Creating Pipe Networks with Multi-Segment Pipe Controls (DSC Module)

Use the Multi-Segment Pipe control to represent real-world pipe networks that you need to monitor. By default, when you add the Multi-Segment Pipe control to the front panel window, an s-shaped pipe network appears. This pipe network contains three pipe segments, two flanges, and two elbows, as shown in the following figure. You can add pipe segments to this pipe network, remove pipe segments, and change the direction in which the flanges point.

The Multi-Segment Pipe control is a Boolean control that uses two different colors to represent TRUE and FALSE values. Therefore, you also can change the color of a pipe network to customize what the pipe network represents. For example, you might use the color blue to represent cold water and the color red to represent hot water flowing through the pipe network.

The following list provides tips for modifying a pipe network:

• To add pipe segments to a pipe network, right-click a pipe segment and select Add Horizontal Pipe Segment or Add Vertical Pipe Segment from the shortcut menu. You also can press the <Ctrl> key and click a horizontal pipe segment to add a vertical pipe segment to the pipe network. Press the <Ctrl> key and click a vertical pipe segment to add a horizontal pipe segment to the pipe network.
• To change the direction in which a flange points, press the <Ctrl> key and click the flange. If you click the top half of a flange pointing left or right, the flange points up. If you click the bottom half of a flange pointing left or right, the flange points down. Similarly, if you click the right half of a flange pointing up or down, the flange points right. If you click the left half of a flange pointing up or down, the flange points left. Changing the direction in which a flange points also adds a pipe segment to the pipe network.
  
  You also can right-click a flange pointing right or left and select Add "Up" Pipe Segment or Add "Down" Pipe Segment from the shortcut menu to change the direction in which a flange points. Right-click a flange pointing up or down and select Add "Left" Pipe Segment or Add "Right" Pipe Segment from the shortcut menu.
• To remove pipe segments from a pipe network, right-click a pipe segment and select Delete Pipe Segment from the shortcut menu.
• To select an entire pipe network, click and drag the cursor over any portion of the pipe network.
• To change the length of a pipe segment, click and drag a flange in the direction in which you want to lengthen or shorten the adjoining pipe segment. You also can click and drag a horizontal pipe segment to change the length of the adjoining vertical pipe segments, or you can click and drag a vertical pipe segment to change the length of the adjoining horizontal pipe segments.
• To change the radius of the pipe segments in a pipe network, move the cursor over any pipe segment to display resizing handles. Click and drag a resizing handle to adjust the radius of the pipe segment.
  
  You also can set the pipe radius programmatically. The pipe radius is the distance, in pixels, between the center of a pipe segment to the edge of the pipe segment. All pipe segments in the pipe network have the same radius.

  Note  The maximum pipe radius is one pixel less than the radius of the narrowest flange. The minimum pipe radius is five pixels.

• To change the radius or depth of a flange, move the cursor over the flange to display resizing handles. Click and drag a resizing handle to adjust the radius or depth of the flange.
  
  You also can set the flange dimensions programmatically. When you programmatically set the radius of the flange, you actually specify the flange width. The radius of the flange is equal to the pipe radius plus the flange width. The flange width is the distance, in pixels, from the edge of the adjoining pipe segment to the edge of the flange. The flange depth is the distance, in pixels, from the end of the adjoining pipe segment to the end of the flange.

  Note   The maximum flange width is 500 pixels. The minimum flange width is one pixel. The maximum flange depth is 50 pixels. The minimum flange depth is four pixels.

• To change the color of an entire pipe network, use the Operating tool to click any part of the pipe network. The default colors are grey and blue. You can change these two colors in edit mode by using the Coloring tool to right-click the Multi-Segment Pipe control and to select a different color from the color picker. You also can specify the colors of the pipe network programmatically.

The following figure illustrates the pipe radius, flange width, and flange depth.

You also can use the 2D Pipe controls on the 2D Controls palette and the 3D Pipes controls on the 3D Controls palette to create pipe networks. The advantage of using the Multi-Segment Pipe control is that you can reshape and resize an entire pipe network interactively. In addition, you need to use only one control to create an entire pipe network. If you use the 2D Pipe or 3D Pipes controls, you must add and resize multiple pipe segments, flanges, and elbows individually to create a pipe network. You also must ensure that you properly align and connect the pipe segments, flanges, and elbows when you add, delete, or resize any part of the pipe network.

The Multi-Segment Pipe control does not support tees, or branches, in the pipe network. However, you can use tees with the Multi-Segment Pipe control to join two pipe networks. Similarly, you can use any of the 2D Controls or 3D Controls, such as pumps and valves, to add functionality to or to extend the pipe network you created using the Multi-Segment Pipe control.