6.1 Using the Pipe Tool to Connect Objects
The Pipe tool in the Configuration Toolbox enables you to draw 3-dimensional shaded pipes on the application page. You will use this to draw a water main, and all the connecting pipes in the system.
The first step is to draw the water main, just below the existing equipment on the application page. The water main pipe should be the largest pipe in the system, having a width of 7 pixels.
If the Tag Browser is still open from the last exercise, click its Close button.
1. Click the Pipe button in the Configuration Toolbox to select the Pipe tool. The mouse pointer and tooltip in the image shown below indicate the Pipe button.
Figure 64
2. You are returned to the application page and cross hairs are attached to your mouse pointer as shown.
Figure 65
3. Position the crosshairs to the bottom left corner of the Booster Station application page a little below and to the left of the pump graphic (an example is shown below).
Figure 66
4. Click to set the starting point for the water main.
5. Move the mouse horizontally across the page towards the right.
As you move the mouse, watch how the pipe is drawn across the page. The pipe should extend a short way past the compressor.
6. Left-click to anchor the ending point for the pipe.
7. Right-click to end the pipe drawing process.
The Graphic Editor opens for pipe configuration.
Figure 67
8. Select “Color” in the menu. The color options will open.
9. Click on the Color Selector button as shown in Figure 68. The Select Color Range dialog will open as shown in Figure 69.
Figure 68
10. In the Select Color Range dialog, click on the Blue range as shown, and then click on OK.
Figure 69
11. Select "Width" in the menu. The width options will open.
12. Click on the width selector as shown in Figure 70 and select the 7 Pixels option.
Figure 70
13. Select OK to close the pipe's graphic editor.
The Booster Station application page should now appear similar to Figure 71.
Figure 71
Next you will connect the booster pump to the water main using the Pipe tool to draw a pipe in the same blue color, but this time with a width of 5 pixels.
The Pipe tool will continue drawing segments with every left-click of the mouse until you press a right-click to end it. The steps that follow will help guide you through the process.
14. Click on the Pipe tool in the Configuration Toolbox.
You are returned to the Booster Station application page where a set of crosshairs is attached to the mouse pointer.
15. Position the crosshairs over the water inlet on the left of the pump graphic (as indicated below).
Figure 72
16. Click to anchor the starting point for the pipe.
17. Move the mouse pointer upwards about a half of an inch.
18. Click to anchor the starting point for second segment of the pipe.
19. Move the mouse pointer left about a quarter of an inch.
20. Click to anchor the starting point for the third segment of pipe.
21. Move the mouse pointer down until the crosshairs touches the water main pipe. The partially finished pipe should appear similar to the one shown below.
Figure 73
22. Right-click to end the pipe. The Graphic Editor for pipes will open.
23. Set the color to the same blue you used for the water main in the last set of exercises.
24. Set the width to 5 pixels instead of 7, again using the same technique as in the last set of exercises.
The new pipe currently appears on the uppermost layer; however, to make the display appear more polished, the pipe should appear behind the pump graphic.
25. Select the pipe. Handles should appear around it to show that it is selected.
26. Click the Send To Back button in the Configuration Toolbox.
Figure 74
The pipe now appears to be attached to the water inlet of the booster pump.