CHAPTER 2

2 Setting Up the Design Database Hierarchy for Cabling System

AVEVA Everything3D data is stored in a hierarchical structure, similar to the directories and sub-directories
used to access computer files. The Cabling System application requires specific administrative elements to
be in place in order to maintain the system hierarchy. These administrative elements are considered in the
sections that follow.

2.1 Accessing the Cabling System Application

A default screen layout will be displayed comprising the Microsoft® Office Fluent™–based user interface and
a Model Explorer showing all the objects from the current project databases.

Once the Model module has been started, it must be checked that the Cabling System application is running.
This can be seen on the options list at top of the model framework; in the screenshot below it is showing the
General application. This can be changed by selecting Cabling System from the options list as shown.

Selecting the Cabling System application will add the Cabling System tab to
the new Microsoft® Office Fluent™–based user interface.

2.2 Cabling System Tab

The Cabling System tab is used to manipulate Cableways, Cableway branches and cables. It is also used
to invoke the functions and tools specific to the Cabling System application. It is split into seven groups:-

 Create

 Modify

 Delete

 Tools

 Penetrate

 Connect

 Settings

 Throughout this training guide it will be assumed that the Cabling System tab is being used unless
otherwise stated.

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 AVEVA Everything3D™ (2.1)
Cableway & Cable Modelling TM-1815

2.3 Cabling System via PowerWheelTM

Alternatively to using the Cabling System tab, the Cabling sub menu within the PowerWheel can be used to
create new components but also provides information on the existing cables and cableways.

Right click on the 3D View to invoke the PowerWheel and select the CABLE tile to open the secondary, cable
specific, PowerWheel.

Within the CABLE sub wheel there are 8 tiles that can be selected, each one refers to a tool or function that
is also accessible through the Cabling System tab, each icon is explained below and the functionality will be
explained in the relevant sections.

Cableway - This tile navigates you to the Cableway Create Tasks window allowing you
to create a new Cableway.

Node - This tile navigates you to the Route Node Create Tasks window.

Branch - This tile navigates you to the Cableway Branch Create Tasks window.

Point - This tile navigates you to the Define Path / Route Tasks window.

Material - This tile navigates you to the Create Material window.

Fill Level Check – This tile navigates you to the Fill Level Check window.

Cable - This tile navigates you to the Create Cable window.

Cable Data - This tile navigates you to the Cable Data window.

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 AVEVA Everything3D™ (2.1)
Cableway & Cable Modelling TM-1815

2.4 Cabling System Overview

The Cabling System application allows the users to create Cableways i.e. trays, ladders and volumes, and
also the actual cables. The cables can be routed through the Cableways to provide information such as lengths
and node schedules. The application is divided into three main areas, Cableways, Cableway material, and
Cables. The cabling design process is as follows:

 Cableways are created early in the 3D modelling process to reserve space in the model for the cables
and Cableway material.

 Cableway Material is also selected from a catalogue specification and added to the Cableways either
automatically or manually before or after routing cables through them.

 Cables are selected from the catalogue, and optionally connected to equipment items, before entering
the Cableway to follow the Cableway’s route until leaving to connect to another equipment element.
Alternatively, the cables and connecting equipment can also be imported from AVEVA Diagrams,
AVEVA Electrical/ Instrumentation and other 3rd party software using a spread sheet.

2.5 How AVEVA E3D stores Cabling System modelled data

As with all AVEVA E3D Design databases that

store discipline design data, the top most element
is the WORLD which owns the administrative sub-
levels elements SITE and ZONE.

For Cableway Design modelling, the element types

used below a ZONE are:

 Cableway (CWAY)

 Cable (CABLE)

2.6 Creating Cabling System Administrative Elements

Before modelling can commence, the required hierarchical elements must be created. From the Home tab,
only SITE and ZONE elements can be created as these are common to all disciplines. The standard Cabling
System hierarchy elements may be created from various options available within the Cabling System tab.

Significant elements, e.g. SITE and ZONE should normally be named to facilitate navigation around the model
and to ease creation of Draw Lists and other model tools.

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Cableway & Cable Modelling TM-1815

2.7 Cabling Application Defaults

The Cabling Application Defaults form allows users to specify various application defaults which are
used by various forms in the application to pre-populate data, each they are loaded. The Cabling
Application Defaults form can be shown clicking the Defaults button in the Settings group under the
Cabling System tab. The form is divided into five sections; Storage Areas, Cable Data, Specifications,
Cableway Data and Auto Routing Criteria and are as explained below:

Storage Areas – These are pulling down lists

containing all the available storage areas (zones) for the
Cableway and Cable elements for the current MDB.

Cable Data – Set the excess (contingency) lengths and

proximity distance from associated equipment.

Specifications – Set the Cableway Material, Cable

specification, the associated System (if applicable). Also
set the First, Intermediate (Inter) and Last gap sizes for
the Cableway material (this will be explained in more
detail later), and the Minimum Length of Straight tray to
use.

Cableway Data – Set the height and width for the

Cableway i.e. space reservation area, define the Cables
excess length as a % of total length, set the Maximum
Fill level based on the cross sectional area of the
Cableway volume, set the percentage allowance for Fill
check utility, set the Interference Class (IClass) and an
option to automatically create RNODEs at Head/Tail of
a cableway branch on branch creation.

Auto Routing Criteria – Sets the cable routing

algorithm to be used.

 The list of available Storage Areas is populated only with Zones where the Purpose is set to CABL, to
repopulate the pull down lists, the form may have to be cancelled and re-displayed.

 If the Specifications are set at start-up, the user must remember to change them manually when applying
different Cableway materials or cable specifications to different Cableways.

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 AVEVA Everything3D™ (2.1)
Cableway & Cable Modelling TM-1815

2.8 Cabling System Graphics Settings

The users can set graphical settings specific to the

Cabling System application by clicking the Graphics
button in the Setting group under the View tab. This will
display the Graphics Settings form.

Under the Cabling tab, graphical settings such as

Cableway Branch Obstruction representation,
Centreline Representation, the size and colour of
Attachment points and Route Nodes can be modified to
suit requirements.

 It is recommended to set the Cableway Branch

Obstruction to Solid or a percentage to enable the
user to see the Cableway Branches in 3D view.

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 AVEVA Everything3D™ (2.1)
Cableway & Cable Modelling TM-1815

Exercise 1 – Setting up the Application

1. Create two new zones called ZONE-CWAY-AREA03 and ZONE-CABLES-POWER-AREA03 under the
site SITE-CABLE-AREA03, with the Purpose set to CABL on both.

Setting the Purpose of the ZONE to CABL enables the application to populate some forms with relevant
information, i.e. Storage Areas.

2. Set the Cabling Application Defaults to the following:

Storage Areas

Cableway: ZONE-CWAY-AREA03

Cable: ZONE-CABLES-POWER-AREA03

Specifications

Cableway Material: ST/VANTRUNK-SW5-SS

Cable: CABLE-DIN.MGCG-POWER-TABGRO

Gaps: First 0.00mm Inter 0.00mm Last 0.00mm

Min Length Straight Tray: 100mm

Cableway Data

Width: 600mm

Height: 150mm

Cable Excess: 10

Fill: 60

Interference Class: POWER

Create Head/Tail RNODEs: Checked

Auto Routing criteria: Minimise Free Route

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