Bentley shall consider exposing the OpenPlant API via Python/VBA.

1. Expose the API: Bentley needs to create bridges or wrappers that allow both Python/VBA to interact with OpenPlant API functions.

2. Integrate Schemas: Ensure that the schemas used by OpenPlant components are fully integrated and accessible through both Python/VBA. This might require updates to the schema definitions and how they are loaded within MicroStation.

Engineering Workflow Benefits:

- Automating Piping Data Review: Scripts can be developed to automatically review and validate piping data, ensuring accuracy and consistency across projects.

- Validating Piping Components Data: Automated validation of piping components data can help identify and correct errors early in the design process, reducing rework and improving quality.

- Updating Piping Properties: Scripts can be used to update piping properties in bulk, saving time and reducing the potential for manual errors.

- Automating Pipe Routing: Automation of pipe routing tasks, for cases when models are corrupted and need to be recreated. This will allow engineers to focus on more complex tasks, improving overall efficiency.

- Calculate Piping Costs: Scripts could be developed using Piping Properties to calculate the cost of the HW as designs are developed.

Implementing these changes would significantly enhance the capabilities of OpenPlant as a piping design software, ultimately benefiting engineering workflows.