What's New in MPDS4 and MEDUSA4 Versions 5.1 to 5.1.2?

The highlights of this release include the new Project Data Control (PDC) environment for achieving engineering data management and collaborative, global 3D plant design without a large administrative burden or complex implementation requirements; new parametric equipment creation in MPDS4; a new area fill option in MEDUSA4; and the availability of new standard component catalogs for import into MPDS4.


	New Solution: Project Data Control (PDC)
	New in MEDUSA4 Drafting
	New in MEDUSA4 Add-On Products
	New in the MPDS4 Project Manager
	New in MPDS4 Catalogs
	New in MPDS4
	New in MPDS4 Add-On Products

New Solution: Project Data Control (PDC)

Data Management with PDC
Project Data Control (PDC) is an optional data management and engineering content administration environment for all your design data and associated documents, fully integrated with MEDUSA4 and MPDS4. Its open architecture provides excellent flexibility and integration options, allowing data to be made available to other PLM, PDM or ERP systems, or to other users via the internet.

The Project Data Control (PDC) database allows customers to use their choice of database architecture, supporting Oracle and many others. Access to the database is provided by MPDS4, MEDUSA4 or via the Internet.

PDC allows users to manage all their project-related content, including 3D models (DXF, STL, IGES, STEP, VRML, MOD), 2D drawings, spreadsheets, and piping isometrics. The system also looks after design-specific data, such as user-specific and component attributes, parts lists or the current editing status of a drawing.

PDC allows distributed design teams to work collaboratively across multiple locations without a significant administrative burden or complex implementation requirements. Through its connection to shared, automatically synching database vaults, for example, engineers can gain global, controlled administrative and editing access to project and design data.

New in MEDUSA4 2D Drafting

MEDUSA4’s new area fill option provides visual clarity in 2D designs

New Area Fill Option
From version 5.1 of MEDUSA4, all closed line geometry can be area filled in accordance with its line colour – a new option which improves the clear representation of technical data and the general handling of geometry or specific areas within a design. Any colour fill is maintained when importing from or exporting to DXF or DWG.

CADConvert DXF/DWG (AutoCAD®) Interface Enhancements
From version 5.1 the CADConvert interface offers full support for the DXF/DWG format from AutoCAD R12 through AutoCAD 2012.

Further enhancements to the CADConvert DXF/DWG interface in version 5.1.2 include improved handling of special characters and of the translation of conic arcs during DXF export; better positioning of text elements on AutoCAD® paper areas within scale views; and improved handling of extremely small and large geometry.

2D Drafting Tool Enhancements
Version 5.1.2 includes additional 2D drawing tool and construction line enhancements, as well as improvements to the handling of layers and of extremely large sheets.

New in MEDUSA4 Add-On Products

MEDUSA4 P&ID: Enhanced Standards
The MEDUSA4 P&ID module supports the use of different symbol libraries and now offers an enhanced intelligent symbol catalog for the creation of P&IDs in accordance with EN ISO 10628 and ISO 3511.

MEDRaster: Raster Display & Viewing Enhancements
The MEDUSA4 MEDRaster module now offers improved performance when working with large black and white or colour raster images. A new license option allows users simply to view the raster data used within a design when raster editing functionality is not required.

3D Interface Enhancements
Version 5.1 sees further enhancements to the 3D interfaces available for MEDUSA4 3D and MPDS4, making data exchange with STEP, IGES and DXF even quicker and easier.

MEDLink: Support for Windchill® PDMLink™ 9.1, 10.0 and 10.1
From version 5.1.1, MEDLink, the Windchill PDMLink integration for MEDUSA4, offers support for Windchill PDMLink 9.1 and 10.0. From version 5.1.2 the interface also supports Windchill PDMLink 10.1.

MEDPro: Support for Creo Parametric® 2.0
From version 5.1.2 the MEDUSA4 MEDPro Creo interface also supports Creo Parametric 2.0 (as well as Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3, 4 or 5 and Creo Parametric 1.0).

New in the MPDS4 Project Manager

Plant Data Control (PDC) Integration
From version 5.1 the MPDS4 Project Manager offers complete integration with the PDC Plant Data Control solution, allowing the loading and unloading of entire project databases for multi user access through PDC. The tool now also allows users to save individual project databases into a single, compact, portable file.

Version 5.1.2 includes functionality and usability enhancements to the tools for managing users, browsing directories, creating, copying, upgrading, archiving and extracting databases.

New in MPDS4 Catalogs

New DIN and BS EN Components Catalogs
Users of MPDS4 version 5.1 now have the option of purchasing standard digital component catalogs for use with MPDS4, saving massive amounts of design time and project costs. Catalogs currently available include catalogs in support of DIN EN 10241-2000, DIN EN 10242, DIN EN 10253, BS EN 10216, BS EN 10217, BS EN 10218, DIN EN 1514, BS EN 12560-2001 and DIN EN 1092-1. The MPDS4 catalog administration tool provides all the functionality needed to import these packages of standard component catalogs for immediate use in existing projects

New: Example Factory Database
From MPDS4 version 5.1 the installation process can automatically install a project database with a sample factory design, making it easier for customers to explore the product’s extensive functionality, and see new features live.

New: Parametric Equipment
MPDS4 now provides a selection of parametric equipment, speeding up design and giving users great flexibility when comes to placing equipment in varying sizes. The equipment library tool used to select and load equipment models has also been greatly enhanced, and users can now create their own parametric equipment models with the optional 3D COMPONENT DESIGNER.

MPDS4 Version 5.1 offers enhanced tools for flexibly loading and positioning parametric equipment in a plant or factory

The MPDS4 equipment loading tool now allows users to select both ordinary and parametric equipment models, and name, describe and allocate them to a system and sub-system. Its preview window now provides the ability to rotate, zoom and view a model at any detail level, where available. Equipment can be positioned freely or at a designated point. The new dialog allows users to change the parameters of selected parametric equipment, with any change immediately reflected in the preview window, and in the freeload dragged model. Dragged equipment can also be rotated and inspected from other views, shown at different transparency levels or in wireframe. Models can also be positioned according to predefined connection points.

Work with global or user-defined local coordinate systems in MPDS4

MPDS4’s redesigned coordinate systems functionality allows designers to work with the global or user-defined local coordinate systems, which can be oriented anywhere in space. Local coordinate systems make it easy to design assemblies in relationship to their immediate environment, or to place machinery in slanted production areas, for example. Components can be positioned in the selected coordinate system by using the cursor to snap to an exact location on the configurable grids provided. Equipment locations can also be reported in GPS coordinates. This information can then be included in project documentation, making it easy for maintenance staff to locate specific equipment in large factories, for example.

New Options Dialog
The redesigned Options dialog now serves as the single point of call for viewing and changing any of the standard settings available in MPDS4, including graphics, tools, system and separate module settings. Individual selections relating to choices such as the background colour can be saved as user-specific settings.

The new Options Dialog: Easily view and change standard and user-specific MPDS4 plant design system settings

Enhancements to MPDS4’s handling of component attributes make it even easier to flexibly define a wide variety of attributes and store them against an instance. This enables easier, more comprehensive data exchange with other plant design systems in accordance with ISO 15926.

MPDS4 Single Database Solution
Owner/Operators looking after a single factory or plant, who only need one project database for their design data, can now take advantage of the MPDS4 Single Database Solution.

User Interface Enhancements
MPDS4 Version 5.1.2 delivers several user interface enhancements for more productive working with tools for component loading and saving, adding connection points, tail properties and set operations.

New in MPDS4 Add-On Products

New functionality in the 3D COMPONENT DESIGNER: create 3D parametric catalog equipment

From version 5.1, the MPDS4 3D COMPONENT DESIGNER allows users to save the 3D components created as parametric equipment models. Each model definition includes an embedded table of properties and data, so users can, for example, decide which parameters the end user is allowed to see or edit, and which types of values are permitted. Minimum and maximum values can also be specified. End users can preview, edit the parameters of, and load these equipment models in 3D via the Component Loading dialog.

From version 5.1 the MPDS4 STEEL DESIGN module includes a new handrail design tool

From version 5.1, the MPDS4 STEEL DESIGN module includes a new tool for quickly creating a wide variety of steel handrails. The catalog of handrails supplied with the software includes single, double and three ball handrails with choices of different end rails.

MPDS4 PIPING DESIGN: Enhanced ROHR2 Interface
The enhanced ROHR2 interface allows MPDS4 PIPING DESIGN users to transfer their design data directly to the ROHR2 software for static and dynamic pipe stress analysis of the selected piping systems.

P&ID and 3D: Enhanced Data Integration
The integration between the process data in the P&ID and the MPDS4 3D plant design has been further enhanced. The comparison tool which allows users to build the MPDS4 3D world (including the routing of pipes) on the basis of the 2D P&ID now also allows designers to use third party systems data, such as imported parts lists, as the basis of a 2D or 3D layout, with the system cross-checking the data and highlighting those components that have already been included in the design