Updates to Content Center parts via Excel Spreadsheet?

[Jason.Rugg]

Content Center part families can be edited via Excel spreadsheet rather than the embedded table editor. On some of our content center parts we have a key column of "Availability" to help us sort parts and make a better decision on what to choose as we design. The availability status of certain parts can change from time to time and currently to change the status of the part I have to first be notified and then I have to go into the Content Center editor and change the status. Since the family tables can be edited via Excel would it be possible for someone in the purchasing department, without inventor, to edit the availability status on the fly without notifying me to make the change and would this change automatically publish so it's live? Or is there another way to accomplish this? The goal would be for an individual that knows more about our parts availability to make a status change as soon as they are aware of one without having to use inventor.

[blandb]

They would have to have access to the vault and be given the role to be a CC editor. But having non-cad related people be messing with the editor could be dangerous? If they mess up your table, then its all done for lol.

What exactly would they be changing? Just text data? Would they be adding lines? To edit via excel, they have to open INV, click on CC Editor > Edit the family Table, then use the button to edit VIA Excel.

If you are placing components as "Standard" then any changes made to the table will be made when users place as long as Tools> Application Options > Content Center Tab > Refresh out of date standard parts during placement is checked. If not, then users will manually have to run a Refresh of CC items in each assembly to check and see if there is an update. You could have the users place all instances of what they are editing from vault into an assembly, then make the change. Then in that assembly have them run the refresh to update all instances of that part and check them all back in, now all instances have been updated manually.

[Jason.Rugg]

Hey Brad, how's it going? So you know our business very well, so yes it would be a simple text change in the Availability column. Paul's goal is to try to eliminate the problem where we have released a design to fab and then after the fact someone comes and ask's if we can use this size part instead of what we called out because of the lead time for it. So we want to be able to more easily take lead times into consideration ahead of time while we are designing. I'm fine with making the changes myself but thought if there was an easy way for someone that knows more about lead times to make a change as well they could.

[blandb]

Keep in mind that when you make changes to the Family table any and all components current and previous jobs that have these components placed as "STANDARD" will then be updated with this change. So, I'm not certain I fully understand what you are trying to accomplish. Are you just wanting to add text for an "alternate" option for the specified component? I know you guys used to use the "or equal" verbiage to give purchasing the OK to find an equivalent variant of the component.

[Jason.Rugg]

Here is a screenshot, all we are doing is adding the "Availability" column as a key column to help sort parts by lead time. It's not tied into iproperties, filenames, descriptions or anything, it's just an additional sortation column to help while designing. So if we have to get something produced quick we can first sort by "READILY AVAILABLE". All content center parts/options are available but if you need it quick you can easily sort out long lead items. This does not go on drawings or boms.

 

[blandb]

I see, so you are wanting the purchasing group to be able to go in and add this info? As mentioned before, they need to have Vault access and have a role where they are CC editors to be able to alter that. They need to have a version of INV to edit the family table.

[Jason.Rugg]

That's kind of what I was afraid of. I was hoping that since those tables could be edited in Excel that maybe they exported and could be accessed outside of the Vault/Inventor environment and that field edited quickly. Not a big deal, yeah was just hoping someone that knew more about availability could add that info rather than me. And it makes sense to not give that power to someone not familiar with the software.

[RajSchmidt]

@Jason.Rugg:

I see a few challenges if you try to work this way:

1. AFAIK, Excel is simply used as an editing tool. The actual CC database is MS SQL (if you keep them in Vault) or SQLite if you use the desktop content. So, there is no connection between Excel and the CC libraries.
2. once you select a CC part it will be created as a file and more or less loses its connection to the library. If you change the library the part won’t know anything about it. You have to manually update it. Which brings with it the next problem: All the assemblies where you have used the part will get a “Dirty” flag.

As I see it, what you want to achieve is to store purchasing information in a CAD file. I would highly recommend keeping this information in your ERP system. If you need it in engineering, I think it belongs into the item information (if you use Vault Professional and work with items.)