7 Customising the Drawing Sheet

This chapter describes how you can customise the layout and content of an ISODRAFT
drawing sheet. The default layout is shown in Figure 2:2.: Typical isometric drawing sheet
layout.
7.1 Isometric Types
The ISOTYPE command specifies whether the information in the drawing is intended for:
• In-shop fabrication;
• On-site erection;
• Both in-shop fabrication and on-site erection;
• In-shop fabrication of pipe spools (i.e. prefabricated sections of a larger piping
assembly);
• Any of the isometric types can be produced with the drawing area left blank.
A list of cut pipe lengths can be included if required. See the CUTTINGLIST command.
7.2 Units
You can specify the units for options such as paper size, margin widths, and cutting
allowances. The default units are taken from the Catalogue. They can be changed before
the value is input by using one of the commands:
MILlimetre
MM(a shorter form of the preceding option)
FInch(i.e. feet and inches)
INch
followed, in the same command line, by one of the options:
BOres
DIstances
to define the type of measurement to which the units are to apply. This sets the current
units, which remain in force until reset.
For example, a loose flange allowance could be specified in feet and inches by the
command sequence:
FINCH DISTANCES

• The line summary across the bottom.

Each text item is identified by a unique code number, known as its ATEXT (Alternative Text)
number. The ATEXT command allows you to change the text characters associated with a
particular ATEXT number, so that your specified text replaces the standard wording at the
corresponding location on the drawing. You can also suppress the text by setting the ATEXT
to null.
7.12 User-Positioned Text
All items of text used for the standard annotation of isometrics have default positions at
which they are plotted on the drawings. Some of these annotations can be repositioned
using the POSITION command. The POSITION command can also be used to position up
to 100 pipe attributes such as the pipe’s name, owner, temperature rating, and pressure
rating, and including User-Defined Attributes (UDAs) and user-specified text. You orient the
text at a specific angle if you require.
The standard text annotations which can be repositioned are as follows:
• The North direction arrow;
• Spool numbers;
• Sheet numbers; i.e. X in DRG X OF Y;
• Sheet totals; i.e. Y in DRG X OF Y;
• The project number;
• The bend radius;
• System isometric names;
• The date.
The POSITION command also allows you to create a number of user defined tables to hold
information you need (for example on welds or drawing history). See below for more details.
All text must be positioned in a margin, away from the drawing area, to avoid overwriting the
isometric plot of the pipe itself. You will normally allocate a suitable margin by using the
MARGIN command. No checks on your specified text positions will be made by ISODRAFT
and it is up to you to ensure that you do not corrupt the isometric by poor positioning.
Note: It is possible to output the same piece of textual information at more than one
position on an isometric plot by defining its coordinates more than once. The new
definitions will not overwrite the earlier ones.
You can also suppress the output of attributes, system attributes or all user-positioned text.