So I have finally gotten a hang of exporting my user components to Isogen. They always come out as just rectangular blocks. So I have played with some of the skeys in the Isogen Cedit. It lists the Identifier = Multi-Port-Component and Default SKEY = XVFL and only lists one end connections & conditions.

The SKEY I would like to us is the MTPL with PCF ID BEND-TEED.

If I only edit the SKEY, does the shape on the ISO stays the same. If I change the identifier, it gives me error -13 and the message file says:


ERROR ON COMPONENT BEND-TEED
ITEM-CODE 4
AT LOCATION -0.01 -0.01 -0.01

(30:3018) ERROR - INCORRECT ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY ITEM
'END-POINT'

(30:3018) ERROR - INCORRECT ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY ITEM
'CENTRE-POINT'

(30:3018) ERROR - INCORRECT ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY ITEM
'BRANCH1-POINT'

(30:3001) *** SEVERE ERROR - PIPELINE REJECTED ***
DATA ERROR


Below is my User component data file.


SWEPT TEE
1.0000 G/CM3 DENSITY

("NOM SIZE" "OD" "WGT")
=======================================================
(100.0000 114.3000 1.0000 (0.0000 0.0000 0.0000)(421.2593 0.0000 0.0000)(307.3755 -193.0755 0.0000) 1 )

I am just learning this stuff myself but here goes. There is a difference between Skeys in the skeys.pdf, and the skeys that Cadworx provides and supports. Cadworx does not use all of the skeys available through Isogen. A list of the skeys supported by default through Cadworx is availalbe in the help file.

I found the skey you tried to enter in the skey.pdf, but not in the Cadworx help file.

Since the skey.pdf says that the MTPL skey in pcf id BEND-TEED is not user-definable, I suggest you create a custom skey for your user component that looks like the MTPL. Just use a different group.

weeellll...
That's not right 100%. skeys are skeys... The issue in this instance is how the data is prepped, and sent to the isogen engine which has nothing to do with autocad application. Cadworx harvests the data in the model, and formats it for a pcf file that, to which the isogen engine is invoked, and pointed to the newly prepped pcf. CadWorx iteself, has no use for the skey, and bears no value to the CadWorx program. Skeys are only used for the Alias ISOGEN engine.

The problem is creating a user shape (3d) to which cadworx will prep correctly. For instance, you could take a regular Tee, and redefine the id, and skey in cadworx to output this mitered tee bend. Unfortunately the 3d version is of course a regular tee, and the output does extract, but isn't what you'd be expecting. (Works well with elbows, and overriding with id BEND, and skey=L@BW. This creates a nice 2 miter 90deg. I suppose I'll be up a creek if i need a 3 miter 90 deg.)

Ok, so...what makes a custom multi port connection fail? The fact that the data is being prepped as a port type fitting, and not a tee. I don't have the inside scoop on that format, but I suppose one could look really hard at the PCF out file, and understand...but to what end....thus the reason the regular tee redefined extract, but the output in isogen looks weird, because cadworx prepped the data for a tee, and not a "bent tee".

It would appear that Cadworx doesn't have a default fitting that one could use to fudge. So yes Wolfe is accurate in that Cadworx does not use all of the skeys avaialble through isogen; However you can force it, if the data set is close. I'm under the impression that the branch connection for the bend-teed is expected by isogen to be offset from the center, and cadworx is submitting it's center, thus the funcky output.

So Wolfe right again in creating your own isogen symbol with the isogen symbols editor. It's easier than you think, and it's step by step with the help file pdf.