This page provides a detailed step-by-step guide for working through a complete AseptSoft project — from opening a module to delivering final exports.
1️⃣ Step 1: Open a Module
To start working, you need to open a Module from the Home Ribbon.
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Option |
Description |
|---|---|
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📦 Create new |
Start a fresh module with no data |
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📂 Open existing |
Select a module from the Modules gallery in the Home Ribbon |
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📥 Load from file |
Import a module from a previous project (carries over all Module Data, Processes, Conditions, etc.) |
Once a module is opened, the Module Ribbon becomes active, giving you access to all process design tools.
2️⃣ Step 2: Define Module Data
If the module is new, you need to create the foundational data before you can start assigning states to components.
📊 What to Create
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Data Type |
Purpose |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Named conditions with colors and fluid responses for Engineering Items |
"Open" (green, Allow), "Closed" (red, Deny) |
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Named fluid flow states with colors, aggregation, and priority |
"WFI" (blue, Liquid), "Clean Steam" (gray, Gas) |
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Named values with phenomenon, unit, and default value |
"MaxPressure" (Pressure, bar, 3.0) |
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Named storage values with phenomenon, unit, and min/max range |
"RecordedTemp" (Temperature, C, 0-150) |
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Reusable operator interaction templates with buttons and controls |
"Confirm CIP Start" (Confirmation dialog) |
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Alarm definitions with limits, priorities, severity, and routing |
"High Temperature" (HH limit, Critical) |
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Safety interlocks with cause conditions, effects, and safe actions |
"Tank Overflow Guard" (RuntimeHold, ForceHold) |
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PID control loop definitions with setpoints and tuning |
"Temperature Control" (PID, Reverse action) |
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Grouped engineering items with configuration templates |
"Tank Valve Group" (3 configurations) |
How to Create
Open the Module Data window from the Data panel in the Module Ribbon. You have two options:
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Method |
When to Use |
|---|---|
|
✏️ Create manually |
Build each data item individually |
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📥 Import from template |
Load a pre-defined set from a template or previous project |
Tip: Importing from a template is the fastest way to get started if your organization has established standards.
3️⃣ Step 3: Assign States to Engineering Items
With States defined, you can start assigning states to Engineering Items on your P&ID. AseptSoft's Color Overrule System automatically colors entities based on their assigned states in real time.
🎨 How to Assign
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Select one or more Engineering Items (valves, pumps, tanks, etc.) on the P&ID drawing
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The States Gallery in the Live Edit panel shows all available states
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Click the desired state — compatible items change to that state's color automatically
Alternative Methods
|
Method |
Best For |
|---|---|
|
🎨 States Gallery (Live Edit panel) |
Quick assignment of individual items |
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📊 Matrix (Live Edit panel) |
Spreadsheet-like view of all items and their states |
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Bulk operations: copy-paste, assign to many items at once |
4️⃣ Step 4: Create Steps
Use the Steps panel in the Module Ribbon to manage the steps within each process:
|
Action |
Description |
|---|---|
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➕ New |
Create a blank new step |
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📋 Duplicate |
Copy the current step with all its state assignments |
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✏️ Rename |
Give the step a meaningful name (e.g., "Pre-Rinse", "NaOH Circulation", "Final Rinse") |
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↕️ Reorder |
Move steps up or down in the sequence |
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🗑️ Delete |
Remove an unwanted step |
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🔀 Navigate |
Switch between steps to see different configurations |
Each step has independent state assignments — changing states in one step does not affect other steps.
Tip: Duplicating a step is a fast way to create a new step with minor variations from an existing one.
5️⃣ Step 5: Define Conditions (Algorithm Design)
For each step, define the conditions that must be met before moving to the next step. Use the Conditions panel in the Module Ribbon.
Access the Condition Editor to create, edit, and manage conditions. Each condition can include:
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📝 Prompt text for the operator
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⚙️ Formal condition expressions (built with the Condition Builder)
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✅ Success/Fail actions (built with the Action Builder)
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➡️ Transition targets (which step to go to next)
6️⃣ Step 6: Create Additional Processes
Use the Processes panel to add more processes to your module. Common processes in pharmaceutical and biotech facilities include:
|
Process |
Description |
|---|---|
|
🧹 CIP |
Cleaning in Place — automated cleaning of vessels, pipes, and equipment |
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🔥 SIP |
Sterilization in Place — steam sterilization of product-contact surfaces |
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⚗️ Production |
Main production sequence (fermentation, mixing, filling) |
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💧 Drain |
System drain procedure |
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🚀 Startup |
Equipment startup sequence |
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💧 WFI Flush |
Water for Injection flushing between batches |
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🧪 Media Preparation |
Buffer and media preparation processes |
Each process has its own set of Steps and Conditions, but shares the same Module Data (States, Fluids, Parameters, Variables, Alarms, Interlocks, Control Loops, Dialogs, Equipment Modules).
7️⃣ Step 7: Run Fluidstream Simulations
Use the Simulations panel in the Module Ribbon to visualize fluid flow through your P&ID.
Fluidstream Simulations show how fluids move through the piping based on the current step's state assignments:
|
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
|
▶️ Activate/Deactivate |
Turn the simulation on or off |
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🎨 Fluid colors |
Pipes and connectors are colored based on the fluid flowing through them |
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🔗 Cross-P&ID flow |
Fluid flows between P&IDs through Off-Page Connectors |
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⚙️ Settings |
Configure simulation behavior and visual appearance |
8️⃣ Step 8: Design Algorithms
With processes and steps defined, use the Algorithm Design tools to create the formal transition logic. You can use the SFC Editor (GRAFCET) for a visual representation of the sequential function chart.
9️⃣ Step 9: Export Deliverables
Use the Export panel in the Module Ribbon to generate your final deliverables:
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Export Type |
Description |
|---|---|
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Process design documents with colored P&ID views |
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📊 Excel Exports |
Tabular data for processes, conditions, equipment modules, alarms, interlocks, control loops, and more |
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📁 Other formats |
Additional export options available in the Export / Import section |
💊 Complete Pharma Workflow Example
Here is a complete example of designing a CIP (Clean-In-Place) system for a pharmaceutical bioreactor using AseptSoft:
|
Step |
Action |
Pharma Details |
|---|---|---|
|
1. 📦 Open Project |
Open your Plant 3D project and create a new module called "CIP Bioreactor" |
The project contains PID-101 (CIP Supply) and PID-102 (CIP Return) |
|
2. 🏷️ Classify Components |
Classify sanitary diaphragm valves, temperature/conductivity transmitters, and WFI/chemical sources |
Map DV-DN25 blocks as Valves, TT blocks as Temperature Instruments, SRC-WFI as WFI Source |
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3. 📦 Create Module |
Create a module and link both P&IDs to it |
Use "Share with other P&ID" to include PID-102 in the module |
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4. 📊 Define Module Data |
Create States: Open, Closed, Pulsing. Create Fluids: WFI, NaOH 0.5M, HNO3 0.5%, Clean Steam |
Also add Parameters: Temperature (C), Conductivity (uS/cm), Duration (s) |
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5. 🔄 Build Processes |
Create Process "CIP Alkaline Wash" with Steps: Pre-Rinse, NaOH Circulation, Intermediate Rinse, Final Rinse, Drain |
Also create "CIP Acid Wash" and "SIP" processes |
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6. 🎨 Assign States |
For each step, assign valve states (Open/Closed), pump states (Running/Stopped), and heat exchanger states (Heating/Bypassed) |
In "NaOH Circulation": dosing valve Open, supply valves Open, CIP pump Running, HX Heating |
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7. ⚙️ Design Algorithms |
Define transition conditions: "Temperature >= 75C AND Duration >= 1800s" for NaOH hold time |
Add conductivity check "Conductivity < 10 uS/cm" for rinse completion |
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8. 🌊 Run Simulations |
Activate fluidstream simulation to verify NaOH flows through all product-contact surfaces |
Check that fluid crosses between PID-101 and PID-102 via Off-Page Connectors |
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9. ✅ Conduct Review |
Create a Review Session and invite process engineers and QA for validation |
Use Conversations to discuss and resolve design questions |
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10. 📤 Export |
Generate PDF documentation for the validation package and Excel matrices for the automation team |
Export Algorithm Excel for PLC programming, PDF for the design review binder |
🧰 Additional Features
Throughout your project, these features enhance your productivity:
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Feature |
When to Use |
|---|---|
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Group related engineering items into reusable units |
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Create reusable text templates for condition prompts |
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Collaborate with team members through conversations, validation, and approval workflows |
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Live Viewer, Find & Replace, Intelligent Suggestions, Status Editor |
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Add custom properties to processes, steps, and conditions (e.g., GMP Classification) |
🔗 Related Pages
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AseptSoft Workflow — High-level workflow overview
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First Time Setup — Initial configuration guide
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Module Ribbon — All ribbon panels explained
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Home Ribbon — Module management
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Module Data — States, fluids, parameters, variables, alarms, interlocks, control loops, dialogs, equipment modules
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P&IDs and Modules — Multi-P&ID module management
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Process Design — Creating processes and steps