The Drafter option allows users to quickly convert files generated by COMPRESS into fabrication or as-built drawings using AutoCAD. Drafter is an AutoCAD extension, providing additional menu options from within AutoCAD.

How It Works
Drafter input files are automatically created whenever a COMPRESS vessel file is saved. To generate the AutoCAD file (.dwg), simply open the Drafter input file using the Drafter menu options within AutoCAD.

Both the Draw and PIP Details libraries are included with this option. The Draw library is a collection of thousands of drawing objects commonly used in vessel and piping design. Fittings, flanges, structural shapes, weld details and other object types are included, most stored as parametrically defined objects. The PIP Details library uses standards defined by the Process Industry Practices to detail many common vessel attachments such as davits, ladders, grounding lugs, nameplate brackets, pipe guides and vortex breakers. These libraries save time when adding details to the drawings generated by the Drafter option.

For increased flexibility, the drawings produced can be customized by modifying the software modules that generate the file. The appearance of items such as the bill of material, nozzle schedule, vessel specifications, saddles, support lugs, base rings, packed beds and trays can be customized by changing the corresponding AutoLISP source code supplied with Drafter. By altering Drafter's template drawing, the positions of the various views can also be changed.

Please note, AutoCAD must be installed before Drafter. Drafter requires the "full" version of AutoCAD and is not compatible with AutoCAD LT. Drafter is compatible with AutoCAD versions 2000 through 2010.*

Trial Software
The trial version of COMPRESS includes a number of sample Drafter input files (.dpf) and corresponding AutoCAD (.dwg) files. The sample files are installed by default in the c:\Codeware\COMPRESS\Samples folder. The sample input files can be converted into AutoCAD files by installing the Drafter add-in module for AutoCAD.

Download trial software

* For AutoCAD 2009 and 2010, additional setup steps are required to run Drafter. Please contact for detailed instructions.