PipeTagger™ is an AddIn or App that adds functionality to Bentley Systems MicroStation® CONNECT. It's a tool for engineers and technicians.
MicroStation®, created by Bentley Systems, helps you to design, analyse, and present 3D models and 2D designs. MicroStation stores your models and designs in a DGN file.
We often want to create reports about DGN graphic elements. For example, suppose your job is to plan pipe runs in a factory refurbishment. You might ask questions similar to the following …
This is where you will discover PipeTagger™ to be indispensible.
Here's a small DGN model for you to examine. It contains a single pipe feature that represents an factory plan view. We've used PipeTagger to label the pipe …
Open the example DGN model with MicroStation CONNECT. Try using MicroStation's built-in tools to modify the pipe (DGN line element). Note how the length label updates automatically when you change the pipe.
PipeTagger™ works with MicroStation CONNECT to help annotate, measure and report pipes in your DGN models. By pipes we mean linear DGN elements that you interpret as a pipe of some sort.
PipeTagger™ is the answer to common questions posed by MicroStation CONNECT users …
Q
PipeTagger™ works with technology introduced with MicroStation CONNECT to annotate and update object measurements.
PipeTagger lets you annotate an line feature, such as a line or line-string element. More exactly, PipeTagger works with linear elements in a 2D or 3D DGN model. PipeTagger uses MicroStation Text Fields to create smart labels. MicroStation observes changes to the line element and updates the pipe's annotation label automatically.
In the example above, you can see the following labels created by PipeTagger …
Labels are created from the PipeTagger Properties attached to a line.
PipeTagger has a search tool …
See the Search page for more information.
PipeTagger has an align tool. When you attach pipe properties to an element you can place the label manually wherever you want. Subsequently you may want to realign the labels for neatness. The align tool lets you place multiple labels, each relative to its host, in a uniform manner.
See the Alignment page for more information.
PipeTagger defines a MicroStation Item Type schema named Linear Feature. A Linear Feature contains several Property definitions that constrain the kind of data you can attach to a line.
PipeTagger uses non-editable properties from MicroStation to format alternative measurements, if enabled …
metres or mm)
feet or inches)
MicroStation element property values are calculated automatically by PipeTagger. If you have chosen to use them, you will see alternative measurement in the labels & reports created by PipeTagger.
PipeTagger helps you to annotate pipe IDs drawn as MicroStation line or line-string elements.
If you are annotating pipes
you may want a consistently-numbered pipe ID. For example, pipe numbering in your current model may start
with pipe 100 and continue in increments of five.
What's more, you can add explanatory text around the ID,
so your sequence would look something like
Pipe 100, Pipe 105, …, Pipe 125, Pipe 130.
The ID is invaluable when creating a report or table. The ID provides a visual reference to the tagged object.
PipeTagger will auto-increment the pipe ID as you annotate linear features. In the Settings dialog, you control (a) whether you want to enable auto-increment and (b) the amount by which the ID is incremented (the delta value).
PipeTagger gets the line's length and adds it to your annotation label
using MicroStation master units.
For example, if you have a metric DGN model whose master units are metres, then
a 100 metre line will be labelled 100m.
PipeTagger gets the line's length and adds it to your annotation label
using units that you assign.
See PipeTagger Settings.
For example, if you have a metric DGN model whose master units are metres, and you
choose feet as your alternative unit, then
a 100 metre line will be labelled 323.08'.
You can designate an line to represent pipe carrying a choice of gas or fluids. For example …
PipeTagger helps you to explain the purpose of an object. If you are annotating pipes you may want to describe pipes as gas, oil, drinking water etc.. PipeTagger's Purpose tag lets you assign a purpose to an object. For example …
The Purpose is invaluable when creating a report or table. The Purpose property provides a way to classify similar types of object, and filter and sort reports.
The screenshot above shows PipeTagger's Tool Settings for Labelling. The text fields show the values assigned to the target pipe. The toggle buttons let you choose to include or omit data from the labels you create. For example, you might choose to show just the ID, or perhaps the ID and the Length.
PipeTagger labels a pipe with either of two types of label …
With PipeTagger a label is just a label. It reflects the underlying Item Data attached to a DGN element.
If you delete a label, the Item Data remains attached to the DGN element. If you use PipeTagger's label command, the Item Data is once more visible in the new label.
If you want to remove the Item data that underpins an PipeTagger label, then use the remove command.
When you remove the Item data from an element, PipeTagger automatically deletes its label,
The annotation labels you create with PipeTagger update themselves when you modify the host line. That is, when you use one of MicroStation's built-in tools to edit or modify a labelled line, you see the new measurement displayed automatically in the label.
PipeTagger creates one or two Report definitions when you install it. You can modify those Reports and add more Reports that match your requirements. You can read more about PipeTagger reports and tables. From a Report, you can create a table for placement as a DGN graphic element. To create a table from a Report, use the tools that MicroStation provides.
PipeTagger™ includes a tool to tag multiple objects with the PipeTagger Item Types. The bulk tagging tool searches a DGN model for lines on a named level. When it tags a line, PipeTagger creates a label to provide a visual clue that the element is annotated.
The PipeTagger ID, which is visible in the label, is auto-incremented for each pipe. For example, if your ID takes the form Pipe 101, then subsequent labels will be Pipe 102, Pipe 103, Pipe 104 …etc.
The MicroStation key-in to start PipeTagger is
mdl load PipeTagger
Once loaded, PipeTagger provides a number of key-ins that are detailed here.
PipeTagger settings are described here.
Visit the download page to register your interest in PipeTagger CONNECT Edition and download the installer.
LA Solutions' PipeTagger™ CONNECT Edition is licensed software. When you first install PipeTagger™ CONNECT Edition we grant you automatically a 30-day evaluation license. To continue using PipeTagger™ CONNECT Edition you must purchase a license. You may purchase one license, multiple licenses or a site license. Discounts are available for multiple license purchases.
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Updated on 06-Feb-2020 | Copyright © 2018…2022 LA Solutions Ltd |