Project: HiCAD Plant Engineering

Update - Procedure for the Plant Engineering Module

If you have already used the Plant Engineering module of a HiCAD version older than 2018, proceed as follows:

1. Backup

Make a backup of the current state of your database.

In the FILEGRUP.DAT file in the exe subdirectory of the existing old HiCAD version, check the entry at position 6:, which indicates the part directory for HiCAD Plant Engineering. This can either be the local directory PlantParts of your HiCAD installation (e.g. 6:C:\hicad\PlantParts), or a Server directory, e.g. 6:\\MyServer\hicad\PlantParts.

• If the Server directory has been entered here, make a backup of this Server directory.
• If the local directory has been entered here, make a backup of this local PlantParts directory.

2. Installation

Perform the HiCAD Update Installation.

Please do not start the programs yet.

3. Updating of the database

This step needs only to be executed if you have not worked with the HiCAD Plant Engineering module yet, use a database of the ISD, and now want to work with the HiCAD Plant Engineering module. Through the executing of the file, your already existing database will be "supplemented" for the Plant Engineering module.

• Start the Windows Command Prompt and switch to the HiCAD exe directory.
• Enter the command HeliosDbUpdate.exe.
• If this has not already been done, update the database subversion.

By executing the file you can also check whether the database for the plant Engineering module is up to date.

4. Edit part directory

If a Server directory has been entered in the FILEGRUP.DAT file at position 6:, proceed as follows:

• Copy the content of the local PlantParts directory of the HiCAD installation to this directory.
• In the Server directory, delete the file _Upd_V170x.dat.

If the local PlantParts directory has been entered in the FILEGRUP.DAT file at position 6:, proceed as follows:

• In this directory, delete the file _Upd_V170x.dat.

5. Check classes for updates from Versions older than HiCAD 2010

If you are updating from a Version older than HiCAD 2010, and want to work with Air duct parts for the very first time, you need to check whether the classes listed below already exist in your database, and if so, delete them. In all other cases you can continue with Step 6.

• Base, rectangular
• Offset bend, symmetrical
• Offset bend, asymmetrical
• Flange, rectangular
• Y-piece, rectangular
• Duct part, rectangular
• Knee, rectangular with arc
• Knee, rectangular with corner
• Pipe transition, symmetrical
• Pipe transition, asymmetrical
• T-piece, rectangular, straight top
• T-piece rectangular, slanted top
• Transition, symmetrical
• Transition, asymmetrical

6. Realise required database state

Start the DbPlantDataImport.exe program. Login as Administrator, because you require unlimited read and write permissions.

• If the Update part variants dialogue window appears, click Update now.
• Again, log in as Administrator.
• In the next dialogue, click Start . After completion of the process, click End.
• If the DbPlantDataImport.exe program closes after this, re-start it.
• Click Update Helios for Plant Engineering.
• After completion of the process, close the program.

7. Adjustment of part type "Gauge parts"

If required, you can now perform the adjustment for the part type "Gauge parts" (see below).

8. Import new variants

Also use DbPlantDataImport.exe to import supplied (new) variants to your database if these are not yet contained in it.

If you are updating from a Version older than HiCAD 2011, please additionally note the following:

Seal elements

If your database already contains seal elements, and you want to fit seals or gaskets as 3-D parts, add the attribute ANSCHLUSSART (CONNECTION_TYPE) with value 20000 to all data records of parts of the type DICHTUNG (SEAL).

Generate BESTELLVERMERK (=ORDER NOTE) attribute

If you enter the variants supplied with the current HiCAD version into the database via part data synchronisation, the BESTELLVERMERK (=ORDER_NOTE) attribute will be automatically assigned a value.

Use the external tool VarDbAttConfig.exe to subsequqntly add the HELiOS part attribute BESTELLVERMERK (=ORDER_NOTE) to the variants that already exist in the database. . You can find this tool in the HiCAD / EXE sub-directory.

1. Start the tool VarDbAttConfig.exe with a double-click.
2. After starting the tool, select the Industry - Standard Plant Engineering or Air ducts - and click the click the Selection of variants button.

Select industry

3. Choose a part type - either double-click the desired part or select it with a single click and confirm with OK.

Select part type

4. Select one or several variants and click OK.

Select variants

5. In the Attribute configuration window, the attribute contents of the variant are listed in the BESTELLVERMERK (=ORDER_NOTE) column. If required, you can modify them via a double-click.

Attribute configuration

Click the icon to select a saved article number configuration. The corresponding configuration files nnnnnn.*.DesignationConfig.txt are located in the HiCAD sub-directory PlantParts\CatSearch. Double-click a configuration, or select it with a single click and confirm with OK.

Select configuration

If you right-click the name of a variant file, the attributes belonging to this variant are displayed.

Attributes of the variant

6. After exiting the Attribute configuration dialogue window with OK the start window will be displayed again. Click the Enter button to enter the attribute values into HELIOS.
7. Click the End button to end the program.

Important Notes on Updates (PE) • Adjustment for Part Type 'Gauge Parts' (PE) • Update - Procedure for the Pipeline Planning Module (PE)