1.Click Start Routing at the bottom of the MEP Routing palette.
Note: Make sure the Autogroup function (Edit > Grouping > Autogroup) is turned off.
2.Click and drag in the active window, as with polyline input, then keep clicking to place additional segments on the route.
–The active tool automatically switches to the relevant straight segment-type tool (Duct, Pipe or Cable Tray), depending on the tool type chosen at the top of the Routing Palette.
–Bends are placed automatically. The Bend radius depends on what you chose in Routing Options (either the Bend radius defined in the Bend tool’s element settings, or else the Bend radius predefined for the chosen pipe/duct cross-section. (See Bending Radius.)
–Press Backspace to delete the last placed segment
–Don’t worry about duct/pipe segment lengths during routing. When you complete the route, segments are automatically divided into duct/pipe segments based on the “Duct/ Pipe segment length limit” definition (Options > Project Preferences > MEP Preferences)
–Guide Lines displayed during Routing correspond to Standard Bend Angles (defined at MEP Project Preferences).
3.To finish the routing, do one of the following:
–Double-click
–Click Finish Routing from the bottom of the Routing Palette
–Click on the connection port of an existing MEP element
Start Routing from Straight MEP Element
1.Click Start Routing on the MEP Routing palette
2.Click on the connection port of a placed MEP element
3.Click as needed to place the route.
–The newly placed MEP elements will use the parameters (Element type, MEP system, shape, elevation) of the clicked connection port, overwriting the current parameters of the Routing Palette.
–The connection ports of straight segments are editable (shown as a diamond-shaped hotspots). This means that if your routing takes a sharp turn, then the original straight segment might be shortened automatically to accommodate the bend.
Start Routing from Non-straight MEP element (e.g. Bends, Junctions, Terminals)
These connection ports have fixed geometries. You cannot place the newly routed element at an angle that would require you to truncate the existing MEP element.
See also Start Routing with a Junction.