Intelligent connections and editing

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Archicad’s 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.

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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 and aim at the equipment’s port you want to connect.​
• 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..

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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

Do one of the following:

• Press Esc.
• Click Exit Edit Mode in the display palette.
• Use Design > Exit Edit Mode.

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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.

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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.​

Useful links:

• MEP Designer Help – Overview​

• Modeling with MEP Designer​

• Edit individual segments and nodes – using Edit Mode​

• Edit segment diameter – with Pet Palette​

• Editing MEP routes and elements​