Insertion Tools; Layer Keying; Modifying Building Systems; Associative Movement - Autodesk 235B1-05A761-1301 - AutoCAD MEP 2010 User Manual

your company's engineering designs. For more information, see
Customizing Tool Palettes
RELATED See also

Insertion Tools

You can use add grips (
to your drawings. After adding a part from the tool palette, use add grips on a segment or object to route
the pipe, plumbing, electrical, schematic, or duct system to ensure connectivity along the run. You can draw
a run from one end of the part segment, from a midpoint of a part segment, from a multi-view part (called
an MvPart), or from a fitting, such as an elbow or a tee. For more information, see
Run on page 272.
AutoCAD MEP also lets you automatically insert fittings into a run. For example, AutoCAD MEP can identify
the type of elbow fitting to insert into a plumbing layout, based on the preferences defined for the plumbing
system. When drawing pipe runs, you can use different
pipe specifications to ensure that the proper fittings are inserted automatically. As you draw cable tray or
conduit in the Electrical workspace, the software adds fittings based on the defined preferences.

Layer Keying

As you add parts to your layouts, each object is automatically placed on the correct layer. With layer keying,
AutoCAD MEP automatically places an object on a predefined layer that conforms to a particular layer
standard. You can modify the layer standards to map to specific company standards. You can also turn layers
on or off for a particular system or use filters to disable objects on a particular layer. For more information,
see AutoCAD MEP Layer Standards

Modifying Building Systems

In AutoCAD, you modify the geometric elements, including lines, arcs, and circles, in your design projects.
You use common editing tools in the software, such as COPY, TRIM, and EXTEND. See the AutoCAD Help
for more information.
AutoCAD MEP helps you streamline the task of modifying building systems using techniques such as
associative movement, grips, and snaps.

Associative Movement

You can move, shrink, or stretch connected objects (such as part segments and fittings) to a new location
in a drawing without breaking the connection between parts or altering other portions of the run. For more
information, see
With associative movement, you use grips to move the connected parts as a single unit while other parts
remain in place in the same layout. The software identifies the parts that are connected and maintains their
connectivity. The following illustrations show the progression of the associative movement feature in the
Piping domain.
on page 787.
Workspace Components
) along with the domain-specific palettes in AutoCAD MEP to add components
on page 132.
Associative Movement on page 248.
Working with Tool Palettes
on page 38.
routing preferences
on page 87 and
Grips for Adding to a Pipe
on page 250 that match your
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