Header row
Formatted, frozen, with set column widths so the sheet scrolls cleanly on long lists.
I/O list Excel template.
14 columns. Signal-class dropdowns. Auto-filter on every column. Frozen header. 48 blank rows ready to fill.
What the template carries.
An I/O list is a master inventory of every instrument tag in a P&ID set, with each tag classified by signal type (analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output) and mapped to its loop, area, and connected equipment. PLC and DCS engineers use it to size I/O modules and configure tag databases.
Fourteen columns: Tag Number, Loop Number, Instrument Type, Signal Class, Description, P&ID Reference, Page Number, Service/Area, Process Variable, Range, Protocol, Connected Equipment, SIS/BPCS, and Notes. Signal Class and SIS/BPCS are dropdowns. Auto-filter is enabled on every column.
Every column, defined.
14 columns mapped to ISA-style I/O list conventions. Dropdowns are enforced so the column stays valid for PLC import.
| # | Column | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tag Number | Text | ISA instrument tag (FIT-101, PSHH-301) |
| 02 | Loop Number | Text | Control loop number from the tag |
| 03 | Instrument Type | Text | Letter code (FIT, PT, LSH) |
| 04 | Signal Class | List | AI, AO, DI, DO, or N/A |
| 05 | Description | Text | What the instrument does |
| 06 | P&ID Reference | Text | Drawing number where the tag appears |
| 07 | Page Number | Num | Page within the drawing set |
| 08 | Service / Area | Text | Process area or system |
| 09 | Process Variable | Text | Flow, pressure, temperature, level |
| 10 | Range | Text | Measurement range (0-100 GPM) |
| 11 | Protocol | Text | Communication type (4-20mA, HART, fieldbus) |
| 12 | Connected Equipment | Text | Equipment tag the instrument monitors |
| 13 | SIS / BPCS | List | Safety or basic process control system |
| 14 | Notes | Text | Additional context or flags |
Signal class to PLC card type.
The Signal Class column is what sizes the I/O rack. Each value maps to a module type your controller import expects, whether the target is Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Studio 5000, or a PLCCreator device list.
| Class | PLC card type | Typical signal |
|---|---|---|
| AI | Analog input module | 4-20 mA / HART transmitters, RTDs |
| AO | Analog output module | Control valves, VFD speed references |
| DI | Digital input module | Limit switches, run/trip status, NAMUR |
| DO | Digital output module | Solenoids, motor run commands, alarms |
What ships in the file.
Signal-class dropdown
Enforced values: AI, AO, DI, DO, N/A. Stops drift before it reaches the PLC.
SIS / BPCS dropdown
Safety-instrumented vs basic process control on every row. The safety set stays separable.
Auto-filter
Enabled on every column. Pivot by area, by loop, by signal class without a single formula.
Worked example
One filled row (FIT-101) shows the format for tag, signal class, area, and description fields.
48 blank rows
Pre-formatted and ready to paste into. Extends without breaking dropdowns or filter ranges.
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.
Upload a P&ID instead and the same columns come back populated, signal class included, against the schema this template defines. Exports drop into Excel, TIA Portal, Studio 5000, or DEXPI XML.
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 I/O list?
An I/O list is a master inventory of every instrument tag in a P&ID set, with each tag classified by signal type (analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output) and mapped to its loop, area, and connected equipment. PLC and DCS engineers use it to size I/O modules and configure tag databases.
What columns are in this template?
Fourteen columns: Tag Number, Loop Number, Instrument Type, Signal Class, Description, P&ID Reference, Page Number, Service/Area, Process Variable, Range, Protocol, Connected Equipment, SIS/BPCS, and Notes. Signal Class and SIS/BPCS are dropdowns. Auto-filter is enabled on every column.
Can I edit the template in any spreadsheet tool?
Yes. The format is plain Excel (.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 but can be extended without breaking the dropdowns or auto-filter. Add rows below the example row and the formatting carries through.
How is this different from extracting straight from a P&ID?
The template is a manual starting point you fill yourself. Upload a P&ID instead and the same columns come back populated, signal class included. The template suits teams who prefer to type or paste tags, or as the schema reference.
What signal classes does the template support?
Analog Input (AI), Analog Output (AO), Digital Input (DI), Digital Output (DO), and N/A for non-classified entries. The Signal Class dropdown enforces these values to keep the column consistent for PLC import.
Run it on your drawings.
The template is a manual starting point you fill yourself. Upload a P&ID instead and the same columns come back populated, signal class included.