Definitions
Multiduct
A multiduct is a prefabricated collection of ducts with a protective mantle. The ducts may be of the same size but variants with two or more different sizes exist.
Multiduct product specification
To specify the content of the multiduct, such as the dimensions, the order, and the colors of the microducts within the multiduct, a product specification is used as a template.
Duct
In dpCom, the term duct refers to the smaller sizes of pipes or ducts, while larger sizes are referred to as pipes. In the context of multiduct-based networks, a duct can either be a duct inside the multiduct or a stand-alone duct that is often connected to a duct within the multiduct. In this documentation, the duct inside the multiduct is called a Microduct.
Pipe node
In dpCom, the pipe node represents the duct connector or duct joint. The pipe node is always present in a node, either directly or through a duct joint closure.
Duct joint closure
Ducts can connect to other ducts either directly buried or within a duct joint closure. To connect ducts using a duct joint closure, the closure must first be created and placed in a node, typically an event node or a manhole.
Pipe branch closure
The duct joint closure and pipe nodes are used to model the connection of two ducts. When more than two pipes or ducts need to be connected, a pipe branch closure is used. Unlike connections made through pipe nodes, dpCom does not support the smart placement of cables or ducts in a pipe branch closure. To extend the cable or duct through the pipe branch closure, you must use the Put cable/pipe in route/pipe tool.
Microcable
In dpCom, there are two types of microcable:
•Microcable
•Microcable thin.
There are no strict rules for when to use each type, so it is acceptable to use either one. When placing any type of cable in a duct, it is automatically placed in all ducts connected to that duct. This functionality simulates the cable being blown from one point through the entire connected duct path.
Air blown fiber cable
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In dpCom, the air blown fiber cable is a legacy object type provided solely for compatibility reasons. Please avoid using it and opt for microcable instead. |
Create ducts and multiducts
1.Open the sidebar 
.
2.Select the Place object tab.
3.Select the desired object under Ducts.
4.Press Place object. An attribute form opens.
5.Fill in desired information and press Ok.
6.Place the object on the map.
Create/generate microducts for a multiduct
Microducts are typically generated when the multiduct is created and placed. To enable this automatic generation:
•In the Place object tab of the side panel, ensure the Generate ducts checkbox is selected.
•In the attribute form for the multiduct, specify the Type.
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If no product specification is set, the ducts will not have a color or dimension but will have the order number attribute set. |
Microducts can also be generated later using the Generate ducts function. This function is available in several locations:
•Right-click on an existing multiduct in the map and select Show/change attributes > Press Generate ducts.
•In the menu bar, select Edit > Duct > Generate ducts.
•Right-click on an existing multiduct in the map and select Related data > Generate ducts.
This function can also be used to update existing microducts, for instance, when a product specification has been set.
To view the microducts, use the Related data tab in the attribute form.
Create a product specification for a multiduct
A product specification is created by the system administrator.
1.In the menu bar, select Administration > Create product specification > Multiduct.
The main purpose of the product specification, in addition to detailing attributes related to the multiduct itself, is to specify the details of the microducts. This is done by adding rows in the Duct template section of the attribute form. For each entry, you can enter the following four values:
•Color - Specify the color of each microduct.
•Dimension - Specify the dimensions of each microduct.
•Duct Number - The numbering starts at 1 for the first microduct, 2 for the second, and continues sequentially. The duct number is used to mirror the order number attribute of the actual microducts within the multiduct.
•Lap -
Apply a multiduct product specification
When a product specification has been created, you can connect the product specification to a multiduct.
Connect product specification when creating a multiduct
1.Select the checkbox Generate ducts in the lower part of the Place objects tab.
2.In the attribute form, select one specification from the drop-down menu Product specification. The generated microducts will get the color, lap and dimension values from the product specification.
Connect product specification to an existing multiduct
Alternative 1
1.In the attribute form, select one specification from the drop-down menu Product specification.
2.Press Apply.
3.Press Generate ducts. If the microducts already exist they will just get updated.
Alternative 2
1.Select a multiduct, right-click and select Related data > Select product specification. A new window opens where a search for existing product specifications can be performed.
2.Select the product specification you wish to connect to the multiduct and press OK.
Manage ducts and multiducts
Split multiduct
A multiduct is typically split as a result of splitting one of its microducts. This can be done using the Split route tool or the Split objects in node tool.
Alternative 1
1.In the menu bar, select Edit > Pipes and routes > Split route. See section Split route.
Alternative 2
1.In the menu bar, select Edit > Pipes and routes > Split objects in node. See section Split objects in node.
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A difference in how multiducts and their microduct children are modeled compared to cables with fiber children: An individual fiber cannot be split; the entire cable with all its fibers must be cut. In contrast, splitting a microduct within a multiduct will only split that specific microduct and the multiduct object. The other microducts remain unchanged. As a result, microducts will often have multiple multiduct objects as parents due to the splitting of the multiduct whenever one of its microducts is cut. |
Connect ducts/multiducts
The connection of ducts and microducts is done with the Connect ducts/pipes tool. This tool is available in several locations:
•Right-click on the duct joint box (the text) that has been linked to an event node and select Related data > Connect ducts/pipes.
•In the menu bar, select Edit > Duct > Connect ducts/pipes.
•In the toolbar, press Connect ducts/pipes 
.
See section Connect ducts/pipes.
Delete multiducts
The purpose of this tool is to delete a multiduct, even if it has been split one or more times and thus has become multiple objects. In addition to deleting all sections of the multiduct, it also deletes the associated microducts.
See section Delete multiduct.
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The tool will not proceed with the deletions if any of the microducts contain content, such as cables inside. |
View the multiduct network
Reports
The layout of the multiduct can be shown in a tabular form, see section Multiduct disposition report.
A trace report for duct will display a tabular result that can then be shown as a schema, see section Trace report.
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The Duct connection diagram report is a legacy report that is effective for some design patterns but less effective for others. See section Duct connection diagram. |
Duct & Multiduct Text
The Duct & Multiduct Text component can be placed next to the cross-section of a single duct. This text component references both the duct itself and the microduct of any connected multiduct. The text will display the following information, separated by the ":" character:
•The size of the connected multiduct.
•The color of the multiduct.
•The color of the microduct within the multiduct.
•The color of the single duct.
Duct connection direction line
As a single duct connected to a microduct in a multiduct can be connected in either direction, a function can be used to show this direction in the map.
1.Select a node where a duct connection is made, right-click and select Show node content > Show in new window.
2.Right-click on the symbol representing the Pipe node and select Related data > Generate duct connection direction line. In the map view, the connection will be highlighted.
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If you already have generated the duct connection direction line and then, for example, moved the route, you can update the direction line. 1.Right-click on the symbol representing the Pipe node and select Related data > Update duct connection direction line. |
Run the function for multiple pipe nodes
1.In the toolbar, press the arrow in the Pointer tool 
and select Select with dialog 
.
2.Select relevant node types.
3.Select Within area:
oActive view - selects the entire map view.
oDefine area from existing object - select an object in the map.
oDefine area - place a polygon around the desired area.
4.Press Select.
5.For one of the selected nodes, right-click and select Handle saved object list > Add (children of selected objects).
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You can also select Handle saved object list > Replace with (children of selected objects). |
6.In the toolbar, press the Query tool 
.
7.In the Queries tab, select Pipe/route > Pipe node.
8.Check the In saved object list checkbox and press Search.
9.Select all rows in the results, right-click and select Related data > Generate duct connection direction line.
Geographical layout lines
For the ducts, a geographical layout line can be created that shows the duct as a line in the map.
1.Select a duct, right-click and select Related data > Generate geographical layout line.
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For multiducts that have been split, a line will only be generated where the multiduct is intact. You can also generate a line showing the entire original placement av the multiduct. 1.Select a multiduct, right-click and select Related data > Generate original geographical layout line. |
Highlight objects above from trace
As ducts can connect to other ducts or microducts, it is not always clear how far they stretch.
1.Select a duct, right-click and select Highlight > Objects above.