Parts List Question

[SteveFrey]

I use my parts list to generate a total length in inches of the same part that is used in several places in my assemblies.  I then export it to excel, convert it to feet, etc.  I've been doing this for some time now and it works great.  The problem I am now having is I forgot how I got this magic to happen and I need to set another part to appear with it's total length in the list.  From what I remember I set the QTY column in the parts list to show the length of the part and then I set the parts list to merge the same parts.  For the life of me I can't remember how I did this.  Does anyone know how this is done correctly?

All of the parts are created by the frame generator if this matters.

[mrattray]

Merging can be accomplished by making sure the part number property is the same for the parts.

As far as overriding the quantity column:

[SteveFrey]

Ok.  Where are you doing these changes?  What version are you using?

[Nicolas.Bourquin]

Hello,

Many thanks for your question.

With Inventor 2013, you can access to the BOM properties, just by double clicking on the Bill of Material present in a drawing (idw or dwg)

=> and then select the quantity column >> Right Mouse Click >> Format Column >> Select the Tab "Substitution" ...

I hope that will help you.

[karthur1]

Steve,

After you do what Mike outlined above, you still need to do one additional thing.  You have to change this to "Sum of Values".

[mrattray]

Oops, thanks for filling in that gaping hole I left!

[MSD1]

My parts list is already doing this for the existing parts.  The problem I am having is the new parts I want to add are only showing as "each".  I want to have them add together to a total.  This has to be something in the parameters.  In my frame generator parts (currently working)  the  G_L  User Parameter  is checked for export.  Do I need to do something like this for these new .ipt files so they will total?

[SteveFrey]

I accidentally replied with my other ID.  Anyway.........My parts list is already doing this for the existing parts.  The problem I am having is the new parts I want to add are only showing as "each".  I want to have them add together to a total.  This has to be something in the parameters.  In my frame generator parts (currently working)  the  G_L  User Parameter  is checked for export.  Do I need to do something like this for these new .ipt files so they will total?

[SteveFrey]

I accidentally replied with my other ID.  Anyway.........My parts list is already doing this for the existing parts.  The problem I am having is the new parts I want to add are only showing as "each".  I want to have them add together to a total.  This has to be something in the parameters.  In my frame generator parts (currently working)  the  G_L  User Parameter  is checked for export.  Do I need to do something like this for these new .ipt files so they will total?

[SteveFrey]

I tried this on many of the obvious properties but it just changed some of the existing data to incorrect totals like each instead of length.  The parts list totals eveything for me except the newly added parts.  Somehow the parts list isn't picking up the quantity of these parts.

[karthur1]

Look under Tools > Document settings, Bill of Materials tab.  Wehn I create a new FG part, it has the base units set to "in" and Base Quantity set to "G_L".

For my regular ipt's, the base unit is "Each".

[SteveFrey]

That did it!  Thanks so much!  This has been driving me crazy. 

[karthur1]

Does that fix your "Varies" problem as well?

[SteveFrey]

No, but as long as the proper quantity is showing I'm good with it.