AutoCAD Commands
This chapter describes the AutoCAD commands of the PlantTools and important commands of AutoCAD Plant 3D.
You can type each command on the AutoCAD command line. You can also use the commands in scripts, in PlantBatch (see Implementing Counter) and in the SymbolsPalette (see Add AutoCAD/AutoLISP command). Most of the buttons in the ribbon start one of these commands.
Remark: Most PlantTools commands require a valid license of the PlantTools product they belong to. The AutoLISP functions of PlantExpressTools are described in Functions for AutoLISP.
PlantExpressTools
The ribbon buttons are in the PlantExpressTools ribbon.
Settings and Palettes
AqaPETSettings
Opens the PlantExpressTools settings. Ribbon: Settings. This command also works without a valid license.
AqaPETPlantProjectManager
Shows or hides the PlantProjectManager. Ribbon: Toggle PlantProjectManager.
AqaPETPropertiesPalette
Shows or hides the PropertiesPalette. Ribbon: Toggle Properties Palette.
AqaPETSymbolsPalette
Shows or hides the SymbolsPalette. Ribbon: Toggle Symbols Palette.
AqaPETTagConflictsPanel
Shows or hides the Tag Conflict Checker. Ribbon: Tag Conflicts.
AqaPETOPCManager
Shows or hides the Off-Page Connector Manager. Ribbon: Toggle Off-Page Connector Manager.
CAD
AqaPETCoordinates
Creates and calculates the coordinates of the symbols and lines in P&ID drawings. Ribbon: Coordinates.
AqaPETAssemblies
Creates and updates the assemblies in the current drawing. Ribbon: Assemblies.
AqaPETAssembliesAudit
Checks the assembly relationships in the current drawing and removes the ones that are no longer valid. Ribbon: Audit assemblies mappings.
AqaPETUpdateListInDrawing
Updates the lists in the current drawing. Ribbon: Update lists in drawing.
AqaPETObjectRenumbering
Renumbers object properties, for example Tag numbers. Ribbon: Renumber.
Update
AqaPETUpdateAnnotationsAll
Links all line annotations in the current P&ID drawing to the correct line segment again. Ribbon: Update Line Annotations.
AqaPETUpdateAnnotationsPick
Same as AqaPETUpdateAnnotationsAll, but only for the line annotations you select.
AqaPETCheckNozzles
Compares the size of each equipment nozzle with the size of the connected line. Ribbon: Check P&ID Nozzles.
AqaPETUpdateFromTo
Creates and updates the From/To values of the line groups and line segments in the current drawing. Ribbon: Update From/To in drawing.
AqaPETUpdateRemainingFromToTasks
Runs the remaining From/To updates for all P&ID drawings of the project. Ribbon: Update remaining From/To tasks.
AqaPETUpdateTagsDrawing
Updates the Tags in the current drawing, for example after a tag format was changed. Ribbon: Update Tags in drawing.
AqaPETUpdateTagsProject
Updates the Tags in all drawings of the project. Ribbon: Update Tags in project.
AqaPETUpdateAcqDrawing
Runs the acquisition rules in the current drawing again. Ribbon: Update acquisitions in drawing.
AqaPETUpdateAcqProject
Runs the acquisition rules in all drawings of the project again. Ribbon: Update acquisitions in project.
Administrative
AqaPETRenameCopyProject
Renames or copies a project, with or without its drawings. Ribbon: Rename / Copy project.
AqaPETImportExport
Exports and imports class and symbol properties and selection lists. Ribbon: Import / Export.
AqaPETEditCalculations
Opens the configuration of the calculated properties. Ribbon: Calculations.
AqaPETUpdateCalculationsDrawing
Calculates the calculated properties in the current drawing again. Ribbon: Update calculations in current drawing.
AqaPetSLBatchImportSetup
Opens the configuration for importing selection lists, for example from Excel, CSV or SQL. Ribbon: Selection Lists.
AqaPetSLBatchImport
Imports the configured selection lists without a dialog. Ribbon: Selection Lists Import.
Bolt Calculation
AqaPETUpdateBoltUserLengthPipeLine
Sets an additional length or an overall length for the bolts of the selected joints. Context menu: PlantExpressTools > Set Custom Bolt Length.
AqaPETSetPrioritizedBoltDefinitionPart
Defines which flanged part of a joint supplies the pipe spec and pressure class for the bolt calculation. Context menu: PlantExpressTools > Set Prioritized Bolt Definition Part.
PETBOLTCALCULATE
Runs the bolt calculation for all pipe lines of the current drawing without a dialog. The progress is shown in the status bar. Use it in scripts, for example to calculate the bolts when a drawing is opened.
Further Commands
AqaPlantToolsAudit
Runs the project audit of Plant 3D and then the PlantTools audit, which removes orphaned bolt parts. PlantProjectManager: Audit Project on the project node.
AqaPETUpdateRevisionTableInDrawing
Draws or updates the revision table in the current drawing. In the PlantProjectManager, Update Revision Table does the same for the selected drawings.
AqaPETCreateClasses
Creates a new class at any level of the class tree, also where the Project Setup of Plant 3D does not allow it.
PlantDataManager
The ribbon button is in the PlantTools ribbon, panel PlantDataManager.
AqaImportData
Opens the PlantDataManager Plugin, which imports the data and Not-Placed Objects edited in PlantDataManager. Ribbon: Import data.
AqaExportPIDTagFormats
Exports the P&ID tag formats and symbol definitions so that PlantDataManager can use them. PlantDataManager Plugin: Export Tag and Symbol definitions.
PlantLink
The ribbon buttons are in the PlantTools ribbon, panel PlantLink.
AqaPl
Opens the PlantLink main dialog with the link configurations. Ribbon: Link with external data.
AqaPlUpdateLinks
Updates the object links in all drawings of the project. Links to drawing properties are not updated. Ribbon: Updates links in project.
AqaPlUpdateLinksInCurrentDrawing
Updates the object links in the current drawing. Ribbon: Updates links in drawing.
AqaPlUpdateDwgPropertiesLinks
Updates only the links to drawing properties in all drawings of the project. Ribbon: Updates drawing links in project.
AqaPlUpdateDwgPropertiesLinksInCurrentDrawing
Updates only the links to drawing properties in the current drawing. Ribbon: Updates drawing links in drawing.
AqaPlRefreshLinks
Reloads the class definitions and all link configurations without opening the main dialog.
AqaPLSlineNames
Lists the P&ID line styles of the project on the command line, with their description and whether the style is a multiline style.
PlantSpecDriven
The ribbon buttons are in the PlantTools ribbon, panel PlantSpecDriven.
AqaPSDPalette
Shows or hides the PlantSpecDriven palette with the Structure Tree. Ribbon: PlantSpecDriven palette.
AqaPSDInconsistencies
Opens the palette with the inconsistencies between P&ID and 3D. Structure Tree: Show all inconsistencies.
PlantSync
The ribbon button is in the PlantTools ribbon, panel PlantSync.
AqaPS
Opens PlantSync to compare and synchronize the setup of target projects with a source project. Ribbon: Synchronize projects.
Repair Commands
Use these commands only if a project shows one of the described problems.
AQAPTRemoveDuplicateACPlantToolsFolder
Removes the second ACPlantTools folder that can appear when a project is created from an existing project. Available in the PlantDataManager Plugin, PlantExpressTools, PlantLink and PlantSpecDriven.
AQAPTRemoveOrphanedMiscEntries
Lists orphaned entries of the Misc files that the Project Manager can neither show nor remove, and deletes them after you confirm.
AQAPTUndoCheckOutMiscFiles
Collaboration projects only: lists the server-side check-outs of the project's Misc files and lets a project administrator undo stuck check-outs, including those of other users.
AutoCAD Plant 3D
These are important commands of AutoCAD Plant 3D itself. The links open the Autodesk help for AutoCAD Plant 3D 2027. Most commands work the same way in older versions; where a command is newer, the version is mentioned. All commands are listed in the Autodesk command reference.
Remark: If a localized Plant 3D does not recognize a command, type it with a leading underscore, for example _PROJECTMANAGER.
Project
PROJECTMANAGER
Opens the Project Manager, the central place to open a project and to work with its drawings, isometrics and orthographic drawings.
PROJECTSETUP
Opens the Project Setup, where an administrator configures the project-wide settings.
SYNCHSTYLES
Updates the open drawing with the current project settings. Since Plant 3D 2027 this also covers symbol and annotation styles.
AUDITPROJECT
Checks the open project for database problems such as orphaned records and repairs them. No other user may have the project locked.
PLANTAUDIT
Checks the open drawing against the project database and fixes differences. Plant 3D objects that are missing in the database are erased from the drawing.
COMPRESSPROJECT
Compacts the cached drawing data of the project to keep it fast. No other user may have the project locked.
EXPORTTOAUTOCAD
Saves the current drawing as a plain AutoCAD drawing in a selectable DWG version.
Data and Validation
DATAMANAGER
Opens the Data Manager to view, filter, edit, export and import project data.
VALIDATE
Validates the project, for example for orphaned annotations, unterminated lines or unconnected off-page connectors, and lists the findings in the Validation Summary.
VALIDATECONFIG
Opens the validation settings, where you choose which errors the validation reports.
PLANTDWGCHECKER
Compares the texts and annotations shown in the drawing with the property values in the database and lists the differences.
P&ID
SLEDIT
Edits a schematic line, for example to add a gap or break, to join or straighten lines or to reverse the flow.
SLGROUPEDIT
Adds lines to a line group or removes them, or links a signal line group with a pipe line group.
PIDANNOTATE
Places an annotation on a P&ID component or line, using an annotation style.
PIDCONVERT
Converts plain AutoCAD geometry into a P&ID component or line, so that it carries data and appears in reports.
CONTROLVALVE
Places a control valve with the selected valve body and actuator. From Plant 3D 2026.
CONVERTTOCONTROLVALVE
Converts a hand valve into a control valve by adding an actuator. From Plant 3D 2026.
3D Piping
PLANTPIPEADD
Routes pipe with the current pipe spec and size and inserts the required fittings. Ribbon: Route Pipe.
PLANTPIDLINELIST
Opens the P&ID Line List, from which you place the 3D counterparts of P&ID lines, valves, equipment and nozzles.
PLANTFITTINGADD
Places a piping component that you select from the parts of the current pipe spec and size.
PLANTPIPESLOPE
Adds or changes the slope of an existing pipe run. It does not set the slope for new routing.
PLANTCONVERTLINETOPIPE
Creates piping along existing lines, arcs or polylines. Ribbon: Line to Pipe.
PLANTCONNECTJOINT
Creates a joint between two components whose open ports touch and are aligned.
PLANTWELDADD
Inserts a weld at a selected point of a pipe, or automatically by maximum segment length.
PLANTTAG
Assigns a Tag to a 3D object such as a valve, equipment or structure. Ribbon: Assign Tag.
PLANTCUSTOMPARTS
Opens the Custom Parts Builder to place a part or instrument that is not in the pipe spec, as a placeholder until the pipe spec contains it.
PLANTSHOWALL
Shows all Plant 3D objects again that were hidden with PLANTHIDE or PLANTISOLATE.
Pipe Specs
PLANTSPECVIEWER
Opens the Spec Viewer, which lists all parts of the current pipe spec. From there you can insert parts or create tool palettes.
PLANTDYNAMICTOOLPALETTE
Turns the tool palette that is generated from the current pipe spec on or off.
PLANTSPECUPDATECHECK
Checks whether the pipe specs used in the drawing have changed and offers to update the model.
Remark: The Spec Editor and the Report Creator are separate applications. You start them from the Windows Start menu or the desktop, not with a command.
Equipment
Structure
Isometrics
PLANTQUICKISO
Creates a quick isometric to check your work. It is not stored as a project document.
PLANTPRODUCTIONISO
Creates production isometrics, the deliverables that are stored in the project.
PLANTISOADDINFO
Places isometric markers in the 3D model, for example a break point, floor symbol, flow arrow, insulation or location point.
Orthographics
PLANTORTHOCREATE
Creates a new orthographic view by defining an OrthoCube around the model area.
PLANTORTHOEDIT
Changes an existing orthographic view, for example its boundary or output size.
PLANTORTHOUPDATE
Updates an orthographic view from the current 3D model. Since Plant 3D 2025 the option All updates all views of the drawing.
PLANTORTHOPLACEBOM
Places a table in an orthographic drawing: bill of materials, equipment, nozzle, steel or spool list.
Collaboration
PLANTPROJECTCOLLABORATION
Uploads the open project to the cloud as a collaboration project. Ribbon: Share Project.
PLANTCHECKIN
Checks in a drawing of a collaboration project so that your changes reach the team.
PLANTCOLLABORATIONOPTIONS
Opens the collaboration options, for example the project update interval, the check-in and check-out behaviour and the local workspace folder.
PLANTAUDITDATABASE
Checks and repairs the database of a collaboration project. Requires the Folder Control permission.
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