Because no catalog information exists for a generic component, you must use the Physical Command to manually define its properties, including setting the dimension and end connection type.
Defining properties for a generic component creates an item code that you can apply
to other components in the sketch. You only need to define a particular type of generic
component once. Afterwards, you can use the Item Code Dialog to assign it as if it were in the specification. See Assign an item code.
You can choose to manually define properties when you use a component other than what is available in the specification. Typically, though, you manually define properties when there is no component available in the specification and you want to reserve space for it, such as for a specialty item that is required in the pipeline but its data is not defined in the specification.
In the example, a by-pass has been routed around the valve. The software has placed both tees as generic components because there is nothing available in the specification.
-
Right-click the generic tee component and then select Physical to display the the Physical Dialog.
-
Expand the Legs node.
-
Under the Legs node, expand each Leg_n node and type a value in the Length field.
After you define the leg lengths for a generic component, the component becomes like
any other component in the specification. The material is available in the Item Code Dialog, and only the end preps can be edited in the Physical Dialog.
-
Select OK.
The tee in the sketch now displays green, which is the default color for fully a specified component.
You can define leg lengths in meters (m), millimeters (mm), and feet/inches (ft/in).