The question about elbow in plan...

[jojodan]

When I created a planform of the 3D model, the vertical elbows is not clear. Because in the planform, the elbow turn up was looked the same as the one turn down. It is hard to distinguish the direction of other vertical components. Is there any resolvent to this problem?? thanks a lot!

See the picture:

[BentleyGuy]

Not sure what you are asking here but I think I have an idea. In paper space make your viewports visible and then (and this is the way I do it, there are other ways) type MVIEW then the letter "H" for hide. Then type "ON" to turn on hiddenline removal. select your the viewport (not the objects) you want (or all your viewports) to hide items in. Hit enter to exit the command.
Also, make sure the "Hide paperspace objects" is uncheck in the plot dialog.
Hope this is what you were looking for. If not let us know!

[lirong]

Jojodan wants to say that if there are two elbows in a vertical pipeline (one up and one down), then in the planform we cannot distinguish which is up and which is down.
So my opinion is we should create two views one planform and one frontview.Then we can easily to distinguish them.

[jojodan]

BentleyGuy's way is really work. To hide the unvisible lines made the plan easy to read! After hide the lines we can distinguish the upfacing and downfacing elbow clearly.
It seem that AP has its own hide tools named "HLR"? How about that function? Is it different from the hide command of AUTOCAD?

[BentleyGuy]

Are you talking about the "CreateHLR" command? If so that is an AutoCAD command the HLR engine doesn't handle solids that well. There is a way to hide 2D objects in AP, but that involves the 2D mode and the "2D HL Options" setting in the drawings preferences.
Also the more views you give the better. If you can not tell if an elbow is going up or down in a certain view (there may be a valve or something else blocking the view in plan) create a section as to make it clear. So, yes, Lirong creating a section is also an option! Actually I would do that! Remember to use the MVIEW hide on that viewport as well!

[jojodan]

BentleyGuy, could you upload some planform generated by Autoplant piping 3D. I am a beginner, so to read some finished drawings will be helpful to my develop.
Thx!!

[BentleyGuy]

not in the office right now! I will try later this week!