PDSLabel.ma MS/J v1.3 installation/set-up 2013 (c)

PDSLabel.ma release MS/J v1.3 is a MDL utility that enables a Microstation user to read and search text data in PDS Label files. This is very useful for NON Piping disciplines and even PDS piping users when an entire project is split into multiple PDS projects due to size limitations.

Download from http://www.swindon.org.uk/PDSLabel/PDSLabel.zip

To install the program copy the following program files;

PDSLabel.ma, hilytpds.ma, rendrpds.ma, centrpds.ma

into your $MS\mdlapps directory. This can be local or on the network.

Make sure the Microstation variable MS_MDLAPPS has the directory in its path.

Download from http://www.swindon.org.uk/PDSLabel/PDSLabel.zip

Next copy the following perl scripts;

pdslabel.pl, lblsearch.pl

to c:\perl or a relevant network dir.

Finally the system variables;

PDSPERL=c:\win32app\ingr\pdshell\share\pdsperl.exe

PDSLABEL=c:\perl\pdslabel.pl

need to be set for the search function to work.

Open "Control Panel" and then the "System" icon to do this.

This should possibly be done by a network administrator if PDSLabel.ma is to be installed on a network for use by an entire department.

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----_/---_/-_/_/_/-_/_/--- Karsten Evanshttp://www.linkedin.com/in/karstenevans

---_/-_/---_/-----_/--_/-- Microstation Ranger

--_/_/----_/_/-----_/----- @home +44 1793 616813

-_/--_/--_/-----_/--_/---- mailto:karsten@swindon.org.uk

_/----_/_/_/_/---_/_/----- 20 Ford Street, Swindon, SN1 5EY

"Here, There and Everywhere (or HI HO! QvickVision !-)"

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Using PDSLabel

PDSLabel can be started by typing

mdl load PDSLabel.ma

(this command can be added to a user defined keypad menu or screen toolbox if wanted)

A dialog listbox is displayed.

Select a PDS item.

If the PDS item has a label in a DRV label file then it is displayed in this dialog listbox as it is written in the label file.

Each line of the label is a list item.

By selecting a list item you put the selected text into Window's clipboard buffer and the selected text is also written to Microstation's KEYIN field (must be opened previously).

To search for a text;

-select a PDS item with label text similar to the text you want to search for.

-edit the text copied to the KEYIN field to suit.

The search text is made up of a search field and a search value. A colon ":" separates the two.

The search value can include regular expressions and be simplified by editing.

-Hit return and then select the SEARCHDRV button.

A dos window appears, wait until it disappears with a ping!

(!sound must be enabled to hear the ping)

(If the search value text is found in a label with the relevant search field then the label matches and its DRV KEY data is printed to the dos window and stored in a file for use later.)

If no DRV KEYs are printed in the dos window then nothing matched, try a simpler search!

-When the search perl scripts have finished you can then use one of the commands from the pulldown menu;

Center search results (centrpds.ma)

Highlight search results (hilytpds.ma)

Render search results (rendrpds.ma)

(! "Render search results" works best if a view has been set to render mode once and then set back to wire frame mode. This is due to a bug in Microstation. Will be looking at fixing this.)

Tip! PDSLabel puts a selected text into the paste buffer, so you can place texts easily by using CTRL V and pasting text directly into the design file.

If you want to edit the text, do this in keyin field hit ENTER and then use [CTRL] [V] (Any suggestions for improvements of this are welcome:-)

Program texts!

PDSLabel.ma MS/J v1.3 2013 (c)

This program(c) was brought to you by a "Microstation" Ranger :

Karsten Evans

20 Ford street, Swindon SN1 5EY

@home (01793) 616813 karsten@swindon.org.uk

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karstenevans

Any ideas for small CAD utilities welcome, all types of support,

programming, trouble-shooting undertaken! (c) 2013

This program has two commands :

SELECT= starts selection (default)

SEARCHDRV= runs searchdrv.bat

To display a label select a PDS item

To search label files using a label value :-

click on the label value to search for,

(the label value is then written in the KEYIN

field and into the clipboard)

edit the value to suit and then hit ENTER,

then click the SEARCHDRV button and wait until

a beep sounds!

from the Menubar select either the command :

Center Search Results or

Highlight Search Results or

Render Search Results

(Works best if view has been set to render mode once previously!)

NOTE! The system variables : 'PDSPERL' and 'PDSLABEL' must be defined!

e.g.

PDSPERL = c:\win32app\ingr\pdshell\share\pdsperl.exe

PDSLABEL = c:\perl\pdslabel.pl

Please report any problems to kxevans@bechtel.com!

Tip!

PDSLabel puts a selected text into the paste buffer, so you can place texts easily by

using CTRL V and pasting text directly into the design file.

If you want to edit the text, do this in

KEYIN field hit ENTER and then use CTRL V :-)