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Adding Pipes & Nodes

Contents

These commands add the basic hydraulic skeleton of a GASWorkS model — pipe features and the nodes that connect them. They cover straight 2-point pipes, arc pipes, polyline pipes and their vertices, service line vertices, valve nodes, and well-type “pipe” features. Each command is available from the GDI Command Tree, the GDI Command List, or by typing its alias on the GDI Command Line. Always check the default data values and dimensional units before adding new features — select the Options & Settings item in the Utilities menu to review the current values.

GDI Commands

Add A 2-Point Pipe

Adds a 2-point pipe feature (a straight pipe with only a From Node and To Node).

  1. Select the Add 2 Point Pipe item from the Construction branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the From Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The From Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  3. At the To Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The To Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  4. The pipe feature will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Pipe Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add 2-Point Pipe item from the GDI Command List or typing ADDPIPE or ADDP on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To change the Pipe Data, use the Edit Pipe Data command or left-click the desired pipe feature to display the data in the Data Panel.
  • To change the Node Data, use the Edit Node Data command or left-click the desired node to display the data in the Data Panel.
  • To change the location of a pipe feature, use the Move Pipe command. To change the location of one end of a pipe, use the Move Pipe End command or grips.
  • The Hydraulic Length is the value used for the pipe length in the GASWorkS calculations. The initial Hydraulic Length value is equal to the graphic length in the GDI Display. The Hydraulic Length value can be changed in the Pipe Data in the Data Panel or by using the Edit Pipe Data command.
  • To remove a pipe feature from the model, use the Delete Pipe command.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected, click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change. To access the option, select the Options & Settings item from the Utilities menu, then select the Environment data tab.

Add An Arc Pipe

Adds an arc-style pipe feature.

  1. Select the Add Arc Pipe item from the Construction branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the From Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The From Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt for Data During New Feature Entry environment settings option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  3. At the To Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The To Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt for Data During New Feature Entry environment settings option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  4. At the Adjust Curve prompt, use one of the following methods: Graphic – Move the mouse crosshairs to adjust the direction and radius of the arc in the GDI Display, then left-click the mouse. Radius – Type the letter “R,” followed by an equal “=” sign and a radius value in the Coordinate Values dimensional units on the GDI Prompt Line, and press Enter. Delta Angle – Type the letter “D,” followed by an equal “=” sign and a delta angle value in decimal degrees on the GDI Prompt Line, and press Enter. Semicircle – Type the letter “S,” followed by an equal “=” sign and by either “-1” for a counter-clockwise semicircle between the From Node and the To Node, “0” for a straight arc between the From Node and the To Node, or “1” for a clockwise semicircle between the From Node and the To Node on the GDI Prompt Line, and press Enter.
    Note: If the Prompt for Data During New Feature Entry environment settings option is selected, the Pipe Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  5. The arc pipe feature will be placed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Arc Pipe item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDARCPIPE or ADDARC on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To change the curve of an arc pipe after it has been added, use the Adjust Arc Pipe command.
  • To change the location of an arc pipe feature, use the Move Pipe command. To change the location of one end of the arc pipe, use the Move Pipe End command or the grips.
  • To remove an arc pipe feature from the model, use the Delete Pipe command.

Add A Polyline Pipe

Adds a polyline pipe feature – a pipe with a From Node, To Node, and deflections (vertices) in between.

  1. Select the Add Polyline Pipe item from the Construction branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the From Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The From Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  3. At the Next Vertex prompt, left-click the desired vertex location in the GDI Display. A line segment will be drawn from the From Node to the selected vertex location.
  4. The Next Vertex prompt will remain displayed. Use one of the methods described above to continue adding segments. When finished, right-click the mouse to end the polyline at the last entered location.
    Note: To undo the last entered line segment, type “U” on the GDI Prompt Line.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
    Note: If the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Pipe Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  5. The pipe feature will be drawn at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Polyline Pipe item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDPOLYLINEPIPE or ADDPOLY on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • It is not recommended to place a polyline pipe vertex at the same location as an existing node. Such a location will be flagged as an “unbroken intersection” by the Flag Unbroken Intersections command.
  • To add a polyline pipe vertex to a polyline pipe, use the Add Polyline Vertex command.
  • To display the Vertex Data in the Data Panel, use the Edit Polyline Pipe Vertex command or left-click the desired vertex to display the data in the Data Panel.

Add A Polyline Pipe Vertex

Adds a vertex to an existing polyline or 2-point pipe feature.

  1. Select the Add Pipe Vertex item from the Edit Graphics branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the Select Pipe To Add Vertex To prompt, left-click a pipe. The selected pipe will be highlighted.
    Note: A message may be displayed if the selected pipe cannot be modified. Click the OK button to return to the prompt.
  3. At the New Vertex Location prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display.
  4. The selected pipe segment will be redrawn as two segments joined at the new vertex.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Polyline Pipe Vertex item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDPIPEVERTEX or ADDPVTX on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • Adding a vertex to a 2-point pipe changes the graphic type to a polyline pipe. The Pipe Line Type can be found in the Graphic Data Items section of the Pipe Data.
  • Vertices cannot be added to arc pipes.
  • To change the location of a polyline vertex and redraw the adjacent pipe segments, use the Move Polyline Pipe Vertex command or grips.
  • To remove a polyline pipe vertex from a polyline pipe feature, use the Delete Polyline Vertex command.

Add A Service Line Vertex

Adds a vertex to an existing customer service line.

Add A Vertex To A 2-Point Service Line

  1. Select the Add Service Line Vertex item from the Customer branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the Select Customer To Add Service Vertex To prompt, left-click a customer. The selected customer will be highlighted.
  3. At the New Vertex Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter.
  4. A vertex will be placed at the selected location, and the service will be redrawn as a two-segment polyline joined at the new vertex.

Add A Vertex To A Polyline Service Line

  1. Select the Add Service Line Vertex item from the Customer branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the Select Customer To Add Service Vertex To prompt, left-click a customer. The selected customer will be highlighted.
  3. At the Select Service Segment To Add Vertex To prompt, left-click a segment of the selected service.
  4. At the New Vertex Location prompt, either type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter, or move the mouse crosshairs to a point in the GDI Display and left-click the mouse.
  5. A vertex will be placed at the selected location, and the selected segment will be redrawn as two segments joined at the new vertex.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Service Line Vertex item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDSERVICEVERTEX or ADDSVTX on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • Adding a vertex to a 2-point service line will change the Service Line Type to a “Polyline.” This item can be found in the Graphic Data Items section in the Customer Data.
  • To display the Vertex Data in the Data Panel, left-click on the desired vertex.
  • To change the location of a service line vertex, use the Move Service Line Vertex command or grips.
  • To remove a vertex from a polyline service line, use the Delete Service Line Vertex command.

Add A Valve Node

Adds a valve node to an existing pipe feature.

  1. Select the Add Valve Node item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the Select Pipe To Add Valve Node To prompt, left-click a point on the desired pipe. The selected pipe will be highlighted.
  3. At the Valve Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter.
  4. At the Valve Node Number prompt, type a value on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter.
  5. At the Valve Node Hydraulic Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click the mouse. A node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  6. The valve node symbol will be placed on the pipe feature.

This command can be executed by typing ADDVALVENODE or ADDVN on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • Valve nodes are always considered “fully open” and do not affect the hydraulic analysis. To include a valve in the hydraulic analysis, add a valve Hydraulic Type pipe feature using the Add Valve command.
  • To change the Valve Node Data, use the Edit Node Data command or left-click the desired valve node to display the data in the Data Panel.
  • Adding a valve node to a pipe (not at an existing node) splits the pipe into two segments. The Hydraulic Length of the new segments is calculated by prorating the original pipe’s Hydraulic Length. The length assigned to each segment depends on the node’s graphic location. Example – A pipe with a graphic length of 100 feet and a Hydraulic Length of 200 feet is split by a Valve Node placed 40 feet (graphic) from one end. The original Hydraulic Length is divided 40-60 between the two segments. Thus, the new pipe segments have Hydraulic Lengths of 80 and 120 feet, respectively.
  • To remove a valve node from the model, use the Delete Valve Node command.

Add A Well

Adds a well-type “pipe” feature.

  1. Select the Add Well item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the From (Wellhead) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The From Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  3. At the To (Pipe) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The To Node will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If a new node is created and the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Node Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  4. At the Well Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click the mouse.
  5. At the Shut-In Pressure prompt, type a value (in the default Pressure Values dimensional units) on the GDI Prompt Line and pressthe Enter key. The pipe feature will be placed at the selected location.
    Note: If the Prompt For Data During New Feature Entry environment option is selected, the Pipe Data will be displayed in the Data Panel. Right-click the mouse to accept the default data values. If changes are made, click the Apply Data Values button.
  6. The well symbol will be placed on the pipe feature.

This command can be executed by typing ADDWELL on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • The From Node represents the wellhead, and the To Node represents the downstream pipe end. The well symbol will be displayed “facing up” when the direction of the gas flow is left to right, and the well symbol will be displayed “facing down” when the direction of the gas flow is right to left.
  • The well’s flow rate depends on the To Node’s downstream pressure. As the downstream pressure increases, the flow rate decreases; conversely, as the downstream pressure decreases, the flow rate increases. An alternative method to model a well is to create a node with a known supply (positive load).
  • When available, a “multi-point” flow test is recommended to validate a well’s operating characteristics.
  • To turn the display of well symbols “on” or “off,” use the Display Pipe Symbols command.
  • To reverse the From Node and To Node, use the Swap Pipe Ends command.
  • The size of the well symbol is set by the Pipe Symbol Size value on the Graphics data tab on the User Options & Settings screen. To access the screen, select the Options & Settings item from the Utilities menu.
  • The Pressure Values dimensional units can be changed on the Units data tab on the User Options & Settings screen. To access the screen, select the Options & Settings item in the Utilities menu.
  • To remove a well from the model, as well as remove the pipe feature, use the Delete Pipe command.
  • Well properties can be viewed or changed on the Property Table Editor screen. To access the Property Table, select the Well item from the Property Tables submenu of the Edit menu.

See Also

  • Adding Customers & Services
  • Adding Equipment (Compressors, Regulators, Valves & Fittings)
  • Deleting Model Features
  • Display & Visibility Settings
  • Editing Customer, Node & Pipe Data
  • Example: Fittings, Panels & Palettes
  • Example: GDI Coordinates, Commands & Grips
  • Example: Selecting, Moving & Viewing Features
  • GDI Utilities: Undo, Redo, Cancel & Housekeeping
  • Managing Intersections & Pipe Connectivity
  • Moving Customers, Nodes & Pipes
  • Pipe Geometry: Adjust, Segment, Tap, Swap & Straighten
  • The pipe I clicked won’t accept a customer — why?
    A message is displayed when the selected pipe cannot have customers attached (for example, because of its type or settings). Click the OK command button to return to the prompt and select a different pipe.
  • How do I change a customer’s data or supply main after adding it?
    Left-click the customer to display its data in the Data Panel or use the Edit Customer Data command. Use Move Customer (or grips) to relocate it, Move Service Tap to slide the tap along the main, and Reassign Customer Supply Main to connect it to a different main.
  • How does automatic assignment decide which main to use?
    The auto-assign commands connect the object to the nearest main, but only mains whose Facility Type is “Active” are considered. The Active setting can be viewed on the Facility Settings screen — select the Facility Settings item from the Edit menu.
  • Can a main or service line follow a bent route instead of a straight line?

    Yes. Use the Add Polyline Service command to place a tap location and then a series of vertices; the last vertex entered becomes the customer location. Type “U” on the GDI Prompt Line to undo the last segment while drawing. You can later add, move, or delete line vertices with the corresponding commands.

  • What is the difference between a trunk and a branch customer?
    A trunk customer’s service runs from the customer location to a tap on a supply main. A branch customer taps off of a trunk customer’s service line rather than a main, and is assigned to the supply main of its trunk customer. Each trunk customer can only have one branch customer.

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Updated on September 24, 2026

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