BlueCielo Meridian Enterprise 2018 User's Guide
Preparing an AutoCAD Plant 3D project
AutoCAD Plant 3D projects consist of a project file (.xml), drawing files (.dwg), and numerous data files (.xml,.dcf,.dcfx, and so on). The Meridian AutoCAD link refers to the data files as parts in the sense that they are parts of the project data other than the drawings. These parts should not be confused with Meridian hybrid document parts or mechanical assembly parts. Because of the complexity of AutoCAD Plant 3D projects, they require some initial preparation before you can start working with them in Meridian.
- For full functionality, property synchronization should be configured as described in Configuring the AutoCAD Plant 3D link in the BlueCielo Meridian Enterprise Configuration Guide.
- If AutoCAD Plant 3D is used with the Meridian Asset Management Module, the AutoCAD Plant 3D link that is included with that module should be used instead of the basic AutoCAD Plant 3D link. It provides functionality for linking AutoCAD Plant 3D drawing tags (not just the standard Asset Management Module tags) to Meridian documents and managing synchronization states.
- To enable the AutoCAD Plant 3D link tag functionality, consult a system administrator about setting the AcadPnIDConfig registry setting described in the Meridian Asset Management Module Administrator's Guide.
- To configure the AutoCAD Plant 3D link drawing tag synchronization, consult a system administrator about the settings in the AssetSettings section of the AutoCAD link in the vault configuration that are described in the Meridian Asset Management Module Administrator's Guide.
To prepare a project:
- Import the project with the Meridian Assembly Import Wizard as described in Importing assemblies.
- Create the file MeridianLinkSearchRules.txt in the project folder of the vault as described in Configuring project file synchronization in the BlueCielo Meridian Enterprise Configuration Guide.
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In AutoCAD Plant 3D Project Manager, open the project.xml file from the Meridian vault.
Open any drawing to enable the BlueCielo ribbon.
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In the BlueCielo ribbon, click Attach Custom. The Select documents description file dialog box appears.
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Navigate to and select the MeridianLinkSearchRules.txt file that you created in the vault. The AutoCAD Plant 3D link creates a reference from the project file to the search rule file with the type AcadPnID Custom Part. It then uses the rules in the file to find the other files and to create references from the search rule file to them. If the search rule file is not locked, the link creates a [Log] section at the end of the file and a list of all of the files that were found and linked to the search rule file. You can view this list to confirm that all of the project files are correctly linked in Meridian.
- Close the project.