Release notes

As of Version 2023 it is possible in EPLAN Smart Wiring to load project data from a work preparer of your manufacturing team into the application-internal database at any time. As the finisher you then only have to select the manufacturing order from a corresponding list.

To activate this workflow, the menu item Preload project data must be selected in the administrator settings after entering the access code and the setting Use must be activated in the subsequent menu of the same name.

Now the work preparer can load project data of the type *.EPDZ, *.XLS or *.XLSX from a selected directory into the application-internal database via the menu items Project > Preload data. The button is also used to add project data from a workstation or connected network drives to a manufacturing order. If the project data has already been loaded, the icon is displayed.

After loading the project data you as a finisher access the projects and project instances via the menu items Project > Open and edit them. The menu item Open is available immediately in the project menu after the sign-in.

To update project instances, the work preparer must first select the project instance to be updated via the menu items Project > Update (in the active administrator mode) and then select the project file that contains the updated project data. After the update the finisher sees in the Project > Open dialog when and with which project the update was carried out.

If information on the connection properties Potential type and Potential value was stored at the routing connections in the loaded project file of the type *.EPDZ, an extended filter functionality can be used via the new button . This allows you to filter the connection list for these properties. To this purpose a selection dialog is opened which offers you the corresponding property values as filter values. If a routing connection has potential-specific connection properties, this is now signaled in the detail view through a flash symbol in the indicated wire graphic between the source and target connection. The values of both properties are also displayed in the wire graphic.

Further information

As of Version 2022 EPLAN Smart Wiring is only installed on a server. Access to the application takes place via a browser, where you enter the following URL: http:\\<ESW server IP address>:<ESW port number>. Analog to this you now call up the EPLAN Smart Wiring application via the following URL in the internal network: http:\\<ESW server IP address>:<ESW port number>\monitor. For both applications we recommend using the "Google Chrome" browser.

The "Administrator mode" has been renamed to "Administrator settings". Furthermore the administrator settings have been extended with further functionalities.

Further information

The representation of the icons can now be changed for the display of the status of routing connections in the connection list. A default and an alternative representation is available for selection which you can now activate in the settings via the new menu item Status icons. The setting also changes the representation of the buttons for the installation of the routing connections in the detail view.

Further information

The possibility to configure the columns of the connection list has been omitted from Version 2022 and is now reserved for the administrator. You can now only select the schemes specified by the administrator for the connection list. The new Select column scheme menu item is available to this purpose in the settings.

Further information

The new menu item Wire Station is available under Settings > Installation mode for the automated wire fabrication with the Rittal solution "Wire Station" with integrated length-cutting. The activated menu item shows the button in the detail view of the connection list.

Further information

Project instances can now also be opened directly by using the instance number as a URL parameter. The callup is:
http:\\<ESW server IP address>:<ESW port number>\?instanceId=<Instance number>

When closing a project instance and also when signing out and leaving the application, the selected layout space and the sorted and filtered property values are now saved in the connection list at the project.

The new dialog Update summary is now available when updating projects. The dialog includes three tabs which provide information on all modifications in the project instance when you start the update procedure.

Further information

When editing Excel-based projects (file formats *.xls / *.xlsx) there is the possibility to update projects of this kind since Version 2.9. In the process the connection properties (source / target) as well as their position are compared with the updated Excel project. This often resulted in many "new" connections being generated since the connection information was no longer positioned in the same row as in the original project. This program behavior has been corrected. Now only the source and target information is compared.

The search in the connection list has now been extended with a new option which allows you to have all routing connections which contain or do not contain the searched string displayed in the earch result. To this purpose the new button is available in the search and filter list. If the button is clicked () and a string is entered in the search field, an inverse search takes place. All strings which do not contain the string contained in the search field are considered in the property values of the routing connections in the connection list.

Further information

When searching and filtering routing connections it is now possible to edit the status of several routing connections which are displayed in the search and filter result within the connection list at the same time. The button is available to this purpose in the filtered connection list. This displays a menu with the following status icons:

(Not installed)

(Installed)

(Locked for editing)

By selecting the desired icon the corresponding status of the displayed routing connections can be assigned in a single step. In the process, check boxes can be used to deselect individual routing connections from the search and/or filter result and include them again.

Further information

The new button can be displayed by using the settings (menu items Settings > Installation mode) in the detail view of a routing connection. With this button, data of the selected routing connection is transferred to the Rittal solution "Wire Station" with integrated length-cutting machines. When the button is clicked, the corresponding wire is manufactured using the length-cutting machine.

Further information

Mounting rails and cable ducts are now highlighted in color in the transparency mode when transparency level 3 is selected.

Routing connections in mounting layouts with black or gray connection colors can now be highlighted in red color in the 3D view. Items in close proximity or connections hidden through mechanical or electrical items can be detected more easily this way. The new button is available to this purpose in the 3D view.

Further information

Messages

The administrator now has the possibility when editing routing connections to output a respective information when the following cases have occurred:

Case 1: The information is displayed that the routing connection has already been installed when you want to reset the status of a routing connection or a cable from "Installed" to "Not installed".

Case 2: The information is displayed that all connections of the selected connection type have already been installed when multiple connection types per layout space are displayed in the project (e.g. "Wire" and "Cable") and the finisher changes the status of the last routing connection of a connection type from "Not installed" to "Installed".

In EPLAN Smart Wiring a new interface is now available which allows you to transfer the data of a selected routing connection to the Rittal solution "Wire Station" with integrated length-cutting machine for manufacturing. You activate the interface via the menu item Settings > Installation mode and the option Wire Station.

Further information

With the exception of the "Cable" connection type the representation of the connection list can now be configured. By means of a dialog that you can call up with the menu items Settings > Connection list columns you can use "Drag & Drop" to conveniently combine and display the required columns with the desired connection properties. The sequence of the connection properties can also be adapted individually to the respective manufacturing situation via the dialog. The set column configuration can also be saved as a scheme and if required be called up during subsequent installation work. In addition the connection type and the routing track are available additionally as new connection properties.

In the settings for the labeling of wires and hoses you now have the possibility to select from different separators for the output data. The available options are the tabulator, the paragraph mark, the blank and a user-defined character.

The new option Wire Terminal is available in the settings for the installation mode. The setting has the effect that an additional Load "Wire Terminal" file check box is displayed in the selection dialog when a project is opened. This provides the possibility during the activation to include a CSV file with extended connection information into the project. This functionality is required if the fully automatic wire fabrication machine Rittal Wire Terminal WT is integrated in your manufacturing process and if the prefabricated wires are made available in magazines of the machine.

When opening or continuing a project that has more than one layout space, a selection dialog with a list of all layout spaces contained in the project is now displayed. When the desired layout space is marked, a preview is shown in the dialog on the right of the mounting layout contained in the layout space. In the preview window it is possible to zoom or change the viewing angle of the mounting layout in the layout space by moving your mouse or finger.

For the manufacturing process with the fully automatic wire fabrication machine Rittal Wire Terminal WT the possibility has been created in EPLAN Smart Wiring to load additional required connection information from the machine software. To this purpose the Open project dialog has been extended with the Load "Wire Terminal" file check box with which you can load a file of the *.CSV type with the corresponding data from the machine. This functionality is also available as a menu item by the same name in the Project menu.

Further information

Apart from wires (single conductors), the connection list in EPLAN Smart Wiring now also detects routing connections of the type Cable, Wire jumper and Tube, if this information is contained in the loaded project file of the type *.EPDZ. A new button is available at the far left in the header bar of the connection list in order to switch between the desired connection types. When the button is pressed, a menu opens with which you can select the desired connection type. The connection types are represented in the button through the following symbols:

Wire

Cable

Wire jumper

Tube.

Connection list

The filter functionality for the connection list has been changed: The search and filter bar now contains a button with a filter symbol . When pressing the button the filter mode is initially activated. In this mode a filter symbol is shown in the header of the connection list at all filterable connection properties. With the symbol the filter value can be selected and the filter applied.

Further information

3D view

When changing the viewpoint on the mounting layout in the layout space with the button the rotations are now carried out in 45° steps. This way isometric views of the layout space are now supported as well.