You can generate live Bills of Material (BOMs), line lists, valve schedules, and instrument indexes directly from the Data Manager. Export to Excel, CSV, or even SQL for integration with ERP systems like SAP or Maximo. Where It Struggles (The Cons) 1. Performance with Large Projects When your project exceeds 5,000+ components or 500+ line numbers, the Data Manager can become sluggish. Opening the full property grid for a whole project may take 30–60 seconds. Filtering is essential but feels clunky compared to a native SQL database tool.
The killer feature is real-time error checking. If you tag a line as "150LB" but place a "300LB" flange on it, the Data Manager flags the mismatch instantly. It enforces project standards (spec sheets) strictly, preventing "rogue" components that break reports or isometric generation.
Novice users frequently get stuck. To edit a property, you often need to "Check Out" the drawing, edit in Data Manager, then "Check In." If you forget to check in, other team members see outdated data. This is a necessary lock mechanism, but the UI does not make it obvious.