A few years ago, the users and the user interface and in the product managers were offered a documentation simple single line, front, and plan When it was initially created, the tool views. However, seeing the power was designed for extensibility. The and potential of the Visio graphical use of Visio in the solution also engine and platform, the customers introduced a huge advantage in the came with new demands, such as “a ease of extensibility for new configurable side-view compartment components (third-party provided schema,” which introduced a new shapes) or diagram types (driven by diagram type and even a new new switchgear). solution for standard-preconfigured switchgear systems. This facilitated Exponentially increased number of the sales process by offering components – new shape-creation preconfigured systems. Just methods as auto manufacturers offer cars with With every new switchgear type, new a “sports package” that already shapes also needed to be provided include some options – so were the so that front diagrams and plan switchgear packaged in the “Wiring views could be created. When the Manual” project for the new first version was introduced, the switchgear type 8DJH. diagrams were created purely through Visio shapes – the huge The first version of NXTools+ variability and amount of possible Graphics had to deal with four configurations made this approach switchgear types, and the only unusable for the gas-insulated documentation was for air-insulated switchgear. In addition, the tool was switchgear. Over the years, more used primarily for European and the switchgear types have been added to U.S switchgear and later on for bring today’s total to 21. This growth Chinese and Indian switchgear. has brought a whole new set of issues: The strategy was to allow the local IT For each switchgear type, support to not only plan and build individual front and plan views the switchgear interlocking in need to be created NXTools+, but also provide the Each switchgear has its own rules shapes and diagram parts that were of placement and component to be imported into the combinations documentation. With Siemens’ success in the switchgear sector, and the As appropriate as this approach is, it diagrams as a component of this also introduced another problem: process, new languages needed how to ensure not only the graphical to be added to the tool – both in
A few years ago, the users and product managers were offered a simple single line, front, and plan views. However, seeing the power and potential of the Visio graphical engine and platform, the customers came with new demands, such as “a configurable side-view compartment schema,” which introduced a new diagram type and even a new solution for standard-preconfigured switchgear systems. This facilitated the sales process by offering preconfigured systems. Just as auto manufacturers offer cars with a “sports package” that already include some options – so were the switchgear packaged in the “Wiring Manual” project for the new switchgear type 8DJH. The first version of NXTools+ Graphics had to deal with four switchgear types, and the only documentation was for air-insulated switchgear. Over the years, more switchgear types have been added to bring today’s total to 21. This growth has brought a whole new set of issues: For each switchgear type, individual front and plan views need to be created Each switchgear has its own rules of placement and component combinations With Siemens’ success in the switchgear sector, and the diagrams as a component of this process, new languages needed to be added to the tool – both in the user interface and in the documentation When it was initially created, the tool was designed for extensibility. The use of Visio in the solution also introduced a huge advantage in the ease of extensibility for new components (third-party provided shapes) or diagram types (driven by new switchgear). Exponentially increased number of components – new shape-creation methods With every new switchgear type, new shapes also needed to be provided so that front diagrams and plan views could be created. When the first version was introduced, the diagrams were created purely through Visio shapes – the huge variability and amount of possible configurations made this approach unusable for the gas-insulated switchgear. In addition, the tool was used primarily for European and the U.S switchgear and later on for Chinese and Indian switchgear. The strategy was to allow the local IT support to not only plan and build the switchgear interlocking in NXTools+, but also provide the shapes and diagram parts that were to be imported into the documentation. As appropriate as this approach is, it also introduced another problem: how to ensure not only the graphical
Siemens_MicrosoftVisio2010.docx