Bentley Releases Enhanced AutoPLANT P&ID

Bentley (PA, USA) has released a significant enhancement to AutoPLANT P&ID, a product to create P&ID CAD drawings quickly and uniformly. Version 8.9.3 of AutoPLANT P&ID brings new capabilities, including support for AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008 and greater compatibility with ISO 15926.

AutoPLANT P&ID v8.9.3 continues to support the export of data in ISO 15926-compatible format. AutoPLANT P&ID project data can be exported in an ISO 15926-compatible format for storage in Bentley's ProjectWise Lifecycle Server or for use with any other application mapped to the ISO 15926 schema.

Other key features of AutoPLANT P&ID include:

AutoCAD-based - AutoPLANT is based on AutoCAD, ensuring that users can make full use of their AutoCAD training while creating and editing P&IDs. With continuing support for the latest versions of AutoCAD, AutoPLANT P&ID leverages the latest versions of AutoCAD and adds to the productivity of AutoCAD. Moreover, users familiar with AutoCAD will be immediately productive with AutoPLANT P&ID. 

Creates fast, simple, and consistent reports and lists - AutoPLANT P&ID populates a project database while the drawing is being created and modified. By using labels with predefined fields, tag data format is always consistent and correctly inserted into the project database. Reports are automatically extracted from the database in predefined formats.

Checks data consistency quickly - AutoPLANT P&ID provides built-in consistency checking. It will check for connectivity and data consistency along pipe lines. Inconsistencies such as branch line sizes exceeding header sizes or valve sizes different than line sizes without reducing components are highlighted and reported, ensuring errors are reviewed and fixed sooner.

Maintains consistent drawing quality - AutoPLANT P&ID uses "spec-driven" valve placement functions, drag-and-drop symbol placement, and predefined line styles to ensure drawings are created to project standards. All tags are predefined, ensuring that tag styles are consistent across the project.

Integrates with external relational project database - AutoPLANT P&IDs are created as part of a project. An external project database is automatically created according to the project data schema and all P&IDs are linked to this database. This allows data to be shared across P&IDs, as well as across other design functions, and ensures data consistency for the whole project. Also, the external relational database environment enables AutoPLANT P&ID to create intelligent plant schematics, enabling engineers to learn more about their plant design in a fraction of the time required to study hundreds of layout drawings or 3D models. 

Scales for use on large or small projects - The AutoPLANT data architecture is designed to be scalable. Coupling with industry-standard relational databases, AutoPLANT P&IDs will be productive on both large and small projects. AutoPLANT P&ID supports Microsoft Access and MSDE (Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine) for smaller projects and Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle for larger projects.

Includes international standard symbol libraries - AutoPLANT P&ID comes with ISO and DIN standard symbol libraries. The definition of the industry standard (including line styles) is part of the project-creation process, ensuring all P&IDs are drawn to the same standard across the whole project.

Allows teams to work in distributed environment with subcontractors - AutoPLANT P&ID is a proven product that has been used on hundreds of real-world projects and produced thousands of P&IDs. Examples of current users include Colt Engineering, ConocoPhillips, Intel, Petro-Canada, SNC-Lavalin, Southern Company, VECO, and many others. Featuring the ability to be used in a stand-alone environment and utilizing the Bentley "Split/Merge Project" capabilities, AutoPLANT P&ID allows fully distributed workforces to collaborate on the project.

Users of Bentley's AutoPLANT product line who are also subscribers under Bentley's SELECT Program agreement will receive AutoPLANT P&ID v8.9.3 free of charge.