7.9 Using Using commands commands
PDMS
PDMS can be typed in when using PDMS via thecan be typed in when using PDMS via theDisplay>CommDisplay>Command and Line…Line…
menu selection, which gives the
menu selection, which gives theCommand WindowCommand Window::
To give a command, click in the
To give a command, click in theCommand>Command> text entry box, type in text entry box, type in the command, andthe command, and press
pressEnterEnter. The scrollable list . The scrollable list shows the command(s) entered and any resulting outputshows the command(s) entered and any resulting output from PDMS (including error messages).
from PDMS (including error messages).
Command editing aids are available:
Command editing aids are available:
•
• Clicking on a line in the scrollable lClicking on a line in the scrollable list area copies that line to theist area copies that line to theCommand >Command >
box.
box.
•
• Command syntax in theCommand syntax in theCommand>Command> box can be edited using thebox can be edited using theDeleteDelete andand Backspace keys in the normal way.
Backspace keys in the normal way.
•
• Highlighting some or all of the text in theHighlighting some or all of the text in theCommand>Command> box and pressing the rightbox and pressing the right mouse button gives useful Windows editing commands (
mouse button gives useful Windows editing commands (CutCut,, CopyCopy,, PastePaste,, DeleteDelete,, Undo
Undo).).
7.9.1
7.9.1 Why Why use use command command syntax? syntax?
For most purposes you will want to use PDMS via the GUI. However, by using For most purposes you will want to use PDMS via the GUI. However, by using commands you may be able to streamline your
commands you may be able to streamline your methods of working and save you methods of working and save you time ontime on repeated tasks. In particular, you may want to:
repeated tasks. In particular, you may want to:
•
• Create macros to automate repetitive procedures (see theCreate macros to automate repetitive procedures (see the Plant Design Software Plant Design Software Customisation Guide
Customisation Guide andand Reference Manual Reference Manual ))
•
• Design and create new forms and Design and create new forms and menus for your graphical user menus for your graphical user interface thatinterface that match your working needs precisely (see the
match your working needs precisely (see the Plant Design Software Plant Design Software Customisation Guide
Customisation Guide andand Reference Manual Reference Manual ))
In some cases it can be slightly quicker to use commands rather than the GUI for simple In some cases it can be slightly quicker to use commands rather than the GUI for simple operations. For example:
operations. For example:
Q MEM
Q MEM - list the members of the current element- list the members of the current element
Q ATT
Q ATT - list the attributes of the - list the attributes of the current elementcurrent element Note that you should always use the GUI to
Note that you should always use the GUI to elements.elements.
Work in any PDMS module
Work in any PDMS module is mostly about manipulating the elements and theiris mostly about manipulating the elements and their attributes in one or more
attributes in one or more databases; either to add, change, read or databases; either to add, change, read or delete data. You mustdelete data. You must therefore be able to tell PDMS:
therefore be able to tell PDMS:
•
• which database(s) you want to accesswhich database(s) you want to access
•
• which elements in the which elements in the database hierarchy you want to accessdatabase hierarchy you want to access
•
• what changes, if any, you what changes, if any, you want to make to the database’s contentswant to make to the database’s contents This chapter tells you how to do these things
This chapter tells you how to do these things
8.1 Querying 8.1 Querying
You will often find, when working in PDMS, that yo
You will often find, when working in PDMS, that you need to check existing informatu need to check existing informationion about some aspect of the program’s operations. For example, you
about some aspect of the program’s operations. For example, you may need to find outmay need to find out about any of the following:
about any of the following:
•
• The current usage of the The current usage of the program in terms of users, modules program in terms of users, modules and databasesand databases
•
• The unique code which identifies the process you are running and the The unique code which identifies the process you are running and the station youstation you are running it from (useful for generating unique workfile names)
are running it from (useful for generating unique workfile names)
•
• The current setting of a The current setting of a command optioncommand option
•
• The contents of part of The contents of part of a particular database; for example, the current setting of a particular database; for example, the current setting of an attribute or the list
an attribute or the list of member elements owned by a specific of member elements owned by a specific elementelement
•
• The elements which match specific selection criteria entered by youThe elements which match specific selection criteria entered by you Each module incorporates a
Each module incorporates aQueryQuery pull-down menupull-down menu which allows you to ask about somewhich allows you to ask about some of these topics, the scope of the facility being dependent upon the particular module of these topics, the scope of the facility being dependent upon the particular module which you are using. For example, the
which you are using. For example, theQueryQuery pull-down menu for Design is:pull-down menu for Design is:
The querying operations available from the GUI are fully explained by the online help The querying operations available from the GUI are fully explained by the online help for the module in question.
for the module in question.
Not all of the querying operations available from PDMS can be accessed using the GUI.
Not all of the querying operations available from PDMS can be accessed using the GUI.
For these other (general) options, the
For these other (general) options, the QUERYQUERY command must be used. See the PDMScommand must be used. See the PDMS Design Reference Manual Part 1
Design Reference Manual Part 1 for details.for details.