AVEVA Review

Release 12.0.SP2
User Bulletin

Disclaimer
Information of a technical nature, and particulars of the product and its use, is given by AVEVA
Solutions Ltd and its subsidiaries without warranty. AVEVA Solutions Ltd and its subsidiaries disclaim
any and all warranties and conditions, expressed or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Neither the author nor AVEVA Solutions Ltd, or any of its subsidiaries, shall be liable to any person or
entity for any actions, claims, loss or damage arising from the use or possession of any information,
particulars, or errors in this publication, or any incorrect use of the product, whatsoever.

Copyright
Copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this manual and the associated software, and
every part of it (including source code, object code, any data contained in it, the manual and any other
documentation supplied with it) belongs to AVEVA Solutions Ltd or its subsidiaries.
All other rights are reserved to AVEVA Solutions Ltd and its subsidiaries. The information contained in
this document is commercially sensitive, and shall not be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted without the prior written permission of AVEVA Solutions Ltd Where such
permission is granted, it expressly requires that this Disclaimer and Copyright notice is prominently
displayed at the beginning of every copy that is made.
The manual and associated documentation may not be adapted, reproduced, or copied, in any
material or electronic form, without the prior written permission of AVEVA Solutions Ltd. The user may
also not reverse engineer, decompile, copy, or adapt the associated software. Neither the whole, nor
part of the product described in this publication may be incorporated into any third-party software,
product, machine, or system without the prior written permission of AVEVA Solutions Ltd, save as
permitted by law. Any such unauthorised action is strictly prohibited, and may give rise to civil
liabilities and criminal prosecution.
The AVEVA products described in this guide are to be installed and operated strictly in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the respective licence agreements, and in accordance with the
relevant User Documentation. Unauthorised or unlicensed use of the product is strictly prohibited.

First published 2008. This revision published 2009

AVEVA Solutions Ltd and its subsidiaries 2001 2009

AVEVA Solutions Ltd, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HB, United Kingdom.

Trademarks
AVEVA and Tribon are registered trademarks of AVEVA Solutions Ltd or its subsidiaries.
Unauthorised use of the AVEVA or Tribon trademarks is strictly forbidden.
AVEVA product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of AVEVA Solutions Ltd or its
subsidiaries, registered in the UK, Europe and other countries (worldwide).
The copyright, trade mark rights, or other intellectual property rights in any other product, its name or
logo belongs to its respective owner.

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Contents
1

About this software release

1.1

How to Install AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2

1.2

Licensing

1.3

Compatibility

Introduction

2.1

About AVEVA Review

2.2

About AVEVA ReviewShare

AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 Enhancements

3.1

Overview

11

3.2

Streamed Model Support

11

11

3.2.1 Multi-format model viewing

15

3.2.2 Model Composition

16

3.3

Export Colour and Transparency Support

17

3.4

AVEVA Review Texture Library

18

3.5

Other Enhancements

20

Withdrawn Functionality

21

Known Issues

22

5.1

Known faults and Outstanding Issues

22

5.2

Faults Corrected in this Version

22

General Product Information

6.1

Hardware and System support

23

6.2

Product Set

23

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23

6.2.1 Associated Data Files

23

6.2.2 Licensing

23

6.2.3 Utilities

23

6.2.4 Applicationware

23

6.2.5 Interfaces

23

6.2.6 User Documentation

23

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This page has been deliberately left blank

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1 About this software release

AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 is supplied on a DVD-R.
The full software suite is normally loaded onto individual MS Windows workstations and the licence
file is normally loaded onto a networked Windows server (see Licensing below).
Prior to installing the software you should ensure that your system meets the Minimum System
Requirements.

1.1 How to Install AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2

Note: For full instructions on how to install AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 and associated components
please refer to the Review Installation Guide, available on the DVD or from the AVEVA product
support site.
To install AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 from DVD: Insert the DVD into your DVD-ROM drive. If you have
AutoPlay enabled for the drive, the installation starts automatically. Otherwise, run Start.htm on the
DVD.
To install REVIEW from the network: Click Start>Run on the Windows taskbar and type the path to
the Start.htm file on your network.
Click on Contents of DVD and select the product that you want to install (in this case AVEVA Review
12.0.SP2). Before installing, click on the product release notes link, as you may have to install other
programs or change system settings etc.
From the Select a product to review release notes and install form, select the AVEVA Review
12.0.SP2 product.
Click INSTALL. Then click OK on any confirmation forms that appear.
On the File Download form, select Run this program from its current location (Internet Explorer 5.0)
or Open (Internet Explorer 5.5 or later) to install the program files directly from their current location
onto your hard disk.
Select Yes on the Security Warning query about an Authenticode signature. This starts the Installation
Wizard, which will lead you through the rest of the installation process.

1.2 Licensing
All AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 software requires access to a licensing file provided by the Flexman 4.1
application and loaded by the install wizard. The licence file can be stored on a networked server with
client access, a networked workstation with client access, or on the workstation on which the AVEVA
Review 12.0.SP2 software is currently loaded.
The reason for storing the licence file on a server or shared workstation is that it allows maximum user
flexibility, while minimising the number of licences that must be leased.

1.3 Compatibility
AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 is compatible with:
AVEVA Review Share 1.2.SP2

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AVEVA ReviewShare Server 1.2.SP2

AVEVA ReviewShare Replication Server 1.2.SP2
AVEVA Review Texture Library 1.0

Status files created by Review version 5.1 onwards are fully compatible with this release.
Models EXPORTed from AVEVA PDMS 10.4 through PDMS 12.0.SP5 and AVEVA Hull & Outfitting
12.0.SP5 are compatible with AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2.
Export colour, insulation and obstruction volume support requires models exported from AVEVA Plant
12.0.SP5 and AVEVA Hull & Outfitting 12.0.SP5.
Reviews database connection tools require access to an installation of AVEVA Plant or AVEVA Hull
& Outfitting versions 12.0.SP3 or later. No additional licenses are required.

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2 Introduction
2.1 About AVEVA Review
AVEVA Review is a powerful 3D visualisation tool for large complex plant and marine models. With
features such as walk-through, animation, and high-quality photo-realistic images, AVEVA Review lets
you analyse designs and communicate complex ideas easily.

Figure 1: High Performance 3D Visualisation for design, installation, operation & maintenance

Key features include:

High-performance 3D model rendering and walk-through
Large model support effective handling of model files up to 1.1GB
Load geometry and attribute data direct from an AVEVA PDMS or Outfitting database
High-quality graphical realism with lighting, textures, scenic backdrops, fog and real-time
shadows.
Advanced animation and avi production tools
Object manipulation & clashing
Dimensioning
Sectioning and Clipping
Laser Model Interface for point cloud data
Link Review sessions for global project review
Publish models and data to AVEVA ReviewShare for easy collaboration
3D Export of Review model to Adobe Acrobat 3D PDF and Autodesk DWF
Extensible .NET interface

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Figure 2: High quality graphical realism for plant and ship design

2.2 About AVEVA ReviewShare

AVEVA ReviewShare is a 3D model visualisation and collaboration tool, enabling reviewers to
combine marked-up 3D model views, 2D screenshots and comments in a single, easily distributable
collaboration document. Making use of AVEVA's unique 3D streaming technology, it combines the
high quality 3D visualisation of Review with intuitive comment and mark-up tools, to create compact,
and easily distributable, 3D collaboration documents.
AVEVA ReviewShare integrates fully with AVEVA Review to enable the creation, viewing, editing and
distribution of ReviewShare documents with embedded 3D Review model views, extending the power
of AVEVA Review by delivering 3D design communication over the internet to project participants
anywhere around the world.

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Figure 3: The AVEVA ReviewShare reader is available as a free download from www.aveva.com

Key Features
Freely distributable 3D model collaboration
Creation, viewing, editing & distribution of ReviewShare documents
o

Configurable header section

Threaded comment list with embedded 2D & 3D views

Built-in password protection and expiry date

Advanced Streaming technology delivers centrally managed 3D data to the client
Multi-format support via ZGL
View, manipulate & mark-up 3D model views
o

Pan, Rotate, Zoom

Highlighting, redlining, dimensioning...

Object isolation, sectioning

Query model attribute data

Capture and mark-up 2D screenshots (e.g. datasheets, drawings)
Embedded web/file links
Small file size for easy distribution
Available as a standalone application and as add-ins to AVEVA Review, AVEVA Plant and
AVEVA Hull and Outfitting

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3 AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 Enhancements

3.1 Overview
AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2, incorporating AVEVA ReviewShare 1.2.SP2, replaces version 12.0.SP1 to
provide the following new and enhanced capabilities:

Streamable model support

Stream ReviewShare Server models directly into Review
High quality, high performance visualisation of large, complex models
View model hierarchy for navigation and highlighting
Multi-format model viewing
Automatic conversion of rvm, rvz, zgl, step, iges and acis (.sat) files to streaming
format
Full model hierarchy support
Model Composition
Combine streamed and non-streamed models into a single view
Load multiple instances of individual streamed files
Scale, position and orientate streamed models
Save composite view as a single rvz file
Capture composite views to an rvf document for ReviewShare collaboration
Export colour and translucency support
Rvm format extended to support export colour and translucency rules
Visualisation of obstruction volumes and insulation
New AVEVA Texture Library
1300+ high quality textures supplied with Review
Texture Browser

3.2 Streamed Model Support

AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 introduces the capability to stream 3D model data into the Review observer
window. Using AVEVAs high performance VizStream technology, as used in AVEVA ReviewShare
and the AVEVA NET family of products, this allows users to view larger and more complex models
than would otherwise be possible in standard rvm format.

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Figure 4: Large complex models can be streamed directly into Review

As with ReviewShare, models first need to be published to the ReviewShare server, either by placing
them directly onto the server or published automatically via a ReviewShare Replication directory.
Once published the user can decide whether to open the models in standard Review format, with the
benefits of higher quality graphical realism, material editing and group animation; or as a streamed
model, offering increased capacity and performance for large models, zero load time and multi-format
support.

Figure 5: Load multiple instances of streamed and non-streamed models into a single view

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Streamable Models panel

Model files published to the ReviewShare server can be opened in Review using the new Streamable
Models control, accessed via the Streamable Models toolbar icon,

Figure 6: Open multiple streamed models in Review

The control displays a list of the currently loaded streamed models with options to add or remove
models. Multiple instances of a model can be opened, with the panel providing tools to scale, position
and orientate any selected model within the view.
Right clicking on a model in the list opens a context menu providing the standard Focus on, Move
close to and Look at navigation options.
The streaming icon ( ) next to each model indicates the published state of the model and provides
tooltip information displaying the path name of the server hosting the streamed model.
Note: no streamed models will appear in the view unless all the opened models have completed
processing on the server.

Figure 7: Streamable models can be scaled, positioned and oriented within the scene

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Streamable Model Explorer

When the streamable model is opened in Review the user is able to view and navigate the hierarchy
of the model using the new Streamable Model Explorer control.
Selecting an item in the hierarchy will highlight the item in the 3D view. Right clicking on item opens a
context menu providing the standard Focus on, Move close to and Look at navigation options.

Figure 8: Use the Streamable Model Explorer for navigation and highlighting of streamed items

Configuring Streamable Model Performance

AVEVAs unique VizStream technology delivers high quality, high performance streaming of 3D
models and data stored on a central server and accessible over a local network or even lowbandwidth internet connections. Once a model has been published to the ReviewShare server
VizStreams powerful rendering algorithm ensures that model geometry is displayed almost instantly
within the client application without having to wait for the fully detailed model to be downloaded.
Streaming performance depends on several factors: the size of the model, how much system memory
is available, the quality of the connection to the ReviewShare Server and whether 3D graphics card
acceleration is enabled. In general higher frame rates can be achieved by reducing the minimum
quality level of each VizStream rendition (Note: full quality can always be achieved if the model
remains static).
A new Streamable Model Performance panel has been added to the Review options dialog providing
the ability to optimise the performance of the streaming models based on system hardware and
network configuration.

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Figure 9: Fine tune VizStream settings to optimise streaming performance

3.2.1 Multi-format model viewing

The AVEVA ReviewShare Server supports the automatic conversion of model files placed in the
Servers data directory, or in a configured Replication directory, to its own internal streaming format.
With the release of AVEVA ReviewShare Server 1.2.SP2 the range of model file formats supported
has been significantly extended to include a selection of the most common mechanical CAD
interchange formats, namely step (.stp), iges (.igs) and acis (.sat), in addition to zgl and the standard
Review rvm and rvz formats.

Figure 10: Multiple iges sat and step models being streamed within Review

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The processing of the files is fully automatic and requires no user interaction. Once converted these
3D CAD models can be streamed into the Review observer view alongside other streamed and nonstreamed models, in exactly the same way as streamed rvm and rvz files.
Model hierarchy information is preserved and can be viewed using Reviews Streamable Model
Explorer, where it can be used to highlight or navigate to elements within the 3D view.
As well as providing greater support for the visualisation of 3rd party model formats this new capability
can also be used to replace the generic representation of components within the rvm model, such as
a pump or vessel, with a highly detailed manufacturer supplied CAD model of the component.
Note: The quality of the resulting streamed model and the level of detail in the hierarchy can vary
dependent on the source format.

3.2.2 Model Composition

The combination of Review 12.0.SP2s streamed model support, the extension of the ReviewShare
Servers supported model formats and Reviews established visualisation and animation capabilities,
provides users with powerful tool for large scale multi-format model composition and design review.
Review rvm model files can be combined with geometry loaded direct from a design database, large
scale streamed rvm and rvz files, multiple instances of streamed CAD models and even point cloud
models via the Review LMI add-in.
The positioning, orientating and scaling tools make is easy to incorporate streamed models into the
scene, allowing highly detailed CAD models to be used to replace generically modelled objects in the
rvm file, for example.

Figure 11: An example of model composition in Review 12.0.SP2 involving a non streamed rvm model
(foreground) a streamed step model (middle ground) and a streamed rvz model (background)

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The composite model and view state information, including materials and animation paths, can be
saved to a single compressed rvz file for archiving or distribution. Providing the ReviewShare Server
hosting the streamed models is accessible to the client machine the composite scene is quickly
recreated when the rvz is opened.
Multiple composite views can also be captured to a ReviewShare rvf document using the
ReviewShare Viewer add-in within Review. Since the streamed models are already published to the
ReviewShare server there is no additional processing required and the streamed models are instantly
available for mark-up, comment and distribution.
An additional benefit of capturing the composite view to an rvf document is that the user can utilise the
extensive ReviewShare Viewer tools, for example to dimension between the various models in the
view or apply sectioning to the scene.

3.3 Export Colour and Transparency Support

For the 12.0.SP5 releases of AVEVA Plant and AVEVA Hull and Outfitting the Review rvm export file
format has been upgraded to support the export of RGB colour and translucency values, insulation
and obstruction volumes to Review. This enables users of Review 12.0.SP2 or later to accurately
reproduce the design representation of the model.
This feature can be enabled in the design tool using the export command syntax:
EXPORT REPR/ESENTATION ON
The new representation rules are enabled by default when using the Database Connection capability
in Review 12.0.SP2 to load geometry directly from an AVEVA Plant 12.0.SP5 or AVEVA Marine
12.0.SP5 database. Once loaded, the visualisation of insulation and obstruction volumes can be
toggled on/off in Review via the Tools>Options menu.

Figure 12: Colours, translucency, insulation and obstruction volumes are automatically and accurately
reproduced in Review

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AVEVA ReviewShare 1.2.SP2 has also been enhanced to support the colour, translucency, insulation
and obstruction volume representation rules when capturing models from Review 12.0.SP2.

Figure 13: Export representation rules are supported by ReviewShare 1.2.SP2

For versions of AVEVA Plant and AVEVA Hull and Outfitting prior to 12.0.SP5, export auto colour
rules must be set explicitly in the ExportConfig.mac file, located in the CAFAddins folder of the Review
installation directory. For details see section B1 or the AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 User Guide.

3.4 AVEVA Review Texture Library

Review 12.0.SP2 is supplied with AVEVA Review Texture Library 1.0, a free collection of over 1300
high resolution image files that can be used to create realistic looking materials to improve the visual
accuracy and impact of the review model. The textures are organised into 26 categories and include
concretes, metals, floor coverings, wood, brickwork, marble, tiles, trees and plants. Also included in
the library are collections of alpha mask textures, enabling the creation of transparent materials such
as perforated metals.

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Figure 14: The new Texture Browser and Texture Library in Review 12.0.SP2
The Texture Library is available within Review through the new Texture Browser control which is
accessed via the Material Palette. The Texture Browser allows the user to add and remove system
folders to the texture library, automatically scanning subfolders for compatible image files (png and
bmp files). Individual folders can be selected to make it easy to locate the required texture. A preview
window displays resizable thumbnail images of each texture in the selected folders.
To apply a texture to the model the user must first create a Review material. This can be done either
by selecting a texture from the Texture Browser and applying it to an existing material, or by selecting
a texture and using it to create a new material. Once the material has been created it can be further
modified for colour, size, specular highlighting and environment map/reflection effects using the
standard Review material editing controls.

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Figure 15: Review's new Texture Library can be used to create highly realistic 3D model views.

3.5 Other Enhancements

Database toolbar
The new Database toolbar provides quick access to Reviews AVEVA Plant and AVEVA Hull &
Outfitting database integration tools, allowing users to import geometry and data direct from a
connected AVEVA design database.

Figure 16: The new Database toolbar provides quick access to Review's database connection tools

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4 Withdrawn Functionality
The following functionality has been withdrawn or superseded in this release of AVEVA Review
12.0.SP2:
None

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5 Known Issues
5.1 Known faults and Outstanding Issues
For a list of known defects please refer to the AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 Product Release Letter
(d20212.pdf) on the installation CD, or for the latest information see the AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2
Product Release Latest Update document (w20212.pdf) available from http://support.aveva.com.

5.2 Faults Corrected in this Version

Defects that have been fixed in AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 as a result of user reports may be reviewed
through the AVEVA Helpdesk system. Users who have raised specific Software Change Requests
that have been implemented should already have been notified individually of our response.
This release includes all fixes issued since the previous 12.0.SP1 release. In addition, the following
Helpdesk calls have been resolved and closed:

Incident No.

Description

7779

Running Review from Network

17131

Review 12.0.Sp1 - Texture Selection does not support UNC file paths

16922

VizStream Select Parent does not work in the latest version

15154

Installation guides should mention silent install method.

16667

Renaming a group can cause other groups to be deleted.

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6 General Product Information

This section is intended to provide you with a summary of components and other auxiliary information
associated with the release of AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2.

6.1 Hardware and System support

AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 runs best on a high-end PC, including a good 3D graphics card with an
overlay plane. Large model files will require plenty of memory.
For more details of hardware (including graphics cards) and operating system support, please refer to
the AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 Installation Guide and also the AVEVA support web-site:
http://support.aveva.com/cs/index.htm

6.2 Product Set

6.2.1 Associated Data Files
Example model files are supplied with this release for test and installation purposes.
Including: allsrp.rvm, allsrp.rvs, allsrp.rvz, atest.rvm, man.rvm, stab.rvm, stab.rvs, stab.txt (sample
attribute data for Stabilizer model)

6.2.2 Licensing
The release is secured and licensed using FLEXMAN version 4.1 and associated FlexLM license files.

6.2.3 Utilities
Upgrade utility: review_upgrade (for REVIEW Version 1 files).

6.2.4 Applicationware
Example appware code is provided with the release, which can be used in conjunction with ASCII flat
file or using the Query daemons. Please note that AVEVA Review 12.0.SP2 uses ODBC drivers which will need to be purchased separately.

6.2.5 Interfaces
Input interfaces available for this release include: AVEVA Plant, AVEVA Hull & Outfitting, DGN and
CV-PVS.

6.2.6 User Documentation

New versions of the following documentation are available at this release:
Review 12.0.SP2 User Bulletin (this document)
Review 12.0.SP2 Install Instructions
Review 12.0.SP2 User Guide
Review 12.0.SP2 .NET Addin User Guide

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ReviewShare 1.2.SP2 User Guide

ReviewShare Server 1.2.SP2 Installation Guide
ReviewShare Addin Install Guide for AVEVA Plant and AVEVA Hull & Outfitting
ReviewShare EULA
In addition, the following manuals, unchanged at this release, are also provided:
DGN2REV User Guide V1.4.1 (for conversion of MicroStation files for Review)
Software Customisation Guide
Software Customisation Reference Manual
This manual is required for installation of the AVEVA licensing system:
FLEXMAN 4.1 Installation Guide

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