Software closing in on CASE tool

A 2002 EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDS WINNER

SOFTWARE & INFORMATION INTEGRATION

Process design engineers have dreamed for years of the ultimate control system development toolset. One that uses the same toolset to develop specifications and test plans; design and develop piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs); and then automatically turn all that information into control code and graphics for any control system. This ”ultimate” toolset may be unachievable, but Spec-Soft (Tel-Aviv, Israel) has moved much closer. Spec-Soft’s Process Functional Specification (PFS) software includes enhanced recipe development and management. Other features include:

Change management features that track adds, deletes, renames, and moves made in P&IDs; time-stamps changes; and highlights and evaluates change impact on the specification;

Rule-based conflict and interaction evaluation procedures aimed at identifying production- and safety-related problems and/or bottlenecks;

Textual, tabular and graphically customizable specification documentation;

Specification review and simulation; and

Database interfaces to spreadsheets, instrument indexes, batch-engines, HMIs, and manufacturing execution systems.

Spec-Soft’s 2002 product enhancement adds automatic generation of controller code from within PFS. It develops structured text in accordance with IEC 61131-3. Computer aided software engineering (CASE) provides a design-to-implementation software development environment. Most previous CASE implementations use one toolset for design and specification, another for detailed engineering and simulation, and a third for implementation and testing. Spec-Soft’s PFS software has achieved a significant step forward in CASE environments.

www.specsoft-pfs.com

Captures process design to build an S88-compatible functional specification

Creates enterprise-wide standards of automation software

Generates specification to IEC-61131-3 controller code

Provides high levels of documentation and change management to facilitate regulatory compliance

Click here to view the full list of 2002 Editors’ Choice Awards winners Click here to return to the article introduction

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.