Create or Import Multiple Major Equipment

Multiple items of major equipment can be created in bulk using the Add Multiple Equipment facility.

Using this facility, multiple items of equipment can be added to the project and associated with a selected major equipment catalogue item, from which their layout, cabling and termination etc. details are derived, by either:

• Importing them from an Excel spreadsheet, in which the basic details of the equipment and the major equipment catalogue item are identified.

• Entering details of multiple equipment, including the major equipment catalogue item, in the Add Multiple Equipment wizard.

The Add Major Equipment Procedure

1. Open the Equipment View or the Equipment List. In the Tools section of the List/List Tools tab, click Add Multiple Equipment.

2. The Add Multiple Equipment wizard window is then displayed:

   

   Note:
   The facility can also be accessed from the Cable Block Diagrams window. See Add Equipment. When the wizard is accessed from a Cable Block diagram, any equipment created or imported is added to that diagram when the procedure is completed.

   Importing Equipment Details from a Spreadsheet

3. To import basic details from a spreadsheet, click Import. The following window is displayed, which explains the format that spreadsheets to be imported from must be in:

   

4. Click Browse to select the required spreadsheet. Click Next > to start the import.

5. Details of the equipment imported from the spreadsheet are then displayed in the wizard:

   

6. As required, enter cable numbers and select destination equipment as described below.

   Entering Basic Details in the Wizard

7. To enter basic details by entry into the wizard instead of, or as well as, importing from a spreadsheet, click New.

8. A row of fields is then added to the wizard:

   

9. Select an Area number, enter a unique equipment number, and select a Major Equipment Catalogue number.

   Adding Multiple Rows

10. To add multiple rows of new equipment in one go, click Create Multiple, accessible from the menu which is displayed when the arrow next to the New button is clicked.

    The following is then displayed:

    

11. Select an Area number and a Major Equipment Catalogue number, and specify the number of items to be added.

    

12. Click Next.

13. The multiple items are then added to the wizard:

    

    The default equipment numbers of equipment added to the wizard in this way will be in the following format, as shown above: "copy of New Equip(#)". Amend these as required.

    Entering Cable and Destination Details

14. Cable numbers must be entered if the selected Major Equipment Catalogue item for an equipment item has a cable connected to it.

    Enter the cable number in the cell provided. A new cable with this number will be created along with the equipment.

15. If the Major Equipment Catalogue item for an equipment item has multiple cables connected to it, then that number of cables will be created. If for example a Catalogue item for an equipment item has four cables connected to it, and a cable number of "ABC" is entered in the Cable No. field, a cable with that cable number will be created, plus three more called "Copy of ABC", "Copy of ABC(1)", and "Copy of ABC(2)". If a cable number already exists in the database, the copy number will be incremented to make it unique.

16. If the selected catalogue item does not have a cable connected, leave this cell blank.

17. If a cable number has been entered, destination equipment may optionally be selected by clicking the button in the Destination column. The Select Equipment window is then displayed:

    

18. To select an equipment tag, double-click on the required tag or click on it and then click Select. The window is then closed and the number of the specified equipment is displayed in the Destination cell.

19. To create a new equipment tag, select New, this displays the Equipment Information window. Create the new equipment as described in Add Field Devices. The new equipment is then added to the list in the Select Equipment window.

20. To exit the window without selecting destination equipment, or to de-select destination equipment previously selected so that the other end of the cable is no longer connected, click either Not Connected or Exit.

    Copying Rows

21. To copy a row, select it, then click Copy Selected, accessible from the menu which is displayed when the arrow next to the New button is clicked.

    A copy of the selected row is then added to the wizard. Amend the details as required.

    Deleting Rows

22. To delete a row or rows, select them in the wizard and click Delete. A message is then displayed requesting that the deletion be confirmed. Click Yes to delete the selected row(s), or No to cancel the deletion.

    Creating the New Equipment

23. Once all the required data has been entered in the wizard, click Create.

24. If there is any conflicted data, i.e. any reasons why equipment cannot be created, these are then listed on the next page of the wizard:

    

    This page is not displayed if there is no conflicted data.

    If required, click < Back to return to the previous page of the wizard to correct these problems.

25. To proceed with the creation of those items that do not have conflicts, click Next >.

26. The creation of the equipment then takes place. A log of the equipment creation process is then displayed, with those items successfully created and those items not successfully created listed:

    

27. Click OK to exit the wizard.

28. Equipment successfully created is added to the Equipment View and the Equipment List. Any connected cables are added to the Cable Schedule.