SmartPlant® Markup

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SmartPlant Markup?

SmartPlant Markup is a viewing and non-destructive markup tool for a multitude of formats without having the native application. The GUI is geared toward user convenience and ease of use. The application is highly context sensitive. Printing enhancements such as Print To Scale, Watermarks, and Stamps are provided. Additional display features such as Panning and Magnify Window are available. A Thumbnail control simplifies navigation of file systems while providing a preview of the file contents. The ability to set and reset file type association, combined with the Thumbnail Control, makes SmartPlant Markup an indispensable application in daily usage. All of these features, plus the capability to seamlessly integrate with AIM/Directa/SmartPlant Foundation, form a comprehensive document/information management system. Several other features are included, but are too lengthy to list here.

Can the product be used in a stand-alone mode?

Yes, the product is fully functional in stand-alone mode. The only requirements for stand-alone operation are one of the supported Windows operating systems and Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.

Does the product manage the original file and redline in stand-alone mode or do I have to buy Directa for that?

The product creates redlines and stores them in a user specified folder for later access and manipulation. The redlines are not actively managed through workflows or any other document management techniques provided by other products.

How is the products sold, purchase/lease? Concurrent, node locked?

SmartPlant Markup is for purchase only, per one node-locked user.

Will there training offered for the SmartPlant Markup product?

Yes, it will replace the AIM/Redline training.

Can I trade-in my AIM/View AIM/Redline for SmartPlant Markup?

AIM/View customers (SRBY230-232) on premium maintenance will pay $125 for the exchange to SmartPlant Markup Plus. Aim/Redline customers (SRBY233-235) on premium maintenance be able to exchange for SmartPlant Markup for free, but shipment is not automatic. They have to call their local office and ask for the upgrade.
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Is SmartPlant Markup a replacement for AIM/View-Redline?

Yes, with additional features (refer to the first question). SmartPlant Markup does not however, replace the AIM/View-Redline's hotspot capability. The hotspot capability is planned for a future SmartPlant Markup Markup release.

Is SmartPlant Markup a Web application?

SmartPlant Markup utilizes Internet Explorer as the display container, but the product components are installed on the client PC. However, SmartPlant Markup provides both initial installation and subsequent automated product updates from a Web Server, simplifying deployment and maintenance.

Is Smartplant Markup a thin client?

No. Some features of the product make it a poor candidate for a thin client. These features include the stand-alone capabilities of the product including seamless desktop integration, and the capability to display and manage several windows simultaneously.

Is there a limit on how many files I can have open and how many windows I can open for same file?

There is no specific limit, except that you might run out of system resources. SmartPlant Markup is optimized in such a way that even though you may have multiple windows of the same file open, the display takes place in a separate process with awareness of this duplication and thereby minimizes resource usage.
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How many different file types can SmartPlant Markup display and markup?

SmartPlant Markup Plus can display and markup over 150 file types. However, it should be noted that SmartPlant Markup Plus incorporates software from a leading 3rd party vendor to display several of these formats and so the quality of display of these files such as MS Word, Excel, etc. is dependent on the vendor. SmartPlant Markup also allows internal viewers to display MicroStation, Intergraph Raster, and AutoCAD files. SmartPlant Markup allows you to freely interchange between built-in viewers at any time and also allows you to specify external applications to be launched for view only.

What is the difference between SmartPlant Markup and SmartPlant Markup Plus?

SmartPlant Markup and SmartPlant Markup Plus perform the same functions, viewing and markup without the native application. The difference between the two is in the number of formats handled. SmartPlant Markup provides precision viewing and markup of CAD and raster formats, including MicroStation, AutoCAD (DWG, DXF), Intergraph raster, SmartPlant P&ID, and SmartSketch files utilizing RAD 3.52 and later. SmartPlant Markup Plus provides viewing and markup for 150 file formats.

Do I have to associate file types to SmartPlant Markup for them to be displayed by SmartPlant Markup?

Absolutely not. But it is a valuable feature of the product that allows it to be integrated seamlessly with your desktop. Another important feature of SmartPlant Markup is that it can remember the previous associations and reset them again if you so choose, at any time. Several methods are provided to invoke SmartPlant Markup to display and markup. These include shell context menu, file type association, and drag and drop, by applications such as AIM, Directa, SmartPlant Foundation, etc.

Can SmartPlant Markup display SmartSketch files?

SmartPlant Markup can display RAD files V3.52 (SmartSketch 4.0) or later. The display is non-intelligent and allows you to create markups similar to all other file types supported by SmartPlant Markup.

Can SmartPlant Markup launch other viewers, if I so choose?

Yes. You can set SmartPlant Markup to associate with a specific file type but specify that SmartPlant Markup launch another application to actually display the file. In this scenario, you will no longer have the markup capability for that file.

Both SmartPlant Markup and SmartPlant Explorer utilize the Web for viewing; why the redundancy?

SmartPlant Markup is Web-enabled and navigable, SmartPlant Explorer is web based. SmartPlant Markup has Complementary - though primarily non-redundant - companion functionality to SmartPlant Explorer. SmartPlant Explorer provides data viewing and report generation capabilities while SmartPlant Markup provides file viewing and markup capabilities. Capability comparison is reflected in the table below.

SmartPlant Markup SmartPlant Explorer
Views files (>150 formats with Markup Plus) Views INtools, SmartPlant P&ID, PDS 2D, and PDS 3D data
Marks up documents nondestructively Viewing tool only, does not allow data editing
File viewing only, incapable of database query Queries application databases
Incapable of creating plant data reports Creates custom plant data reports and runs application reports
Integrated with Directa and AIM; planned integration with SmartPlant Foundation, Engineering Framework, and SmartPlant Explorer as file viewing companion Data viewing modules for SmartPlant P&ID, INtools, PDS 3D, and PDS 2D
Incapable of viewing 3D models Launches SmartPlant Review to view 3D models
Thumbnail Tree view to provide a treeview and Thumbnail viewing for general operation in a standalone or unmanaged host environment Allows robust data query and cross application data viewing to support a "concurrent engineering" environment
SmartPlant Markup cannot navigate a project or database SmartPlant Explorer can navigate through and between application databases or projects
With SmartPlant Markup it is necessary to know the file for which you are looking SmartPlant Explorer can query for a drawing or drawings presenting the user a choice based on query criteria

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