Operations

[dave]

How does SP compare operationally to AP? Can users draw faster, links stick, more robust security..etc

[Aplant Monkey]

Put it this way... since we began with SP we have fallen behind contiuously to the point where the schedule now has to be changed. If we were still using AP we would almost be done. it is not that you draw slower or anything, it is more that the program is not at a developed enough state that you can proceed. Everything needs to be configured. Right from drawing templates to updating Specs.

This program will some day be great, but for now it is still in a development state

[Data Wrangler]

It sounds like it is taking you more time to set up the program than it is the program's "fault".

Is this the case?

Derek

[Aplant Monkey]

little bit of both I would say. Some of it is because we just don't know how to set things up and the other is that when we do set it up it still doesn't work. One big problem is that there is just not a lot of people out there right now with any experience with SP so it really is just a work in progress

[Colby]

SPPID shows it's value with changemangement To batch change a whole set of drawings is just oracle query away.

SPPID is a pain to set up and there very few people that know how to get it right but once it is setup correctly It is a powerful tool that can tie into other application such as PDS, Aspen Zyqad(Process Datasheets) and SP Foundation. You can literally use Zyqad to get all your equipment and lines populated in SPPID. Then the designer can just route the lines with out having to populate all the process data.


-Colby-

[HybridAWD]

I have also wondered about SP. I have always "heard" about it. Some talk very highly of it, some kinda just say a few things and move on. I find it very unlikely we would be switching due to so much put into AutoPLANT P&ID and then the AP 3D side.

It's hard for me to say whether or not I would prefer a transition either. I am very good at APPID compared to a lot of other people I have talked with (Yes Dave this forum has helped me in a ton of ways...pat yourself on the back go ahead we'll wait....).

I think just like with any software such as SPPID and APPID, you will always have the huge learning curve in the begining with setting up exactly how you want the software to be, but like Colby said, it will pay off once everything is setup correctly. Our P&ID's here are really good, DB wise and graphically. I really would put our work up against anyone elses, that is how strong I feel about my work.

I'm sure they offer this but I'll ask anyways, does SP offer a demo version? I'd like to just get it and test it out and see how it works. I'm always open to new ideas and new software!

[dave]

Thanks Nick, I got a tour of SP PID last week. It blew me away how many tools are available to the designer and are incorporated right into his/her workflow. I was very impressed but I thought how a decent dev could make the same tools for AP, I wish I was a decent dev :)

[Aplant Monkey]

Hey guys,

just back from vacation and thought I would weigh in here. We have had a steep learning curve with SPPID. the users are fairly proficient with it now. The set up is the key. One of the biggest problems is with the LDT. Or the lack of one would be more accurate. There is a corm copy of one but it is pretty much useless. There is NO link to the PID's for To's and From's so it pretty much renders it useless. In fact it can't even be called a LDT. Intergraph once promised us that they would fix it but never have. We now have our own developers involved trying to make it work. Very frustrating. It is a very powerfull tool, but certainly not the be all and end all that PDS and Intergraph users try to make you think it is.

[dave]

welcome back monkey, how was Cuba? These guys had a macro controlling the to-froms. Something about the datapoints at the end of the lines...dunno, i've slept since then. I was also impressed that you had to draw PIDs in the direction of flow. The admin side looked pretty intesive, but with GUI's for everything the UI seemed pretty friendly. Again, it's all in the setup.

[Aplant Monkey]

the admin is very heavy both with PID and especially with the new 3D.
Cuba was good. got my Mankini tan lines freshened up (ooops that was out loud) :)

[dave]

lol, PICS!

[Shellback1998]

I'm not sure about the AP, but I think SP is very useful tool. It's very fast, I love the automation side of this, even though it's vb6, i wish it was done in c#. Customized reports, and that to/from macro is a great tool. Dave, good job on the cutomizations you've been doing. The sp2, for 2007 will be a great addition especially with the copy plant feature. This will allow projects to be copied from projects that have been completed already. New to the site, thought i'd throw something to the pot. Have a good weekend.

[txturbo]

So far every company I've worked for that is using SP has to spend at least a year developing the tool to get it to a point that it is an asset.I laugh every time I hear someone say they are going to use SP "out of the box"