Custom Plugin Development

Enhancing Engineering Software to Fit Your Workflow

Off-the-shelf plant design tools are powerful—but not always built for your specific needs. CodeDrafts develops custom plugins and extensions that enhance the capabilities of platforms like AutoCAD Plant 3D, AVEVA E3D, SmartPlant, OpenPlant, and others, allowing your team to work faster, smarter, and with fewer errors.

We build tools that fill the gaps in your current workflows—streamlining repetitive tasks, enforcing standards, and unlocking new automation possibilities.

What We Build:

Custom Tool Palettes & Commands

  • Tailored tools for inserting standard components, routing lines, or tagging equipment
  • Intelligent placement tools that reduce steps and enforce design rules

Data Validation & Compliance Tools

  • Built-in model checkers that flag missing attributes, naming errors, or spec violations
  • Plugins that compare model data against approved engineering registers or standards

Specification & Catalog Management

  • Interactive spec editing plugins that pull from internal databases or Excel sheets
  • Catalog managers that simplify the creation and maintenance of component libraries

Drawing Automation Plugins

  • Auto-fill title blocks, revision info, and custom notes based on project metadata
  • Smart drawing sheet creators and updaters (e.g. auto-generate PDFs from models or line lists)

Model-Based Calculators

  • On-screen calculators for pipe length, slope, weight, or equipment spacing
  • Instant feedback tools for layout validation or constructability

Reporting & Export Enhancements

  • One-click data exports from models to Excel, CSV, or web dashboards
  • Integrated reporting plugins to generate BOMs, valve lists, or instrument indexes

Platforms We Extend:

AutoCAD Plant 3D (via .NET API, Python scripting, AutoLISP)

AVEVA E3D (via PML scripts, C#, and REST APIs)

SmartPlant 3D / P&ID

OpenPlant and MicroStation

Custom CAD platforms or in-house tools

Benefits:

Speed: Reduce mouse clicks, form entries, and manual work

Consistency: Enforce internal standards and naming rules

Precision: Eliminate common input or tagging errors

Scalability: Use across teams or projects with minimal retraining

ROI: Quickly pay off development costs through time saved and errors avoided