About Credosoft
How long have Credosoft been in business?
Do Credosoft have any corporate accounts?
Are Credosoft experienced in rolling out Credo to multiple sites?
Can I visit a Credo site or have customer references?
Where are you based?
Why Credo?
What are the main benefits of selecting Credo over your competitors?
Evaluating Credo
Can I have an evaluation system?
Technical Support
What does the Credosoft maintenance agreement offer?
Do Credosoft have a user group meeting?
How often do you upgrade the software?
Equipment Management
Will Credo allow me to build user defined groups of equipment and piping?
What kind of equipment can I manage in Credo? For example structures?
Can I manage different sites in Credo?
Does Credo have a defect or anomaly-tracking feature?
Can I build standard equipment types sharing common values?
I have many thousands of inspection points with the same identifier. Does Credo allow non-unique identifiers?
Can I copy and paste data?
Activity Management
Will Credo warn me when Inspections have been missed?
Can I build an inspection plan based on this years planned work?
Can I filter inspections based on different criteria?
Can I create an inspection plan based on the half remaining life principal?
Workflow Management
I need a way to manage our reporting process, does Credo offer workflow?
Links to other software systems
Can Credo link to SAP?
In SAP I have created connections between equipment items, for example between Pressure Relief Valves and Vessels. How will Crdo manage this situation?
What about MAXIMO PM Schedule?
Corrosion Management
Can Credo communicate with Dataloggers?
Do I need extra software to communicate with Dataloggers?
Can I export and import data from MS Excel?
Does Credo support ASME VIII Minimum Wall Thickness Codes?
How does Credo calculate the remaining life of an item?
Document Management
Can I view AutoCAD drawings?
I have a large number of paper reports and drawings. Can Credo scan paper reports etc?
Are attached documents stored in the Credo database?
Can I link external documents such as digital photographs to an inspection report?
Can I link documents to AutoCAD?
What if my documents are moved to a different computer or server? How will Credo manage this?
If I modify an equipment Tag will lose my connected data?
Reports
What kind of reports does Credo produce?
Will Credo flag up anomalies, for example Thickness locations with an unusual corrosion rate?
Can I create reports in Word and Excel via Credo?
Can I create custom report layouts?
Is there a limit to the amount of text I can add to reports? For example, when writing inspection reports.
Risk Based Inspection (RBI)
How will Credo link to my RBI system?
Is the Credo RBI system API 581 compliant?
Training
How long does it take to train Credo users?
Do Credosoft offer a structured training system?
Can we have training at our site?
Do Credosoft provide a user guide?
Is there an online help file?
Data Migration
I am already using a software system. Can Credosoft convert my data?
How long does it take to convert all my old data?
Database
What databases does Credo run on?
Is Credo a client server system?
Software upgrades
How often does Credosoft provide software upgrades?
Customisation
Can Credo work in different languages?
Are there custom fields in Credo?
Do Credosoft customise Credo for clients?
Security
How does Credo manage security?
Can I ‘lock’ or control access to individual fields in Credo?
Web-Enabled
Do you have an intranet version of Credo?
Hardware and Software
What operating systems is Credo compatible with?
Will Credo operate on a thin client OS such as Terminal Server / Cytrix MetaFrame?
What specification of Workstation do we need?
About Credosoft
How long have Credosoft been in business?
Credosoft are a privately owned company, established in 1992.
Do Credosoft have any corporate accounts?
Credosoft are the preferred vendor for several major companies.
Are Credosoft experienced in rolling our Credo to multiple sites?
Yes. Our most recent large project was us commission six major refineries in around 12 months. Please contact us if you would like to discuss our implementation strategy.
Can I visit a Credo site or have customer references?
Yes. We always encourage prospective customers to visit an established site to speak to actual end users. Please contact us for further information.
Where are you based?
We have offices in the Italy , UK and the USA.
Why Credo?
What are the main benefits of selecting Credo over your competitors?
Customers tell us that they choose Credo for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common justifications are as follows: -
1. User friendliness
2. Relatively lower cost of ownership compared to other systems
3. As a privately owned company, Credosoft are not linked to inspection services
4. Ability to support Credo in the customers’ timezone
5. Credosofts’ ability to respond rapidly to technological advances
Evaluating Credo
Can I have an evaluation system?
We are always open to considering requests for evaluation systems, however some minor conditions apply: -
• Prospective customers receive training
• A temporary evaluation licence is issued
• The customer nominates at least one person to be responsible for evaluating Credo
• In some cases the customer may be asked to cover any travel and accommodation costs
Please contact us for more information.
Technical Support
What does the Credosoft maintenance agreement offer?
The maintenance agreement is an annual service, which provides Credo customers with unlimited technical support by phone, fax and website at no extra cost. Customers also receive all software upgrades at no extra charge.
Do Credosoft have a user group meeting?
Yes. A one-day meeting is held annually.
How often do you upgrade the software?
There are one or two major releases per year. In between we make minor releases which include small functional changes and improvements.
Equipment Management
Will Credo allow me to build user defined groups of equipment and piping?
Yes. Credosoft recognise that with a very large database the user needs an easy way to find and view items. You can group together common equipment or piping based on a large range of parameters. Credo has a productivity feature, which allows automation of this grouping process.
What kind of equipment can I manage in Credo? For example structures?
The Credo asset register is very flexible. Credo supports all common equipment types and also allows the user to develop and manage his own custom equipments types. A Template tool allows the creation of ‘standard’ equipment types, which can be pre-built with appropriate design data. The next time you want to introduce a new equipment item to the database, simply select the appropriate Template from your library and your new equipment item is already defined!
Can I manage different sites in Credo?
Yes. Using the user group feature described in the previous topic, you can segment the database so that users from different sites can only access their respective equipment records.
Does Credo have a defect or anomaly-tracking feature?
Yes. Anomalies can be raised, observations and recommendations entered and the anomaly can be tracked through to closeout.
Can I build standard equipment types sharing common values?
Yes. You can use the Template feature, which allows you to create a pre-configured template.
I have many thousands of inspection points with the same identifier. Does Credo allow non-unique identifiers?
Yes. In most situations customers use a numbering system, which means that equipment and piping items have thickness locations, which share common names; for example P01, P02, P03 etc. Because each thickness location also has a unique system generated number the link to the associated data is never lost.
Can I copy and paste data?
Yes. In fact you can copy and paste most data including attributes, inspections and inspection plans.
Activity Management
Will Credo warn me when Inspections have been missed?
Yes. You can easily produce a standard report showing all inspections, which are overdue.
Can I build an inspection plan based on this years planned work?
Yes. You can easily produce a standard report showing all planned inspections for the coming week, month or year.
Can I filter inspections based on different criteria?
Yes. By date range, equipment type, activity status etc.
Can I create an inspection plan based on the half remaining life principal?
Yes. There is a standard configurable feature, which allows you to determine the inspection frequency based on a user-defined fraction of the worst case remaining life for a piping or equipment item
Workflow Management
I need a way to manage our reporting process, does Credo offer workflow?
Yes. Credo, Version 5 has just been released in beta version. Code-named ‘TeamWork’, Version 5 provides a graphical, flowchart style interface, which allows you to define your company workflow process. This means that the process strictly controls the way an activity or document is managed. It is integrated with Credo Version 4 so you can use your existing data.
Links to other software systems
Can Credo link to SAP?
Yes. Credosoft have a standard bi-directional application, which allows synchronisation of equipment data from SAP to Credo and generation of Work notifications from Credo to SAP. The notification system supports feedback from SAP to Credo so that the user can monitor the progress of the notification.
In SAP I have created connections between equipment items, for example between Pressure Relief Valves and Vessels. How will Credo manage this situation?
Where connections exist in SAP, the Credo » SAP interface recreates and maintains the connection in Credo.
What about MAXIMO PM Schedule?
Credosoft offer a two-way interface to MAXIMO. You can synchronise equipment from MAXIMO to Credo and raise work request in MAXIMO.
Corrosion Management
Can Credo communicate with Dataloggers?
Yes. Currently Credo supports the following Dataloggers: -
KrautKramer DMS2
Panametrics EPOCH 4
Panametrics EPOCH 3
Panametrics 36DL
Panametrics 37 DL Plus
Workpacks of thickness locations can be automatically download and upload between the Datalogger and Credo via the computers RS232 port.
Do I need extra software to communicate with Dataloggers?
No. The communications software is fully integrated within Credo. You don’t need to use the manufacturers software.
Can I export and import data from MS Excel?
Yes. Most Credo data can be exported into Excel, Word or Adobe PDF format. You can also create your own custom report templates. As an alternative to using Dataloggers you export thickness inspection data to Excel and then after the survey has been completed you can import the thickness readings back into Credo. Excel is an ideal medium if you are using a third party inspection team to carry out your inspection activities. This means they can provide you with results without having access to your database.
Does Credo support ASME VIII Minimum Wall Thickness Codes?
Yes. Credo has a comprehensive library of common codes.
How does Credo calculate the remaining life of an item?
The Credo Trend Analysis system considers all available thickness readings and attempts to find a ‘Best Fit’ trend line, or straight line, which represents the underlying rate of change.
This ‘Best Fit’ normally corresponds to the corrosion rate, or, loss of material of the Equipment where the readings were taken. The formula used is known as Least Squares, developed in 1805 by the French mathematician, Legendre. There are variations on the original method which do make improvements in certain areas, however Credo uses the original method sometimes known as the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). The objective of the method is to find the standard definition of a line that best fits the underlying data.
Document Management
Can I view AutoCAD drawings?
Yes. The standard Credo document viewer allows you to view AutoCAD drawings. You drawings are opened in read only mode so they can be safely viewed.
I have a large number of paper reports and drawings. Can Credo scan paper reports etc?
Yes. Credo can provide a document scanning service. Please call for more details.
Are attached documents stored in the Credo database?
No. The standard attachment feature creates a hyperlink to an external file. However Credo also produce an Enterprise Wide Document Management System (DMS), which is fully integrated with Credo and allows secure document storage. The DMS has all the features you would expect, including check in, check out and revision control.
Can I link external documents such as digital photographs to an inspection report?
Yes. You can link most digital file formats to an inspection record and then view them with in Credo.
Can I link documents to AutoCAD?
Yes. Credo supplies an optional file viewing system, which allows read only access to your AutoCAD drawings. You can also configure Credo to launch the AutoCAD application.
What if my documents are moved to a different computer or server? How will Credo manage this?
All documents are stored in a library, which allows batch updating of document paths.
If I modify an equipment Tag will I lose my connected data?
No. Referential integrity is maintained using a unique ID system. This means that every equipment record has a unique system generated number, which never changes. This means you can change your equipment ID without losing data.
Reports
What kind of reports does Credo produce?
There are several ways to create Credo reports: -
• Several standard preformatted reports
• Create custom report templates in MS Word or MS Excel
• Create custom report templates with Credos Dynamic Document builder
• Export to Adobe PDF
• Print directly or export to MS Excel from several Credo windows
Will Credo flag up anomalies, for example Thickness locations with an unusual corrosion rate?
Yes. There are standard reports, which identify items, which the Credo Trend Analysis tool has predicted will require to be retired with n years.
Can I create reports in Word and Excel via Credo?
Yes. Credo is fully integrated with both Word and Excel. It’s easy to create a report template using either Word or Excel and then make it available with Credo.
Can I create custom report layouts?
Yes. If are familiar with the MS Word tables feature then it’s very straightforward to create a custom report layout and then connect your Word document to the Credo database. Excel reports are also straightforward to create.
Is there a limit to the amount of text I can add to reports? For example, when writing inspection reports.
There are some fields, which will only ever receive a small amount of text. However there are instances where you may need to record a detailed and lengthy report. Credo provides numerous very large text fields which allow several megabytes of storage space..
Risk Based Inspection (RBI)
How will Credo link to my RBI system?
Interfaces already exist for third party systems. However we can also create a custom interface between Credo and your chosen RBI system. Typically the interface would allow export of technical data and inspection related data such as remaining life to the RBI system. In return Credo would import RBI generated values such as Criticality or inspection intervals. Please call for more details.
Is the Credo RBI system API 581 compliant?
Credo RBI operates to API 581 Level 2.
Training
How long does it take to train Credo users?
Typically it takes around three days for most users. We normally train a maximum group of six people.
Do Credosoft offer a structured training system?
Yes. Currently we offer a three level system: - Introduction, Advanced User and Administrator.
Can we have training at our site?
Yes. Ideally we prefer to work in a dedicated training environment with overhead projector and a single PC per trainee.
Do Credosoft provide a user guide?
Yes. Both hardcopy and softcopy. We make use of illustrated guides.
Is there an online help file?
Yes. Credo is supplied with a standard Windows Help file.
Data Migration
I am already using a software system. Can Credosoft convert my data?
Credosoft have many years experience converting data to suit the Credo format. We have worked with older character based systems such as VMS and more recent formats such as Dbase, Access and Excel. Credosoft can guarantee a very fast conversion of your existing data. We also have standard conversion tools for systems such as Ultrapipe and PCMS.
How long does it take to convert all my old data?
Time to convert very much depends on the quality of the data. In some cases you may be able to use one of our standard tools, in other cases we may have to develop a small custom conversion tool.
Database
What databases does Credo run on?
Credo operates with either an Oracle or MS Access database. The Oracle database is our recommended choice for multiple user environments.
Is Credo a client server system?
Yes.
Software upgrades
How often does Credosoft provide software upgrades?
There are several minor and one major release each year.
Customisation
Can Credo work in different languages?
Yes. Credo has an integrated language system that allows customers to implement the language of their choice. This also means that you can implement your corporate terminology.
Are there custom fields in Credo?
Yes. We believe that there more than enough spare and custom fields for even the most intensive user of the system. Custom fields also support common data types such as text, date, numeric and memo. Using the Language feature you can easily name and idneitfy each custom field.
Do Credosoft customise Credo for clients?
Yes and no! Where possible we try to accommodate customer’s requests; however, as we produce and support a single, generic system, we must be cautious when introducing new functionality. Every request is carefully evaluated to ensure that it does not compromise the integrity of the software design. Sometimes requests can be managed ‘outside’ of Credo using the Credo Logic Modeller.
Security
How does Credo manage security?
Comprehensive security features are available which allow customers to control data access down to individual field level. In addition users can be members of Security Groups where common security privileges apply.
Can I ‘lock’ or control access to individual fields in Credo?
Yes. You can configure individual fields so that users are assigned certain access rights. Access rights can also be based on membership of a Security User Group.
Web-Enabled
Do you have an intranet version of Credo?
Yes. A read only version (CredoNET) running in Internet Explorer is available for site wide licence holders only. CredoNET allows searching, reporting and viewing of documents within the browser. It requires MS Internet Information Server installed on the Server.
Hardware and Software
What operating systems is Credo compatible with?
All MS Windows operating systems from Windows 95 to Windows XP.
Will Credo operate on a thin client OS such as Terminal Server / Cytrix MetaFrame?
Yes. Credosoft will provide advice where possible, however the configuration and day-to-day maintenance is normally the responsibility of the customers IS department.
What specification of Workstation do we need?
Intel Pentium II or higher
128MB RAM or greater
100MB free disk space
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