For each component entry, the CIF holds the following items of information:

• Design contractor's Item code (the Item code in the input Piping data file).

• Main and secondary component bores.

• Main and secondary Thickness/Ratings.

• Fabricator's Item code.

• Fabricator's Material description.

• Component weight.

This is the maximum amount of information that may be held for each component. What actually appears will depend upon what facilities are actually being used.

The structure / layout of the CIF file is defined by the COMPONENT-INFORMATION-FILE Section of the FUNCTION DEFINITION FILE.

CIF Rules Summary

1. Weight data in the CIF takes precedence over Weights in the Piping data file, but in the event of missing values the SPOOLGEN program can supplement the data in the CIF by searching the Piping data file.

2. I the C of G facility is to be used then component weight information must be available in either the CIF or the Piping data files.

3. Several ITEM-CODE-IDENTIFIER entries may be made in the CIF to cater for a variety of different Design Contractor or Fabricator Item codes. (The actual ones to be used are specified in the COMPONENT-INFORMATION-SELECTION section of the FDF file).

4. For Users who wish to handle projects with Metric bore Piping data files and Imperial bore Piping data files, if required, two sets of N.S. and N.S.SEC information may be included in a CIF, with both projects sharing the one CIF. However, where this is done, two separate FDF's are required in order to specify the required N.S. to be used on a particular project.

Item Codes in the CIF

Item codes for components in the CIF may be constructed (and hence specified) in two different ways, thus:

1. In the form of unique codes with built-in bore information:

2. Codes having separate bores:

There are no 'hard and fast' rules as to whom should use which of the two types of Item code construction, some Design contractors use the first type.

Example: