Featuring completely new architecture for efficient design work at several different locations

Version 5 of CADMATIC's 3D Plant Design software includes a number of major new benefits. A completely new project data handling structure and database architecture has been developed. It lays a solid foundation for current and future developments and opens up new business opportunities for its users. It has been thoroughly tested and is ready for distribution.

The increased user friendliness of Version 5 is a further improvement on an already highly appreciated feature.

The software's logical system structure and the ease and familiar way the modules can be navigated make this the user-friendliest version to date. Ease-of-use has always been important in CADMATIC 3D software as it improves the efficiency of design work, engineering and production.

One of the main advantages of Version 5 is that concurrent project design work from several different locations is now logically structured and rational.

The Cadmatic users are able to utilize the best resources around the world. This substantially saves time and money. New database-centric architecture with built-in support for concurrent and remote project work means that system usage and administration has been made very easy and effective. Transferring design work between several participating designers is efficient and safe. To attach/detach designers to a project is easy and straightforward. In big plant design projects it is crucial that several design teams can work simultaneously on the same project. This improves work flow and all process, manufacturing, installation and purchasing information such as drawings and material take-offs are produced faster and with fewer man hours. The new CADMATIC Object Storage (COS) design makes this possible.

CADMATIC Object Storage (COS) is completely new data architecture in Version 5.

Shared data such as the common component library, project set-up, and project data (3D model and documents) is now stored in databases hosted by a database server. The architecture has been optimized for managing 3D design data. A major benefit of a version 5's centric database is that it is easy to divide design work among several design offices globally; and the same updated project libraries, 3D model and 2D drawings are avail-able for everyone involved. The flexibility of version 5 has gained much praise from designers. One can keep control of an entire model from a local workstation, whether it is next door to the server or on the other side of the globe.

CADMATIC Version 5 uses a database centric client-server system and therefore enables concurrent and distributed design. The CoDesigner handles database replication and other technical details "under the hood". This makes it possible to add new design teams to a project with a few clicks.

All object data is accessed via a check in/check out procedure that guarantees that only one designer can modify the same object at any given time.

In a distributed project data is updated between the remote design sites via an on-line network connection (e.g. internet) or by simply exchanging the file using an e-mail attachment. A new distributed project site is easily set up via interactive tools. Globally distributing project work is affordable, as an expensive high bandwidth connection is not necessary. System administration of distributed projects at remote design sites is also minimized.

The eBrowser application allows the easy sharing of 3D project information between designers, project management, plant owners and subcontractors.

It is a data publishing tool that is easy to use and no special training is required by the user. By using smart visualization storage techniques the 3D models for visualization and data sharing become very light, thereby facilitating distribution to all parties involved. The eBrowser is also a useful tool for production planning.

Cadmatic V5 includes a new common software tool called COS Browser

It is used by the designer or administrator to easily manage the library, set-up data (such as component models, dimension standards, connection types etc.), data queries and document handling. COS Browser makes the data searches simple. The user can define their own dynamic data hierarchies with tree-views, carry out free text searches with google type queries. The use of the software is extremely flexible, since the same kind of user interface is available for process-, layout-,piping designers and administrators.

In distributed environments information security is an important issue.

The system supports customizable user profiles with different levels of access to databases and system configurations. Deletions are for example controlled so that it is impossible to accidentally remove any library data that is being used in projects. All client-server and server-server communication is done via a proprietary protocol that is less vulnerable to attacks than more common protocols.