Community: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/MEP/Intelligent-connections-and-editing/ta-p/694729
MEP Designer lets you build, connect, and edit mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems directly inside your BIM model.
This article introduces two essential tools for everyday MEP design: the Connection Solver for connecting equipment and routes, and Edit Mode (plus the Pet Palette) for precise control of MEP elements.
Streamline connections with the Connection Solver
Use the Connection Solver when connecting a piece of equipment or terminal (for example a basin, fan coil, or device) to an existing route (duct, pipe, or cable tray). It ensures the connection is geometrically correct and inserts the needed fittings (like bends or transitions) automatically.
How it works
- Activate a routing tool first (Pipe, Duct, or Cable Tray). The Solver only works while a routing tool is active.
- Move the cursor near the open end or along the branch of an existing route, click to start modeling and aim at the equipment’s port you want to connect.
- You can either connect from the equipment's/object's port to the existing route or vice versa. The direction is up to you.
- The Connection Solver proposes valid connection geometries between the terminal and the route.
- Press the Up and Down arrow keys to cycle through the suggested connection options (for example straight, offset, or angled with fittings).
- Confirm the desired connection with Enter or a left mouse click.
Practical example: Wastewater basin connection
When you connect a basin’s wastewater outlet to a horizontal waste-water distribution pipe with the Pipe routing tool active, the Connection Solver offers suitable branch solutions.
If required, it automatically sets up a 45° branch connection so that the wastewater flows smoothly into the main distribution pipe.
Compatibility note
The Connection Solver can be used on
duct, pipe, and cable tray routes; the exact fitting
geometries and options depend on the active system type and your
MEP libraries.
Editing routes and segments
You can refine MEP systems either through Edit Mode (for parameter-level edits of segments and nodes) or using the Pet Palette (for quick geometric edits like changing diameter or shape).
Edit individual segments and nodes - using Edit Mode
Use Edit Mode to select any single segment or node of a Route element and edit its parameters without affecting other routes. This is ideal for adjusting transition order, local dimensions, or other route-level settings with high precision.
Enter Edit Mode
- Select a Route element.
- Click the Edit button that appears on the selected Route
Using Edit Mode
- Click any sub-element (node or segment) of the selected Route.
- The regular toolbox is replaced by selection tools and a display palette, focusing your edits on the Route only.
- From the Info Box, you can open a limited Settings dialog that applies only to the selected segment or node (for example to change parameters such as size or transition order).
- Use the Environment toggle in the display palette to show or hide the rest of the model; in Edit Mode, you can only edit the sub-elements of the selected Route, not other elements.
- The full Route Settings dialog is available from the display palette if you need to adjust broader Route-level settings.
- Example: select a node and edit its Transition order to control how transitions are arranged along a route.
Exit Edit Mode
- Press Esc.
- Click Exit Edit Mode in the display palette.
- Use Design > Exit Edit Mode.
Edit segment diameter - with the Pet Palette
For quick changes to segment geometry, you can work without Edit Mode, using the Pet Palette on route segments. To change a segment’s diameter or dimensions (duct, pipe, or cable tray):
- Select the route.
- Click the reference line of the segment you want to edit (make sure MEP Reference Lines are turned on in 2D at View > On-Screen View Options).
- From the Pet Palette, choose Edit Segment Dimensions.
-
In the dialog, edit:
- The segment shape (for ducts),
- The Table of Dimensions, and
- The segment dimensions (e.g. diameter, width/height).
- Click OK to update the segment in the model.
- The available dimension values come from the selected Table of Dimensions, which is defined in Options > Project Preferences > Route Specifications.
.
Good practices & tips
- Use the Connection Solver whenever you need to connect equipment or terminals to existing routes while a routing tool is active, and cycle through connection options with the arrow keys before confirming.
- Enter Edit Mode when you want precise control over individual segments or nodes of a Route, and use the limited Settings dialog or full Route Settings from the display palette to adjust their parameters safely.
- Use the Environment toggle in Edit Mode to isolate the active Route so you can focus on sub-elements without modifying the rest of the model.
- For quick geometric edits to route segments (for example, changing diameter or section size), skip Edit Mode and use the Pet Palette command Edit Segment Dimensions.
- Always confirm that your Table of Dimensions and Route Specifications contain the required sizes before applying dimension changes to segments.