Create BME catalogs from the projects in PARTproject.
The BMEcat format was developed with the aim of standardizing and thus simplifying the exchange of product catalogs between suppliers and procuring organizations.
A BME catalog includes product information (price, unit, etc.) that relates to trade and is not included in the "normal" parts information.
Catalog documents are encoded in XML, the "eXtensible Markup Language". XML is a W3C recommendation (see www.w3.org) and a de facto industry standard. XML makes it possible to encode structures and data simultaneously in a catalog document.
![[Note]](https://webapi.partcommunity.com/service/help/latest/pages/en/ecatalogsolutions/doc/images/note.png)
Note The individual configuration of a BME catalog is carried out via the various dialog pages of the Create BME catalog dialog window.
Downward compatibility with BMEcat version 1.01
The BMEcat Standard Version 1.2 is downward compatible with BMEcat Version 1.01 in the sense that catalog documents that are compliant with BMEcat Version 1.01 are also compliant with BMEcat Version 1.2. This means that existing BMEcat 1.01 product catalogs can also be processed by target systems that support BMEcat version 1.2.
You can find detailed explanations on the subject of BME on the Internet at http://www.bme.de/.
You can access the Create BME catalog window via PARTproject -> Project selection -> Write BME catalog context menu command .
BMEcat automatically creates a new profile and selects it. If a suitable profile already exists, no new profile is created, but the existing one is loaded. If several profiles are available, select the appropriate one.
The individual configuration of a BME catalog is carried out via the various tab pages of the Create BME catalog dialog box.
The profile name [Profile name] and version [Version] uniquely identify each profile and have no effect on the catalog creation itself.
In the Catalog directory field, enter the storage location and name of the file from whose projects a BME catalog is to be created.
Specify the target directory and the target file name for the converted XML-File.
In a Log file , whose directory and name you can also define, possible mistakes will be recorded.
The MIME root directory specifies the folder to which images are to be copied when the BMEcat catalog is created. The paths of the referenced images are specified relatively within the XML file and calculated using the MIME root directory.
The path specification is optional; otherwise the program uses the output path of the BMEcat XML.
Select the desired language(s) from the languages provided. The new file can then be created based on this selection.
The Language of Catalog is set based on the country code. No multiple selection is possible here.
The Version of catalog should be entered according to the preset length (000.000).
Use the selection (right) and the arrows to change the Territorial availability can be specified. Multiple selection is possible.
BME-cat can process Classifications starting at V8.1. Classification allows for alternative catalog structures and additional variables. In case no classification was selected, it will be processed by means of the directory structure of the catalog and the later selection of all or some table variables.
Special contracts, validity and duration can be specified under framework agreement [Skeleton agreement].
The format for the date: MM/DD/YYYYY (month/day/year)
The format for the time: HH/MM/SS (hours/minutes/seconds)
The desired time zone can also be specified using a predefined list.
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Change compared to previous versions: The remaining settings, such as the article number, have not disappeared, but can be set via the rule structure! | |
Enter the table variable for the price (of the item(s)). This must of course already exist in the table.
Select the desired currency from the default or define it yourself.
So far, only "PCE (piece)" has been stored as the ordering unit. Own entries are possible.
Check the desired option(s) in the Price attributes field and switch to the next dialog page.
![Prices [Price] dialog page](https://webapi.partcommunity.com/service/help/latest/pages/en/ecatalogsolutions/doc/resources/img/img_d0dc3b18563d44bbaec96948a89c420a.png)
The Supplier ID is dependant on the wording of the selection in the pull-down menu (DUNS-, ILN-identification, etc.). DUNS, for example, is a nine digit code.
The fields below the Use address [Use Address] option are available for recording the supplier's data. These can only be written to if the option is checked.
Mime-Infos (additional multimedia files) are provided to enable the supplier to supply company logos or additional documents.
Click on " New " to open an input mask in which you can select and enter the information for an image, an Internet address or an additional document.
In this dialog, the XML structure of the BMEcat standard is displayed in simplified form.
indicates whether and how the current line can be changed.
The second column contains the XML tag name of the current line.
Click on "Description [Description] " to switch between XML tag name and BMEcat definition.
You can choose between three options (must [must], can, must not [not allowed] ).
"Must [must] " means that a value must be available for the field, otherwise a warning is issued or, in the irreparable case, aborted.
"can [can] " means that the XML entry is only written if a value is present. If not, BMEcat skips the rule.
"Must not [not allowed] " means that values are omitted. This also applies to the underlying nodes and leaves.
Displays the maximum length specified by the BMEcat standard. If it is exceeded, a warning is issued. The maximum length itself can also be edited, but only for sheets.
For article numbers, an additional length 18 is included in order to be able to work in accordance with SAP.
![[Tip]](https://webapi.partcommunity.com/service/help/latest/pages/en/ecatalogsolutions/doc/images/tip.png) | Tip |
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The values of a column can be reset to the default values by clicking on " Status [State] ", " Max. length " and " Selected source " or via the context menu. | |
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The content [Content] (value) of nodes can be determined in the pull-down menu of "Source [Source] ". In principle, the selections shown in the following table are possible:
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| Selection: | Explanation [Description]: |
| No value (miss field) |
No auto value. User can select themselves. If not set, the field is omitted. |
| Automatic | Auto value. Possibility of another source |
| Documents | Receive value via documents |
| Function | Perform calculation: Example: 5*2+4 |
| String function | Ex: $NB. |
| Tabular value | Get value from table. Example: EXECUTION |
| Text | Text (without further function) |
| BOM name (LINA) | |
| Standard name (NB) | |
| Standard number (NN) | |
| Shortname | |
| Classification | Special case |
| Tabular values | Special case |
| Variables of NB | Special case |
| Standard title (NT) | |
| Table values (including invisible ones) | Special case |
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The BMEcat format offers the option of adapting the document to your own requirements at certain attachment points [Connection points], the USER_DEFINED_EXTENSIONS |
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Call up the input mask via the context menu --> "Add node [Add node] ": The XML name cannot contain any special symbols, aside from „_“ and „.“; only capital letters are permitted The description is optional and does not have to follow any rules. It also has no effect on the BMEcat catalog. The same applies to the selected rule as under the rule structure. |
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Nodes are only structural elements and have no value. Leaves cannot have successors and are therefore not structural elements, but they do have a value. | |
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Similar to Add node, Add sheet [Add leaf] behaves in a similar way. The difference in the mask is that "Possible lengths [Possible lengths] " and "Standard length [Standard length] " can be specified. "Possible lengths [Possible lengths] " must be separated by a comma. The button and the input field to the right can be used to help. Enter the new value on the right and click on the arrow button. |
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This dialog offers an extended search and replace function.
For example, texts [Texts], table values [Tabular values] and documents [Documents] can be replaced. Select the appropriate item from the pull-down menu in the "Addition [Addition] " column.
Under Additional settings, you can make settings for the MIME information that is processed in the BMEcat catalog.
Convert preview images [Convert preview pictures]:
Other MIME information [Other MIME infos]:
As images are only processed using projects, you can specify additional projects such as "copyright.prj" using the " Other MIME info [Other MIME infos] " option. The enumeration must be semicolon separated.
![Additional settings [Additional options] dialog page](https://webapi.partcommunity.com/service/help/latest/pages/en/ecatalogsolutions/doc/resources/img/img_f338a98540b444ec84f1047207772dd6.png)