Getting Set Up with Eplan Electrical Design Software

While traditional CAD tools and manual processes are time-honoured design methods, they are not only labour-intensive but are increasingly outpaced by today’s project demands.

Adopting a modern electrical design platform like Eplan offers you the chance to transition towards a smarter and more reliable engineering future. Whether you're designing control panels or complex systems, Eplan ensures you work with greater precision and efficiency.

You will benefit from faster schematic generation, fewer manual errors, reduced wiring time, and early identification of layout or spatial issues long before production begins. Each of these deliver commercially valuable business development opportunities. Discover the newest version of Eplan, Platform 2026.

Transitioning to ECAD software

Transitioning to Eplan represents a fundamental shift for engineers away from drawing lines and symbols, and onto an engineering platform that is data-driven, object-oriented, and automated. Instead of relying on manual processes, the team will work with intelligent components allied to a unified project database and extensive parts library.

While the experience is ultimately rewarding, there can be some perceived challenges around the process of switching software.

For example, it might be considered to be too time-consuming or there may be fears it could lead to extended operational downtime (delaying current project work), or it may be hard to understand just how beneficial the new software will be and where it will be hosted. Plus, any new software can seem complicated and existing teams will need to adjust and adapt to new processes. Finally, there is the question of the risk of losing legacy design data from existing platforms,

All of these are legitimate concerns, however, please be assured that we are able to minimise or remove them to make your transition as seamless and as easy as it can be. Our services and supporting materials will ensure you are fully supported at every step during the process of integration, and our expert team can give you one-to-one help and assistance as needed.

So, by way of illustration, let’s just look at the support we can offer you in terms of the three of the most common questions we’re asked.

How do I migrate legacy electrical drawings into an ECAD platform?

Legacy data refers to existing design files and electrical drawings created using older software platforms. While electrical design data is an important asset, there is only a small amount of CAD data that engineers actually use.

Furthermore, legacy data often comes with limitations including poor quality and version conflicts, and it may fail to account for new codes/standards. A first step to migration to digital software therefore is to identify and import only your critical data into the ECAD platform.

Eplan offers several migration routes:

1. The Re-Draw Service: our team of experienced engineers re-create your designs in Eplan, including those created on paper or PDFs.
2. The Import Service: both drawings and structured elements such as page setups and device reports are imported into the ECAD platform.
3. Graphical Import: simple DXF or DWG drawing uploads (graphical only, no intelligence attached). This preserves visual content within Eplan for reference or future development.
   

Read more about this in our blog: Legacy CAD Data: ECAD Migration Challenges Debunked

What installation and configuration services does Eplan provide to customers?

Eplan will provide you with consultancy-led onboarding and configuration, ensuring you have a seamless business installation.

We also take charge of the environment set-up of standard data including project templates, plot frames, forms and symbols, to name a few.

If needed, one of our consultants will help you to evaluate your design applications and processes and, if required, suggest improvements before you start using Eplan.

For those preferring to take the DIY set-up route, Eplan’s platform includes extensive guides and how-to videos covering installation, configuration, hardware and software updates.

Building a parts library

Establishing a usable parts library is a critical step to the successful set-up and installation of electrical design software.

Eplan has expert teams that can develop a library for you, by converting your schematics and projects, as well as create master data such as macros and parts data.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can build your own parts libraries using the free Eplan Data Portal. The Portal gives you access to over 1.5 million up-to-date manufacturer-verified parts via a secure cloud-based interface.

Our smart search tools and high data quality ensures that the process of building the library is efficient, and your designs are precise. As of Platform 2026 , Eplan Parts management allows direct access to device selection in the Eplan Data Portal. Users no longer have to switch between the Platform and the Portal.

How Eplan engineers helped Magma Group transfer 4,500 parts into Eplan data

The Yorkshire-based Magma Group eased their transition to Eplan by contracting Eplan’s engineers to set up their working standards within the system and transfer vast amounts of data from legacy projects.

In total, Eplan’s engineers transferred data for c.4,500 parts - which had been used to create legacy projects - and turned it into Eplan data.

This saved the Magma team 450 hours! In addition, the working standards provided them with guidelines that both their engineers and sub-contractors could work with to ensure consistent, high-quality service at every stage of the process.

Next Steps

As we have indicated, with the right set-up, engineers and panel builders can unlock greater speed and accuracy in their workflows through switching to electrical design software.

Eplan isn’t just a design platform for your business, it’s an opportunity to create a new smarter and fulfilling way of working for your whole team.

FAQ:

What is CAD Legacy Data?

Legacy data refers to existing design files and electrical drawings created using older software platforms or manual methods.

The quality of this data can be impacted by outdated formats or inconsistent revisions, and it may not align with current engineering standards and codes.

While some of it remains valuable, not all legacy data should be migrated to an online design platform like Eplan. Instead, there should be a focus on migrating across critical information, rather than converting every file.

This approach will speed up and smooth the transition across to streamlined digital workflows.