topic Re: Spec Editor Sort the Values in AutoCAD Plant 3D Forum

Spec Editor Sort the Values

j_weber — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 13:15:40 GMT

Hi there,

I make my first steps in the Spec Editor.

I copy a existing component and reduce the Sizes. But than the size is not sorted.

Is there a way to sort the DN Values

Re: Spec Editor Sort the Values

jabowabo — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:41:47 GMT

Bad news - this does not appear to be high on the priority list for resolving.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-plant-3d-forum/catalog-listing-out-of-order/td-p/3812492

There is a workaround though:

- Export the catalog items to Catalog Builder: File/Export to Catalog Builder

- Re-arrange the sizes in the resulting Excel sheet.

- Delete all entries in the SizeRecordId_S-ALL column. (this does not seem to be necessary after all)

- Use Catalog Builder to import the items to a new or existing catalog.

NOTES:

- You're going to want to practice this a time or two to make sure you have a good workflow and don't have issues with your production catalog(s) - duplications, etc.

- Also, any specs with the related parts already created with these catalog items will need to be updated with the newly created ones to maintain connections.

Re: Spec Editor Sort the Values

ZZikic — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:20:37 GMT

Hi there,

Unfortunately, there is no way to sort the values. You need to create them in their size order. However, there are a couple options that I use.

1. If the component does not have too many sizes you can sort them by duplicating the existing sizes in their size order then deleting the original entries. Note, when doing this you will need to re-enter any weights and nominal port sizes.

2. Exporting the catalog entry into EXCEL > Sorting the EXCEL sheet > then importing it back into your master catalog. This is particularly useful for very large number of components such as OLETS and reducing fittings.

Good Luck,

Zeke

Betreff: Spec Editor Sort the Values

j_weber — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 19:19:33 GMT

Thanks @ZZikic and @jabowabo for your answers.

I think that isn't a good working ad the moment with unsorted lists.

I try for myself the workaround with excel.

But the time today was not enough to finish the work.

So I will try it tomorrow again.

Now it is late here in germany and I think tomorrow I continue my work

Re: Spec Editor Sort the Values

placek — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 11:44:54 GMT

There is a workaround through Excel.

However, you can use it only for new components, which are not used in any project, because you are going to change sizes of components by swapping values.

Everytime make data backup before PnPID and Size Records values changing:

1. Duplicate component (Family), which you want to sort by size and make this "sorting change" on this duplicated component. If next step doesnt work, you can easy delete duplicated component and try it again.

2. Export part size list of filtered component to Excel.

3. Show all columns in Excel (show hidden columns)

4. First sort step: Sort all rows by column "Sizes" from lowest to highest.

5. Second sort step: Sort data only in next columns "Size Record Id_S1" + "Size Record Id_S2" + (eventually "Size Record Id_S3") + PnPID

by column PnPID from lowest to highest.

6. Import data back from Excel to Plant3D and Apply changes.

7. Save catalog.

8. Switch to other component and back to your edited component to see sorted sizes.

Good luck!

Tom