EPLAN P8 Project Structure - Forms and Reports
A comprehensive reference guide to the standard report and form structure of an EPLAN Electric P8 project, including form types, purposes, examples, and applicable standards.
EPLAN Electric P8 — Project Structure
Software: EPLAN Electric P8
Project: EPLAN_Sample_Project_Education
File:eplan_p8_project_structure.json
Overview
This repository documents the standard report and form structure of an EPLAN Electric P8 project. EPLAN Electric P8 is a professional electrical CAD/CAE platform used for planning, documenting, and managing electrical and instrumentation engineering projects across industries including manufacturing, process, and energy.
The JSON file (eplan_p8_project_structure.json) was extracted from the EPLAN P8 project tree and enriched with:
- Form file extensions and internal type identifiers
- Purpose and description of each report folder
- Practical usage guidance per engineering phase
- Real-world examples for each form type
- Applicable IEC/ISA standards
Project Tree Structure
The EPLAN project tree contains 16 report folders, each corresponding to a specific document type generated by EPLAN P8 forms (.f00–.f34 files).
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EPLAN_Sample_Project_Education
├── Cable diagram (.f04)
├── Cable overview (.f04)
├── Connection list (.f17)
├── Device tag list (.f06)
├── P&I diagram: Piping overview (.f30)
├── PLC diagram (.f22)
├── Pre-planning: Pipe class overview (.f31)
├── Pre-planning: Planning object overview (.f32)
├── Pre-planning: Planning object plan (.f33)
├── Pre-planning: Substance overview (.f34)
├── Structure identifier overview (.f08)
├── Summarized parts list (.f05)
├── Table of contents (.f01)
├── Terminal-strip overview (.f10)
├── Terminal diagram (.f11)
└── Title page / cover sheet (.f00)
Form Reference Table
| # | Folder | Form File | Subforms | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cable diagram | .f04 | Individual, Total | Installation |
| 2 | Cable overview | .f04 | Individual, Total | Procurement |
| 3 | Connection list | .f17 | Electrical | Wiring / Commissioning |
| 4 | Device tag list | .f06 | Fluid Ind., Fluid Total, Individual, Total | Design / Procurement |
| 5 | P&I diagram: Piping overview | .f30 | 1 | Process Engineering |
| 6 | PLC diagram | .f22 | SPS Connection | Automation |
| 7 | Pre-planning: Pipe class overview | .f31 | Diagram, Overview | Pre-engineering (FEED) |
| 8 | Pre-planning: Planning object overview | .f32 | Cable objects, PCT loops, Device list | Pre-engineering |
| 9 | Pre-planning: Planning object plan | .f33 | Loops | Instrumentation |
| 10 | Pre-planning: Substance overview | .f34 | Diagram, Overview | Process Safety |
| 11 | Structure identifier overview | .f08 | Structure identifier overview | Project Setup |
| 12 | Summarized parts list | .f05 | Individual, Total | Procurement / BOM |
| 13 | Table of contents | .f01 | Total | Documentation |
| 14 | Terminal-strip overview | .f10 | Individual, Total | Cabinet Assembly |
| 15 | Terminal diagram | .f11 | Individual, Total | Wiring |
| 16 | Title page / cover sheet | .f00 | Cover sheet, Material regs, Safety | All phases |
Form Descriptions
1. Cable Diagram .f04
Graphical representation of each cable showing routing, conductor assignment, type, cross-section, and shield. Used when documenting cable runs between panels, machines, or field devices.
Example: Cable W1 — type NYCWY 3×1.5mm², 15m, from terminal X1:1 (MCC) to terminal X2:3 (Motor starter cabinet).
2. Cable Overview .f04
Tabular summary of all cables with key attributes. Primarily used for procurement planning and installation scheduling.
Example: W1 (15m, NYCWY 3×1.5), W2 (8m, H05VV-F 2×1.0), W3 (22m, ÖLFLEX 5G2.5) — listed with source/destination terminals.
3. Connection List .f17
Point-to-point wiring list showing every connection in the project: from-terminal, to-terminal, wire color, cross-section, and potential. The primary document used by panel wiring technicians.
| Example: From=X1:1 → To=K1:A1 | Wire: BK 1.5mm² | Potential: L1 |
4. Device Tag List .f06
Structured list of all device tags (DT) with article numbers, descriptions, quantities, and functions. Includes fluid variants for pneumatic/hydraulic components.
Example: Tag =GB1+ET1-K1 → Siemens Contactor 3RT2026-1AP00, Qty: 1, Function: Motor starter.
5. P&I Diagram: Piping Overview .f30
Piping and Instrumentation Diagram per IEC 10628 / ISA 5.1. Shows process flow, equipment, and instrumentation relationships.
Example: Pump P-101, Flow transmitter FT-101, Control valve FCV-101, connected to DCS via 4-20mA signals.
6. PLC Diagram .f22
Auto-generated PLC I/O wiring diagrams. “SPS” is the German abbreviation for PLC (Speicherprogrammierbare Steuerung). Links field signals to I/O card channels and terminal addresses.
Example: Siemens S7-1500, DI card I0.0 = “Emergency Stop S1” → Terminal X10:1 → PLC slot 2, pin 1.
7. Pre-planning: Pipe Class Overview .f31
Pipe specification sheets used in FEED phase. Documents pressure class, material, temperature range, and applicable standards before detailed design.
Example: Class A1B — Carbon steel, PN40, −20°C to +300°C, used for steam utility lines.
8. Pre-planning: Planning Object Overview .f32
High-level functional planning objects used for top-down engineering. Covers PCT control loops, cable placeholders, and device assignments before detailed schematics exist.
Example: PCT Loop TIC-101 — Temperature controller with TT-101 (transmitter) and TCV-101 (control valve) linked to DCS.
9. Pre-planning: Planning Object Plan .f33 — Loops
Loop diagrams showing full signal path from field device through junction box, marshalling, to control system I/O. Mandatory for FAT/SAT testing per ISA 5.4.
Example: TT-101 (4-20mA HART) → JB-05 terminal 3/4 → MC-01 marshalling → AI card slot 3 ch.7 → DCS tag TIC101_PV.
10. Pre-planning: Substance Overview .f34
Documents process media (fluids/gases) including physical properties, hazard classification, and ATEX zone. Drives material selection and safety design.
Example: Natural Gas — Phase: Gas, 10 bar, ATEX Zone 1, Hazard class II B T3.
11. Structure Identifier Overview .f08
Lists all reference designations used in the project per IEC 81346. Explains the =, +, - tagging hierarchy.
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
= | Functional assignment | =GB1 (Drive system) |
+ | Installation location | +ET1 (Control cabinet 1) |
- | Device/component | -K1 (Contactor 1) |
Full tag: =GB1+ET1-K1
12. Summarized Parts List .f05
Consolidated BOM with summed quantities for identical parts. The definitive procurement document.
Example: 3RT2026-1AP00 — Siemens Contactor 11kW, Qty: 5, Unit: €45.00, Total: €225.00.
13. Table of Contents .f01
Auto-generated document index with page numbers, descriptions, and page types. Required for all formal documentation deliverables.
| Example: Page 1: Cover sheet | Pages 2–15: Circuit diagrams | Pages 16–18: Terminal diagrams | Page 19: Parts list. |
14. Terminal-Strip Overview .f10
Graphical/tabular layout of terminal strips showing terminal order, bridge groups, cross-connections, and conductor assignments. Used by panel builders for physical assembly.
Example: Strip X1 — T1: PE (GN/YE), T2: L1 → Motor M1 U1 (BN, 2.5mm²), T3: L2 → Motor M1 V1 (BK).
15. Terminal Diagram .f11
Detailed wiring diagram per terminal showing internal wiring and external cable conductor assignments. Used for complex marshalling panels and junction boxes.
| Example: X1:5 — Internal: from -K3:14 (NC contact) | External: Cable W5 conductor 3 (BU, 0.75mm²) → Field solenoid -Y1. |
16. Title Page / Cover Sheet .f00
Front matter of the documentation package. Includes project title block, revision history, RoHS/REACH material declarations, and Lockout-Tagout safety instructions.
Subforms:
- Cover sheet — Project metadata, drawn/approved by, revision table
- Material regulations — RoHS / REACH compliance declaration
- Safety instructions — IEC 60364 / VDE electrical safety notes, LOTO procedures
EPLAN P8 Technical Notes
Form File Locations
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%APPDATA%\EPLAN\Electric P8\{version}\Forms\
Generating Reports
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Utilities → Reports → Generate
or use the Edit Reports dialog to configure which forms are included per project.
Customizing Forms
Open the Form Editor from within EPLAN P8 to modify the graphical layout, properties displayed, and filter criteria of any form.
Applicable Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| IEC 81346 | Reference Designation System (tag naming) |
| IEC 60617 | Graphical symbols for electrical diagrams |
| IEC 61082 | Preparation of electrotechnical documents |
| IEC 10628 | P&ID diagram structure |
| ISA 5.1 | Instrumentation symbols and identification |
| ISA 5.4 | Instrument loop diagrams |
| IEC 60364 | Electrical installations — safety requirements |
Files in This Repository
| File | Description |
|---|---|
eplan_p8_project_structure.json | Full structured data with all form metadata |
README.md | This documentation file |
Generated from EPLAN Electric P8 — Sample Project (Education). For internal engineering reference use.