Header row
Formatted, frozen, with set column widths so the sheet scrolls cleanly on long registers.
Instrument index Excel template.
14 columns including vendor, model, range, and datasheet ref. Signal-class dropdown. Auto-filter on every column. Frozen header. 48 blank rows ready to fill.
What an instrument index carries.
An instrument index is the master register of every instrument across a facility. One row per tag, with type, signal class, loop number, the P&ID it lives on, manufacturer, model, range, mounting location, and a reference to the per-instrument datasheet. It is the document PLC and DCS teams hand to commissioning, and it is the source of truth used to size I/O modules and reconcile against vendor packages.
Format.xlsxColumns14Rows48 blankOpens inExcel · Sheets · LibreOffice
Every column, defined.
14 columns mapped to how a master instrument index is issued on a real project. Signal class is enforced; everything else stays free text so non-ISA dialects fit.
| # | Column | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tag Number | Text | ISA tag (FIT-101, PT-102, XV-401) |
| 02 | Service / Description | Text | What the instrument measures or controls |
| 03 | Type | Text | ISA letter group (FIT, PT, LSH, XV) |
| 04 | Signal Class | List | AI, AO, DI, DO, or N/A |
| 05 | Loop Number | Text | Control loop the tag belongs to |
| 06 | P&ID Drawing | Text | Drawing number where the tag appears |
| 07 | Page | Num | Page within the drawing set |
| 08 | Manufacturer | Text | Vendor (Rosemount, Endress+Hauser, ...) |
| 09 | Model | Text | Model or part number from the datasheet |
| 10 | Range | Text | Measurement range (0-500 GPM) |
| 11 | Process Connection | Text | Connection class (1" 150# RF, 1/2 NPT) |
| 12 | Location | Text | Mounting (Field, Panel, JB-101) |
| 13 | Datasheet Ref | Text | Cross-reference to the ISA-20 datasheet |
| 14 | Notes | Text | Additional context or flags |
What ships in the file.
Signal-class dropdown
Enforced values: AI, AO, DI, DO, N/A. Stops drift before it reaches the PLC.
Auto-filter
Enabled on every column. Pivot by loop, by vendor, by location without a single formula.
Worked example
One filled row (FIT-101) shows the format for vendor, model, range, and datasheet reference.
48 blank rows
Pre-formatted and ready to paste into. Extends without breaking the dropdown or filter range.
Datasheet linking
A dedicated Datasheet Ref column points to the matching ISA-20 datasheet. The index doubles as a lookup.
Cross-tool
Plain .xlsx. Opens cleanly in Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice. No macros, no add-ins.
Quiet signoff
A single mint-italic line at the bottom: Drag a P&ID at tagsight.io to fill this automatically. Easy to delete.
Extract from a P&ID instead.
Scanned drawings, CAD-exported PDFs, and image scans all work. ISA 5.1, KKS, IEC 81346, DIN, NORSOK, JIS, GOST, and in-house tag conventions read as drawn.
Common questions
What is an instrument index?
An instrument index is the master register of every instrument across a facility, one row per tag, with type, signal class, loop number, the P&ID it lives on, manufacturer, model, range, mounting location, and a reference to the per-instrument datasheet. It is the document PLC and DCS teams hand to commissioning, and it is the source of truth used to size I/O modules and reconcile against vendor packages.
What columns are in this template?
Fourteen columns: Tag Number, Service / Description, Type, Signal Class, Loop Number, P&ID Drawing, Page, Manufacturer, Model, Range, Process Connection, Location, Datasheet Ref, Notes. Signal Class is a dropdown (AI / AO / DI / DO / N/A). Auto-filter is enabled on every column and the header row is frozen.
Can I edit the template in any spreadsheet tool?
Yes. The format is plain .xlsx and opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice.
Can I extend the template for a larger project?
Yes. The template ships with 48 blank rows. Add rows beneath the example row and the formatting, dropdowns, and auto-filter range carry through. For larger facilities (~500+ tags) the structure still holds, paste in your tags and the column types stay valid.
How is this different from extracting straight from a P&ID?
The template is a manual starting point with the right column schema. Upload a P&ID set instead and the same columns come back populated: tag, type, signal class, loop number, drawing reference, page, and connected equipment. Manufacturer, model, and range are filled when the drawing carries them, otherwise left for the engineer to complete from datasheets.
What does the Type column carry?
The ISA-5.1 function letter group, for example FIT for flow indicating transmitter, PT for pressure transmitter, LSH for level switch high, XV for on-off valve. The template does not enforce the type values because non-ISA dialects (KKS, NEN Dutch HVAC, IEC 81346, in-house) use different letters; the column accepts free text so the schema works across drawing standards.
Run it on your drawings.
Upload a P&ID set instead and the same 14-column schema comes back with loop numbers and P&ID references populated from the drawing itself.