"An item with the same key has already been added"

[damijan.a]

I am trying to export valve list to .xls file via Data manager and this annoying "An item with the same key has already been added" message pops up, not creating any .xls file whatsoever. This also happens if try to simply export all engineering items selecting "Active node and all child nodes", but if I export selecting "Active node only", it looks like I'm getting a whole list of all items, a little short of 10.000 pieces.

When I googled the problem, I came across Autodesk's solution which says:

To resolve this try the following:

• Identify which class cannot be exported from the Data Manager.
• Pinpoint which symbol causes the issue by inserting into a new drawing and attempting the export from the Data Manager.
• Create a new class and new symbol.
• Substitute any existing symbols in all project drawings.
• Remove the corrupted class.

Does anyone have an actual helpful idea how to locate the problem so I can export valves only? Is there an error log or something? There is like 50 P&IDs in a project, trying the solutions above could take ages...

Thank you for your time and help.

[h_eger]

Unfortunately, I can't do much without the project because there is simply too little information available.
I have never seen problems like this in the past 11 years.

[damijan.a]

Thank you for reply, unfortunately I can't share the project with unauthorized persons.

I suppose the only way to find the problematic element(s) would be to export valves per each drawing until I find the problematic one, and then try to pinpoint the element by deleting them one by one until  error message doesn't show anymore. I hope that works.

Thank you and best regards.

[h_eger]

good luck in your search to mend the mistake and to be able to continue working.

[jabowabo]

Have you added any custom properties to your project classes? If so, check if you have the same property added in multiple classes with any changes in capitalization.

[damijan.a · Accepted solution]

I forgot to report but we found the problem. It is caused by two custom hand valve classes which both have first 30 characters the same.

The funny thing is that when exporting data to Excel, these class definitions and descriptions get exported with full name and don't get shortened to 31 characters, the only limitation is 31 character limit "in Plant3D's head" 😁