Create the Item

To begin creating an item, you may begin either by creating a new item entirely from scratch, or by making a copy of an existing item, and editing it.

Once you know the pattern number (CID) of the item you want to create, the next step is to launch the MAKEPAT command, and create the basic geometry and other parameters associated with the item. The steps below describe how to do this, including how to provide a descriptive name for the item, and how to save the item to an appropriate folder.

To create an item:

1. Start the Fabrication product. You can use CADmep, ESTmep, or CAMduct.
2. Choose a configuration (Imperial or Metric), and open a new, blank job or drawing.
3. Do one of the following:
   • To create a new item entirely from scratch, once you know the pattern number of the item you want to create, start the MAKEPAT command.

     For example, at the command line, type in MAKEPAT 2523 and press Enter. (For more information, see Starting the MAKEPAT Command.)

     Note: In ESTmep or CAMduct, press SHIFT+CTRL+C to display the console window.

     This example describes how to create a simple 90 degree elbow item, which is pattern number (CID) 2523. When you start the MAKEPAT command, and provide a valid CID number, the Takeoff dialog for the item displays.

   • To create a new item by copying an existing item and editing it, in the Item Folders view, navigate to the desired item, right-click Copy, then Paste. Double-click the copied item to display the Takeoff dialog.
4. If you created the item from scratch:
   1. Close and save this Takeoff dialog without making any changes to it.

      In CADmep and EST, click OK to close this dialog. In CAMduct, click Accept.

   2. At the Save Item File As dialog, you can browse to an appropriate folder location in the left pane, and save this item to an existing folder, or you can create a new folder and save it there.

      For this 90 degree elbow example, go to Item Folders\Imperial Content\Mechanical\Systems, and create a new folder here.

      To create a new folder, right-click on an existing folder and click New. On the Page Properties dialog, type in a name for the new folder (for example, MYTEST), and click OK.

   3. On the Save File As dialog, enter an appropriate name for the item in the Filename field, and click Save.

      For example, type in "Elbow 90 Degree" as the name for this item.

   4. Display the Item Folders view by doing one of the following:
      • In CADmep: At the command line, type FOLDERS and then press Enter.
      • In ESTmep and CAMduct, click the Item Folders tab.
   5. In the Item Folders view, navigate to the folder location where the new item is stored. The new item should display in the specified location in the Item Folders view.

      Now that the item is created, and displays in the Item Folders view, the next step is to associate the item with a Product List.

   6. To do this, in the Item Folders view, right-click on the newly created item and click Create Product List. The Takeoff dialog displays. Note that the Catalogue drop-down list at the top of the dialog is blank (not set).
   7. On the Takeoff dialog, click OK to close this dialog.
   8. Click Save at the Save Item File As dialog, and click Yes if you are prompted with the "Overwrite existing icon's image file?" message.

At this point, the new item is created, but cannot be used until geometry and other parameters are configured.

The next step is specifying the item's basic geometry and dimensions.