New database technology
The previous database technology for the parts management was outdated and has been revised for the current version. There are now new parts databases in the internal EPLAN format *.alk with the associated directory *.adb. These databases replace the old Access databases (*.mdb). Because of the changed table structure, new SQL databases have to be used when SQL Server is used.
As a result of the changed database technology the data is now stored at the part variants. This way you have the possibility, for example, to store different macros at the variants of a part. For most properties as many characters as you wish can now be entered. This also applies for the properties Part number (ID 22001) and ERP number (ID 22056). However, only the first 96 characters in the UTF-8 format and for the ERP number only the first 64 characters in the UTF-8 format are identifying for the part numbers. An exception is the property Variant (ID 22024) which still has a maximum length of up to 3 characters.
The parts databases from EPLAN Version 2.9 (or older) can only be used after a Migration to the Version 2022. Analog to this, the parts databases from EPLAN Version 2022 can also not be used in Version 2.9 (or older). Here it is possible to transfer the parts data of Version 2022 into an old, updated parts database (Synchronize parts databases). These parts databases can then, for example, be opened for part or device selection but not be edited.
New User Interface
Revised display of the data
In the left-hand area of the revised parts management, changing between tree and list views now no longer takes place via tabs, but by means of the two buttons located at the top 
(tree view) / 
(list view).
Instead of the field-based filter, the filter technology which is also field-based has been integrated from the navigators of the platform. With the search field below you can enter a text for which the parts are searched.
With the new 
button you can toggle between the last selected filter scheme and the unfiltered view.
Tab "Info"
For each selected main node (part, accessory list, etc.) you are now shown the Info tab on the right-hand section of the parts management. Apart from general information which is the same for all main nodes, you also receive statistical information about the respective main node (name, type, number) via new properties such as the property Name of the configured tree node [1-n].
Tab "Overview"
The new Overview tab is now available to obtain a quick overview of a selected part during the navigation in the tree or list view. In this tab, which is only shown for parts, you are shown the most important properties such as - if available - a preview of the part. An editing of properties is not possible here.
Fewer tabs for more clearly structured editing of the properties
To be able to edit the properties of the parts (and those of other record types) on the right-hand side more easily and clearly, many tabs (for example General, Mounting data, Technical data, etc.) were combined into the Properties tab.
As you are used to from other property dialogs, you are now shown a configurable property table in this tab instead of fields. The properties that are displayed depends on the product group to which the selected part belongs or the record type to which the selected record belongs.
The designations of the previous tabs are used for most hierarchy levels displayed in the tree view. Please note that some of the properties have also been regrouped. For example, the Service time property is no longer available in the Technical data hierarchy level, but under Data.
Configuration of properties
You can specify by means of a scheme which properties are shown to you in the tabs Overview and Properties. Click [...] to branch to the familiar dialog Configure properties. Both tabs each have a separate configuration scheme.
In the Properties tab you can specify the display of the properties by means of the following buttons:
|
Button |
Meaning |
|---|---|
|
|
Shows the properties in a tree view. |
|
|
Shows the properties arranged one below the other in a list. |
|
|
Shows all properties. |
|
|
Only shows the properties for which a value is available. |
|
|
Shows the configured properties from the scheme. |
If the button 
(From scheme) is activated, you can select a scheme for display and editing of the properties from the drop-down list. Use [...] to open the dialog for the property configuration. There you can determine which properties are to be displayed and in which sequence for a scheme.
If one of the buttons 
(All properties), 
(Filled properties) or (From scheme) is activated, you can switch between tree view and list view via the buttons (Tree view) and (List view).
Customize row
Both for the property table of the Overview tab as well as for the Properties tab you can use the new popup menu item Customize row to adjust the row height and / or emphasize the text of the marked row in bold.
New dialog for inserting copied data
Previously after copying a part in the tree of the parts management only specific copied data (technical data, function templates, safety-related values) could be individually transferred to other parts. So that even more data can be transferred specifically and together, only the new popup menu item Paste data is available in the tree instead of the previous three popup menu items.
The settings available in the subsequently opened dialog can be used to specify which data of a copied part are transferred to the selected parts / variants. In the process you now also transfer data of the areas "PLC data", "User-defined properties", "Accessories", "Modules" and "Assemblies".
Extended copying and pasting of parts
In the course of this change the copying and pasting of parts has also been extended. Previously when copying a part the entire part with all variants was always copied. Now the copying depends on the selection made. If you have marked one or more variants of a part in the tree before copying, the new part is generated with exactly these variants. If you have marked the hierarchy level of the part in the tree, the new part has all the variants of the copied part as in the past.
Exchange formats for exporting and importing parts data
Only the formats "XML" and "EDZ" are now available as exchange formats for the export and import of data in the parts management. For importing, the "VDMA 66413" format as well as different ECLASS versions are additionally supported. As a replacement for the various CSV formats, the parts data can now be exported from the parts management by means of external editing function and also be re-imported after editing in MS Excel, for example.
See also
Data Exchange of Parts Data via External Editing
Migration of Old Parts Databases
Further Optimizations for the EPLAN Platform and Its Products
Dialog Parts management