• Q1: How do I save my work?
• Q2: How do I set up a new user?
• Q3: How do I add a new project?
• Q4: How do I open a data entry form?

Q1: How do I save my work?

It is not necessary to perform any special actions in order to save your work during a session. The Project Engineering Tools program is based on a database concept, not a spreadsheet or word-processing program. Changes (if any) are written to each record when you do any one of the following:

· Attempt to leave the record
· Opening any dialog
· Selecting another form
· Explicitly post the record to the database using the Post button on the database navigator
· Close the form
· Quit Project Engineering Tools

If the computer should stop responding due to power failure or other reason, the only work that would be at risk would the current un-posted record of whatever form was current. All previous record edits would be preserved.

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Q2: How do I set up a new user?

You must have System Administrator privileges to add new users to the Project Engineering Tools program.

1. From the main menu select File | Open Form.
2. Select System Administration from the Open Form dialog.
3. Check the box for Users Form on the Select Windows To Open dialog.
4. Select OK to open the form.
5. Select Edit | Add from the main menu. This will display the Add User Record dialog.
6. Enter a user name and press OK. The new user record will be displayed.
7. Enter a password for the user. Note: If the Project Engineering Tools program will be run off of a local area network (LAN), then it is not necessary to fill in this field. In such cases the Project Engineering Tools program will use the network username to enter the Users Table. For this reason it is necessary that the network usernames match the Project Engineering Tools usernames.
8. Checkmark the System User field if you want to grant the user system privileges. It is recommended that only people with a good working knowledge of the Project Engineering Tools program be granted system privileges. System users will have total access to all levels of the Project Engineering Tools program.
9. Checkmark the Active field. Later, if it is desired to disable Project Engineering Tools login privileges for a user, then clear the checkmark.
10. Enter the user's initials, up to 4 characters. These initials will appear on documents that the user issues.
11. Optionally, fill in the department name.
12. Enter a Private Dir Alias name. An alias is just a name that specifies the location of database tables. In this case it specifies the location of this user's private area database tables. The Private Dir Alias must be different for each user. Note: It is recommended that the private directory for each user be set to a local (non-network) drive. This will reduce network traffic and usually provide for faster database response times.
13. Select File | Master Database Aliases from the main menu. This will display the Add/Delete Master Database Aliases dialog box.
14. Existing alias names are shown in the list box. The directory path for each alias is shown in the Path section. Existing aliases can not be modified. They should be deleted and then re-added. Enter a new alias name and directory path in the appropriate fields.
15. When the path and new alias name are entered press the Add Alias button. The new alias should be displayed in the list box.
16. Close the dialog by pressing the Close button.
17. Select Utilities | Private Dir from the main menu. This will create the actual private directory path as defined by the previously entered alias. That alias must exist for this function to work.
18. To add additional users repeat steps 5 through 17.

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Q3: How do I add a new project?

You must have System Administrator privileges to add a new project to the Project Engineering Tools program.

1. From the main menu select File | Open Form.
2. Select System Administration from the Open Form dialog.
3. Check the box for Projects Form on the Select Windows To Open dialog.
4. Select OK to open the form.
5. Select Edit | Add from the main menu. This will display the Add Project Record dialog.
6. Enter a project name and press OK. The new project record will be displayed.

General Tab

7. Select the General tab by clicking on it.
8. Checkmark the Active field. This will denote that the project is available for use. Later, if you want to disable access to the project, then clear the checkmark.
9. Enter the project number, location, and client in the appropriate fields.
10. Enter the Project Directory Alias. An alias is just a name that specifies the location of database tables. In this case it specifies the location of this project's database tables. The Project Directory Alias must be different for each project.
11. Select File | Master Database Aliases from the main menu. This will display the Add/Delete Master Database Aliases dialog box.
12. Existing alias names are shown in the list box. The directory path for each alias is shown in the Path section. Existing aliases can not be modified. They should be deleted and then re-added. Enter a new alias name and directory path in the appropriate fields.
13. When the path and new alias name are entered press the Add Alias button. The new alias should be displayed in the list box.
14. Close the dialog by pressing the Close button.
15. Select Utilities | Project Dir from the main menu. This will display the Create Project Directories dialog. This function will create the project directory tree for the current project. The main directory path for current project will be obtained from the alias specified in the Project Dir Alias field. That alias must exist for this function to work.
16. Press Start to create the project directories and to copy the project specific reference tables from the main program library.
17. Enter the Project Table's Password, if required. It is not necessary to have passwords for the project databases. If it is desired to do so, then enter the appropriate password. This issue of the Project Engineering Tools program will not encrypt the databases for you. You will have to use Borland' Paradox version 5.0 or greater to do so. Then when the Project Engineering Tools program attempts to access a project database table, it will submit the required password to allow for table access.

Tag Format Tab

18. Select a Tag Number Arrangement from the drop-down list. You can have up to three tag number segments in any order you desire. Each segment must be separated by a dash "-". The Instrument Index is sorted by the fields Tag1, Tag2, and Tag3 in that order. Tag1, Tag2, and Tag3 can contain any component that you desire. For instance, Tag1 can be set up to contain the numeric portion of a tag number. Tag2 can be set up to contain the alpha part of a tag number. The use of Tag3 can be optional. When set up as described, the default sort order of the index will be by loop number. Make the Tag Number Arrangement selection based on the chart as shown below:

 

Type	Unit	Alpha	Loop	Tag Number Format
1	N/A	N/A	N/A	Single Field
2	N/A	Tag2	Tag1	Alpha + Loop
3	N/A	Tag1	Tag2	Alpha + Loop
4	Tag1	Tag3	Tag2	Unit + Alpha + Loop
5	Tag1	Tag2	Tag3	Unit + Alpha + Loop
6	Tag2	Tag1	Tag3	Alpha + Unit + Loop

 

Units Tab

19. Select the Units tab by clicking it.
20. Select the Default Measurement Units and Values from the drop-down lists. These are the units that will be used whenever a new calculation record is added to the database.

DCS/PLC Systems Tab

21. Select the DCS/PLC Systems tab by clicking it.
22. You can have up to six different DCS or PLC systems for each project. Enter the unique names for each schedule. Examples: MODICON, FISHER, ALLEN-BRADLY, etc.

Cable Schedule Tab

23. Select the Cable Schedule tab by clicking it.
24. You can have up to six different cable schedules for each project. Enter the unique names for each schedule. Examples: INSTRUMENT, ELECTRICAL, 300V, 15KV, etc.

Line Format Tab

25. Select the Line Format tab by clicking it.
26. The Project Engineering Tools program will parse line numbers to extract the component parts in order to perform project piping specification and piping data table lookups. Fill in the numeric position for each line number component. As an example consider the following line number: 3"-HPFW-101-GCB-4"IP. For this example, 3" denotes the line size, HPFW denotes the process service class, 101 denotes the sequence number within the process service class, GCB denotes the piping specification class, and 4"IP denotes the pipe insulation thickness and type. You would then enter the following:

Size = 1
Service = 2
Number = 3
Specification = 4
Insulation Thickness = 5
Insulation Type = 5

Users Tab

27. Select the Users tab by clicking on it.
28. Use the drop-down box in the Username field to add users to each specific project.
29. If it is desired to grant the user Project Administrator status, then checkmark the Administrator field. The Project Administrator is responsible for setting up a specific project or job. The project administator can add additional users to that project, and set up all of the other criteria for the project as shown on the Projects form.
30. Enter the privilege levels for each database category. 0 or blank - No Access, 1 - Read Only, 2 - Edit (Read/Write).
31. Note: It is only necessary for the Project Engineering Tools System Administrator to set up a project and Project Administrator(s). Once that is done, then the Project Administrators can set up additional users, and define other project specific duties as required.

Set Up Piping Specifications

32. The function will require a user with either System Administrator or Project Administrator privileges.
33. Select File | Open Project from the main menu. This will close all open project tables. This will display the Open Project dialog. Select a project and press OK.
34. Select File | Open Form. This will display the Open Form dialog.
35. Select Project Administration and press OK.
36. Check the box for Pipe Specifications Grid on the Select Windows To Open dialog.
37. Select OK to open the form.
38. Fill in the database as per the project's piping specifications.

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Q4: How do I open a data entry form?

1. Chose File | Open Form. This will display the Open Form dialog box. All form categories that are available to the user will be shown in the list box.
2. Highlight the form category that you want to open and press OK, or double-click the desired item.

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Last Revised: November 3, 2009
Copyright © Technical Design Services 2009