THRUX Implementation Guide¶
Introduction¶
This guide is aimed to help designers manage their workflows throughout the design lifecycles of their projects. And it will also show examples of how to turn their THRUX models into deliverable documents.
We will cover Branches, Issuances, and exporting your designs to AutoCAD or Excel.
Branching¶
What is a Branch? What are common ways to use Branches?
Branching is a tool to help aid the efforts of project management.
Every project has a default Branch which is called the Base Branch.
Issuance Log displays the default Base Branch
The idea is to create a Branch once you know the scope of work for your next issuance.
Creating a Branch is like creating a copy of a Branch, however, this allows for additional functionality.
A Branch can be compared against one of it’s previous Branches.
Using the Issuance Log to view the project history
A timeline is displayed at the bottom of the Issuance Log to help visualize change management.
Branch History is displayed at the bottom of the Issuance Log
Preparing Drawings¶
Once your design is reviewed and ready to be issued, the next step is to export your design.
The goal is to get a THRUX model into a drafting environment like AutoCAD or Revit to produce a deliverable to Contractors.
The Riser, One-Line, and Schedules are exportable to AutoCAD.
Schedules are also exportable to Excel.
The Studies are flexible reports which can be printed in PDF format.
- Once you have built a THRUX model, export the documents you need as necessary. The following information is exportable:
- Riser
- One-Line
- Schedules
- Studies
- Pricing Report
Schedules and Schedule Views¶
Schedule Views are groupings of electrical Schedules. For example, designers may group their Schedules by size or by priority. In other words, the main or larger panels are grouped together, and the utility or emergency panels are placed in another group.
It is possible to export all of your Schedules at the same time, however, that operation may take longer and it may be more beneficial to export Schedules in smaller groups.
These Views can be viewed at any time.
Saving a group of Schedules as a Schedule View
After you create your Views, you can export your Schedules to AutoCAD.
Click on the down arrow and then click “Export To AutoCAD: Selected.”
Saving a group of Schedules as E-500
Name the file with the same name as your Schedule View. Your Schedules will follow this naming scheme:
- ScheduleViewName_Equipment_Name.dwg
You should see multiple instances of AcCoreConsole (Command Prompt) opening on your screen. This will create multiple AutoCAD files in your directory.
Exporting Schedules to AutoCAD
In this example we’ve created a folder which holds all of our THRUX exports.
THRUX Schedules in their own folder
In AutoCAD, now we can set up a single drawing which XREFs our THRUX Schedules. When the design changes, we can export our schedules, and our drawings will update.
Linking Excel and AutoCAD¶
Note that it is also possible to export Schedules to Excel. Additional formatting can be done in either Excel or AutoCAD.
Create an Excel Link in AutoCAD
Linking AutoCAD and Revit¶
There is also a way to link AutoCAD files and Revit mdoels.
Inside your Drafting View (Revit), click on the Insert tab. Then click on Link CAD.
Note that if you change the original AutoCAD file, you must remember to reload it in Revit
Summary¶
Create a Branch once you know the scope of work for your next Issuance. Various aspects of THRUX models are exportable in multiple formats. Set up Schedule Views to view Schedules in groups and to set up your AutoCAD XREFs. Link your CAD files to Revit and reload them as necessary.
Feel free to contact us at Support with any questions.