So I got started on the project configuration manager this week. A method for switching projects has been on the request list for a long time. We’ve posted a video of the progress so far on our site. Do you have ideas? Tell about them-http://pdoteam.uservoice.com/forums/53426-general!
![SNAGHTMLc6399b[4]](http://www.ecadinc.com/PDOteam/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/SNAGHTMLc6399b4.png "SNAGHTMLc6399b[4]")
and here is the video:
Today the BOM Gather Spreadsheet hits the store!
http://www.ecadinc.com/PDOteam/index.php/store/products/bom-gather-spreadsheet/
To answer your first question, here is what the spreadsheet can do for you.
By the way, you may be interested to find out that this is ALL in Excel 2007. No new program to learn, but you can still tweak the settings you need!
At ECAD we decided to go with a blended approach to allow access to database information. Since every company wants their reports, their way, we can customize your project database to include those. Then, by listing the query (report) that you want, you can bring the information directly into a spreadsheet that you have already formatted.
While custom queries sound expensive, we have had a customer spend only ~$1200 for the queries + the spreadsheet. That’s for the entire company to be able to use the spreadsheet!
Take a look at the store, go through the readme, and check out the video. We’d love to help you get the BOM Gather spreadsheet worked into your design process.
Within the next couple weeks, we will be releasing a new product that could save you a lot of time (time = money!). I wanted to post a bit about the product, and some other things we are thinking about as well.
As part of our services here at ECAD, we provide services to customers who need customization done. Often times, we find that people don’t have the time to learn the nuts and bolts of non-design software. So, to help you have more time designing we provide installation services, training, and customization on our products.
During a visit to GWD Design, my role was to migrate them from an old database format to the newer ICES database. After a sitting down and getting a list of questions they had about CADWorx (I can’t resist knowing what people are doing with CADWorx), a question was posed. Is there a way to publish a Bill of Materials in a consistent Excel format using CADWorx? Short answer…there wasn’t.
Thanks to the proposition from GWD, we created the BOM Gather spreadsheet. Priced at $300 (per company) the spreadsheet will eliminate a lot of manual effort in Excel and streamline your BOM production. Since this is a sneak preview…I’ll post one sentence 
. The BOM Gather spreadsheet will virtually eliminate BOM formatting time by importing BOM items (minus the mark column) from spreadsheets (or Access queries!) into an Excel workbook, and allowing dated export to a new file.
Moving on…another feature on our agenda is consolidating some of our tools. We’re planning to package the CADWorx Properties palette with the ribbon, to add access to the palette via ribbon. One topic I’m reflecting on is whether to combine the P&ID Ribbons and the Plant ribbons, obviously it’d be much easier to release/handout one all inclusive package than several smaller packages. In addition, I’d like to add commands to display the ribbons and/or add them to a workspace.
Let me know if you guys have any thoughts on these topics!
Looking through our records, I’ve been trying to tally up how many copies of the CADWorx Properties Palette by ECAD we’ve given out. Since we haven’t been using the Store the whole time, the numbers are hit and miss, but I think we have roughly 40 people who have downloaded the palette.
The video has been viewed on YouTube 200 times, and downloaded 23 times.
Knock on wood, we’ve received 0 bug reports. While I hope the code works flawlessly, we all know that’s a small chance. So, as weird as it sounds, we’d like to hear about any problems that you’ve run into. In the meantime, thanks for the positive verbal feedback about the palette. Here are some of the ideas people want to see added:
Do you have other ideas? We’d love to hear from you!
We have really great news for everyone! Today the Mastering P&ID Professional Video series go on the market. You can read the press release here.
For a few months ECAD had me devote my time to documenting P&ID so that we could bring to you the most comprehensive training tool available. Currently we are selling the videos online and through our Sales Offices in the US only . For those of you outside the US, please contact your CGNP, or use the Contact Us page and we’ll connect you to the right people. Please understand that we are still setting up our overseas selling channels so you may have to wait to get your hands on a copy (our apologies).
Also, I’ve posted a short video on how to use/install the video series. The video is below the Cooliris wall. FYI, we are in the process of figuring out how we’re going to do videos on our site, as some have mentioned that YouTube is blocked from their work. Attached to this post is a pdf of the Table of Contents to give you detailed outline of the topics covered in the video series.
Here’s the link to the full product description.
I hope you all benefit greatly from this new product!
Mastering P&ID Professional TOC Sample (11)
We have exciting news for everyone. Today we are releasing the CADWorx Properties palette by ECAD! Here’s is the other half of the good news…it’s FREE! Once again, to download all you have to do is register with our site and then access the downloads page.
We have a video that walks through installation and usage, and the installer includes a readme with details about the product.
We developed this tool to give access to CADWorx information to people without CADWorx, as we know that a lot of design is interfaced with other AutoCAD products, like AutoCAD MEP or Civil 3D.
Obviously, we are not going to make any guarantees with this code. But since it’s free, you’re welcome to give feedback and we will post fixes ASAP. Contact us using the Contact Us page. Enjoy!
Here are some screen shots.
Hello all. For my first post, I want to show how to add the CADWorx ribbons that Kyle has been handing out. Click here to get the pdf with screenshots or watch the video version. Enjoy!
Load the Ribbon
After receiving the ribbon via email or download, save them to a location that you will be able to access momentarily. Start CADWorx Plant and in a blank drawing start the CUI editor (CUI at the command line). Scroll down to the Partial Customization file node, right-click it and select Load Partial Customization file.
Browse to the location you’ve saved the ribbon, select it and click Open. In the Customizations in Main File drop down, select All Customization Files. Depending on the settings 1 of 2 things will happen. In most cases, the ribbon tabs are now added to every workspace, so you can click OK to close the dialog. However, you still should know how to add tabs to a workspace.
Create a Plant Workspace
Select the “3D Modeling” workspace at the top left and right-click to copy and paste the workspace. Rename the new workspace to Plant Ribbon, select it and click the Customize Workspace button.
Let’s assume that in this case we need to add the ribbon tabs to the workspace. Once you are in workspace customization mode, items can be added to the workspace from the files in the left panel. Scroll down to PIPE_ALT_RIB under partial customization file and expand the ribbon node. Expand the tab node. The tab node displays all of the tabs available from the customization file. Check all of the tabs to add them to the workspace, or check the Tabs box. In the workspace contents panel, the contents of the workspace we are currently customizing are displayed. Expand the Ribbon Tabs node. At the end of the tabs list are the Plant tabs. Drag and drop them to the front to have them display as the far left tabs. Click the Done button. On the left, select the Plant Ribbon workspace, right-click and set it current. Click OK to apply the changes and exit the dialog. After the CUI file saves, and updates the screen, your display will show the Plant Ribbon workspace with the CADWorx Ribbon included.
Having trouble viewing the video? See it here.
David Wolfe
