The FLO-Sheet is a drawing similar to a piping schematic that shows the pumps, tanks, components, controls, and interconnecting pipelines of a piping system.  PIPE-FLO 2007 and above includes many new features to increase the presentation value of the FLO-Sheet. The FLO-Sheet looks like a Process Flow Diagram (PFD) or Piping & Instrumentation Drawing (P&ID) typically used to describe piping systems.

The primary FLO-Sheet attributes include the ability to:

Maintain the look of a P&ID

Select from a variety of drawing symbols

Name the objects on the FLO-Sheet

Insert notes and call out boxes on the drawing

Create FLO-Links from the drawing to external files

Allow for either Cartesian or Isometric orientation

A detail write up is included in the article along with an example PIPE-FLO system you can download and view.

Drawing & Manipulating Pipelines:
Piping schematics have a specific look to them.  You typically see items lined up in straight rows and columns with pipelines being represented by multiple line segments with sharp right angle bends.  You typically don't see a diagonal line on a P&ID.  You can create this look by using the tips & tricks listed below:

Use an existing Autocad dxf file to trace over for pipeline placement and snap to the dxf.  You can import a dxf using File/Import DXF File.  You can then snap to the DXF drawing by going to Tools/Drawing Options then check the Snap to DXF box.

Use the grid lines and snap to grid to maintain a clean Cartesian or Isometric drawing.  This can be set by going to Tools/Drawing Options then check the Show grid and Snap to grid boxes.  If an Isometric view is desired, check the Isometric box.  You can also adjust the size of your grid by the drop down box.

Show or hide the name of a pipeline:
       -You can show or hide all the pipeline names by selecting Tools/Drawing Options, select Pipes from the Device View Options and check (or uncheck) "Name" under the "Pipe FLO-Sheet Text" heading.
       -You can show or hide an individual pipe (or other component) name by starting the pipe name with a ~ then going to Tools/Drawing Options and uncheck the "Show ~ names" box.

When drawing a pipeline, you can create multiple vertexes by clicking once at each vertex desired on the FLO-Sheet and then end the pipe by double clicking.
       -You can move an existing vertex by clicking and dragging the vertex to the new location.
       -To create a new vertex in an existing pipeline, press and hold the Control button while dragging the pipe to create the vertex in the existing pipeline.
       -To remove a vertex arrowhead which you no longer wish to see on the FLO-Sheet, drag the arrowhead to directly on top of the nearest node.

You can also show or hide nodes or pipe arrow heads under the Tools/Drawing Options menu.

Selecting Drawing Symbols:
All objects on the FLO-Sheet have a variety of symbols to choose from to represent the object.  Some objects, such as pumps and components, have both schematic representations as well as colorful, descriptive symbols.  Using a pump symbol that closely represents your company's standard helps others better understand your FLO-Sheet.

To change from the default symbol, double click on the symbol to display the dialog box, and then click on the Symbol tab.   PIPE-FLO uses the selected symbol on your FLO-Sheet when creating new objects until you select a new symbol.

To show valves & fitting symbols within a pipeline, go to Tools/Drawing Options then select "Valves & Fittings" as the Device and check the items you wish to appear on the FLO-Sheet.
       -If you wish to change the orientation of a Fitting symbol (such as an elbow or tee), you can do this by double clicking on the symbol on the FLO-Sheet.
       -If you have two elbows in a pipeline and want them to only show a single symbol on the FLO-Sheet to represent both elbows, when entering the elbows under the Valves & Fittings tab of the Pipeline definition, select the elbow fitting once then enter a count of 2.  If you wish to have two elbows displayed on the FLO-Sheet, select the elbow fitting twice (each time with a count of 1).

You can also create your own custom symbols for the FLO-Sheet by using the Symbol Editor.  The Symbol Editor tool can be found in the Start directory under PIPE-FLO/Tools & Links.

Insert notes and call out boxes on the drawing:
Most design drawings use notes to provide the reader with detailed information, reference additional drawings, and call out special or important information.  

Using the Floating Text Tool, (the button with the A on it) you can insert floating text anywhere on the FLO-Sheet.  You can have as many floating text items as you need, and for additional emphasis, the text can be large, in red, or rotated.

You can also create rectangles around a group of items by clicking and holding down the mouse button at the top left of the box, then drag the mouse to the bottom right of the desired box.  When the context box appears, select "Draw Rectangle".
       -This rectangle can now be resized by simply clicking on one of the sides then dragging it to a new location.

Associate FLO-Links to the drawing:
Another powerful feature of PIPE-FLO Professional is the use of FLO-Links, hypertext link to electronic documents located on your computer network or on the Web.  Each item on the FLO-Sheet, including floating text, can have multiple FLO-Links as well as notes.  Objects with FLO-Links are marked with a small 3-prong symbol located next to the objects name.  

FLO-Links can be made by double clicking on any object on the FLO-Sheet and going to the Links tab.  From there, select "Add", enter a Link name and the path which can be either a network location or web address.

Notes can be added by clicking on the Notes tab.  A link to these notes is included on the FLO-Sheet when clicking on the 3-prong symbol next to the object name.


A PIPE-FLO Professional project is available for download to demonstrate the items outlined in this article.  If you do not have a copy of PIPE-FLO Professional 2007 or 2009, a PSV (Piping System View) file has also been included.  You must have a copy of the PIPE-FLO Viewer program to open the PSV file, a copy of which can be downloaded free of charge from the Engineered Software Website.