Newseplan8

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EPLAN NEWS

for Version 1.9


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Copyright 2008 EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG assumes no liability for either technical or printing errors,or for deficiencies in this technical information and cannot be held liable for damages that may resultdirectly or indirectly from delivery, performance, and use of this material.

This document contains legally protected ownership information that is subject to copyright. All rightsare protected. This document or parts of this document may not be copied or reproduced by any othermeans without the previous permission of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

The software described in this document is subject to a licensing agreement. Its use and reproductionare only permitted within the framework of this agreement.

RITTAL is a registered trademark of Rittal GmbH & Co. KG.

EPLAN, EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Fluid, EPLAN PPE, and EPLAN Cabinet are registeredtrademarks of EPLAN Software & Service GmbH & Co. KG.

Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows, MicrosoftExcel, Microsoft Access and Notepad are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

CLIP PROJECT and INTERBUS are registered trademarks of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co.

AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor and VoloView Express are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.

SIMATIC HW Konfig is a registered trademark of Siemens AG.

InstallShield is a registered trademark of InstallShield, Inc.

Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc.

All other product names, trade names, and company names are trademarks or registered trademarksof their respective owners.

EPLAN uses the Open Source software 7-Zip (7za.dll), Copyright by Igor Pavlov. The source codeof 7-Zip is subject to the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). The source code of 7-Zip anddetails on this license can be found on the following website: http://www.7-zip.org

Note: The hardware requirements specified by the operating system manufacturers are valid

for the hardware that is used. Hardware combinations that cause faults according to

information from manufacturers may also affect the operation of EPLAN. Therefore, a correct

basic installation of hardware, operating system and hardware drivers (e. g. graphics board

driver, etc.) is therefore essential for EPLAN to function properly. The main conditions and

areas of application specified by the hardware manufacturers also apply to the operation of

EPLAN.


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Table of Contents

Preface................................................................................................................... 9New features of the entire EPLAN platform ...................................... 10

Parts management.............................................................................................. 10Configuration of the parts structure....................................................................10Configuration of free properties .........................................................................14Product subgroup for prefabricated cables ........................................................ 15Updating the parts database..............................................................................15Parts management and selection via SQL server..............................................16Generating parts based on schematic data .......................................................18New format for parts data import .......................................................................18Assigning fields when importing parts data........................................................19Importing parts data via configuration files.........................................................19New customer / supplier records when editing parts .........................................20Automatic storage of parts data.........................................................................21Extended part fields...........................................................................................21Part master data navigator.................................................................................21

New features in the "User Rights Management" add-on................................. 22Controlling the menu structure via rights assignments ...................................... 22Updating the rights database.............................................................................22New rights.......................................................................................................... 23User interface changes to the "Rights management" dialog..............................24Write-protection for the rights database.............................................................25Database is not opened when querying rights...................................................25

New "Redlining" feature..................................................................................... 26Description of the "Redlining Workflow".............................................................27Displaying and editing the comments in the graphical editor ............................. 28Comments navigator.......................................................................................... 28

Extended "EPLAN Project Reference" add-on................................................. 29Comparison project and incoming project..........................................................30Verifying a project ..............................................................................................31Results of the project verification .......................................................................33The results in the message management..........................................................34

New "Select scope of menu" feature ................................................................ 35


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New EPLAN basic projects with master data ................................................... 37New "Print attached documents" menu item ................................................... 38New "Properties" menu item ............................................................................. 39New "Adjust column width" popup menu item................................................ 39New dialog layout for placeholder objects....................................................... 40

Part selection for variable values .......................................................................41Data import from EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN............................................................. 42Reports ................................................................................................................ 44

Special layout for the first page of a report ........................................................44Displaying frozen report pages ..........................................................................45Reports and creation date..................................................................................45New filtering options...........................................................................................46Line breaks in reports ........................................................................................46Device without part number ...............................................................................46Multiple DTs in a single line of the summarized parts list...................................47Terminal accessories in the terminal line-up diagram........................................47

Labeling............................................................................................................... 48Calculations for labeling.....................................................................................48Project properties in the labeling area................................................................49

Page navigator.................................................................................................... 50Manual page sorting in the list view ...................................................................50Moving or copying pages via Drag & Drop.........................................................51Creating page macros via Drag & Drop............................................................. 51Directly adopting structure identifiers.................................................................51

Devices ................................................................................................................ 53Automatically recognizing existing main functions ............................................. 53Filtering option in DT selection...........................................................................54Storing user-defined property arrangements ..................................................... 54Display settings for connection points................................................................55DT adoption conforming to the GOST standard.................................................57

Device navigator ................................................................................................. 58Filters in the navigators ..................................................................................... 58Terminals / plugs ................................................................................................ 58Finding and replacing......................................................................................... 59


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Graphical editor .................................................................................................. 59Message texts in the graphical editor.................................................................59

Form editor.......................................................................................................... 60Calculations and formatting in forms..................................................................60Separator between header objects ....................................................................61Define individual separators for forms................................................................61Regenerating headings in forms........................................................................62

Settings................................................................................................................ 64Symbol for cable / shield connection definition points........................................64Use alternative property arrangements..............................................................65Fonts as project settings....................................................................................66Swap row and column information in cross-references......................................66Updating interruption point cross-references ..................................................... 67Use of the logon name.......................................................................................67Show property number behind property name...................................................68Export invisible elements in the PDF export ......................................................69Scaling factors for printing ................................................................................. 69

Properties............................................................................................................ 70

Page properties .................................................................................................70Block properties .................................................................................................70"Terminal / pin designation" property .................................................................70

Direct editing....................................................................................................... 71Tip of the day ...................................................................................................... 71General Changes ................................................................................................ 72

Removal of symbol variants...............................................................................72

Special topic EPLAN Electric P8........................................................ 73New features in the "PLC & Bus Extension" add-on ....................................... 73

Automatically generate schematics from PLC data ...........................................73Interfaces for exchanging data with PLC configuration systems........................76Synchronization of PLC bus configuration data on import into EPLAN..............77Part assignment via the object description when importing PLC data................79Assigning the connection point designations when importing PLC data............ 80Returning PLC connection point addresses.......................................................80Displaying process data in the bus configuration navigator ............................... 81New PLC box properties ....................................................................................81


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Using existing PLC connection points in blocks.................................................82Addressing by connection point designation with plug DT.................................83

Cables / connections.......................................................................................... 84Function text for cables and shields...................................................................84Source and target in the cable DT ..................................................................... 84Automatically assign conductors to connections................................................85Display of connection properties via connection definition points ...................... 85

Special topic EPLAN Fluid ................................................................. 86

Redesign of the Festo interface ........................................................................ 86Hyperlinks to Festo web pages ......................................................................... 87Prefiltered Festo part selection ......................................................................... 88New "Multi-line Fluid" representation type....................................................... 89Synchronize function text for different representations ................................. 90Representation possibilities for tube connections.......................................... 90New layers for representing connections......................................................... 91Correct trade on Festo import ........................................................................... 92

Special topic EPLAN PPE................................................................... 93Project options for EPLAN PPE......................................................................... 93External editing................................................................................................... 93Multilingual input................................................................................................ 93PDF / DXF export ................................................................................................ 94Automatic PCT loop numbering........................................................................ 94Selection of the processing function................................................................ 94Additional part properties.................................................................................. 94Adoption of the free properties of a part .......................................................... 95Transferring structure identifiers...................................................................... 95Reaction of the graphical preview..................................................................... 95

EPLAN View ........................................................................................ 96Potential and signal tracking............................................................................. 96Display language for "variable" texts ............................................................... 96Navigators in EPLAN View................................................................................. 96


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Preface

Dear EPLAN users,

The time has come the new version of the EPLAN platform is nowready for you. You can now benefit from innovative new features andimprovements that make your project planning even more efficient.

The scope of the news document alone gives an idea of how manynew features there are in the latest version. New flexibility in the partsmanagement, Windows VISTA compatibility, redlining, improvedergonomics, calculation in forms, simplified placeholder objectmanagement... it is great to be able to offer you so many new features.Take the time to browse through the news and find your own favoritehighlights in version 1.9.

"Your feedback is important to us." At EPLAN Software & Service, this is

not just an empty clich but rather an expression of our active customerorientation. Many new features and improvements have beenimplemented as a result of your feedback. Thank you for yourcommitment, which will ensure efficient further development of theEPLAN platform in the future.

All new features and important version information are convenientlyprovided in the news document. For the first time, the news for EPLANElectric P8, EPLAN Fluid and EPLAN PPE have been combined into asingle document. The first chapter describes the new features that affect

all products as a general platform. Special points relating to the individualproducts are then described in the later chapters.

Enjoy over 140 pages of innovations and highlights and prepare to besurprised by the new possibilities offered by your EPLAN software. Wewish you every success.

Your EPLAN Software & Service team


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New features of the entire EPLANplatform

Parts management

Configuration of the parts structure

Parts can be structured to suit the individual perspective of the customer.Standardized structures such as VDMA, eCl@ss and ETIM are alsopossible. The representation in the EPLAN platform optimally adapts tothe existing structure and way of thinking. This allows items to bemaintained and gradually selected in a tree view, based on customer-specific criteria.

Benefit: The entire Parts area is intuitive, fast, and easy to manage.

The parts structure in the Parts Management tree is no longer fixed andcan now be freely defined by the user. This allows parts data to beprepared to suit different customers and different planning methods.

In a similar manner to a scheme, a tree structure can now be defined in aso-called "Tree configuration". In this configuration you first define the"Main nodes" that will later represent the uppermost level of the treestructure. Then you define the substructure. All fields available in theparts management can be used as structure nodes for groupingpurposes.

The selection or definition of a tree configuration is done in the user-specific settings, which can also be called up from within the partsmanagement via Extras > General.


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In the Settings: Parts management dialog, a new Tree configurationfield is now available. To create a new configuration, click [...] next to theTree configuration field to open the Tree configuration dialog.


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This dialog shows the main nodes of the selected tree configuration. Inthe default configuration the "EPLAN default value" scheme the mainnode is "Artikel" (= parts). You can use the familiar buttons for theScheme field e.g. to create new configurations or copy and exportexisting configurations.

You create a new main node by clicking the (New) button next to theMain nodes field. The Tree configuration - main node dialog opens.

Enter the name of the main node into the Name field, as it is to bedisplayed in the parts management tree view (e.g. "Cable"). Then youinsert properties into the main node via the (New) button. Theseproperties later form the lower hierarchy levels (subnodes) in the tree.For a "Cable" main node, the selected properties could be e.g.: "Cabletype", "Conductor cross-section / diameter", "Number of conductors".


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After you have closed all dialogs by clicking [OK], the parts managementtree view is updated according to the selected tree configuration. Theindividual part numbers are still displayed at the lowest level in the tree. Ifproperties that do not exist for parts are selected when configuring themain nodes properties, then empty structure nodes are displayed.

If you have followed our example, then your parts management now has"Cable" main node. As the first distinction criteria, the cables are sorted

by cable type. Parts without cable data are initially gathered into asubnode without a designation. You can also remove these subnodes bysetting a filter for the "Cable" main node.

To do this, reopen the Tree configuration dialog, click in the row withthe "Cable" main node name and then use the [...] button that appears atthe right edge of the row to open the Tree configuration - main nodedialog. Click [...] next to the Filterfield and, in the Filterdialog, setCable type > 0 as the filter criteria. After closing all dialogs again by

clicking [OK], only cable parts are still displayed in the "Cable" mainnode.

Note:

The part structure in the Part selection can also be configured. You candefine a special tree configuration, which is different to the part structurein the parts management, in the Settings: Internal part selectiondialog. You reach this dialog via e.g. Options > Settings > User >Management > Part selection. In the Settings: Part selection dialog,

select the Internal option, click [...] and then set the desired scheme forthe part selection tree view in the Tree configuration field.


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Configuration of free properties

The free properties in the parts management can now be configuredusing EPLAN schemes. The Free properties tab now has a Schemedrop-down list for this purpose.

Benefit: Once free properties have been defined, you can then quicklytransfer them to different parts without typing errors.

Use the [...] button next to the Scheme field to open the new Configurefree properties dialog. Here, you can create new schemes with pre-defined free properties. To assign the predefined properties, select theappropriate scheme in the Free properties tab and click the [Assignscheme] button. The previous free properties of the respective part arereplaced with the predefined descriptions, values, and units. These

inserted properties can be edited later.


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Product subgroup for prefabricated cables

The new version offers a new Prefabricated product group in the partsmanagement. You can use this product group to better sort prefabricatedcables into the parts management structure.

Since corresponding cables are usually listed in the cable assignmentdiagram, the Cable data tab now has a new Cable assignment

diagram form field. Here, you can define the form to be used for thecable assignment diagram; click [...] to select a suitable form in theSelect form dialog.

When this type of part is selected in the graphical editor, the form definedin the parts management is transferred to the Cable assignmentdiagram form property. This causes the cable to be output inthe cable assignment diagram.

Updating the parts database

The parts database can now only be updated to a new version via theparts management. Updating no longer takes place with read access tothe parts database (part / device selection, parts navigator).

When you use [Extras] > General in the parts management to open aparts database from an older version of EPLAN, then the database is nolonger automatically updated, and is only brought up to the latest versionafter a confirmation dialog.

If you answer the query Do you want to update the parts database"Database file name"? with [Yes], then the parts database is updated.A backup copy of the old parts database is created in the process (e.g.ESS_part001 backup 1.mdb). If you click [No], then the parts databaseis not updated. The parts management data fields will then remain emptyand cannot be edited.

Parts can be selected from new and older versions of the parts

database.


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Other program components (e.g. the Current project --> partsdatabase parts synchronization), which can also modify the data in theparts database, display an appropriate error message when the partsdatabase is not the latest version.

Note:

If you work with several EPLAN versions then we recommend using the

latest EPLAN version when editing and managing the parts database.

Parts management and selection via SQL server

In addition to the previously available Access parts database you cannow store your parts master data on an SQL server. The SQL server thatyou can use is described in the chapter "Approved database systems forparts management / selection" on page 137.

Benefit: SQL database support can significantly increase theperformance of the parts management (and also the partselection). Larger numbers of parts can now be efficientlycoupled to the platform.

You can now alternatively specify an SQL server connection where youpreviously specified an Access database.

Parts management

This is the case in the settings for parts management. The Settings:Parts management dialog has been extended to include thecorresponding SQL serveroption (see the illustration in chapter"Configuration of the parts structure" on page 10). You use the [...]button to open the SQL server setting dialog, where you make thesettings for using an SQL server.


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If an SQL server is entered in the parts management settings thenselecting Extras > New database does not open the selection dialog foran Access database but instead the Create SQL server databasedialog. Here you can specify the name of the new database on the SQLserver.

Note:

In order for you to be able to enter the name of a new database in theCreate SQL server database dialog, this must already be set up on theSQL server. If you have administrator rights for the SQL server then youcan directly create a new database there. Please discuss this with yoursystem administrator.

Part selection

The database from the parts management is set by default in the settings

for internal part selection. If you wish to use a different database for partselection then you can also select an SQL server here. Accordingly, theSettings: Internal part selection dialog now also has the SQL serveroption for this purpose. You use [...] to reopen the SQL server settings.

Note:

Please note that the SQL server settings are stored in two differentsetting areas. The SQL settings for part selection apply only to part

selection and the same applies to the SQL settings for partsmanagement.


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You can select an appropriate entry from the File type drop-down list inthe Import records dialog. On import, the levels of the classificationsystem transferred using "BMEcat" are adopted into the Attributes tab.You can then create a scheme for displaying the parts data (treeconfiguration) based on these attributes.

Assigning fields when importing parts data

The field assignmentoption is now also available when importing partsdata. The Import records dialog now has a new Field assignment fieldfor this purpose.

Here, you stipulate a scheme for the structure and the free properties,which defines the database fields into which the imported data is read.

Benefit: This simplifies the data exchange between customers whouse different structures.

Importing parts data via configuration files

When importing parts data of the file types "CSV" or "Text", in theconfiguration file you can now also define the language to be used whenimporting the texts. To do this, the desired language code is specifiednext to the relevant multi-language fields in the configuration file.

Example:

A possible definition in the configuration file:

description1="DE_de@" + [1!#26] + ";EN_us@" + [1!#27] +";RU_ru@" + [1!#28] + ";"

Here, the information for the Description 1 field (description1) isdistributed over three columns. Column 26=German, column 27=English,column 28=Russian. The above configuration combines these threecolumns together.


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Benefit: The translations distributed over the data sources cantherefore be directly read into a multilingual field. This avoidsthe need for repeated importing of translations.

When importing parts data for free properties, it is now also possible tolist all free properties to be imported in a single line. To do this, in theassociated configuration file the free properties to be imported must belisted with the corresponding row number of the Free properties tab.

Example:

A possible definition in the configuration file:

table=tblFreePropertydescription.1=[#3]val.1=[#4]unit.1=[#5]description.2=[#6]

val.2=[#7]unit.2=[#8]

The respective row number in the Free properties tab is specified with aperiod "." after the description, val and unit field designations.

New customer / supplier records when editing parts

If you are editing a part, and you enter a short name that does not yetexist in the Manufacturer/ Supplierfields of the General tab, then acorresponding empty customer / supplier data record is automaticallygenerated, which you must then fill out.


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Automatic storage of parts data

For all actions that insert an object with a part number into the project,and where this part does not exist in the project, (e.g. insertion ofmacros, insertion of copied pages, etc.) this part is now automaticallystored into the project. However, this only functions when the user alsohas rights to select a part or device.

Benefit: The synchronization of parts data that was previously requiredis no longer needed in these cases.

Extended part fields

In the parts management, the Part numberand Type numberfieldshave been extended to a maximum length of 255 characters. Thechanges to the part number affect all tabs where this field occurs(General, Assembly, etc.). In addition, the Order numberfield of the

General tab has been increased to 120 characters.

Part master data navigator

The menu item for the Part master data dialog has been removed fromthe Project data menu and is now located underUtilities > Parts > Partmaster data navigator. This dialog provides you with an overview of the

existing part master data. The dialog can now also be opened via thebutton (part master data) in the Project editing toolbar.


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New features in the "User Rights Management"add-on

Note:

The "User Rights Management" add-on is not included in the standardscope of delivery and must be licensed separately.

Controlling the menu structure via rights assignments

The "User Rights Management" add-on now allows you to control thescope of the menus and popup menus. If certain rights are revoked froma user, the associated menu items will be grayed out. This allows anadministrator to configure the access rights and the menu structure.

Benefit: This avoids the user having to deal with menu items that theydo not need. This increases the clarity of the program, and

therefore improves the operating speed and allows the user towork more effectively.

Note:

One exception is menu items that are also used in other parts of theprogram (such as Copy orDelete). These will still be available. If theuser calls up these actions, a message is displayed that the editing is notpossible due to the settings in rights management.

Updating the rights database

The new version now allows the rights database to be updated.

Benefit: This allows you to adopt the new rights offered by EPLAN forrights management while still retaining the rights alreadyassigned and user groups that you have created.


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To use this feature, click the new [Update] button in the Rightsmanagement dialog. A progress bar shows the update process. Thenew rights are transferred to your rights database. After updating, theSystem messages dialog is automatically opened. Here you can seewhich rights have been added or removed.

The new rights are then available for the existing user groups. By default,they are activated for all groups, including "Guests". Another change is

that you can now also edit the "Guests" user group.

New rights

Administrators can now extend the assignment of rights to includedialogs. If a dialog (e.g. the page navigator) is blocked for a particularuser group, the group members can open the dialog but cannot edit anydata or documents. Settings dialogs are an exception to this. These arehidden when they are blocked for a user group.

The rights for dialogs are identified in the Rights management: dialog by the "[dialog]" suffix. For example, the rights for pagemanagement contain the right Page navigator [dialog].

The rights management now also has new rights for EPLAN API actions.These are identified by the "[interface]" suffix. For example, in the Printand print preview category next to the Print right for the menu itemthere is a new Print [interface] right for the EPLAN API "print" action. Ifa user does not have the corresponding right for this action then he / she

cannot e.g. print project pages by entering command line parameters.


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User interface changes to the "Rights management" dialog

In addition to the new [Update] button mentioned in the previous section,other changes have been made to the user interface of the Rightsmanagement: Users and Rights management: Groups dialogs. TheEdit, New and Delete functions are now arranged as buttons in a toolbarabove the users or groups similar to many other EPLAN dialogs.

The Rights management: Groups dialog now has an additional(Copy) button. This button copies an existing user group including allrights that this group possesses. EPLAN opens the Group dialog. Entera name and description of the new group here.

To change a password in the Rights management: Users dialog, younow select a user name on the right of the dialog and then click [Changepassword]. In the subsequent Change password dialog you canchange the password that the associated user uses to log on to EPLAN.

This is possible for all users except the standard "GUEST" user.


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Write-protection for the rights database

The rights database can now also be write-protected via the operatingsystem.

Benefit: This allows the rights database e.g. to be protected from directfile access by the user so that manipulation is avoided.

If the rights database is write-protected, a "write protected" suffix isdisplayed in the title bar of the Rights management dialog. All editingoptions are then no longer available and are grayed out. This also meansthat users without write rights for the database can no longer changetheir password by themselves.

Database is not opened when querying rights

Before executing an action, EPLAN checks internally whether the userhas the appropriate rights for this. This rights query no longeropens therights database, which significantly improves the performance of theprogram.

Benefit: Improved performance of the EPLAN platform.


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New "Redlining" feature

"Redlining" describes a workflow for revising schematics. To do this, aproject creator or editor sends a plan to a project redliner. The redlinercomments on the plan and returns it to the project creator or editor. Thecreator/editor then revises the plan based on the comments. This type ofworkflow is now supported by EPLAN.

Schematics can be output as PDF files and then released for com-menting in Adobe Acrobat Professional. The Adobe Reader can then beused to add comments to the PDF that EPLAN reads again. This createsa workflow allowing "Redlining" to take place in digital form outside ofEPLAN. The project editor is optimally supported in adding andmaintaining the comments. Paperwork and faxes are no longernecessary and the comments are always clearly legible.

Benefit: This significantly accelerates the feedback of information and

produces higher-quality results.

For our customers, "Redlining Workflow" means:

Simple acquisition of comments outside EPLAN (PDF export fromEPLAN, commenting with Adobe Reader).

No software investmentis needed by the redliner (Adobe Reader isfree of charge).

Simple importingof the comments into the EPLAN source project via

the import of PDF comments. Easy revision via fast navigation through the comments in the project.

Globally usable because the Adobe Acrobat family and the Readerare internationally oriented.


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Description of the "Redlining Workflow"

In EPLAN:

Export the source project pages as PDF files:Using the familiarPage > Export > PDF menu items, the Projectcreatorexports the pages into a PDF file.

Outside of EPLAN: Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Professional:

The Project creatoropens the generated PDF file and releases itfor commenting in Adobe Reader. Then he / she sends thereleased PDF file to the redliner.

The Project creatorcan also send the PDF file to a third party forinspection via e-mail from within Acrobat. The PDF file is thenautomatically released for commenting.

Create comments in Adobe Reader:The Redlineradds comments to the PDF file by using Adobe Readerto insert graphical and text comments into the pages. He / she thensends the commented PDF file back to the project creator.

Note:

An Adobe Reader of version 7.0 or 8 is required in order to use thecommenting tools.

In EPLAN:

Import the PDF comments into the EPLAN source project:The Project creatorhas a new PDF comments menu item underPage > Import available for this purpose. The selected PDF file isread via [Open]. This is then compared with the existing comments.After importing, the PDF comments are visible as project comments inthe pages.

Manually revise the source project based on the comments:The Project creatorcan read, edit, manage, and delete the projectcomments in EPLAN.


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Displaying and editing the comments in the graphicaleditor

In the graphical editor the text comments are displayed as text("Comment") with a border. All other comments are presented as simplelines, polylines, or ellipses.

Double-clicking a comment on a page opens the Properties dialog with

the Comment tab. The Author, Creation date and Modification datefields provide you with information about the comment. The Commenttext field contains the actual comment text entered into the PDF file bythe author.

As with other graphical objects, comments can be copied, inserted,moved within a page, and manually deleted.

If all comments in a project need to be deleted together, then a newComments check box exists in the compression settings for thispurpose. You can then delete all project comments from the project byselecting Project > Organize > Compress and then making theappropriate compression settings.

Comments navigator

A navigator dialog for navigating the comments in a project is availableunderPage > Comments navigator. This dialog shows you tree and listviews of all PDF comments in the currently open project. The PDF

comments are sorted according to the page structure of the project. Youcan use the popup menu to jump to the associated PDF comments onthe EPLAN page.


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Extended "EPLAN Project Reference" add-on

Note:

The "EPLAN Project Reference" add-on is not included in the standardscope of delivery and must be licensed separately.

The "EPLAN Project Reference" add-on has been heavily enhanced and

now offers you simple, easy to understand project verification.

Benefit: The new settings allow the scope of verification to becontrolled in a manner appropriate to the particular task. Theverification messages refer directly to the changed settings.This makes project verification and correction very easy.

Project participants, e.g. the customer, often send a particular projectstate to other project participants, e.g., suppliers. These then edit theproject and return a more advanced project state.

Using the project verification, before loading the project status you cancheck whether the project has met your requirements or whether it is of apredetermined standard. For comparisons between a comparison projectand an incoming project you can check the following criteria:

Is the project free of errors? A project is free of errors if none of thescheduled check runs generate messages.

Are the project-related settings unchanged?

Are the project data properties unchanged?

Are they compliant with the project planning specifications?

If the project status does not fulfill your requirements, a message reportcan be created that documents the differences from the projectspecifications.


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Comparison project and incoming project

The user receives a project the Incoming project e.g. back from asupplier and wishes to verify this project. The user has already saved aComparison projectfor this purpose, which is used as a reference. Inproject verification the two projects the comparison project and theincoming project are then compared to each other.

Comparison project

The comparison project is the original project or the project generatedwithout being changed from the original project. It contains the originalproject status. This project will be compared to the incoming project. Thefollowing projects are available as comparison projects:

Standard EPLAN projects (*.elk)

Editable EPLAN projects (*.elk, *.ell)

Filed-off EPLAN projects (*.els)

Revised EPLAN projects (*.elr)

Temporary comparison projects (*.elt)

EPLAN projects with revision tracking (*.ell).

Incoming project

The incoming project is the project that you wish to verify. It contains an

advanced project status. Either check whether your own project fulfillsthe specified standard or check whether a project fulfills yourrequirements after having been edited by a third party.


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Verifying a project

The extended project verification is started from the project manage-ment. First, select the Incoming projectwhich has the advanced projectstatus. Instead of the old Compare properties menu item, the Verifyproject menu item is now available under[Extras].

In the dialog of the same name that then opens, you specify which

actions are to be carried out by EPLAN during the project verification.When verifying projects, the settings and properties of a comparisonproject are compared with those of an incoming project. Likewise,targeted check runs are carried out on the incoming project.


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Select comparison project:

Select the comparison project in this field. The comparison project is theoriginal project to be compared to the incoming project. Via (New) youcan select a different comparison project in a subsequent dialog.

Compare settings:

If this check box is selected then a scheme is used to check if the

project-specific settings of the comparison project and incoming projectare the same. You select the scheme for the settings comparison in theScheme field below.

Compare properties:

If this check box is selected then another scheme is used to compareparticular properties of the comparison project and incoming project. Youselect the scheme for the properties comparison in the Scheme fieldbelow.

Perform project checks:

If this check box is selected then check runs are performed in the projectcomparison of the project verification. You use a check run scheme todefine the check runs to be performed, which you can select in theScheme field below.

You can also compare the project structures and level settings of bothprojects. In the Verify project dialog, the two Compare projectstructures and Compare layers check boxes are provided for thispurpose.

Clicking [OK] starts the project comparison. EPLAN then shows theresults in the Project verification: Results dialog and in the messagemanagement. The results are then in the incoming project.


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Results of the project verification

After performing the project comparison, EPLAN opens the Project

verification: Results dialog.

The Result tab shows you a brief overview of which comparisons andcheck runs were performed during the project verification and whichwere not.

If you select a row, the Message description field will show a text with adescription. Detailed results of the project verification can be found underProject data > Messages > Management.


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An icon in the Status column shows you the respective result for thecomparison or check run:

No messages available!There are no settings / property differences between thecomparison and incoming project. The check run did notgenerate any check run messages.Error: Errors were found during the comparison / check run.

The project verification found settings / property differencesbetween the comparison and incoming project. The check rungenerated check run messages.Warning: The comparison / check run was not completed.Possible causes: You did not select the comparison / check runfor the project verification. You selected the setting Stopcomparison when first difference is found and EPLANdiscovered a difference so did not complete the comparison /check run.

The Status tab also shows additional statistics of the check runs, e.g.the number of errors. This tab is also available in the Projectmanagement dialog. In contrast to the previous version, the check runscheme used is also shown in the tab. The display of the number ofmessages is no longer in a single column but now in separate Error,Warning and Note columns.

The results in the message management

The message management lists the detailed results of a projectverification. You can copy the results from the message managementand paste them into other applications.

The differences found during a comparison are displayed in the followingform:"Descriptive text of the respective setting, property, project structure; oldvalue -> new value".


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New "Select scope of menu" feature

All product versions (except EPLAN View) now allow you to select themenu scope when starting the program. This helps to significantly reducethe complexity of the program for beginners and advanced users alike.

Benefit: This avoids the respective user having to deal with menuitems that they do not need. The clearer user interface

increases operating speed and allows you to work moreeffectively.

With the "User Rights Management" add-on, the menu items can bedefined in detail for every user (see chapter "Controlling the menustructure via rights assignments" on page 22).

The Select scope of menu dialog is automatically displayed whenEPLAN starts.

In this dialog you specify the user mode in which you would like to definethe displayed scope of the menu. EPLAN has three user modesavailable:

Beginner

Advanced

Expert.


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Every user mode has a certain menu scope defined by EPLAN. You canalso change the defined mode again the next time you start the program.

As usual, the Select scope of menu can be switched off by selectingthe Do not show this dialog again check box. Dialogs that you havedeactivated in this manner can be reactivated underOptions > Settings> User > Display > User interface using the Reactivate suppressedmessages check box.

Note:

The user mode query on program start only occurs when EPLAN isoperated withoutrights management. If one of the Log on orLog onwith Windows user name operating modes is selected in the rightsmanagement then the Select scope of menu dialog is not opened.


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New EPLAN basic projects with master data

The new version introduces a new type of basic project. These newtemplates with the *.zw9 file extension already contain the master data(symbols, plot frames, forms, etc.).

Benefit: These allow you to create sample projects for your customers(templates for new projects) without having to additionally

provide the master data.

If you wish to create a basic project from an existing project, then you dothis in the same way as before. After selecting e.g. Project > Organize >Create basic project the entire project is saved as a basic project.Among other dialogs, the Zip project dialog now opens and the basicproject is then generated. By default the new templates are still stored inthe set template directory Templates\.

Double-clicking on a file with the *.zw9 extension starts EPLAN and youcan immediately use the Select target project dialog to specify thestorage location and name of a new project.

Another new feature is that you can now use all templates when creatinga project via the New menu item or the project wizards (New (Wizard)).This means that all template formats (*.ept, *.epb, *.zw9) areavailable as a File type in the respective dialog. After you have definedthe file type of the template in the Select project template / basicproject orCreate project dialog, the familiar project creation procedureoccurs.

Note:

You can continue to use the previous *.epb format for basic projects.However, creating new basic projects in this format is notpossibleanymore. These project templates are also no longer supplied by EPLANon the installation CD.


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New "Print attached documents" menu item

A new additional printing feature is now available in EPLAN. SelectingProject > Print attached documents opens a dialog listing all attacheddocuments linked in the project. Attached documents are externaldocuments inserted into schematic pages via hyperlinks or entered intothe parts used.

Benefit: There is no longer any need to spend a long time searchingfor the documents attached to an EPLAN project.

In the Print attached documents dialog you can use the Print checkbox to define whether or not each respective listed document is to beprinted. The Page, part column lists the page names or part numberswhere an attached document was found. For documents that are multiplylinked in the project, the respective page names or part numbers areindividually listed separated by commas.


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Clicking [OK] then calls up the normal print dialog. Some fields in thePrint dialog are grayed out because the corresponding settings cannotbe made when printing attached documents.

Note:

Please note that the following linked documents are not taken intoaccount when printing via Print attached documents:

Pages of the External document page type. These pages arealready printed via the "normal" printing functions.

Linked documents on report pages. These attached documents onpart report pages are covered by the parts already considered.

Documents linked via the HTTP protocol (e.g. Internet pages).

New "Properties" menu item

Previously, you could only open project properties via the popup menu inthe Pages dialog. The new version allows the project properties to bedirectly called up via the Project menu. The menu has now beenextended with a new Properties menu item for this purpose.

New "Adjust column width" popup menu item

The popup menu of some tabular displays, e.g. Structure identifiermanagement, when editing terminal strips and plugs, in the pagenavigatorList etc., now has a new Adjust column width menu item.Similar to the [Ctrl] + ["+"] ("Plus" on the keyboard numeric keypad) thismenu item adjusts all columns so that the headings and column contentare fully legible.


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New dialog layout for placeholder objects

A new table with a tree-like structure in the Assignment tab of thePlaceholder object dialog now displays the data much more clearly.You navigate to the respective properties via the object type (e.g. cabledefinition) and the object name (e.g. full DT or the text of a path functiontext).

Benefit: This fundamentally simplifies and accelerates the process offinding properties and variables.

You can reduce the number of displayed properties still further by usingthe Only display properties with value in Variable column check box.If this check box is selected then the table only shows the propertieswhich have a value in the Variable column.


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The Assignment tab also has a new Name (full) property available.This property allows you to specify the full DT.

If the Name (visible) property of a placeholder object now also has avalue (variable) then this takes precedence over the Name (full)property. In this case, when e.g. inserting a macro with an appropriateplaceholder object, a system message that can be deactivated notifiesyou that the Name (full) cannot be taken into account.

Part selection for variable values

If you assign a variable to a Part number [1] [50] property in thePlaceholder object dialog, then the Values tab allows you to enter thepart for this variable via the part selection.

To do this, click the corresponding table cell and use [...] to call up thePart selection dialog.


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Benefit: With this new feature, the inaccurate "manual" entry of partnumbers at this point is no longer needed.

Data import from EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN

When importing data from EPLAN 5 projects, cross-references weremultiply represented in the PLC overview. To better represent theEPLAN 5 settings in the program, you can now create schemes forPLCpower supplies in the general settings for EPLAN 5 data imports. Whencreating your own scheme you use the PLC power supplies dialog toassign EPLAN 5 properties to the desired P8 properties.

The different group identifiers at the variants defined in a contactorspecification file are now correctly transferred to the part variants onimport. The corresponding Accessory code in the Parts management

has been extended (to a field length of 100 characters) for this purpose.

The project-specific settings now have a new EPLAN 5-compatiblebehaviorsetting for data import (menu path: Options > Settings >Projects > "Project name" > Management > General). This check boxis selected by default when importing data from EPLAN 5 projects. Thismeans that the DT of terminal strip definitions and plug definitions is notnested and these objects also do not appear in the cross-reference atthe main function.


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Note:

This check box is only available if you have transferred an EPLAN 5project via Project > EPLAN 5 / fluidPLAN data import > Project. Ifthis is not the case, this setting option is not displayed.

When importing from EPLAN 5, the remarks are now loaded into thefunction text of cable definitions. The contents of the "Remarks" are

written to the function text and this is placed where the remarks wereplaced. Depending on the Replace empty cable remarks with functiontext parameter in EPLAN 5, the "Function text (automatic)" or thefunction text is placed in reports where a cable was assigned a remark.


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Reports

Special layout for the first page of a report

According to the GOST standard 2.104-2006 the first page of a reportmust use a different layout to the subsequent pages.

The plot frame used for editing a form can now also be used for the

finished report pages. To do this, in the form properties of the form to beoutput the Plot frame to edit form and Use 'Plot frame to editform' property for reports properties must be selected andconfigured accordingly.

It is now also possible to select a different form (with a different plotframe if necessary) for the second and subsequent pages of a reportblock. To do this, the new Form for subsequent pages property in the form properties must be appropriately configured.

For function-related reports (e.g. terminal diagram) the first page ofeveryterminal diagram then looks different to the subsequent pages. If theCombine option for the Terminal diagram report type is selected, thena different form and plot frame is output only on the first page of the firstterminal diagram of the report block.

Several function-related reports of one report type are combined into areport block if:

dynamic forms are used and if, in the Settings: Output to pages dialog for the desired report

type, the Combine setting is selected.


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Displaying frozen report pages

This version contains two new features for displaying frozen reportpages.

The new Frozen report page page property now allows you toalso filter for frozen report pages. For example, this property can be usedin the Filter: Pages dialog as a filter criterion for the page navigator. The

icon is used for frozen report pages in the page navigator.

The project statistics of the Project properties - dialognow also has a new Frozen pages column. The number of frozen reportpages for each page type is displayed in this column.

Note:

Please note that manually created report pages (e.g. manually createdtitle pages) are also recognized as "frozen reports" by the program.

Reports and creation date

If report pages are updated, they now only receive a new creation date ifthe project data on which the report is based has also changed. If nochanges have been made to the corresponding schematic pages then anew creation date is not set when the reports are updated.

Benefit: This allows you recognize which reports have actuallychanged after an update.

To do this, you e.g. set the filter for the page navigator so that only thepages newer than a particular creation date are displayed.

The Creation date and Creatorproperties in the Reports dialog can nolonger be manually edited. Your "own" creation date can now onlybedefined when generating new reports in the Define report dialog.


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New filtering options

When generating a structure identifier overview, you can now also set afilter for this in the Filter / sorting dialog. This provides you with a filteredoutput of the structure identifier overview, e.g. according to thedesignation or the structure description. By default, four new filterschemes are now available, "Higher-level functions", "Higher-levelfunctions and mounting locations", "Higher-level function numbers", and

"Mounting locations".

In a similar manner you can now filter by structure identifier whenoutputting "Table of contents" report pages.

Line breaks in reports

If you use placeholder texts with alignment boxes in forms where theRemove breaks check box is notselected then the line breaks are alsooutput when the corresponding report pages are generated.

Device without part number

The Device without part numbersetting in the Settings: Parts dialog,also now affects the Parts list and Summarized parts list reports. Thismeans that devices not assigned a part are included in these lists whengenerating reports.


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Multiple DTs in a single line of the summarized parts list

It is now possible to output several device tags in a single line of thesummarized parts list. If the last part of the device tag is a number andthese numbers follow on from each other consecutively then the displayof the device tags is summarized to "...". Thus, for"T1;T2;T3;T14;T15;T16;T20" the summarized parts list will show"T1...T3;T14...T16;T20". This has been enabled for the following

properties:

Device tag (identifying)

Device tag (full)

Device tag (identifying, without project structure)

Device tag (visible)

Terminal accessories in the terminal line-up diagram

In the terminal line-up diagram, instead of the part number the terminalnumber is now output for terminal accessories.


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Labeling

Calculations for labeling

Calculations are now possible when outputting labeling data. The Labeltab of the Settings: Labeling dialog now has a new "Calculation" formatelement for this purpose.

This new format element allows you to generate a calculation formula. Ifyou use the button to move it to the right then a new Format:Calculation dialog opens.


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In this dialog you can use format elements to create a calculation formulafor project and parts data in order to output this in a label or report file.Most of these format elements represent mathematical symbols (+, -, *etc.). The "Number" element allows entry of a numerical constant for thecalculation formula. When the "Placeholder text" format element isselected, the familiarPlaceholder text dialog opens, where placeholdertext specific to the form type can be inserted into the formula.

Project properties in the labeling area

When you output project data via Utilities > Reports > Labeling, youcan now select project properties in the data area of the Label tab. Thisapplies to all report types. In this way you can e.g. transfer the projectname or commissioning number in every data record.


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Page navigator

Manual page sorting in the list view

The pages in the list view of the page navigator can now also bemanually sorted. The list now has a Manual page sorting popup menuitem for this purpose.

In the subsequent dialog, you define the page sorting sequence foractions such as paging, printing, outputting of cross-references, etc.Manual page sorting only affects list views, tree views remainunchanged.

If new pages are added to the project via creation, copying, importing,etc., these are always appended to the end of the list, which must thenbe resorted as required.


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Moving or copying pages via Drag & Drop

In the tree view of the page navigator you can now also move and copypages via Drag & Drop. This feature corresponds to the moving andcopying of data in the Windows Explorer.

To move pages, first select the desired pages, then hold down the leftmouse button and drag them to the desired position. This can be the

same project, a different project, or a project that is open in a differentpage navigator in a second EPLAN application.

As soon as you release the mouse button, the familiarAdjust pagestructure dialog opens. This protects you from mistaken commands(accidentally moving pages). The structure identifiers of the position towhich you have moved are automatically adopted and entered into theAdjust page structure dialog for the moved pages.

If you wish to copy pages via Drag & Drop, then hold down the [Ctrl] keywhile dragging the pages to the new position.

Creating page macros via Drag & Drop

When creating page macros via Drag & Drop, the abovementioned newfeatures have resulted in a change to the program. You now select thedesired pages in the tree view of the page navigator, hold down the[Shift] key and pull the pages into the Windows Explorer. Reinsertion ofa page macro is now also done only via Drag & Drop.

Directly adopting structure identifiers

The structure identifiers can now be directly renamed in the pagenavigator. To do this, select the identifier to be renamed in the tree viewof the pages, e.g. with a mouse click. Then press [F2] or click once moreat the appropriate level of the tree. The structure identifier is displayed inan editing frame. Enter the new designation here.


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When doing this, the structure identifiers of all pages below the selectednode of the tree are also changed. The functions placed on these pagesalso receive the new structure identifier. This allows e.g. devicesdistributed over different pages to be separated.

If you have entered a new structure identifier when directly renaming,then the familiarPlace identifiers dialog opens.


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Devices

Automatically recognizing existing main functions

Existing main functions are now automatically recognized. The devicetabs now have a new Main function check box for this purpose.

This check box is selected the first time a main function is placed. Thenext device with the same DT that is inserted or placed is recognized asan auxiliary function and the check box is deselected accordingly.

Note:

The setting is automatically compared to the check box of the samename in the Symbol / function data tab.

Benefit: In many cases, preselection as a main function means thatthe user no longer needs to provide an identifier. This allowsfaster editing of the device properties.


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Filtering option in DT selection

The DT selection dialog now has a filtering option similar to thenavigators. The same filters as used in the respective navigators arealso used for the different devices. For example, for cables in the DTselection the same number of filters are offered as in the Cable projectdata dialog.

Storing user-defined property arrangements

You can now also save the user-defined property arrangements under aname in the Display tab. A stored arrangement is only available forsymbol variants of the same type.

Benefit: Direct selection of a scheme means that the previous"manual" editing of the property arrangement is no longernecessary.

Click (Save) in the toolbar above the Property arrangement drop-down list and enter a descriptive name for the property arrangement inthe Save property arrangement dialog or overwrite an existing one byselecting its name from the drop-down list.


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If the newly created property arrangement is to be used as a default forall other usages of these symbol variants, select the Use as defaultcheck box. This will result in all previously saved arrangements for thissymbol variant being ignored.

If necessary, you can delete a user-defined property arrangement via .

Display settings for connection points

The Display tab of the properties dialog now allows editing of theproperty placements of the connection points. In addition to the existingproperties in the Component tab, you now have a list of connectionpoint properties of the symbol available. By default, this list in theConnection points tab shows you all connection point designations anddescriptions of the symbol. For symbols without connection points (e.g.black boxes, PLC boxes, cable definition lines) the list remains empty.


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DT adoption conforming to the GOST standard

The new DT search direction conforming to GOST standard plotframe property allows the search direction for DT adoption to be changedto suit the GOST standard.

If this property is activated then, for plot frames with the "Vertical"reporting direction, the DT is searched to the right and also adopted from

the right. For plot frames with the "Horizontal" reporting direction, the DTis searched downwards and also adopted from below.

The alternative search direction is used when the "As an alternative toorientation of plot frame" setting is selected in the Search direction fortransferring the device tag property of a function.

The following table clarifies the possible search directions for DTadoption based on the Direction of report generation of the plot frame:

Plotframe

Direction of reportgeneration

Search direction Alternative searchdirection

IEC Vertical To the left UpwardsNFPA Horizontal Upwards To the leftGOST Vertical To the right UpwardsGOST Horizontal Downwards To the right

In the GOST plot frames for logic pages we have supplied in the newversion, the DT search direction conforming to GOST standard plot

frame property is activated by default.


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Device navigator

When you generate a New device in the device navigator then thecorresponding properties are now written back from the part to the mainfunction, as with device selection.

Filters in the navigators

If in the navigators (e.g. the PLC navigator) you now define a filter withthe criteria Function category orFunction group, then the possibleselection for the Value field via the [...] button is now much faster thanbefore.

When selecting the comparison value in the Function definitions dialogyou can now directly select a function category or a function group. Youno longer need to navigate to an associated function definition.

Terminals / plugs

During numbering SH terminals and SH pins are now treated in the sameway as PE terminals, PE pins, N terminals and N pins. The user interfaceof the Numbering formats, Number pins, and Number terminalsdialogs has been adjusted accordingly.


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Finding and replacing

A filter is now also available when searching for project data.

Benefit: This allows you to find components and functions which havee.g. a particular representation type or function definition.

The Find dialog has been extended with a new Filter for functions field

for this purpose. Here you can select the same predefined filter schemesas in the device navigator. Click [...] to open the Filterdialog, where youcan define a filter scheme. When selecting the filter criteria, only functionproperties and no page properties are available.

Graphical editor

Message texts in the graphical editor

The new version allows message texts from the message managementto be displayed in the graphical editor.

Benefit: Planning mistakes are immediately visible in the schematic assoon as they occur (i.e. "online") and can be directly correctedor even avoided. The message management no longer needsto be called up separately.

For this feature, EPLAN has been extended with a new property and a

new layer. To allow a message text to be displayed in the graphicaleditor you must first set the new EPLAN520 layer ("Propertyplacement.Message text") in the layer management to Visible. Thenselect the new Message text property in the Display tab of thedesired properties dialog.

If e.g. a faulty entry at a component (entry of an already assignedterminal designation) is found during an appropriate check type ("Online /offline"), then the message text is displayed online in the graphical editor

("Terminal of the same name used multiple times").


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If you save the user-defined property arrangements with the Messagetext property under a particular name (see the chapter "Storinguser-defined property arrangements" on page 54), then you can alsomake this property arrangement available to other components (e.g.other terminals) with the same symbol variant.

Note:

Once you have corrected an error, the corresponding message text atthe component is not automatically deleted but must be removed via acheck run (i.e. offline), similar to processed messages in the messagemanagement.

Form editor

Calculations and formatting in forms

You can now insert placeholders with multiple formatted properties orcalculation formulae into forms. For this purpose, the Properties -Placeholder text dialog now has a new Properties formatted /calculated field. You use the [...] button next to the field to open theFormat: Property dialog.

In this dialog you define the properties and / or the calculation to bestored as a placeholder in the form. In addition to property groups

specific to the form type, "Separator" and "Calculation" can be selectedas format elements. The selection of a particular property and thedefinition of its format is done in the familiarFormat: Block propertydialog.

If you use the button to move the "Calculation" format element to theright then a new Format: Calculation dialog opens. In contrast to thecalculation dialog mentioned in chapter "Labeling" (see page 48) theHide output ifgroup box is available here. In this group box you define a

condition under which the project / parts data is not output whengenerating the report.


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Separator between header objects

In dynamic forms it is now also possible to list all header objects next toeach other in the page description. To do this, the Format for automaticpage description dialog now has a new Separator between headerobjects format element.

When you select this format element, the Format: Separatordialog

opens. Here you can define a single separator character or a separatortext for header objects. The separator between header objects can onlybe defined once and is automatically added to the end of the Selectedformat elements list; this position cannot be changed.

If no separator for header objects has been defined then an empty spaceis inserted between individual header objects.

Define individual separators for forms

If the Dynamic line adjustment form property is deactivated for a form,the project data is output in a single row with separator characters. Thiscan mean that EPLAN splits the text in the middle.

To avoid this, there is now a new Separator for multiple values form property allowing you to define your own separators forforms.


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If several values are output in a text then the character entered in theform properties is used as a separator. (A character string or a line breakcan also be entered as a separator.) If the property remains empty thena semicolon is used as a separator.

Regenerating headings in forms

The Regenerate main sub-header form property haspreviously been used in forms to generate a new heading on a reportpage as soon as a particular property changes.

You now no longer select this property in forms, but instead use a newproperty to define a reference to the sorting of the respective report. Thismeans, in the form you define whether the sorting properties are to beused for generating new headings.


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The new form property Generate headings for the first x sortingproperties is now available for this purpose. The followingvalues are possible:

Value Meaning

0 (No new heading)1 The first sorting property is used for headings2 The first and second sorting properties are used for headings

3 The first, second, and third sorting properties are used forheadings

etc.

Example:

The scheme set for outputting devices in the Sorting dialog is:

Higher-level function + Mounting location + DT

In the form for the device list, the Generate headings for the first xsorting properties property has been selected. It has a valueof: 1

If you now generate the report pages for the device list, then a newheading is generated for every higher-level function, containing e.g. thehigher-level function name. The data between the headings is still sortedby mounting location and DT.


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Use alternative property arrangements

For symbols according to the GOST standard (the Russian nationalstandard) the device tag must be placed to the right or upper-right of thesymbol graphic.

Numerous symbols in the SPECIAL symbol library that can have a DThave been extended with the appropriate property arrangements (see

also chapter "Master data: Symbols" from page 104). To allow switchingbetween the different property arrangements for these special symbols ina project (e.g. default setting (left top, outside, 0o) -> default setting (righttop, outside, 0o (alternative))) a new Use alternative property arrange-ment setting is now available in the project-specific settings for graphicalediting (menu path: Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >Graphical editing > General).

If this check box is selected then, for all symbols inserted into the project,

in the Display tab the "Default setting (alternative)" Property arrange-ment is set according to the GOST standard. The setting has no effecton symbols from symbol libraries that do not have an appropriateproperty arrangement these retain the original default propertyarrangement.

For these new settings at the symbol, the symbol properties have beenextended with the Standard property arrangement for variant A(alternative) to Standard property arrangement for variantH (alternative) properties.


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Fonts as project settings

The fonts available in EPLAN can now be defined as project settings(menu path: Options > Settings > Projects > "Project name" >Graphical editing > Fonts).

Benefit: This allows you to define specific fonts for every project or usethe "From company settings" option to base this on the

company settings.

The fonts defined in the project settings have priority over the fontsdefined in the company settings.

If a font that does not exist on the computer is specified in the projectsettings, then the appropriate font from the company settings is used.

Swap row and column information in cross-references

In EPLAN, you can now use a setting to first display the row and then thecolumn in cross-references. UnderOptions > Settings > Projects >"Project name" > Cross-references / contact image > General a newRows and columns in cross-reference: Swap row and columninformation check box is now available for this purpose.

If this check box is selected then the sequence of the display changes.The separators defined in the Separatorgroup box are notchanged bythis. For example, when using a reporting direction as per IEC and with

the check box selected, instead of page / column / row ("/20.1:A"), page /row / column ("/20:A.1") is displayed.


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Updating interruption point cross-references

The new Always update cross-references setting allows you toindividually customize the updating of interruption point cross-referencesin EPLAN to suit fast or slow computers. The corresponding check box islocated underOptions > Settings > User > Display > General.

If this check box is selected, then the graphical editor view is rebuilt after

every editing step. This always automatically updates the interruptionpoint cross-references on the page. We recommend this setting for fastcomputers (e.g. a processor of at least 3 GHz).

You should deselect this setting for slow computers. In this case,automatic updates do not take place. If necessary, the display ofinterruption point cross-references can be manually updated viaView > Redraw or the [F5] key.

Use of the logon name

In the user-specific settings for the user code, you can now also definethat the Logon name is notoutput to automatically filled properties, e.g.Creatorfor projects, pages, forms, plot frames, symbols or revisions.

If the Use logon name for changes check box is deselected, theninstead of the Logon name the entries from the Code and Name fieldsare used. If the Code and Name fields are empty, a warning is displayedand the check box is automatically selected, i.e. the logon name is then

used.


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Show property number behind property name

The user-specific settings for the user interface now have a Showproperty number behind the property name check box available. Thischeck box is enabled when you select the Display property numberscheck box above this. This new setting allows you to define that the

property number is displayed behind the actual property text (e.g.Function definition ).

Benefit: This ensures that you can sort the property names in theproperty dialogs alphabetically, in spite of the displayednumber.


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Export invisible elements in the PDF export

Adjustments to the Print invisible elements user-specific settings nowallow elements identified as "invisible" to be included in PDF exports.Accordingly, the setting has been renamed Print / Export invisibleelements.

Scaling factors for printing

In the print settings you can now define a horizontal and vertical scalingfactor for correcting scaled printing. This can be necessary when e.g.different printers lead to inaccuracies when carrying out scaled printing.You reach the new Scaling group box via e.g. the menu path: Options >Settings > Workstation > Graphical editing > Print.


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Properties

Page properties

The new property Total no. of pages (regarding structure) isnow available in the property selection for page properties.

This property automatically displays the number of pages with the same

structure identifier and can therefore e.g. be inserted as special text inplot frames. We have adjusted some GOST plot frames accordingly (seechapter "Master data: Forms and plot frames" on page 122).

Block properties

The first 10 block properties can now also be displayed inthe following dialogs:

Dialog Interconnect devices (Block properties 1-10 of the device) Dialog Edit terminal strip (Block properties 1-10 of the terminals)

Dialog Edit plug (Block properties 1-10 of the plug)

Dialog Edit cable (Block properties 1-10 of the connections).

"Terminal / pin designation" property

The Terminal / pin designation property now behaves in thesame way as the connection point designations and descriptions ofgeneral devices and can be displayed rotated when changing standards.The corresponding Display rotated connection point designationsetting is located underOptions > Settings > Projects > "Projectname" > Graphical editing > General.

This new feature made it necessary to change master data in the symbollibraries, which also makes it possible to now display the connectionpoint designations rotated at device connection points.

The Terminal / pin designation can now only be individually placed andcan no longer be docked to other placed properties in the displaysettings of the properties dialog.


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Direct editing

You can now also directly activate the Direct editing editing modeoption with the mouse. This functions in a similar manner to renamingfiles in the Windows Explorer. First, select the text or component on yourpage and then leave the cursor over the text to be edited. To open theediting frame, briefly hold down the left mouse button and then release it.

Tip of the day

The Tip of the day dialog has been redesigned and now supportsUnicode. This allows you to e.g. start EPLAN on a German operatingsystem in a different dialog language (e.g. Russian or Chinese) and thehelp text in the tip of the day is now displayed correctly.


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General Changes

Removal of symbol variants

Most users only use the first 4 symbol variants (A-D) in their projects.Removing the other variants (E-H) significantly reduces the amount ofdata in a project.

For this reason, when compressing a project it is now also possible toremove the unused E-H symbol variants from the project. In theSymbols area of the compression settings, you now have a newRemove unused alternative symbol variants check box available forthis purpose.

If the check box is selected and a project is compressed, then theunused E-H symbol variants are removed from the symbol libraries andare no longer available, e.g. in symbol selection.

This removal of symbol variants has no effect on the synchronization ofmaster data. For comparison purposes, the symbol libraries in the projectmaster data (without variants E-H) are regarded as identical to the"complete" libraries in the system master data. If a corresponding symbollibrary in the Synchronization of master data dialog is still copied intothe system master data via the arrow button then a warning messageis displayed.


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Special topic EPLAN Electric P8

New features in the "PLC & Bus Extension"add-on

Note:

The "PLC & Bus Extension" add-on is not included in the standard scopeof delivery and must be licensed separately.

The "PLC & Bus Extension" add-on helps you to manage PLC controllersand bus systems.

Automatically generate schematics from PLC data

The new version of EPLAN allows unplaced PLC functions (or those thatare unplaced in particular representations) to be automatically placed,thus allowing PLC schematics with different overview pages to begenerated. You can first create unplaced PLC functions in the PLCnavigator or the bus configuration navigator.

Assignment lists and hardware configurations fro