Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
(OP)
I'm kind of curious about the level of difficulty of SmartPlant 3D. I'm not a designer, but I hear them talking about how difficult things are quite often. The latest thing I heard about is we were going to upgrade everyone to Office 2013 but the SP3D guys spoke up and said that have to use Office 2010 otherwise their SP3D reports get all goofed up. We've got one guy who has two computers because his SP3D workstation won't run email or something (I forget exactly). I'm always hearing tales of woe like this and stories of why they can't do this or that or how difficult something is going to be.
Is SP3D really that complicated and unwieldy? If so, what makes it such a desirable package? I run some pretty powerful FEA programs so I get with much power comes higher levels of complexity but I don't get why SP3D is so popular when you have to jump through all these hoops. I would be interested to hear other people's slant on SP3D.
Is SP3D really that complicated and unwieldy? If so, what makes it such a desirable package? I run some pretty powerful FEA programs so I get with much power comes higher levels of complexity but I don't get why SP3D is so popular when you have to jump through all these hoops. I would be interested to hear other people's slant on SP3D.





RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
As I recall, many of these sophisticated "do-everything" plant design software packages are somewhat finicky (or maybe it's the support people who are resistant to change - that would be ironic) and opaque. But that's one aspect of complex software like this (as you allude to); finding out exactly why something isn't working can be very difficult.
Years ago PDS was the ne-plus ultra software that everyone wanted to learn and get paid lots of money to work with. Perhaps I'm dense or something but after getting a quick walk-through of it once it didn't seem much different from Autoplant or other 3D piping software.
I don't know how much feedback from knowledgeable SP3D people you'll get here amongst the engineers.
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
and we spoiled a gigantical lot of hours.
The company had a fantastic application called Plantview,
and replaced it by SP3D and it had cost the company millions..
Now we're working with pencil again (like 15 years ago)
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
I think PDMS is a lot better than SP3D.
Yes, I googled too, but aspentech got nothing to do with it.
I didn't replace anything, the big company did.
Maybe there are more designers here that also work for that big company?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
http://communities.bentley.com/products/plant/desi...
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Dow collegeas will know.
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
I don't see how it was a "precursor" to PDMS, though.
* In the 3D plant design software world you often can't tell the players without a scorecard.
Here are some paragraphs written a few years ago by a friend of mine:
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Don't know why there is no information on the internet, maybe other Dow Chemical engineers can react here?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
You must go into these things with your eyes open. Talk to other users in your industry. These packages do not suite everyone.
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
that he is an expert in piping also, I've seen that fault too much.
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
"I think the problem with programs like SP3D is you have to be a pipe designer AND a computer expert."
The current trend is of course building the "knowledge" into the software and having less-experienced people do the piping routing.
I have some other documents that I should, uh, 'sanitize' and upload into this thread for some further insight into.
And there's this:
http://www.bicmagazine.com/departments/engineering...
as well as this:
http://www.bicmagazine.com/departments/engineering...
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
I worked with Plantview, autocad 3D-Autopipe, PDMS and that went well, why shouldn't SP3D work that way?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
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RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Large codebases suffer from a number of potential issues that can make life miserable for users:
> spaghetti code - difficult to maintain, and even more difficult to re-write
> hard coded parameters - little time bombs waiting for for some unsuspecting user to trip over them
> small user base - insufficient usage "churn" to pick up on problems
> low margins/volume - insufficient cash flow to pay for massive changes
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Im currenty working as Sp3d Admin,
is Sp3d is complicated.?,
Ans : Yes and No.
The "No" Part:
-------------
For the users, its easy, in 2 weeks training with background in AutoCad/or Any Cad system,
then you can immediately do 3D models, and there is "undo" feature which is not present in PDS system
The "Yes" its Complicated:
---------------------------
For the Administrator,
(for routine activities)
1.) You must have background in SQL Server / Oracle Administration,
Creating SQL Queries by hand, for Special Report requirements.
2.) Advance MS Excel user, knows VBA , this is to have some automation is Excel Sheets
as Sp3d Catalogs and Specs are all in Excel
3.) Must have a good command of Batch programming (creating batch automation, file transfers, archiving etc)
4.) Maintain SmartPlant Review Extraction(SPR), model Color Filter and grouping , etc
5.) Create Backups, usually automated, but you have to archive and transfer the files to have physical redundant backups.
5.) Must have background in Windows Administration, Folder rights permission settings
6.) OS user management, Group creation/membership maintenance
7.) Group Policy Administration and settings, for auto project selection and other things when user transfer to another Sp3d project
8.) License management of workstation, if you don't Windows Administration Background then you to do this manually for each machines.!
9.) Isometric settings
10.) General Arrangement(GA) drawing production
11.) Special Support 2D Drawings production
12.) Reference Model settings("XREF" of 2D dwg drawings to SP3D),
13.) Project Restore and trouble shooting
(for Catalog maintenance)
1.) Must have training in Pipe Specs, Excel Sheets Data Relationships
2.) Sometimes this is done by another group which they use MARIAN or SmartPlant Reference Data
3.) But for simple changes you have basic know-how where to find a specific excel sheet/workbook for minor edits.
SP3D store all its data and graphics in a database, its has its own Graphics Engine,
(unlike PDS where it needs MicroStation for the Graphics.)
(this technology is similar to PDMS, all data in DB also, but PDMS uses its own DB format not SQLSERVER or ORACLE)
For the Office 2013/2010 part:
If you are using SP3d version 2014R1, you have to use Office 2010 "32bit" not "64bit", SP3D uses "32bit" techonology
But recently with Hotfix24 and up, Office 2013 32bit is now supported
(registration needed to access)
(https://smartsupport.intergraph.com/app/answers/de...),
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
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RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
Here's the current SP3D cost:
Per month for 1 License :
SP3D = 2,200 USD each
SPR(SmartPlant Review) = 560 USD each
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
RE: Just how complicated is SmartPlant 3D?
If I were controlling the purse strings, I wouldn't pay that much for it, but whatever the market will bear, right?