Applies To Product(s): AutoPLANT XM Piping and Equipment Version(s): 08.09.03.30 Environment: N/A Area: N/A Subarea: N/A Original Author: Bentley Product Advantage Group Overview Sometimes users may notice that nodes appear out in space. These nodes usually look like small squares with two lines that make a cross hair over the box. When these nodes are selected in the drawing, a component usually also selected (as long as grouping is turned on). These nodes can also be double clicked just like a component and they will display the components properties dialog box for the component that they are attached to. Normally, these nodes are not visible to the user. When a component is placed, they are hidden within the models space. They are also usually placed at the 0,0,0 point in the drawing. If a component is moved, then the node will follow the component around the drawing, which is why some users see them appear away from the 0,0,0. Here is an image of what a Master Node looks like: This TechNote goes over how these Master Nodes become visible and how to re-hide them in te drawing so that they no longer cluster up the drawing. What makes the Master Nodes Visible The main cause of the master nodes appearing is the use of the AutoCAD command, Match Properties. For those who are not familiar with the details of this command, what it does is copy the basic properties associated with an AutoCAD object, such as Line Type, Color, etc.., and it allows one to apply those properties to another component. One common use for this tool is making piping from one line match the color of another line. There are a range of other uses for this tool that some clients wish to use it for, but the trouble with this command is that when it applies those new properties to an object, it applies it to the whole object. Since Hide is a property that can be set on an object, the Properties, Hide = off, will be applied to the whole object. In the image below, there are two Tanks that where created with the Equipment Module. One of the tanks had its Properties Matched to the other tank and now the Master Node is visible in the lower left hand side. Now, since this Master Node is connected to a Tank that has not be moved, it is located at the 0,0,0. One problem that has been seen with this is that most users don't work this close to the 0,0,0, or at least not all the time. Because of this, these master nodes can go unnoticed for sometime and it isn't until the Zoom>All command is used that the drafter will noticed they are there. The good news is that they are easy to re-hide so that they no longer appear in space. How to re-Hide the Master Nodes In order to re-hide Master Nodes, the follow commands must be used in the AutoCAD command line. The first command is for Piping and the second command is for Equipment. The respective Module has to be loaded before these commands will work . (at_Piping_setComponentMasterEntityVisibility 0) (at_Equip_setComponentMasterEntityVisibility 0) Once the command is run, the nodes should vanish from view. After that, just save the drawing to keep the nodes hidden. A note on the Equipment command, it was only recently added to AutoPLANT XM in the 8.9.3.30 build. It does not work in earlier version of AutoPLANT then that. There is a lsp file that can be used to do this in the earlier versions. In order to get a copy of this file, please contact Plant Technical Support, refer them to the TR number 13156 and request the file "Equip_master_visibility.lsp". Please inform them of the version of AutoPLANT that you are using so that they can test to be sure that this lsp file works with that version. See Also External Links Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase Bentley LEARN Server Comments or Corrections? Bentley's Technical Support Group requests that you please confine any comments you have on this Wiki entry to this "Comments or Corrections?" section. THANK YOU!
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