Eplan 2022: New User Interface with Modern Ribbon Technology

EPLAN presented a first glimpse of the upcoming version of its new, more intuitive Eplan Platform 2022 recently. It is the latest and thoroughly reworked version and a complete package that is easy to use with its new user interface while allowing workflow-based project planning at unprecedented levels of efficiency. The Eplan Platform integrates various software solutions for preplanning, electrical engineering, fluid power engineering, control cabinet design, and wire harness engineering.

Users can work on engineering projects across disciplines with a single source of uniform data, a single source of truth, and have the best solution for each application. The Eplan Platform also provides extensive methodological support, such as automatic schematic generation. Users benefit from complete compatibility because the data can be used seamlessly from preplanning to engineering to production and is constantly enriched and enhanced.

The Eplan Platform 2022 focuses on simplicity and clarity, with a state-of-the-art appearance and functionality based on the most recent apps for mobile devices and globally established desktop applications. One standout feature is a completely redesigned user interface that allows for intuitive, workflow-based working methods. In the future, users will have important and frequently used functions right in front of them.

Sean Mulherrin, Product Manager, Eplan, explained, “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 a dark-mode view gives users a completely new user experience. It simply makes project planning and designing more fun.”

Multifunctional ribbon technology

The practical multi-function bar, which uses current ribbon technology, adapts to the application flexibly – for example, when switching from 2D to 3D – all while combining different menus and toolbars. Mulherrin added, “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 the individual commands can now be accessed much more quickly. Users immediately have the functions they need right before them, accelerating project planning.” Furthermore, Eplan completely redesigned the interface for both 2D and 3D design. The result is a modern application with an improved look and feel, not least due to the support for dark and light mode.

New 2D graphics module

The need for powerful 2D graphics when creating schematics is growing, both in preplanning and in the context of building automation. At the same time, the quantity of data is rapidly increasing. The Eplan Platform 2022 offers powerful arguments in terms of performance, with the new 2D graphics module. Importing DXF or DWG files, for example, significantly accelerates processing as well as improves performance for visualization and processing of larger projects. Overall, the level of detail becomes more manageable, which improves the quality of the graphic representation. This progress results in significant time savings, especially for larger projects with hundreds or thousands of schematics pages.

Centralized device management

Device data is among the most important types of data in engineering. It provides important information for preplanning, engineering, and later manufacturing phases of control systems if it is well defined. In this area, as well, the variety of information (images, 3D models, drilling patterns, and connection data, not to mention commercial information) is constantly expanding. As a result, the management and use of devices in engineering are critical. The new centralized device management offers flexibility in converting and adapting device data due to its object-orientation. The integrated variant management allows users to save all device properties with each variant, allowing devices to be assigned different macros in no time.

Mulherrin explained, “We really hit the mark for our users with the new centralized 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 digitalization.” Another useful feature is the ability to combine with Excel for simple data processing from external devices. Individual device properties in Eplan can be freely configured – this ergonomic advantage, combined with a modern design, makes it even easier to get started using the software.

Good project-level overview

The new Backstage view simplifies the management of entire projects and all project data; from here, users can create, print, and set options for projects. This enables users to edit all aspects of an Eplan Project in one central location, such as importing DWG files or exporting PLC or manufacturing data. A list of the most recently opened projects, and the logical organization of all project-related commands, provides a good overview. The import, export, and integration of API functions into the system’s own infrastructure is also well-organized. This also provides users with an overview of the project’s properties.

Easily accessible symbols, macros, and devices

The newly integrated Insertion Centre combines all the functions for inserting symbols, macros, and devices, including a graphic preview, needed for efficiently creating schematics. Components that are frequently used can be marked as favorites and tagged for individual workflows. Thus, all the functions for inserting symbols, macros, and devices can be combined and used in specific workflows. This gives users quick access to components they use frequently to create schematics, allowing standard tasks to be completed even faster.

Systematically engineering progression

Many more innovations are included in the new Eplan Platform 2022, which will be released under the slogan ‘It’s in your hands.’ One of these is the direct integration of on-premises and cloud solutions. Projects can be uploaded from the Eplan Platform to the cloud environment and managed and shared there using Eplan eManage. Since mid-March, the free version has been available. Emphasizing the new Eplan Platform 2022 which impresses both on the inside and outside, Mulherrin, said, “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.” Thus, the CAE system makes comprehensive expert functionality more accessible and understandable. To summarize, future engineering is being systematically advanced to meet the needs of customers.

Image Source: Eplan GmbH & Co KG