows an irregular shaped area to be selected.
Text tool - For creating text elements on the schematic.
Then there are a number of tools for creating the different types of link components (i.
e., components with an input and output node) available with the Transient module:
Pipe
Simple tank
Then there is a group of seven control item:
Flow sensor
The options toolbar provides a number of convenient shortcuts to schematic-related options. For example, display of node labels, grid style, etc.
The toolbar consists of four button groups, from left to right the button options are:
Group 1 - grid related options:
Display grid.
Select Orthogonal grid.
Select Isometric grid.
Snap to Grid.
Group 2 - label options:
Display node labels.
Display component labels.
Display component direction (the arrow is drawn pointing from the pipe input towards the pipe output).
Display pipe fittings present symbol.
Display the node colouring-legend button - if this is selected, a node colour-coding legend is displayed in the schematic window.
A drop-down box from which the parameter to be displayed on nodes can be selected (for example, elevation and pressure).
Display the pipe/duct colouring-legend button - if this is selected a link colour-coding legend is displayed in the schematic window.
A drop-down box from which can be selected the parameter to be displayed on pipes (for example, flow rate, velocity).
Following a calculation, arrows indicate the flow direction, which may be in opposite direction to the component direction.
Group 4 - Underlay control:
A single button is provided. Selecting the button will display a dialog from which the intensity of the underlay can be specified as a percentage.
When an option is selected, the button is shown as depressed, as illustrated for the Select Orthogonal grid option (i.e., the second button in the above diagram).
3.9.3 Calculation Toolbar
This toolbar contains a few buttons relating to a calculation and the calculation output.
. Check
Checks the conditions for a calculation. More specifically, it checks that specifications are complete and consistent, and, if pipe elevations are in use, that node heights are consistent. This option opens a status window (if it is not already open) as described in Status Checking.
Calculate
Runs a calculation.
Browse
Browse the output of the last calculation or the last request for input.
Graphs
Opens the graph viewer for viewing results.
3.9.4 Tag Toolbar
This toolbar displays two drop-down lists of the label tags used in the current network for nodes and for links. It can also be used to select which tag is to be used as the default for all new nodes and links. To add a tag to a list, simply enter the tag in the edit field followed by return.
Selecting the arrow to the right of the text field will drop down a list of currently used tags, and selecting a tag from this list sets that tag as the default.
If you have a tag selected in one of the drop-downs then, whenever you create a new
component, its automatically assigned numerical id will be prefixed with the specified tag and a '/'.
Unused tags cannot be explicitly deleted, but, each time a file is re-opened, the tags in use are re-evaluated, and only those in use will be displayed.
3.9.5 Find toolbar
This toolbar is useful for finding components in the schematic window, particularly for large networks.
The toolbar consists of:
A Find button.
A drop-down list of component types, including the special type <Any>, which can be used to find a component of any type with the specified label.
An edit box for entering the label of the component to find.
A Next button, which is only enabled if the component type is <Any> and a find has been performed. Having found one component with a matching label, selecting this button will find the next component with the same label (assuming there is one).
If a component is not found then an information message will be displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the main window.