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Manual

Manual

1.1.3.4.4.4.  Import geometry data

PARTadmin -> Category Index administration -> Command Geometry import

Via Geometry import you can import geometry files across entire directories and display as catalog in the PARTdataManager.

Commands

Commands

Already in V8.1 this button existed in PARTproject. However, only STL files could be used for the geometric search. With V9.02 the option of importing native CAD parts in the batch run to PARTsolutions has been added.

[Note] Note

No special batch tools needed.

The CAD system must be started. Only one CAD format can be selected at the same time.

All files of the indicated source directory are saved in your own catalog (either relative to 23d libs or relative to 23d natives).

License note: Up to 5000 parts can be imported without license. If there are more company parts existing, then please apply to your sales partner.

The following explains the settings of the Import geometry data dialog.

Import geometry data

Import geometry data

  • Import formats

    • 3D Meta

    • 3D Neutral

    • Andere Formate

    • CapVidia

    • CAD systems (depending on installed interfaces)

    Under Import formats select the desired ones by checking the respective checkbox.

    Related to the installed CAD systems native formats are available, furthermore neutral formats such as STEP, STL, etc. for example.

    [Note] Note

    For each CAD version an own group is displayed.

    Export to the cad system:[5] [6]

    Usually you should activate this option, in order to be able to export the parts back into the CAD system.

  • Path of destination directory

    • relative to 23d libs

      The catalog is displayed in the PARTdataManager in the directory tree under Catalogs.

    • relative to native parts

      The catalog is displayed in the PARTdataManager in the directory tree under My parts.

  • CAD ID :

    In the list field, please select the fitting CAD identifier. This ensures that the parts are saved in their own directory when importing under $CADENAS_DATA/.

  • Source directory

    Via browse button ... select the desired directory, where you stored the input files. Optionally, activate the checkbox recursive.

  • Catalog name

    Internal catalog name (in contrary to Display name of the catalog, see below)

    If no path was indicated, the catalog shows up without subdirectories directly under 23d libs or directly under 23d natives. The corresponding input field [see next point] remains empty.

    If a path is indicated, then the corresponding subdirectories are created and displayed in the Subdirectory in catalog field.

    Selection of target path

    Selection of target path

  • Subdirectory in catalog

    Do not make any entries in this window. The subdirectories are automatically entered here, if subdirectories were indicated under Catalog name -> Selection of target path window (e.g. my_catalog/subdirectory). Compare above

  • Display name of the catalog

  • Unit: Select the desired unit in the list field.

  • Catalog picture (optional)

  • If a catalog with this name already exists

    • Update catalog

      Directories and catalogs without any alterations remain existent. The others are updated.

    • Replace catalog

  • Work on copy during import:

    Working on copy during import is advantageous, because a possible crash could not do any damage, but is slower. The "Temp mode" for the ClassImporter is activated.

  • Check if files have already been imported:

    In the directory of the files to be imported you can find a file import.log. If the option is activated, then those files are ignored, which are mentioned as correctly imported. Until now these files were always ignored in "Update mode" and never in "New mode".

  • Import method

    • Import CAD files via Native Checkin, import neutral formats via Class Importer. (Export possible, CAD system must be open)Import CAD files via Native Checkin, import neutral formats via Class Importer. (Export possible, CAD system must be open)

      During the NativeCheckin also meta data are imported.[7]

      If meta data are needed then this option with NativeCheckin is the right choice.

      If no meta data exist or if it is not needed (may be when only the geometric search is intended to use) then select the ClassImporter option.

      Neutral formats such as STL and ZJV are imported via Classimporter.

    • Import all files via Class Importer. (Export only partly possible)Import all files via Class Importer. (Export only partly possible)

  • Class name [8]

    • from filename without extension (compatible with V8)

    • from filename with extension

      Select the desired file extension in the list field.

    • from relative path (same file names in different directories possible)

  • Execute mesh reduction for large parts*:[9]

    If the imports fails due to part size, it is recommended to enable this option. Furthermore you can detect the number of triangles for stl and zjv.

  • Generate previews for directories

  • Use existing images

    The file name has to be according.!

    [Note] Note

    For CAD data, this setting is irrelevant, since no preview images exist usually.

    So that the setting works, the file name must coincide (up to the extension [ e.g. "test.stl" and "test.bmp"]) and the image file must be located in the same directory. The file name usually matches if the files were somehow automatically generated. The following image formats are allowed: bmp, jpg, gif, tif.

  • Generate preview images

    Only generate missing previews**

    • View: front, right, left, etc.

    • Color scheme: From the list field, select the desired one.

    • Width, Height: Entry in pixel (px)

Settings for the index:

  • Create full-text search index

  • Create geometric search index: When you want to generate the geometric index then check this option.

    In case that the geometric index already exists select one of the following options:

    • Update index

      Usually updating is sufficient.

    • Recreate index

Once all settings have been made, click on OK.

[Note] Note

The CAD system must be open.

The Export in ... format dialog box opens.[a]

Number of parts before restart: Some CAD systems do not run stable anymore after a certain amount of parts.

  • Small value: Many restarts, thereby more time consuming, but stability problems in the CAD system are avoided. (CAD specific)

  • Big value: Less restarts, thus quicker.

    If you use very big values make sure that the CAD storage is big enough.

[a] The batch mode is always activated, whereby unnecessary messages are suppressed.

Progress bar

In PARTadmin, below in the Index update area you see the progress during the data generation.

When the generation of your own catalog has finished then it appears in the index

When the generation of your own catalog has finished then it appears in the index

Cancel all: The current process will be finished. Waiting queues are cancelled.

Clean list: Cleans the display.

Under Windows 7 you can see the progress in the task bar as well.

Log file

During the import a log file is written in the import directory, which lists all files, which have already been imported. When you start the dialog again with the same settings, nothing will happen. In this way a duplicate import is avoided. Once new data are added or files are changed (see date), the import is performed only for changed data. So this feature is perfect for updates. If you want to repeat the import for any reason, you have to delete the file import.log in the target directory.

[Note] Note

If the index for the geometric search has been created, the imported parts can be used directly for the geometric search.

Own parts catalog in the PARTdataManager

Depending on whether you had chosen the option relative to 23d libs or relative to native parts under Path of destination directory, your own parts catalog is displayed now in the PARTdataManager, in the index tree under Catalogs or My parts.

In order to perform a geometric search, open the desired part. Afterwards the part is available in the search method Geometric search (3D). Details on this are found under Section 3.1.1.6.4.4, “ Geometric search (3D) ” in PARTsolutions / PARTcommunity4Enterprise - User manual.

Own parts catalog in PARTdataManager

Own parts catalog in PARTdataManager

Geometric comparison

In the context menu of each search result part you can find the command Part comparison -> e.g. Load as first part. Details on the geometric comparison are found under Section 3.1.1.6.10, “ Part comparison ” in PARTsolutions / PARTcommunity4Enterprise - User manual.

PARTdataManager: Geometric comparison

PARTdataManager: Geometric comparison

Cip your own catalog

When you want to pass along your own catalog to other colleagues e.g. [10]then simple do the following:

Create CIP-File

Create CIP-File

  1. Call up PARTadmin -> Category -> Index administration -> Catalogs -> My catalog -> context menu and click Create CIP-File.

  2. Choose a file name.

    That's it.

[Note] Note

For native check-in / checkout with a PDM connection, you need the Classimporter. More information can be found under Section 2.1, “ Classimporter ” in PARTwarehouse Manual.

[Note] Note

Adequate base data for a processing in the Classimporter is automatically created during Geometry import. On this please see under Section 2.1.7, “PARTadmin Geometry import: Creation of Classimporter files (9.03 SP2)” in PARTwarehouse Manual.



[5] The native CAD files are copied into the pool directory.

[6] Parts can only be exported in the same CAD type where they were imported from.

[7] The meta data contains variables, configurations, units. In addition, in some cases this information is necessary in order to be able to export the file back into the CAD system. It is also possible to see which files belong to which assembly. If this information is available, the native check-in is usually the better alternative.

[8] The class name is an internal ID, used in order to identify data for export.

[9] This option is only relevant for the Classimporter.

[10] The same software version is needed.