EPLAN NEWS

for Version 1.8

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Copyright 2007 EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG. EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG assumes no liability either for technical or printing errors nor for deficiencies in this technical information and cannot be held liable for damages that may result directly or indirectly from delivery, performance, and use of this material. This document contains legally protected ownership information that is subject to copyright. All rights reserved. This document may not be copied or otherwise reproduced in full or part without the prior consent of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG. The software described in this document is subject to a licensing agreement. Its use and reproduction are only permitted within the framework of this agreement. EPLAN® is a registered trademark of EPLAN Software und Service GmbH & Co. KG. MS-DOS® / Windows NT® / Windows 2000® / Windows XP® / Microsoft Windows® are registered tra-demarks of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft® Excel® und Microsoft® Access® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. RITTAL® is a registered trademark of Rittal Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG. Clip Project® is a registered trademark of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. INTERBUS® is a registered trademark of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. ÖLFLEX®, ÖLFLEX-SERVO® und ÖLFLEX CLASSIC® are registered trademarks of U.I. LAPP GmbH. AutoCAD® and Volo™View Express are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. SIMATIC HW Konfig® is a registered trademark of Siemens AG. SCAN® is a registered trademark of McAfee Associates. PKZIP/PKUNZIP® are registered trademarks of PKWARE, Inc. ObjectStore® is a registered trademark of eXelon Corporation. D-ISAM® is a registered trademark of Informix Software, Inc. Hardlock E-Y-E® is a registered trademark of Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Inc. InstallShield® is a registered trademark of InstallShield, Inc. PMS® is a registered trademark of PMS Compelec GmbH. MicroStation® is a registered trademark of Bentley Systems. All other product names, trade names and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Note: The hardware requirements specified by the operating system manufacturers must be

considered. Hardware combinations that cause faults according to information from manufac-

turers may also affect the operation of EPLAN. Therefore an accurate basic installation of

hardware, operating system and hardware drivers (e. g. graphics board driver etc.) is essential

for a smooth operation of EPLAN. Therefore, the main conditions and areas of application spe-

cified by the hardware manufacturers also apply to the operation of EPLAN.

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Table of contents

New Functionality: "Direct Editing" .......................................................... 5

New Functionality: "Global Editing" ......................................................... 6

New Dialog "Placeholder objects navigator"............................................ 8

New Functionality "Copy format" and "Assign format" ............................. 8

New Functionality "Dialog splitter"........................................................... 9

New Functionality for the Undo and Redo of Actions ............................ 10

New add-on "Project Options"............................................................... 10

New add-on EPLAN PPE Web Viewer.................................................. 12

New add-on EPLAN P&ID on the EPLAN platform................................ 13

New shortcuts for "Redraw" .................................................................. 14

Form Editing.......................................................................................... 14

Data Import from EPLAN 21.................................................................. 15

Data Import from EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN................................................. 16

Reports ................................................................................................. 17

Translations .......................................................................................... 20

Page Management................................................................................ 20

Devices ................................................................................................. 22

Device Selection ................................................................................... 23

File Selection ........................................................................................ 23

Finding and Replacing .......................................................................... 24

Change of Standard .............................................................................. 24

PDF Export ........................................................................................... 24

Interruption Points................................................................................. 25

Printing.................................................................................................. 25

Parts Management................................................................................ 25

Settings................................................................................................. 26

PLC....................................................................................................... 27

Cable Diagram...................................................................................... 28

Project and Page Properties ................................................................. 28

Device List ............................................................................................ 28

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Message Management.......................................................................... 29

Cables / Connections ............................................................................ 29

Parts List Navigator............................................................................... 30

Graphical Editor .................................................................................... 31

Working with Schemes.......................................................................... 31

Entry of Texts........................................................................................ 31

Restoring Projects................................................................................. 32

Working with Filters............................................................................... 32

Copying External Documents to the Project .......................................... 32

General Changes.................................................................................. 33

EPLAN PPE Translation Function......................................................... 34

EPLAN PPE List Editing........................................................................ 34

New EPLAN Fluid Message Classes .................................................... 35

Display of Macros in the Graphical Preview .......................................... 36

Master Data: Forms .............................................................................. 37

Master Data: Symbols........................................................................... 40

Master Data: Function Definition Library ............................................... 45

Master Data: Plot Frames ..................................................................... 48

Master Data: Templates........................................................................ 48

Inch Configuration................................................................................. 48

Activation Number................................................................................. 48

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New Functionality: "Direct Editing"

Using direct editing, you can activate an editing mode that allows you to directly modify individual graphical texts. "Graphical texts" means any placement of free texts and path function texts. These can be placed on schematic pages, in reports, or in master data (such as forms or plot frames).

In contrast to entering and editing text using the Properties dialog, the following points should be noted:

• It is not possible to format the texts when in this mode.

• Direct editing does not support multiple selections. If several texts are selected, the edit frame is only opened for the most recently selected text.

• Special texts cannot be directly edited; this applies to project and pa-ge properties, property text in the symbol editor, column and row text in plot frame editor, place holder text in form editor, etc.

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In addition to switching direct editing on and off using the Options menu, there is another way of temporarily switching this on: To do this, you press the [F2] key after you have select the text or positioned the mouse pointer over the text.

New Functionality: "Global Editing"

The Properties (device) editing option on schematic pages has been renamed to Properties (global). It can be called from the Edit or the Context menu.

The Properties (global) editing option is now available on the report pa-ges and makes it possible to edit the data in a source object right from a report page. The appropriate object-specific dialog is opened, so for the "Function" source object, for instance, the properties dialog is opened, while for a structure identifier the structure identifier management is ope-ned. As soon as you confirm a change with [OK], the objects are up-dated on all pages.

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New Dialog "Placeholder objects navigator"

In the Placeholder objects - <Project name> dialog, which you call like any other navigator from the Project data menu, all the placeholder ob-jects in the project are listed. You can use the popup menu to edit the properties of the placeholder objects and assign value sets to them.

New Functionality "Copy format" and "Assign format"

With the new editing options Edit > Copy format and Edit > Assign format, it is possible to transfer formats and display settings to other ob-jects. To do so, you first mark the object whose format properties you want to transfer, then select the action "Copy format". Then you select the objects to which you want to transfer the format, and select the action "Assign format".

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The following buttons are also available for these functions in the toolbar:

Copy format

Assign format

New Functionality "Dialog splitter"

Under Windows, the so-called "dialog splitter" allows you to change the separation within a dialog both vertically and horizontally. This is espe-cially useful when the dialog contains a selection and a data area, for in-stance the project management dialog. In the new version of the soft-ware, dialog splitters are now also available for the following dialogs:

• Project management

• Generate reports

• EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN project selection for data transfer

• Properties dialog for components, tab Display

• Properties dialog for components, tab Parts

• Device selection

• Part selection and parts management

• Settings

• Edit cable

• Interconnect devices

• Dialog for selection of PLC connections

• Bus configuration navigator

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New Functionality for the Undo and Redo of Actions

In addition to linear, step-by-step undo and redo operations, you can also use the two functions Undo list and Redo list. In the lists, you can see every step that you have made and search for a particular working step up to the point where you wish to undo / redo. The undo steps are listed with the most recently performed step at the top; the redo steps have the most recently undone step at the top. If you select a line in the list then all lines above this are also selected. This means that the steps can only be undone or redone together and that the currently selected step is included in this.

Here, too – in addition to the two symbols already known – new buttons are available on the toolbar:

New add-on "Project Options"

Note:

The "Project Options" add-on module is not included in the standard scope of delivery and must be licensed separately.

The new "Project Options" add-on allows you to define areas of a plant and then reveal or hide them. These areas are then also no longer eva-luated. The new "Options Navigator" is available for this, which– like all navigators – you call up from the Project data menu.

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In the Options - <Project name> dialog, you create and edit the options (via the popup menu); the icon next to the option indicates if it is acti-vated. If particular customer requirements mean that you do not require part of a machine for which an option has been defined, then deactivate the option. The schematic and reports are then automatically adjusted.

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New add-on EPLAN PPE Web Viewer

Note:

The "EPLAN PPE Web Viewer" add-on module is not included in the standard scope of delivery and must be licensed separately.

The new EPLAN PPE Web Viewer add-on module allows you to read all the EPLAN PPE Project documentation online via an Internet browser. The actual EPLAN project lies on a local server and the EPLAN PPE Web Viewer coordinates access via Intranet or Internet and makes the requested data available.

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The EPLAN PPE Web Viewer can be used for (e.g.) plant commissioning and to assist the plant operator. It is easily and intuitively operated via an Internet browser without requiring the installation of EPLAN PPE.

This allows the plant operator to access the localized plant documenta-tion directly through the EPLAN PPE Web Viewer. Since access is done online, this ensures that the latest project documentation is always avail-able.

Consistently thought out to the very end: This continues the multilingual capabilities of the system, from planning, through installation and com-missioning, to the plant operation.

New add-on EPLAN P&ID on the EPLAN plat-form

Note:

The "EPLAN P&ID" add-on module is not included in the standard scope of delivery and must be licensed separately.

The new EPLAN P&ID add-on module provides editing functions for P&ID tasks (plant flow diagrams, instrumentation schematics).

Using an extensive symbol library, you create plant overviews on "P&I flow diagram" pages and can already acquire all the critical plant infor-mation in the pre-planning phase. The efficient graphical and macro functions of the EPLAN graphical editor support you in fast and reliable project planning. Autoconnecting and Smart Connecting can be used to define and automatically generate reports on piping connections be-tween the plant items. As part of the EPLAN platform, all project data ac-quired in EPLAN P&ID can be forwarded to the other disciplines (instru-mentation & control engineering, fluidics, electrical engineering) .

The associated data is stored centrally in the project database and is thus available to all designers involved in the project.

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This is quick, simple, and reliable, because the object-oriented structure ensures that all information can be synchronized at any time. The com-mon acquisition of experience-based cross-discipline P&ID data ensures consistent planning of the plant and provides a permanent information flow between the departments. As a central planning tool, the EPLAN platform offers unified support for the entire engineering process: from pre-planning in P&ID, through management and planning in EPLAN PPE, to documentation of the automation technology in EPLAN Electric P8.

New shortcuts for "Redraw"

Analogous to EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN the [F5] key in the graphical editor was previously associated with the action Insert > Connection symbol > Angle (top, right), and the action View > Redraw functioned only us-ing the key combination [Ctrl] + [Enter]. However, in all other EPLAN dialogs and navigators [F5] is associated with "Update", as is generally normal in the Windows environment. This has now been changed so that [F5] in the graphical editor no longer inserts an angle but rather updates the view.

Form Editing

Temporarily opened forms are no longer included in reports when updat-ing report pages.

The assignments between properties and placeholder texts were ex-changed in some terminal diagram forms. This has now been fixed.

When changing form properties (e.g. the form property "Format for au-tomatic page description") an automatic master data synchronization now occurs when the form editor is closed.

The number of the "Property / value to graphic [x]" properties has been increased to 10 in all forms where they are present. The number of pla-ceholders has also been increased to 10 accordingly.

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Data Import from EPLAN 21

In EPLAN 21 projects created with older versions of the program, the project property "Display format for interruption points" <2295> was not always filled. This caused the interruption point names to be lost during data import. This has now been fixed.

In EPLAN 21 it was possible to omit certain display formats. In this case, the "DT display format" <2004> was used. After a data import, the PLC terminals and the cards now both receive the correct device, including identifier, counter, and suffix.

The voltage type stored in EPLAN 21 is now correctly imported into the parts management.

The contact image variants are now correctly imported.

In EPLAN 21 the property "Display format of cable lines" <1095> existed. If this property was part of the cable display, then EPLAN 21 displayed the requested connection properties at the connection intersection points. This connection information is now correctly imported.

After an import, the properties "Supplementary text field 01 to 04" (ID <100> to <103>) were assigned to the supplementary fields 10 to 13 of the P8 terminal strip properties in the terminal diagram form. This has now been corrected and they are now assigned to the P8 supplementary fields 20 to 23.

Unplaced plug definitions in EPLAN 21 macros were previously not im-ported. This has now been fixed.

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Data Import from EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN

Pair cross-references that were moved in EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN were placed back in their original positions after an import. This has now been fixed, i.e. the new positions are retained.

The form graphics of cable overviews are now correctly displayed after an import.

The description texts in EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN projects are now correctly imported when importing projects or macros with image files.

The PLC cross-references were previously lost on import through the use of line breaks in the DTs of EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN projects. This has now been fixed.

The mounting data of EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN assemblies was lost after an import (file type "EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN"). This has now been fixed.

A device connection point connected to a symbol of type 149 was as-signed the property "Use displayed DT as full DT" after import. This has now been fixed.

If a terminal diagram was updated after an import, then the cable table was output in a single line. This has now been fixed.

After a project import, the following problem occurred: If a change was made on an overview page (e.g. text inserted or a symbol moved) then the function text at the PLC terminals disappeared. This has now been fixed.

When importing a project with Excel external documents, the appropriate pages were created but the documents were not stored in the project. This has now been fixed.

When importing pages containing a "/" character in the higher-level func-tion, the page numbers were not correctly imported. This has now been fixed.

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The interruption points in EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN were displayed without plant and/or location information. After importing to P8 they are now cor-rectly displayed, i.e. without plant and/or location information.

In EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN it was possible to export / import parts from / to the parts database and define the file format when doing this. This is now also possible for imports into P8: In the dialogs Export records and Im-port records you can select the respective file type from the File type drop-down list.

After importing a EPLAN 5- / fluidPLAN project, the properties of terminal strip definition texts are now stored in the correct level of "EPLAN202, Graphics.Terminalstripdefinitions".

The sizes of black boxes are now correctly imported.

Connection designations are now correctly imported and placed.

Reports

If the long name of the supplier (field Full name <22908> of the manu-facturer-specific parts management data) was entered into the "Supplier" column of the summarized parts list form, then this value was output as many times as the part occurred in the schematic. This has now been fixed.

When updating certain reports, e.g. the parts list, incorrect page numbers were generated. This has now been fixed.

If (e.g.) three identical terminal parts were entered at a terminal strip, then the subsequent parts were not output in the parts list, but rather the first part with a quantity of 1 and not a quantity of 3. This has now been fixed.

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To exclude certain reports from updates, the dialog Reports - <Project name> now has in the option Freeze report pages in the popup menu. With this option, project data in placeholder text on frozen report pages is then no longer updated. Frozen report pages and non-frozen report pa-ges have different icons in the page navigator.

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When outputting parts lists, the full name of suppliers and manufacturers is now output. This is especially important for imports from EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN, since the report output is now correct after importing an EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN project.

The number of the "Graphical display in reports [x]" properties has been increased to 10 in all items where they are present.

In the Settings: Output to page dialog, you can now use the Hide structure identifier if identical drop-down list to define how DTs are to be displayed in report pages:

• Check against page: If structure identifiers or components of the structure identifiers of the devices output match the structure identifier of the page, then the structure identifiers are not displayed in the DT and the device is abbreviated. If the structure identifiers of the devices don't match the structure identifiers of the header or page, then the devices are shown with the structure identifiers.

• Check against header object: This setting is available for item-specific reports, e.g. a terminal diagram. If structure identifiers or components of the structure identifiers of the devices output match the structure identifier in the header, then the structure identifiers are not displayed in the DT.

• No: The DTs of the devices are displayed in report pages with struc-ture identifiers including sub-identifiers.

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Translations

The size of the translation column in the dictionary can now be changed.

In the properties dialogs, a new option can now be stored for every text: The setting All displayed languages (arrange horizontally) in the Language tab now allows individual translations to be displayed next to each other (and not automatically separated with a line break).

Page Management

The popup menu item Rename exists in the page management. When editing master data (e.g. when editing a form in the form editor or a plot frame in the plot frame editor, etc.) this option was falsely activated. This has now been fixed.

The page properties "User supplementary field [1-20]" can now also be selected in the properties of tables of contents.

The graphical preview now enables you to show previews of several pa-ges that you have selected in the page navigator. These are now ar-ranged vertically and horizontally in the preview. It is now also possible to open a particular page by double-clicking the corresponding preview image.

When switching pages (opening, closing, scrolling, etc.) the connections can now be automatically updated if the appropriate user setting is ma-de: Options > Settings > User > Display > General, check box Update connections when switching pages. However, this can take some time in large projects with many pages, and it may be more useful to deselect this check box.

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The page properties "Reason for revision change (change tracking)" are now multilingual.

The new version has a new page type "P&I flow diagram", especially for PPE projects, which is required for drawing P&I flow diagrams with the appropriate PCT loops.

In the dialogs Page properties and New page the Page type only offers the interactive page types. You use the [...] button to open the Add page type dialog for selecting an automatic page type.

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Devices

Device numbering is now possible with a starting value of 0.

When the main function is placed with several autoconnect lines, the DTs are now correctly sequentially numbered. This has been corrected for the actions "Insert symbol" ([Ins] key) and "Insert device" ([Alt] + [Ins] key combination ).

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Device Selection

If cable device selection was performed using Properties (device) <...> on the main function, then the cable data (type, number of conductors, etc.) was written back to the definition lines, but the conductor designa-tions were incorrect. If the cable device selection was performed using Properties <...> on the main function, then the cable data (type, number of conductors, etc.) was not written back to all the definition lines, but the conductor designa-tions were at least correct. This has now been corrected, that is, the right cable data and the right conductor designations are both written back.

When inserting devices, until now it was necessary to place the main function first. It is now possible to place an auxiliary function first. The main function (and thus the device) as well as the additional auxiliary functions are thus created as unplaced functions.

When inserting devices or selecting multiple functions, you have the op-tion of "paging" through the functions with the key combination [Shift]+[Tab] and selecting the desired one. The connection designa-tions of the selected function are displayed on the symbol.

File Selection

Using Popup menu > Insert variable you can now branch to the Select path variable dialog in many places in the program, where you can se-lect one of the available EPLAN-specific path variables. This dialog's size is adjustable.

The object currently selected in the selection dialog is now displayed in the graphical preview when the corresponding Preview check box is se-lected. This applies to (e.g.) macro and project selection.

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Finding and Replacing

In the Find dialog you can now also search on special characters by in-serting them using Popup menu > Special characters.

You can now use the Search in = "All properties of all components" set-ting to search in placeholder objects and macro boxes as well. For macro boxes, the properties "Name", "Version", "Source/reference" and "De-scription" are searched, and for placeholder objects the "Name".

Change of Standard

The Change of standard dialog's size can now be adjusted.

PDF Export

Using the new Page tree sorted by setting in the company-specific PDF settings, you can now define the page tree view for the PDF document output: by Structure identifier or by Page type.

The project settings (under Management > PDF output languages) ha-ve been extended with the PDF output languages area. Here, you can now decide whether the configured display languages will appear in the output or whether different languages (translated languages) should be used. In data transfer from EPLAN 21, this setting is appropriately con-sidered.

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Interruption Points

The Sort interruption points dialog's size can now be adjusted.

Printing

Texts with the activated font style settings "Bold" or "Underlined" are now correctly output.

Parts Management

In the entries for customers and manufacturers / suppliers, the fields for entry of the email addresses have been increased in size.

Parts data can now also be displayed through block properties.

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The data fields in the product groups "Construction" and "Connections" can now also be exported and imported. This is done using the File type drop-down list, in which the entries have been correspondingly com-pleted.

The [Extras] > Settings menu item has been broken down into two op-tions: General (where you can determine the parts database and certain display settings) and Translation for the determination of the translation settings directly from parts management.

The group "Process technology" has been added to the existing generic product groups.

In the Function template tab, the column Symbol has been added to the Device selection table. Here, you have the option of entering a symbol which will be used when placing the corresponding device func-tion.

Settings

The multilingual entry of conductor / connection colors is now possible.

In the user-specific settings for parts selection, you can now use the Ge-nerate part if not found check box to define that a part which is not found in the internal parts database should be automatically generated. This setting can be made specific to a scheme.

In the project-specific settings for the display of cross-references, the Only show first cross-reference of each representation type check box has been added.

In the project-specific settings for the management of symbol libraries, the column Default variant has been added; you can use this to deter-mine the corresponding template for symbols of that symbol library.

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PLC

Analogous to the device navigator, there is now also the option in the PLC navigator to set a filter for "Function is placed with representation type <...>". Using this functionality, you can quickly and easily place all connections still unused.

The configuration data of the PLC controls of bus systems can now only be entered on the main function. In a query dialog, you can decide whether the configuration data should automatically be corrected or the project only opened in read-only mode (unchanged). Moreover, the con-figuration data can now be exchanged with different PLC configuration systems (e.g. PcWorx or Siematic). This data exchange takes place us-ing XML files. For this reason, the dialogs for the import and export of PLC data and the PLC box and Bus data tabs in the properties dialogs for PLC objects have been reworked.

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Cable Diagram

For the conductor properties, there are now also the properties "User supplemental fields [1-20]" available as placeholder texts.

Project and Page Properties

Analogous to the properties in revision control, the property "Last editor" on the page and project is now divided into: "Last editor code", "Last editor name", "Last editor logon name", "Last editor telephone", and "Last editor email". These are available as special texts and properties for the table of contents.

Device List

In the device list, the columns Trade and Subtrade have been added. When inserting a part, the trade is now prepopulated with the first trade settings set for the part, while the subtrade must be entered manually. This also makes it possible now to filter for trade and subtrade. When inserting / placing from the device list, the trade and subtrade are trans-ferred to the functions / components. The trade here can take the following values: Electrical engineering, Mechanics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Cooling, Lu-brication, and Process engineering. The subtrade is an arbitrary character string.

The column Designation 1 is now preset in the configuration of the de-vice list. There is also the option of using the Column configuration to show the macro name as well, if one is assigned to the part.

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Message Management

Since connection point designations are possible for busbars, but not re-quired, missing connection designations are now no longer treated as errors with the message "P007006: Function without connection point designation".

Cables / Connections

For cable and connection lengths, the number of decimal places has been increased to three. The zeroes in the decimal places for reports and display, however, will now be abbreviated: "1.100" will be "1.1" and "1.000" becomes "1".

In the Parts tab of the property dialog, only whole-number values can be entered in the Number of units / quantity field. For length specifications of cables / connections and accessories (e.g. shrink sleeve or insulation) in decimal values, there are the new part reference properties "Subset / length", "Subset / length in units of project", and "Subset / length with unit of project". These can also be used in reports like parts lists, summary parts lists, etc. For the main part of a cable (that is, the top part in the list), these properties will be synchronized with the Length field in the Cable tab.

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There is also the new property "Set / subset in unit of project", which can also be used in reports. If the property "Subset / length" has a value (not 0), then this value is entered for "Set / subset" in reports, otherwise "Quantity" is used.

Parts List Navigator

The dialog for configuration of the part to be output has been changed so that terminal strips and terminals, like cable conductors, can now be trea-ted separately. This is done using the check box Terminal strip parts and Cable conductor parts.

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Graphical Editor

When selecting parts from the graphical editor, like in parts manage-ment, the [Extras] button has been integrated. Via Settings you can na-vigate to the Settings: Parts management dialog, where you can (e.g.) configure the tree view without interrupting your workflow.

Using Edit > Other, it is now also possible in the graphical editor to align elements horizontally and vertically.

In the View menu there is now also the option of displaying property na-mes as well as hidden elements. The View > Hidden elements setting now works immediately and not just only after paging.

Working with Schemes

To get a better overview of existing schemes, when exporting schemes unique file names are now suggested according to a particular pattern.

Entry of Texts

In all dialogs where multilingual text can be entered, the status bar now displays the current language setting:

When entering texts and path function texts, you can now decide in the Text tab which text type this is and whether the text should automatically be translated or not. Here, the two check boxes Path function text and Do not translate automatically are available.

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Restoring Projects

When restoring projects, EPLAN now also checks whether the project to be restored exists and may be overwritten.

The following differentiations should be noted:

• The project exists but is not currently open. In this case, a message is generated on restore and you can decide whether you wish to over-write the project.

• The project exists and has been opened by the current user. In this case, a message is generated on restore and you can decide whether you wish to overwrite the project. When you confirm the restore, the currently open project is closed, then overwritten with the "old" data and reopened. Note that, in this case, any current changes are lost when the project is overwritten.

• The project exists and has been opened by another user. In this case, a message is displayed on restore and the process is canceled.

Working with Filters

When working with filters, you can now use the new filter criterion "(...)" to group certain criteria and determine their hierarchy and importance.

Copying External Documents to the Project

In the Copy external documents to project dialog, which you call using Edit > Other > Links, you can copy external documents into the current project which are linked with the project as pages of type "External do-cument" or as hyperlinks.

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General Changes

In order to use the correct terminology for EPLAN Fluid as well, the na-mes of properties have been reworked in many areas. Thus we no lon-ger speak of "Wire/conductor cross-section", "Wire/conductor color", etc., but rather of "Connection cross-section" and "Connection color".

The settings for the contact image have been renamed: Instead of "motor overload switch" and "contactor", we now use the terms "at component" and "in path".

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EPLAN PPE Translation Function

In the new version, EPLAN PPE is also capable of completely translating the project data into any language, based on the EPLAN dictionary. The popup menu of the property fields allows multilingual input.

This provides foreign language support from planning through to com-missioning, whereby all translations are centrally managed in the EPLAN platform dictionary.

All project data can be translated at the push of a button, which helps the participating engineers in their work. The localized project documentation ensures that communication difficulties do not occur in the installation or commissioning processes. Mistakes and queries are reduced and the commissioning time is also reduced.

EPLAN PPE List Editing

The EPLAN PPE list editing functions have been fundamentally re-worked and now offer numerous features for fast, effective, and reliable tabular editing of project data.

The tables, and the input fields they contain, now allow multi-line and multilingual input, so that the advantages of the new translation functions can now be simply and easily used.

Bulk process of data offers the greatest potential for saving project time and the consequent rationalization of the entire engineering process. The list editing offers list editing features for this (copying, pasting, deleting) with multiple selections and also offers copying and pasting of data to and from Excel.

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This openness makes editing easier and simplifies the handling of large quantities of data through the use of clear tabular representation. The ability to fix certain table areas also simplifies orientation, for example, the PCT loop numbers can remain always visible in the first column, e-ven when using the scroll function to navigate through large tables.

Changes are now only saved after confirmation with the [OK] button, so that you can cancel the editing process without changing any of the data.

New EPLAN Fluid Message Classes

There is a new message class for Fluid check runs. This covers the fol-lowing check run messages:

• P24001: The Work line / control line property does not match the Working / control port property at one of the connection points.

• P024002: Connection between different trades

• P024003: Electrical function with a fluid character is not present as a pair cross-reference representation.

When starting check runs (Project data > Messages > Check project) a new schema "Fluid" for the relevant fluidics check runs can now be se-lected.

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Display of Macros in the Graphical Preview

The Graphical preview dialog, which is adjustable in size, is now also used for displaying macros. On insertion of macros, a preview of the macro is now shown in the Select macro dialog and also in the Graphi-cal preview.

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Master Data: Forms

New dynamic forms for connection diagrams have been created and these are useful in reducing the number of report pages. The forms allow the output of more than one terminal strip / plug / cable on a report page. The setting "Combine" (Output to page) generates the next terminal strip / plug / cable on the same page (assuming sufficient space remains on the page).

• A new dynamic form of type Cable connection diagram is now available (F07_004.f07).

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• A new dynamic form of type Terminal connection diagram is now available (F11_007.f11).

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• A new dynamic form of type Pin connection diagram is now available (F21_004.f21).

In addition to this, new overview forms have been created:

• There are two new forms of type Option overview available (F29_001.f29 – static; F29_002.f29 – dynamic).

• There are two new forms of type Placeholder object overview available (F30_001.f30 – static; F30_002.f30 – dynamic).

• A new PPE form of type PLC card overview is available (F20_PPE.f20 – static, based on DIN_SPS_KUE_20_2).

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Master Data: Symbols

• For P&ID projects, the symbol library "PID_ESS" with 325 symbols has been created.

• For EPLAN Fluid, a new hydraulics symbol library "HYD1ESS" with 565 symbols has been created.

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• The electrical engineering symbol libraries have been extended:

Version 1.7.12 Version 1.8.4 Number of IEC symbols 583 709

Number of GOST symbols

583 709

Number of NFPA symbols

453 709

New symbols:

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• The newly created one, two, three, and four pole power circuit break-ers, and their associated different switch operating elements, are available under the numbers 1501-1566 are:

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• The following text in the symbols has been appropriately rotated:

Old representation:

New representation:

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• The special symbol library SPECIAL has been extended with new pro-cess technology symbols (No. 340–384).

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• Two new PLC connection symbols of type "Output" have been cre-ated (PLCCPPO/385 and PLCCPPOJIC/386):

PLCCPPO / 385 PLCCPPOJIC / 386

• A potential definition point without a graphic has been created (PDPNG/387).

• The connection graphic of the busbar connection point (BCP/30) has been shortened by 1 mm.

• The diameter of the point for the symbols TF/324 and CRF/328 has been changed to 1.5 mm (previously 2 mm).

• In the symbol PLCCPOV/40, the level of the property "All connection point designations" is now "EPLAN428 - Propertyplace-ment.PLCconnectionpointdesignations" (previously EPLAN420 - Propertyplacement.Connectionpointdesignations")

Master Data: Function Definition Library

• A new identifier set according to the IEC standard 61346 has been added.

• The property "Contact / coil index" has been added to the "Black box" function.

• At PLC connections, the "Neutral" entry for "Connection data" has been replaced by the entry "Undefined" .

• There is a new function definition "Isolating terminal with 4 targets".

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• A new category "Process engineering" has been created for process engineering:

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• A new category "Electrical engineering: circuit-breaker" has been cre-ated for electrical engineering:

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Master Data: Plot Frames

A plot frame for the page size DIN A0 has been created (FN1_010, DIN A0 landscape, 15 columns, 1 row, 1 ladder).

Master Data: Templates

Unplaced functions have been removed from the GOST templates (GOST_bas001.epb, GOST_tpl001.ept).

The text size of the level for path function text (EPLAN110) has been changed from 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm in the IEC templates (IEC_bas001.epb, IEC_tpl001.ept, Num_bas001.epb, Num_tpl001.ept).

Inch Configuration

In forms using assignments to graphics, and which thus reference graph-ics in the GRAPHICS symbol library, the entry for the symbol library has been corrected (from GRAPHICS to GRAPHICS_en_US).

Activation Number

You need a new activation number in order to use this new version of EPLAN.