Changed and Extended Part Properties

The following extensions have been realized for the part properties for this version:
- Number of properties for ERP / PDM numbers increased to ten
- Changed behavior for part properties with local times
- New properties for current requirements from technology and automation
- New "Part variant description" part property
- New "Data Portal import date" part property
- New part properties for replacement parts

Number of properties for ERP / PDM numbers increased to ten

Different ERP numbers are possible for some parts. For this reason you can now store up to ten ERP numbers with associated descriptions for a part in the parts management. The assignment of these numbers is carried out in the Properties tab by means of a subsequent dialog, analog to the External documents property.

Since the ERP number property was used not only for ERP numbers but also for the entry of numbers from a PDM system, the new properties have been renamed to ERP / PDM numbers.

To assign the numbers, click […] in the Value column to open the subsequent Property: ERP / PDM numbers dialog. Enter the respective numbers in the first column and the associated description in the second column.

Even if you can now enter several ERP / PDM numbers per part, each ERP / PDM number must be unique. The variants of a part also must have the same ERP / PDM number. As in the past the entered ERP / PDM numbers are synchronized with the other variants of the part and checked when saving a part or a variant of Eplan.

If values for the ERP number are available during the import of parts databases or during the import of data from Version 2025 (or older) into the current version, these values are always entered in the first numbers for reasons of compatibility.

Modified check runs

In the course of this change the check runs 502021 and 502036 have been renamed and adapted. Both check runs now check all ERP / PDM numbers (ERP / PDM number 1 to ERP / PDM number 10). A separate message is displayed for each ERP / PDM number at which an error occurred. The changed designations of the check runs are:

P502021: "'ERP / PDM number <x>' part property is not unique"
P502036: "The 'ERP / PDM number <x>' part property is not identical at all variants of the part"

Improved check runs for part master data

Joint display of the ERP / PDM numbers

In the Overview tab you can use the ERP / PDM numbers (ID 22370) property to have all assigned ERP / PDM numbers displayed jointly in a row. However, you also have the possibility to display the ERP / PDM numbers 1-10 (and their descriptions) individually as properties via a corresponding configuration of the view.

You can also configure the individual properties of the ERP / PDM numbers (and their descriptions) for the view for the Properties tab. The individual properties are write-protected here. Editing is only possible in the Property: ERP / PDM numbers dialog.

Changed behavior for part properties with local times

Many properties for date and time specifications in the parts management save the data in the respective local time of the user. This resulted in incorrect time specifications for users in other time zones when the parts data or the parts database was used worldwide. In order to have time specifications comparable worldwide, the behavior of these properties has been changed. The time specifications are now adjusted for each user to the time zone of the user.

If, for example, the time "10:00:00" is entered for the user A in the modification date. In the past the same value was displayed to a user B in a different time zone. Now the time "21:00:00" corresponding to their time zone is displayed for the user B in the same field.

The changed behavior affects the following properties:

Modification date (ID 22981)
Last editor / Modification date (ID 22901)
Last editor / Modification date (accessory list) (ID 22958)
Last editor / Modification date (accessory placement) (ID 22973)
Last editor / Modification date (drilling pattern) (ID 22938)
Last editor / Modification date (connection point pattern) (ID 22944)
Last editor / Modification date (address) (ID 22937)
Creation date (ID 22983)
Creator / Creation date (ID 22902)
Creator / Creation date (accessory list) (ID 22936)
Creator / Creation date (accessory placement) (ID 22972)
Creator / Creation date (drilling pattern) (ID 22939)
Creator / Creation date (connection point pattern)

In addition these properties are now write-protected for external editing during exporting and importing. Only the UTC times can be changed via external editing.

New properties for current requirements from technology and automation

More than 400 new properties are now available in the parts management with which you can extend your parts data for current requirements from plant construction, power engineering, building automation and process engineering. Further technical data and specifications of the manufacturers can be entered here, such as the device type, operating voltages, operating temperatures, specifications for the CO₂ footprint, etc. In many cases properties of the same name are also available as part reference properties at the functions.

Benefit:

The extension of the part properties makes the Eplan platform even more attractive for manufacturers and users. The new properties allow manufacturers to represent their products even more precisely, and users benefit from higher data quality and more flexibility in the engineering process. The new properties cover numerous current requirements, such as sustainability assessments, detailed operating specifications or specific requirements from plant construction, energy engineering, building automation and process engineering. Manufacturers can now pass on their parts data even more extensively and standardized to Eplan customers. This ensures clear and uniform communication of the technical data and simplifies integration into existing engineering processes.

Through the extension of the parts data and part reference data more comprehensive and precise information is now available for the manufacturing data export and the labeling output. This provides you with complete documentation and a data base for manufacturing and external systems such as ERP or PDM systems.

Below are some examples of the new properties that illustrate the practical use:

Operating voltage (AC 50 Hz), max. (ID 26087), Operating voltage (DC), max. (ID 26091): Specifying the operating voltage makes it easier to select components with suitable voltage requirements.
Operating temperature (ID 26237), Measuring range: Temperature (ID 26121), Ambient temperature (during operation), max. (ID 26157): The operating temperature range is an important specification for planning in critical environments, for example in cold stores or during planning in explosion-prone areas.
Degree of protection (IP) (ID 26553), Degree of protection (IP): Front side (ID 26559): The degree of protection is useful as a filter option for use in harsh environments.
PCF: CO2-eq (ID 26526), PCF: Calculation (ID 26529): Data on the CO₂ footprint are useful for supporting projects with a focus on sustainability and climate targets.
Power consumption (ID 26417), Nominal power consumption (ID 26482): Power consumption information is important for optimizing energy efficiency calculations.
BACnet: Standard (ID 26516), Performance description, standardized: Description (device, utility, service) (ID 26425): Specifications for standards and certifications facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements.
Electrical interface (ID 26036), BACnet: Number of hardware interfaces (ID 26214): The data interface is an important specification for IoT-capable devices.
Material (ID 22081), Material of the cable jacket (ID 26640): The material composition from which an item is manufactured is useful for sustainability assessments or specific environmental requirements.

As usual, these properties can be displayed on project pages and in reports and can also be exported for the manufacturing data export and the labeling output. These properties can also be used for sorting and filtering.

New "Part variant description" part property

A descriptive text can now be stored for the variants of a part. To do this the new Part variant description (ID 22887) property is available in the Properties tab of the parts management. Since the variant name is limited to up to three characters, you can use this description to differentiate the variants of a part better. This property is also available for the configuration of the representation in the parts management (tree and list) and in the Insert center (table in the information area for devices).

New "Data Portal import date" part property

In the parts management you now have the possibility to filter specifically for the parts that were imported from the Eplan Data Portal. To this purpose the new Data Portal Import date (ID 22391) part property is available in the Properties tab and in the criteria selection of the filter.

A date is entered for this property when a part is imported from the Eplan Data Portal. The import date cannot be edited (for example via external editing), and is also not taken into consideration during the data exchange (for example during the export and import in EDZ or XML format). When copying and pasting a part, the value of this property is not transferred to the new part. In such a case the property is subsequently empty.

New part properties for replacement parts

The following four new properties for replacement parts are now available in order to identify discontinued parts more easily and also to be able to recognize better which part has replaced the discontinued part:

Replacement part: Original part (ID 26318)
Replacement part: Date (ID 26320)
Replacement part: Number (ID 26321)
Replacement part: Description (ID 26038)