PiperSuite custom component editor

PiperSuite is a treasure.
Does anyone have experience with custom editor.
The "Help" does not address this and I am reluctant to play around
without guidance.
I want to add 9000# fittings and olets and some valve sizes.

Hi DF,

First of all, thanks for the post and kind words about PiperSuite and thanks to Anton for his hard work keeping the PipingDesigners Forum running so smoothly!
Right-click the PiperSuite custom component window and select Custom Component Editor to create catalogs of your favorite components. The editor has a syntax checker (validation tool) that ensures that the FitCalc module will read the component properly.

Thanks for your post DF!
Bob

.....a good beginning but I 'll be more specific with the problem. My input so far is detailed below but I'm missing a step.
1 -Click on "Tools", scroll to "Custom component editor"
2-Add description and dimension ie. (6" 90 deg. 5d bend + 762mm)
3-click "Validate item"
4- click "Insert item"
5- click "Save catalog" (I have fumbled thru to this point by trial and error)
6-I now have a "5D Bend_metric.cmp file (along side some other .cmp valve files already in program)
that I have added several size 5d bends for experimentation.
(Incidental to this learning exercise I have noticed the 5d bends already in program are limited to
a " 2"and 3" only. Am I missing a file? Also how do you input the degree symbol? I have not
seen a keyboard with a deg.symbol)
Sorry for the tangent. Now back to Item 6.I have now created a custom component file.
How do I enter data from .cmp file into "FitCalc" ? My expectation was that if I then clicked on "Custom"
button on lower right of FitCalc my entrys would magically appear and I would highlight whichever component
I wanted to add to tally .Obviously not the right direction.Custom only opens a blank sheet
which I am unable to add text or anything else.What is Custom button for and how do I make use of
custom component files that I create? Are they related functions?
I have used this program daily since version 1.0 and it is the best software value available.When I can navigate thru the yellow brick road of custom catalogdom it will be awesome.
Thanks for your time and effort.
Darryl (df)

Hi Darryl,

I apologize for the delay in replying to your post. Thanks for using PiperSuite and for letting us know that we had omitted 3D and 5D 90° and 45° bends. We've added these bends in minor upgrade v3.6 available by clicking on www.pipedesign.com/PiperSuitev36xp.exe and installing the upgrade.

The custom component editor is merely a syntax checker utility. The correct number of spaces and the addition of the correct units at the end of the entry are important because the string functions within PiperSuite depend upon proper string format. The component file itself (.CMP file) is a simple text file. These files can be created more effectively using Windows' Notepad editor after making certain that the correct syntax is used for component items.

To edit component catalogs within the Custom Component Editor, simply open your .CMP file and make changes within the "Catalog Preview / Final Edit" window, then save the .CMP file before closing. Note that once you've gotten the feel for the correct syntax... you'll probably never use the editor to create component files but will rely on copying and pasting within Windows' Notepad.

A blank Custom Component window appears (as you know ) after clicking on the "Custom" button within the FitCalc module. It is waiting for a Custom component catalog to be opened using the right-click drop-down menu. Once your component files are built (i.e. 3D Bends) and saved as .CMP files in the PiperSuite folder... open your component file and highlight with your mouse the desired component. Then right-click and select "Enter" at the top of the menu. The component will be added to your other entries within the FitCalc module.

Please note that if you modify the component files in the PiperSuite folder, save them with a different file name because they may be overwritten when installing an upgrade. I think that it would be great if we could start sharing these component catalog files with each other via a categorized download page on PipeDesign.Com... what do you think?

Kind regards,
Bob

P.S.
We've added the degree symbol entry feature within the Custom Component Editor now... but if you ever need to enter a degree symbol from the keyboard, hold down the "Alt" key and type "0176" using the numeric pad to the right of the keyboard, then release the "Alt" key... a " ° " should appear. I learned this trick by using the Windows' Character Map utility.

Thanks for the upgrade. Custom components work perfectly with your instructions which adds a whole new dimension to PiperSuite. Once I have created any custom catalogues I will be happy to share them on your site.
The degree symbol is a bonus. For some reason I find this magical and amusing. °°° Thanks for incorporating it in component editor.
Again I appreciate the time and effort you have devoted to your response.
You have been thoughtful and this tool keeps getting better.
I have been a design/draftsman for over thirty years and began when Smoley's Tables and slide rules were the norm and my greatest joy was to unzip my compass from it's leather case, sharpen it with a sanding block, place a small piece of masking tape on the paper so as not to make a hole and then make the perfect arcs. Before putting the compass away I would wipe off any fingerprints on the shiny chrome with a piece of felt and admire it and the circle for a brief moment. I still have the same sense of respect and awe for calculators which are largely taken for granted.
In short...gotta love this tool.
With Thanks
Darryl