powered by CADENAS

Manual

Manual

9.1. Create template from A to Z

Have a look on this little example: You can get first insights on how easy it is to create a template, which can be made available in PARTdataManager for example via the 3D PDF data sheet function .

In this chapter the procedure is explained as a whole. All details are found in the then following chapters.

[Note] Note

Here you can find all important basic settings.

  1. Create a directory "_templates" at catalog main level.

    [Note] Note

    All templates (template files) are either automatically saved here or should be saved here manually.

    The full template functionality results from the interaction of the three template files <name>.template, <name>.ptdef and <name>.pmt.

  2. Start PARTtemplateDesigner:

    Start the PARTtemplateDesigner under $CADENAS/bin/x86/32 via double-click on the file ptemplatedesigner.exe.

    -> The dialog box New/Open opens.

    Alternatively you can open the dialog box New/Open anytime via File menu -> New.

    [Note] Note

    Via ESC key you can close the dialog box.

    • In the directory tree, determine the test project / example project.

      The chosen project defines the destination catalog and the example project.

      [Tip] Tip

      Choose a small project (in order to keep calculation time low).

      The test project is used for the depiction during the template creation. It can be changed anytime.

    • Create new catalog template -> input field Name

      Specify a unique name and click on New.

      [Note] Note

      We recommend lower case. All special characters allowed in Windows can be used here as well.

  3. Determine the desired Elements.

    If you just want to get an overview on the whole procedure at this place, then only apply the elements Text (with "$NB."), Image (company logo), 3D view and Table for example as a rough draft.

    Detailed information on all elements is found under Section 9.4, “"Elements" toolbar ”.

  4. Click on the button Save as catalog template.

    Thereby the template is saved in the created directory "_templates". Once with <name>.template and once with "<name>.ptdef".[70]

  5. Create a configuration file media.cfg with the following content in the directory "_templates".

    [TMPLATETYPES]
    DIR=Verzeichnis
    PRJ=Projekt
    BOM=Stückliste
    PDF=Datenblatt-PDF
    

    Once the entry "PDF=Datasheet PDF" exists, in PARTproject, in the section Templates, the entry Datasheet PDF is displayed.

  6. Creating the datasheet PDF template in PARTproject:

    1. Hereto open the module PARTproject via PARTtemplateDesigner -> Preferences menu -> Template configuration -> Open in PARTproject.

    2. Select the Documents tab.

    3. Click on the button Edit template.

      -> The dialog box Templates for PARTmedia opens.

    4. Click on the icon New and enter the template name[71] in the input field with the file extension .pmt. Close the dialog box.

    5. In the line "Datasheet PDF", open the list field and select the just entered entry.

      -> By this selection the file <name>.pmt (here in the example "training1.pmt") is created in the directory "_templates"

  7. Check in PARTdataManager:

    1. In the directory tree, select the Test project (here in the example "BL1 - Scharnierbolzen").

      [Note] Note

      The test project is that, which you determined in the PARTtemplateDesigner under Preferences menu -> Template configuration -> Test project.

      Template configuration

      Template configuration

    2. In PARTdataManager, call up the dialog box Export using PDF Datasheet format via icon PDF Datasheet .

    3. In the list field at Plane select the created template.

      [Note] Note

      The display name is that, which you determined in PARTtemplateDesigner under Preferences menu -> Template configuration -> Visible name.

      If no Visible name has been determined, the entry under Name is used for the display.

    4. Select another project.

      -> The desired template is not displayed yet, because it is only assigned to the Test project.

  8. In order to make the template available for the whole catalog, proceed as follows:

    1. In the PARTtemplateDesigner, in the settings dialog for Template, click on the button Open in PARTproject.

    2. In PARTproject, select the tab Documents.

    3. Select the item Datasheet PDF. (The desired template has to be selected and displayed in the list field.)

    4. In the dialog area Derivation hierarchy, click on the icon Apply to the parent directory . Inherit the file *.pmt (here exemplary training1.pmt) step by step up to catalog level.

    5. Test in PARTdataManager, whether the template is available for all projects now.



[70] The file <name>.ptdef can contain two sections:

  • [TemplateV9.04]

  • [Template]

At catalogs, which are using a datasheet for the first time, the second declaration can be omitted.

The second declaration can optionally be used for catalogs, which are using both a datasheet according to the old standard and one to the new standard.

[71] Exactly that name, which you used in the template settings under "Name".