EPlan Electric P8, the latest in computer aided electrical engineering, is due to be released in the UK at the beginning of next month. With optional graphical and object orientation, sophisticated platform technology and complete data transfer from EPlan 5 and 21, EPlan Electric P8 allows all component circuit diagrams to be created in the form of macros, from which variants may be generated and saved. In this way, a suitable, correctly dimensioned circuit can be selected in a matter of seconds.
Very few projects escape without at least a few changes at the very last minute. With Electric P8, such amendments may be reliably integrated by simply selecting the suitable variant, rather than designing it from scratch. In this way, the data record remains consistent at all times, and potential sources of error are minimised.
The system guides users intuitively, and provides equal levels of support for both the graphical and object-oriented approach. This is a very useful feature, since at the start of the project a graphical working method is often appropriate, while at a later stage an object-oriented approach may be more suitable. With EPLAN Electric P8, the user chooses the approach best suited to the current project phase or workflow, without having to commit himself in advance.
An assistant helps the user to transfer each EPlan P8 data record into an Excel editor for data exchange purposes. Excel is a commonly used data exchange format, so this facility will allow data to be made available to all other relevant departments within an organisation that may be dependent upon, but not necessarily involved in the initial design process.
Workgroup engineering with Electric P8 supports working across networks, at different sites, and any number of users may work on a project simultaneously. The package also supports all international standards. The system automatically converts existing projects into the chosen standard, thus avoiding a lot of additional work. Moreover, Electric P8 is able to supply circuit diagrams in all languages - from Chinese wiring schematics, to Russian bills of materials, everything is translated online or following completion. The user simply project-plans in his or her own mother tongue, and the system translates to order. This not only simplifies international cooperation, but also makes documentation much easier.
Eplan Electric P8 not only supports complete data transfer from EPLAN 5 and EPLAN 21, but also horizontal and vertical extensions. For the first time, the applications for electrical engineering, fluid engineering and instrumentation and control are able to communicate directly with one another.