AseptSoft Project Workflow | AseptSoft Documentation

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.

Option	Description
📦 Create new	Start a fresh module with no data.
📂 Open existing	Select a module from the Modules gallery in the Home Ribbon.
📥 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

Data Type	Purpose	Example
🎨 States	Named conditions with colors and fluid responses for Engineering Items.	"Open" (green, Allow), "Closed" (red, Deny)
🌊 Fluids	Named fluid flow states with colors, aggregation, and priority.	"WFI" (blue, Liquid), "Clean Steam" (gray, Gas)
📏 Parameters	Named values with phenomenon, unit, and default value.	"MaxPressure" (Pressure, bar, 3.0)
📐 Variables	Named storage values with phenomenon, unit, and min/max range.	"RecordedTemp" (Temperature, C, 0-150)
💬 Dialogs	Reusable operator interaction templates with buttons and controls.	"Confirm CIP Start" (Confirmation dialog)
🚨 Alarms	Alarm definitions with limits, priorities, severity, and routing.	"High Temperature" (HH limit, Critical)
🔒 Interlocks	Safety interlocks with cause conditions, effects, and safe actions.	"Tank Overflow Guard" (RuntimeHold, ForceHold)
🔄 Control Loops	Control loop definitions with setpoints and tuning.	"Temperature Control" (Reverse action)
🔧 Equipment Modules	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:

Method	When to Use
✏️ Create manually	Build each data item individually.
📥 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.

🎨 How to Assign

Select one or more Engineering Items (valves, pumps, tanks, etc.) on the P&ID drawing.
The States Gallery in the Live Edit panel shows all available states.
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.
📊 Matrix (Live Edit panel)	Spreadsheet-like view of all items and their states.
✏️ Status Editor	Bulk operations: copy-paste, assign to many items at once.
🖱️ Valve Hover Inspector	Point-and-click on the drawing — also where you write per-instance descriptions and per-step custom attribute values.

4️⃣ Step 4: Create Steps

Use the Steps panel in the Module Ribbon to manage the steps within each process:

Action	Description
➕ New	Create a blank new step.
📋 Duplicate	Copy the current step with all its state assignments and per-step custom attribute values.
✏️ Rename	Give the step a meaningful name.
↕️ Reorder	Move steps up or down in the sequence.
🗑️ Delete	Remove an unwanted step.
🔀 Navigate	Switch between steps to see different configurations.

Each step has independent state assignments — changing states in one step does not affect other steps.

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.

6️⃣ Step 6: Create Additional Processes

Use the Processes panel to add more processes to your module.

Each process has its own set of Steps and Conditions, but shares the same Module Data.

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. When the automatic mapping needs an exception on a specific drawing, use Fluid Map Overrides to force-include / force-exclude entities or to add / forbid edges per drawing.

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:

Export Type	Description
📄 PDF Export	Process design documents with colored P&ID views — auto-switches to a paper-space layout when the drawing is on Model.
📄/📊 Word + Excel Export	Functional specification document and a companion workbook from the same configuration.
📊 Excel Tabular Exports	Tabular data for processes, conditions, equipment modules, alarms, interlocks, control loops, and more.
📁 Other formats	Additional export options available in the Export / Import section.

🔚 Closing a module

Closing a module commits AseptSoft's data to the project database first, then saves the underlying DWG. The two steps are independent — if the DWG file happens to be locked (by antivirus, by another application, by a write-protected network share, by file permissions), AseptSoft handles it gracefully:

Situation	What happens
✅ Both steps succeed	AseptSoft data and the DWG are both saved; the module closes normally.
🛡️ DWG file is locked	AseptSoft data is still saved (your AseptSoft work is never lost). A friendly dialog tells you the DWG itself wasn't updated and explains why; the module then closes cleanly.

This means a transient lock on the DWG file never leaves you in a half-closed state where the ribbon is gone but you don't know whether your AseptSoft work was preserved.

💊 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.
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.
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 (µS/cm), Duration (s).
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.
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.
7. ⚙️ Design Algorithms	Define transition conditions	Add conductivity check for rinse completion.
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.
9. ✅ Conduct Review	Create a Review Session and invite process engineers and QA for validation	Use Conversations to discuss and resolve design questions.
10. 📤 Export	Generate PDF documentation for the validation package and Word/Excel 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:

Feature	When to Use
🔧 Equipment Modules	Group related engineering items into reusable units.
💬 Dialogs	Create reusable text templates for condition prompts.
✅ Review Sessions	Collaborate with team members through conversations, validation, and approval workflows.
🌿 Version Control	Create branches, save commits, and merge work.
⚡ Productivity Tools	Live Viewer, Find & Replace, Intelligent Suggestions, Status Editor, Descriptions.
🏷️ Attributes	Add custom properties to processes, steps, and conditions.

AseptSoft Workflow — High-level workflow overview.
First Time Setup — Initial configuration guide.
Module Ribbon — All ribbon panels explained.
Home Ribbon — Module management.
Module Data — States, fluids, parameters, variables, alarms, interlocks, control loops, dialogs, equipment modules.
P&IDs and Modules — Multi-P&ID module management.
Process Design — Creating processes and steps.

https://downloads.aseptsoft.ch/documentation/images/Process-Design/workflow-overview.png