InTools Tutorial - Data Sheet

Smartplant Instrumentation (formerly known as Intools) requires license like any other software. During execution of a project, the number of licenses used within a project may vary from only one license up to tens of licenses. If cost becomes major concern and the budget is limited, the number of licenses could be reduced by the following tricks.

However this trick is only applicable for data sheet work which is prepared by more than one Instrument engineer. This trick could not be applied to other works such as wiring, loop, hook-up.

This procedure needs Intools External Editor, a freeware that can be downloaded in Integraph website. Please note that the version of Intools External Editor shall be compatible with that of Smartplant Instrumentation.

One engineer will be assigned as the Intools operator for exporting the blank specification sheet, the other Instrument engineers shall fill in the specification sheet (data sheet) using Intools External Editor without using Intools software. Once it is completed, the Intools operator shall import it back to Intools.

The following is the procedure of this work:

Exporting specification sheet (creating .isf files) – by Intools operator

  1. Open instrument specification for the specified tag number
  2. Select “Action” >> “Export Data…”
  3. You will be prompted the location and file name to be saved. Ensure the file type is Intools Spec Files (*.isf)

Filling detail data in specification sheet using Intools – by Instrument engineer

  1. Open windows explorer and go to location where the files are saved. If the Intools external editor has been installed, the file will be readable.

  2. Open the the file and fill the data sheet as necessary, and do not forget to save once finished.

Importing specification sheet – by Intools operator

  1. Open instrument specification for the specified tag number

  2. Select “Action” >> “Import Data…”

  3. You will be prompted the source file to be imported. Note: The tag number should match otherwise it will fail to import.

  4. Wait for a moment since Intools progressing importing the data.

Summary:

This method allows the progress of data sheet preparation work to be faster even if only one license is available. Instead of using Intools with many licences, by using one license only, the Intools operator does export and import the files to be filled by multiple Instrument engineers using Intools external editor.