A completely new user experience to accelerate project planning

With state-of-the-art appearance and functionalities, and based on the latest apps for mobile devices and globally established desktop applications, the focus of the EPLAN Platform 2022 is on simplicity and clarity. One highlight is a completely redesigned user interface that supports intuitive, workflow-based working methods.

In future, users will have important and frequently used functions directly in front of them. EPLAN Product Manager Sean Mulherrin explains: “Users of the new EPLAN Platform 2022 will be able to find their way around the software with perfect ease. Navigating within a project is extraordinarily simple, and the user interface with ribbon technology and new dark-mode view gives users a completely new user experience. It simply makes project planning and designing more fun.”

Ribbon technology – Quickly access common tasks

The practical multi-function bar using current ribbon technology flexibly adapts to the

application – for instance when changing from 2D to 3D – all while combining different menus and toolbars. Mulherrin says, “The new design will make daily work even easier, and not just for experienced users. Even newcomers will be able to quickly master the software since individual commands can now be accessed more quickly. Users immediately have the functions they need right before them, therefore accelerating project planning.” In addition, EPLAN completely revamped the interface for designing in both 2D and 3D. The result is a modern application with an optimised look and feel, not least due to the support of dark and light mode.

The result is a modern application with an optimised look and feel, not least due to the support for dark and light mode.

New 2D graphics core – Strong performance, even for larger projects

When creating schematics, the demands for powerful 2D graphics are increasing, while at the same time, the quantity of data is also growing significantly. Mulherrin says, “With the new 2D graphics module, the EPLAN Platform 2022 offers powerful arguments in terms of performance.” For instance, processing is considerably accelerated when importing DXF or DWG files. This increases the performance for visualisation and processing of larger projects. Altogether, the level of detail becomes more manageable – which increases the quality of the graphic representation. This progress pays off with significant time savings, particularly for larger projects, which often contain many hundreds or thousands of schematics pages.

New centralised device management – Including variant management

Device data is some of the most important data in engineering. If well defined, it supplies important information for preplanning, engineering and for the latter stages of the manufacturing phases of control systems. Here, too, the variety of information (images, 3D models, drilling patterns and connection data, not to mention commercial information) is continually on the rise. That’s why the management and use of devices in engineering is of particular importance. Thanks to its object orientation, the new centralised device management function offers flexibility in converting and adapting device data.

The integrated variant management lets users save all device properties with the individual variant, which then allows devices to be assigned different macros in no time at all. As Mulherrin explains, “We really hit the mark for our users with the new centralised device management. The possibilities for automation increase with the use of macros in a project. And the new device management’s high degree of flexibility will also accommodate the future requirements of users in the course of increasing digitalisation.” Another practical plus is the combination with Excel for the simple processing of external device data. Individual device properties can be freely configured in EPLAN – this advantage in ergonomics, combined with a contemporary design, also makes it even easier to get started using the software.

Backstage view – A good overview at project level

The new Backstage view facilitates the management of entire projects and all project data. Here users can create and print projects as well as set options. This allows users to edit all aspects of an EPLAN Project in one central location – for instance, importing DWG files or exporting PLC or manufacturing data. A list of the most recently opened projects provides a good overview, as does the logical organisation of all project-related commands. The import, export or integration of API functions into the system’s own infrastructure is also clearly organised here, which gives users an overview of the project properties.

Insertion Centre: Quick access to symbols, macros and devices

The newly integrated Insertion Centre combines all the functions for inserting symbols, macros and devices, including a graphic preview, that are required for efficiently creating schematics. Frequently used components can be marked as favourites and tagged for individual workflows. All the functions for inserting symbols, macros and devices can thus be combined and used for specific workflows. This gives users fast access to components they use regularly to create schematics, allowing standard tasks to be completed even more quickly.

“Navigating within a project is extraordinarily easy, and the user interface with ribbon technology and a dark-mode view gives users a completely new user experience. It simply makes project planning and designing more fun,” says EPLAN Product Manager Sean Mulherrin.

Systematically advancing engineering

The new EPLAN Platform 2022, which is being launched later this summer under the motto “It’s in your hands”, features many more innovations. One of them is the direct connection of on-premises solutions with cloud solutions. With EPLAN eMANAGE, projects can be uploaded from the EPLAN Platform to the cloud environment, to be managed and shared from there. A free version has been available since  mid-March, all that’s required is an

EPLAN ePULSE account

As Mulherrin sees it, the new EPLAN Platform 2022 impresses both from the inside and the outside: “The inside – that is to say the heart of the platform – is the new device management. On the outside, users can expect a stylish new user interface for intuitive working that is easier than ever to use.” The CAE system thus makes comprehensive expert functionality more accessible and easier to grasp. To sum it up: the engineering of the future is being systematically advanced to meet the customer’s needs.

More information can be found at: www.eplan.co.uk/itsinyourhands