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Cannot Import Catalog from Excel

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Message 1 of 11
339days
2011 Views, 10 Replies

Cannot Import Catalog from Excel

I am trying to edit a catalog using Excel.

 

Currently I am am exporting in the following fashion:

1) Open the catalog in the Spec Editor 2013 and switch to "Catalog Editor" tab

2) Select the "Show All Part Sizes" button in the upper right of the Catalog browser pallette.

3) Click the "Export to Excel" button

4) On the pop up window I select "Full catalog data export," saving to my desktop.

5) Ignore the error when opening the file in Excel.

6) Delete one (1) component (150# RTJ Plug Valve for example)

7) Save file.

😎 Return to Spec Editor 2013 and click "Import from Excel" button.

9) Select file and click open.

10) Select check box to "Only show parts with changes"

 10a) Select all components

 10b) Drill down in tree in left pane and located deleted valve

 10c) Do nothing

 10d) Hang head in a mix of frustration and shame

11) Buttons to Accept/Reject changes are greyed out. Selecting OK/Apply on the window does nothing. Catalog does not update.

12) Refraining from hurling laptop off roof of building.

 

Replacing step 6) with: "Delete everything but one valve" returns a similar result.

I have had this process work with specifications in the past, but cannot get it to work with Catalogs.

 

 

Excel Error at Open: The file you are trying to open, 'VLV.xls', is in a different format than specified by the file extension. Verify that the file is not corrupted and is from a trusted source before opeing the file. Do you want to open the file now? Yes/No/Help

10 REPLIES 10
Message 2 of 11
rchiasson
in reply to: 339days

I'll see if it does the same for me, but I'm guessing its not registering removing a component as opposed to just editing the information for a component on the catalog side.

 

Have you tried instead of deleting a component, just editing it and seeing if it'll let you import it back in?

Message 3 of 11
dave.wolfe
in reply to: 339days

Yes, a common misconception is that you should be able to add or remove parts from Excel. The Excel export is for modifying descriptions, not adding or removing sizes.  The PnPid column keeps track of the database id a row is linked to, so that it knows which entry should get updated.

 

This functionality allows you to export a selection of a few parts to Excel at a time for editing so you don't have to wade throuElia large excel file.

 

http://www.pdoteam.com/2012/09/exporting-filtered-parts/

 

Dave Wolfe
Isaiah 57:15



Tips and Tricks on our blog: ASTI blog
EXPERT ELITE MEMBER
Plant 3D Wish list
Message 4 of 11
339days
in reply to: dave.wolfe

Okay, so I gave up on deleting all the 5"  stuff in Excel...

 

Now I am trying to edit the descriptions and when I chose import I am getting the cells shaded yellow and the accept button isn't greyed out, but if I hit "Accept All Changes" then Apply/OK nothing updates.

 

I am still looking at the default descriptions.

 

I find the spec editor software cumbersome and painfully slow. Is there another way to manage the data?

 

Everyone keeps telling me this is easy and I am finding it to be anything but...

Message 5 of 11
quentin.contreras
in reply to: 339days

Not sure were you are still stubbling with you descriptions. I exported a catalog and opened the Excel file and made a slight description change for a part in the Long Description (Size) location.

 

2013-01-15_1449.png

 

 

I then saved the excel file. Went back into Spec Editor and selected Import Excel file button and opened the excel file I made the modification to. 

 

2013-01-15_1452.png

 

 

When the Resolve Excel Import Changes window comes up I checked in the lower left corner to Only show parts with changes. Then select the button to Accept All Changes and OK to close.

 

2013-01-15_1502.png

 

 

Once back in Spec Editor click on the Save All button at the top of the window.

 

2013-01-15_1506.png

 

 

Once Spec has updated you should be able to see the change that was made in the Excel file update in the Catalog.

 

2013-01-15_1508.png

 

If my post answers your question, please mark it as an Accepted Solution, so that others can find answers quickly!



Quentin Contreras
Technical Support Specialist


Message 6 of 11
quentin.contreras
in reply to: 339days

339days, Just checking back to see if my suggestion helped.

If my post answers your question, please mark it as an Accepted Solution, so that others can find answers quickly!



Quentin Contreras
Technical Support Specialist


Message 7 of 11
dave.wolfe
in reply to: 339days

The only situation I've seen where the import doesn't work as expected is if the Current Filter option is selected on the export, while displaying parts as families.  In those cases, Plant 3D only exports 1 row per family, so the changes don't work as expected.

 

So, what should work is to either do the full catalog export and use filters in Excel, or to show all part size (which I think you are doing from your first post).  Is it possible you forgot to do this the second time through?

Dave Wolfe
Isaiah 57:15



Tips and Tricks on our blog: ASTI blog
EXPERT ELITE MEMBER
Plant 3D Wish list
Message 8 of 11
339days
in reply to: dave.wolfe

Well...

 

It seems to be hit or miss. And I know what I would tell myself is that if that were the case you must be doing something different. I have been able to get it to work, following the same procedure outlined in the first post, but not every time.

 

I'm trying to figure out what step I'm adding or removing that is causing the issue. I can get it to work with: both xls and xlsx; unprotecting the sheet; using formulas (changing cell type to general in the process); and sorting data in Excel.

 

What I have noticed is that unless you change the view (change from All Sizes / Part Type) is that the catalog won't visibly update.

 

My current working theory is that I was sorting, wasn't seeing the approval highlighting (yellow) and not seeting the changes in the catalog editor - assumed it wasn't working.

 

If I am able to reproduce I will let you know, but until then I guess it is just a matter of getting used to the quirks of the software.

Message 9 of 11
Jorgen1990
in reply to: 339days

Hi!

 

I am encountering a similiar problem with importing from Excel.

 

I am currently adding wall thicknesses to existing Pipe Catalog. In the Spec Editor's Catalog Editor environment, I have duplicated the DN15 size four times and given these four parts wall thicknesses 2, 2,6, 3,2 and 4 mm. I had to enter Nominal Diameter, Matching OD and Wall Thickness manually in the Spec Editor. Other variables like Long Description (Size) I want to enter in Excel as it would be too time consuming to do in Spec Editor.

SO.. after doing those steps in Spec Editor I hit Save All and export to excel... using full catalog export, and with all catalog item sizes shown (not by family). I open the Excel file, unprotect it, fill the necessary cells with information, protect the sheet again, save it, close it. Then I import from excel to Spec Editor, Accept all changes, and the ONLY SOME of the changed cells are updated. I have tried it several times.

Is there some tricks/tips that I don't know? Maybe something to do with cell formatting in Excel?

 

I am using Spec Editor 2014 and MS Excel 2013

 

Thanks in advance

Jörgen

Message 10 of 11
dave.wolfe
in reply to: Jorgen1990

Did you do a full catalog data export?

 

11-13-2013 8-39-40 AM.png

 

 

Otherwise only one size per family gets exported unless you follow these steps:

 

http://www.pdoteam.com/2012/09/exporting-filtered-parts/

Dave Wolfe
Isaiah 57:15



Tips and Tricks on our blog: ASTI blog
EXPERT ELITE MEMBER
Plant 3D Wish list
Message 11 of 11
Jorgen1990
in reply to: dave.wolfe

Dave, thanks for the reply!

Yes, I did the full catalog export. Everything just as shown in the PDOteam link.

 

Jörgen

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