Visio Technical 5.0 Process Engineering Solution

Visio Technical 5.0
Process Engineering Solution

Information

Visio, Visio Technical, Plus, Process Engineering

Overview

The new Process Engineering Solution to be included in Visio Technical 5.0 is an easy-to-use tool developed for Process Engineers and others who design, manage, and maintain process systems. Easier to use than CAD programs, Visio Technical allows engineers and others to create drawings in an intuitive environment, using a program that integrates with their current desktop environment, enabling them to produce professional results in record time. It includes easy-to-use tools for designing Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID's), and Process Flow Diagrams (PFD’s), as well as the ability to generate component lists and create datasheets. Its ease-of-use and broad compatibility with existing applications enables users to leverage existing files and programs, while its common, readily adopted development platform can be customized to meet nearly any need.

Target Users

Process Engineering teams who design, manage, and maintain a process system including:

Process Engineers

Mechanical Engineers

Design Engineers

Performance Engineers

Controls Engineers

Inspection Engineers

System Requirements

Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or Windows NT 4.0
486/66 processor (minimum); Pentium processor or higher (recommended)
16 MB of RAM (Windows 95, 98); 24 MB of RAM (Windows NT)
Part of Visio Technical 5.0: 105MB free hard-disk space for complete installation.
CD-ROM drive (for installation only)
Network Ready

Pricing

US$349 (Upgrades for existing customers US$49)

Availability

January 1999

Documentation

User Manual, online help, web-based documentation
Includes single-user license (volume/site licenses available)

Key Features

Library of Process-specific Shapes	Visio Technical includes hundreds of process-specific symbols for creating piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID’s) and process flow diagrams (PFD’s). Each symbol is intelligent and behaves like the real world object that it represents—Valves behave like valves, pumps like pumps, and so on. Users may also create their own shapes by leveraging the drawing tools in Visio Technical.
Intelligent pipe routing and symbol alignment	Components in piping diagrams and schematics are connected using Visio Technical’s unique SmartConnectors^TM. The connection lines stay connected and automatically route themselves when components are added or moved helping to streamline both design and editing.
Quickly create datasheets	Datasheets are specification documents for process equipment. Each component in a P&ID has a datasheet, into which users can enter equipment data. Using Visio Technical’s Process Engineering solution, users can view data with just a mouse click from the drawing. Users can also design their own datasheets and data fields according to their needs.
Legacy CAD Symbol Convertor	A utility in the Process Engineering solution allows users to quickly convert their legacy AutoCAD symbols (blocks) into intelligent Visio Technical process shapes. Just select the CAD symbols and Visio Technical will automatically convert them and store the new shapes on a stencil. Step through a wizard to add "intelligence" to the newly converted symbols.
Generate Component Lists	Use the Process Engineering report generator to automatically create an Excel spreadsheet, text file, or Visio-based table that lists all the equipment in a process flow schematic.
Project Explorer	When users create P&ID’s or PFD’s, Visio Technical organizes each drawing and all the datasheets associated with that drawing as a "project." Each project appears in an easy-to-navigate Project Explorer window, allowing users to easily track all the relevant drawings for a system.
Powerful Tag Builder	To quickly apply custom tagging schemes to drawings, users can work with the Tag Builder. Custom tag expressions can be made up of any alphanumeric combination of available fields, such as materials and diameter, as well as a counter field that automatically adjusts in increments each time a new piece of equipment is added to a drawing.
Built-in DWG File Convertor	Read and write Autodesk AutoCAD .dwg files (v2.5-R14) to work with legacy CAD drawings
Development Support Tools	Built-in Microsoft Visual Basic for Application (VBA) facilitates custom solutions, integrating Visio graphical components, for specific needs. Also customize Visio Technical using C, C++, or stand-alone Visual Basic.
Legacy File Compatibility	The Visio 5.0 engine supports all files created in previous versions of a Visio product. Visio 5.0 products also allow saving of files in version 4.0 or 4.5 formats to share with users of previous versions of Visio. Includes import and export of existing work in BMP/DIB, CGM, EPS/AI, GIF, IGES,, JPEG, Macintosh PICT, PCX, PNG, TIFF and WMF. Also imports Autodesk AutoCAD DWF, DWG and DXF files, as well as Charisma, Corel CMX, CorelDRAW 3-7, CorelFlow, Micrografx ABC Flowcharter, Micrografx Designer and Windows Draw files. Display Microstation DGN files.