Manuals - 3Dfindit

Chapter 10. PARTtemplateDesigner - Create data sheets

10.1. Create template from A to Z

If you follow this small example, you will already have a first impression of how you can create a template with little effort, which can then be used in the PARTdataManager via the 3D PDF data sheet function function.

This chapter explains the process as a whole. You will find all the details in the following chapters.

	Note
	Here you can find all important basic settings.

Create a directory "_templates" at catalog main level.

Note

All templates (template files) are either automatically saved here or should be saved here manually.

The full template functionality results from the interaction of the 3 template files <name>.template, <name>.ptdef and <name>.pmt.

Start PARTtemplateDesigner:
Start the PARTtemplateDesigner under $CADENAS/bin/x86/64 by double-clicking on the file ptemplatedesigner.exe.
-> The New/Open dialog box opens.

Alternatively, you can open the New/Open dialog box at any time via File menu [File] -> New.

Note
Via ESC key you can close the dialog box.
- In the directory tree, determine the test project / example project.
  The chosen project defines the destination catalog and the example project.
  
  Tip
  Select a small project (keep calculation times short).
  
  The test project is used for the depiction during the template creation. It can be changed anytime.
- Create new catalog template -> Name input field
  Assign a unique name and click on New.
  
  Note
  We recommend lower case. All special characters allowed in Windows can be used here as well.
Create the desired elements [Elements].
If you only want to get an overview of the complete process at this point, then quickly create only the elements text [Text] (with "$NB."), image [Image] (company logo), 3D view and table [Table] as a rough draft, for example.

Detailed explanations of all elements can be found at Section 10.4, “ "Elements " toolbar ”.
Click on the Save as catalog template button.

This saves the template in the created directory "_templates". Once with <name>.template and once with "<name>.ptdef".^[111]
A configuration file media.cfg with the following content in the directory "_templates" should have been created automatically.
[
```
TMPLATETYPES] DIR=Directory PRJ=Project BOM=BOM PDF=Datasheet PDF As soon as
```
the entry "PDF=Datasheet PDF" is available, the entry Datasheet PDF is displayed in PARTproject the entry Data sheet PDF is displayed in the Templates section.
Create the data sheet PDF template in PARTproject:
1. To do this, open the PARTtemplateDesigner via Settings menu -> Template settings [Template configuration] -> Open in PARTproject [Open in PARTproject] the module PARTproject.
2. Select the Documents tab.
3. Click on the Edit templates [Edit template] button.
  -> The Templates for PARTmedia dialog box opens.
4. Click on the New icon icon and enter the template name in the input field^[112] with the file extension .pmt. Close the dialog window.
5. Open the list field in the Data sheet PDF line and select the entry you have just set.
  
  -> The file <name>.pmt (here in the example "training1.pmt") is created in the "_templates" directory by selecting it in the list field.

Testing in the PARTdataManager:

Select the test project [Test project] in the directory tree (here in the example "B1 - Hinge pin").

Note
The test project is the one you have defined in the PARTtemplateDesigner under Settings menu -> Template settings [Template configuration] -> Test project.

Template configuration
Call up the PARTdataManager via the PDF Datasheet icon icon to open the Export in PDF Datasheet format dialog box.
Activate Show advanced settings.

Select the template created in the list field under Template.

Note

The display name is the one you have defined in the PARTtemplateDesigner under Settings [Preferences] menu -> Template settings [Template configuration] -> Display name [Visible name].

If no display name [Visible name] has been specified, the entry under Name is used for the display.

(If the newly created template is not displayed, in seldom cases a reboot of the computer is necessary or alternatively deleting of the *.media files under %temp%.)

Test: Select another project.
-> The desired template is not displayed as it has only been assigned to the test project [Test project] so far.

To make the template available for the entire catalog, proceed as follows:
1. In the PARTtemplateDesigner, click on the Open in PARTproject button in the settings dialog for templates.
2. Select in PARTproject the Documents tab page.
3. Search for TEMPLATE -> PDF
  -> The key with the value "training1.ptm" is displayed.
4. At the end of the line, click on the symbol for derivation hierarchy .
  -> The corresponding dialog is opened.
5. Select the "Bolzen" test project and inherit the template from there to the catalog root element using Apply to top directory [Apply to the whole catalog].
6. Select the catalog root element in the index tree, reopen the derivation hierarchy again and then click Remove all values of children with the same value [Remove all children with the same value]. This ensures that the children actually inherit the value from the catalog root element and do not have their own values.
  
  -> The catalog root element is now pink and all children are grey, i.e. the template is available for and used by all child projects.
  You can find details on this under the "Derivation hierarchy" dialog area.
7. Test in the PARTdataManager whether the template is now available for all projects.

^[111]The file <name>.ptdef can contain two blocks:

[TemplateV9.04]
[Template]

For catalogs that are currently using a data sheet for the first time, the second entry is not required.

The second specification can optionally be used for catalogs that use both a data sheet according to the old standard and one according to the new standard.

^[112]Exactly the name that you used in the template settings under "Name".

Prev	Up	Next
Chapter 10. PARTtemplateDesigner - Create data sheets	Home	10.2. Open existing catalog template