Parts Catalog Management Practices

To prevent errors in multi-user environments, use the following practices for managing pipe network part catalogs:

• When changes to a parts catalog are expected, designate a single person (the ‘catalog manager’) to be responsible for changing and maintaining the master parts catalog.
• When the master catalog changes, the catalog manager distributes the updated catalog to all users or offices.
• Users send all new or modified parts to the catalog manager for addition to the master catalog. Among the team, agree on a standard process for doing this. For example, users could send to the catalog manager an entire catalog folder, or just the affected files (DWG, XML, and BMP) for a single part.
• If all users store their parts catalogs locally on their computers, the catalogs should be in the same location, preferably the default C: drive path used by Autodesk Civil 3D.
• If a number of users are on the same network, a single pipes catalog can be stored in a central network location. In this case, it is important for users to avoid changing the shared catalog, as they could interfere with the work of other users. Instead, the catalog manager should be responsible for making all changes and notifying the users.
• When a new or modified part is required, always use Part Builder to make the edits. Manual edits to an .xml file can produce unwanted results.
• When modifying a default part, save it with a new name so that it can be easily distinguished from the original part.
• When sharing a drawing with another user, prevent unwanted part changes by setting the pipe network catalog to the same location, such as a shared network drive, or the default C: drive. If two separate catalogs are involved, verify that their contents are identical.
• Autodesk Civil 3D uses the US Imperial Pipe Catalog and US Imperial Structure Catalog, by default. When creating a pipe network, if you are working with metric drawings, change the Pipe Catalog to metric. Click Home tab Create Design panel Set Pipe Network Catalog . In the Pipe Network Catalog Settings dialog box, select US Metric Pipes and US Metric Structures for the Pipe Catalog and Structure Catalog fields, respectively.