AutoCAD Plant 3D | Intermediate - Project Setup for Administrators

AutoCAD Plant 3D | Intermediate – Project Setup for Administrators is a comprehensive five-day private course, delivered virtually or in person, designed to customise and configure your AutoCAD Plant 3D environment. Led by an Autodesk Certified Instructor, this course combines hands-on training with live configuration, enabling your team to work directly with the instructor to create a fully operational master project template tailored to your organisation’s requirements, ready for immediate implementation upon course completion.

This training is highly customisable to meet your specific needs. Prior to the course, your team will participate in a Discovery Workshop with an ARKANCE technical specialist to define key focus areas, identify challenges, and determine which modules are relevant to your organisation. The course focuses on configuring critical aspects of AutoCAD Plant 3D, starting with general project settings such as database setup, P&ID and isometric configurations, and customising drawing properties, file naming conventions, and pathing. You will explore P&ID class definitions, object mapping, and linking P&ID drawings to pipe specifications to ensure consistency between 2D and 3D workflows. Additional topics include creating and managing equipment and pipe support libraries, defining class properties, tag formats, and annotation setups for line groups, piping components, and structural elements. Advanced tools for configuring ISO themes, orthometric drawings, sloped piping, and offset formatting will also be covered. Throughout the training, your team will engage in practical exercises while the instructor directly applies these configurations to your system. You will learn how to manage catalogues and specifications, set up report formats, and centralise project files and library paths to create a unified environment. The course concludes with a thorough testing and validation phase, ensuring all customisations function as intended and align with your organisation’s specific requirements.

By the end of the course, your team will have both the knowledge to maintain and adapt your customised AutoCAD Plant 3D environment and a fully configured master project template ready to support your design workflows. This approach ensures long-term efficiency, consistency, and confidence in your Plant 3D projects.

During this course, participants will explore the following modules:

• Module 0 – Short Discovery Workshop: Before the main training begins, your team will participate in a Discovery Workshop with an ARKANCE technical specialist. This initial consultation is designed to define key focus areas, understand your organisation’s unique challenges, gather essential information, and finalise pricing. Conducted on a separate day from the main training, this workshop ensures that the subsequent course is highly relevant and tailored to your specific needs, setting a strong foundation for the customised configuration process.
• Module 1 – Master Project Template Setup | General Settings: This module covers essential tools for configuring Plant 3D project settings. Learn about database setup, including the structure of Plant 3D databases, differences between SQLite and SQL Server, and SQL Server options such as Express, Standard, and Enterprise. You will also explore creating SQL Server instances, managing databases, and migrating from SQLite to SQL Server. Configure custom drawing properties, file naming formats, and pathing to suit your setup. Understand project details by implementing custom properties into drawings and reports. Finally, manage project reports using the Data Manager and edit shared Plant content folder locations.
• Module 2 – Master Project Template Setup | P&ID DWG Settings | Display, Line, Export & Import Settings | Data Manager Views | P&ID Painter: Learn how to create a customised P&ID drawing template to align with your standards. This module covers configuring display settings, including creating, editing, and managing end connections. Explore line settings to adjust options for crossing lines, gaps, standoff distances, and grips. Configure custom export and import settings to override default displayed data. Discover how to create, modify, and delete customised Data Manager views, and set up P&ID Painter settings by creating and editing styles for the P&ID environment.
• Module 3 – Master Project Template Setup | P&ID DWG Settings | Class Definitions | Symbol Libraries | Areas & Sub-Areas | Lists | Pipeline & Signal Line Groups: Learn how to configure P&ID class definitions and set up symbol libraries for engineering items such as equipment, inline assets, instrumentation, lines, and nozzles, as well as non-engineering items like actuators, annotations, and connectors. This module covers managing areas and sub-areas, editing and adding properties, creating and modifying lists, and managing pipeline and signal line groups to align with project standards.
• Module 4 – Master Project Template Setup | P&ID DWG Settings | Linking Pipe Specifications: Learn how to integrate pipe specifications into P&ID drawings to ensure alignment with the specifications used in 3D drawing files. This module covers the process of linking P&ID drawings to the same specification database, enabling consistency across your 2D and 3D workflows. You will also explore techniques for managing these links to improve project accuracy and ensure efficient coordination between design environments.
• Module 5 – Master Project Template Setup | Plant 3D Class Definitions | Import & Export Settings | Data Manager Views | Layer & Colour Settings | Routing Rules | Specification Update Settings: Learn how to configure custom export and import settings to replace default displayed data for improved data handling. This module also covers configuring Data Manager views, including creating, modifying, and deleting customised views. Explore layer and colour settings to automate layer and colour assignments for pipelines and inline components. Set up pipe bend routing rules to create bends or separate components, and configure specification update settings to manage 3D model property updates during specification changes.
• Module 6 – Master Project Template Setup | Plant 3D Class Definitions | Piping Connection Settings | Simple & Compound Joints | Pipe Segment Lengths | Connector Display Settings | Bolt Rounding Factors: Gain a detailed understanding of piping connection settings to customise your project standards. Learn how to set up simple and compound joint types, ensuring flexibility for various design scenarios. This module also covers configuring minimum pipe segment lengths, adjusting connector display settings for improved clarity, and defining bolt rounding factors to maintain accuracy in joint configurations. These settings will help you create consistent and precise piping systems tailored to your project needs.
• Module 7 – Master Project Template Setup | Plant 3D Class Definitions | P&ID Object Mapping | Matching Properties: Develop the essential skills to configure P&ID object mapping to ensure consistency and accuracy between your P&ID and 3D environments. This module covers setting up matching properties for components, enabling efficient validation and accurate placement of P&ID elements into the 3D model. By aligning these properties, you will streamline workflows, reduce errors, and maintain data integrity throughout your project.
• Module 8 – Master Project Template Setup | Plant 3D Class Definitions | Properties | Tag Formats | Annotation Setups: Learn how to configure Plant 3D class definitions for various components and systems. This module covers setting up properties, tag formats, and annotation setups for line groups, equipment, fasteners, and pipe run components. You will also explore these configurations for pulled pipe bends and steel structures, ensuring your project annotations and properties are fully customised to meet design requirements.
• Module 9 – Master Project Template Setup | Plant 3D Equipment Library: Learn how to create a customised Plant 3D equipment library using the PLANTEQUIPMENTCREATE command. This module covers building various types of equipment templates and importing 3D equipment models into the equipment template environment, enabling efficient and standardised equipment management for your projects.
• Module 10 – Master Project Template Setup | Pipe Support Library: Learn how to create a customised pipe support library using the PLANTPIPESUPPORTADD command. This module covers building various types of pipe supports and creating pipe supports from 3D models, enabling efficient and consistent management of support components in your projects.
• Module 11 – Master Project Template Setup | Isometric DWG Settings | Symbols | References | Text: Explore how to configure and customise symbols and references used in isometric drawings. This module covers editing the symbols applied in isometric outputs, adjusting their default properties, and customising text settings for reference dimensions. By tailoring these elements, you will ensure your isometric drawings meet project requirements and maintain consistency across deliverables.
• Module 12 – Master Project Template Setup | Isometric DWG Settings | Title Blocks | Display Settings: Learn how to customise title blocks and display settings for isometric drawings to ensure they meet project standards. This module guides you through the process of setting up title blocks, including adding and configuring essential project information. You will also explore how to adjust display settings to create professional and consistent isometric outputs.
• Module 13 – Master Project Template Setup | Isometric DWG Settings | Iso Style | Paths | File Naming: Learn how to configure Iso Style settings and define paths and directories for storing isometric drawings. This module covers setting up rules and file naming conventions for Isometric and Spool (Fabrication) drawing types. You will also explore Iso Style default settings, including configuring advanced creation options and creating defaults for both Production Iso and Quick Iso.
• Module 14 – Master Project Template Setup | Isometric DWG Settings | ISO Themes | Annotations & Dimensions | Sloped & Offset Piping: Learn how to configure ISO themes by managing the dimension, annotation, and symbol scale settings for piping, overrides, and branch piping. This module also covers formatting annotations and dimensions for isometric drawings, ensuring they meet project standards. Additionally, explore the setup for sloped and offset piping, including falls, 2D offsets, and 3D offsets, to maintain accuracy and clarity in your drawings.
• Module 15 – Master Project Template Setup | Ortho DWG Settings | Title Blocks | Display Settings: Explore how to configure Ortho Style default settings to customise drawing outputs and define offset locations for orthometric drawings. This module also guides you through setting up title blocks, including formatting and adding project-specific information, to ensure your orthometric drawings meet professional standards. Additionally, learn how to adjust display settings to create clear and consistent documentation for your projects.
• Module 16 – Creating & Managing Catalogues: Learn how to create and manage Plant 3D catalogues using the Spec Editor tools. This module covers sourcing additional catalogues from resources such as the Autodesk App Store and manufacturer websites. Discover how to create custom components for your catalogues using Plant 3D parametric graphics or AutoCAD DWG block-based graphics, enabling a tailored approach to catalogue management.
• Module 17 – Creating & Managing Specifications: Gain a comprehensive understanding of creating and modifying specifications in Plant 3D. This module guides you through setting up branch tables to define connection standards and configuring bolt length mapping to ensure accurate and consistent specifications. By mastering these tools, you will be able to customise specifications to align with project requirements and maintain design precision across all components.
• Module 18 – Reports: Learn how to effectively use the Report Creator tool in Plant 3D. This module covers setting up report locations, creating new report formats from scratch, and customising existing reports to suit project requirements. These skills will enable you to generate clear and professional reports tailored to your design needs.
• Module 19 – Configuring & Centralising the Setup: Learn how to configure and document a custom AutoCAD Plant 3D setup tailored to your organisation’s needs. This module covers setting up file path options, template options, profiles, and desktop startup buttons. You will also explore duplicating all relevant support files to a centralised AutoCAD Plant 3D library and centralising project files. Additionally, learn how to configure library pathing within your company’s system, whether on a server or duplicated across individual PCs, ensuring a well-organised and accessible setup.
• Module 20 – Testing & Sign-Off: Perform thorough testing of all customisations and project file setups to ensure that your AutoCAD Plant 3D environment functions as intended. This module includes a comprehensive review of each customised feature and final adjustments before sign-off. This critical step ensures that the new setup aligns with your company’s specific requirements and is ready for integration into real-world projects, providing confidence in its reliability during daily use.

Before the course, you will receive a Course Pack containing training notes and/or files that need to be downloaded prior to joining the training.

This course includes 12 months of complimentary access to the course-related ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge e-book (valued at 100 USD) which contains files that need to be installed prior to joining the training. This e-book provides comprehensive training notes that you can refer to after the training to further ensure your knowledge retention. Login details for the ASCENT platform will be issued a few days before the training. To learn more about ASCENT, please visit their website.

Participants joining this course virtually will need:

• AutoCAD Plant 3D '22 or higher installed on their computer (required). We strongly recommend that participants join using the most recent version of the software. Please contact us if you need to purchase a software licence.
• The latest Zoom version installed on their computer (required).
• A stable internet connection with a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps (required).
• A secondary screen to follow instructions shared by the course instructor during training, along with a mouse for easy software navigation (recommended).
• A headset to ensure clear communication with the instructor, and preferably a microphone and webcam for interactive conversations (recommended).

Participants joining this course in person will need:

• AutoCAD Plant 3D '22 or higher installed on their computer (required). We strongly recommend that participants join using the most recent version of the software. Please contact us if you need to purchase a software licence.
• A large computer screen, along with a keyboard and mouse for easy software navigation (recommended).

Additionally, the training venue should be equipped with:

• A projector setup or a large screen enabling the instructor to connect their laptop, facilitating attendee visibility of the instructor's screen (required).

To join the course, participants must be confident in their use of AutoCAD Plant 3D. It is recommended that individuals have a thorough understanding of all topics covered in the Essentials course, along with at least six months of regular usage of AutoCAD Plant 3D on projects. This foundational knowledge ensures full engagement with the intermediate concepts and techniques presented in the course.

ARKANCE, an Authorized Autodesk Training Center, delivers high-quality training for Autodesk software users. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive an official ARKANCE Certificate of Completion, demonstrating their commitment to ongoing professional development.

Additionally, participants are encouraged to register their attendance with Autodesk Education to receive a Certificate of Completion from Autodesk. To obtain this certificate, participants must follow the steps provided in the confirmation email sent after registration and submit a post-training feedback survey within 60 days of completing the course.

Our private training sessions are offered at a flat rate per course and accommodate up to eight participants. Delivered on request, these courses can be conducted virtually or on-site at your venue.

The training can follow a standard agenda or be customised to align with your team’s specific workflows, existing templates, and project requirements. Please note that in-person training will incur additional travel costs, and pricing may vary for customised curriculums.

Please contact us to discuss organising this training for your team.