Chapter 10.  PARTtemplateDesigner - Create datasheets
10.1. Create template from A to Z
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10.1. Create template from A to Z

Have a look on this little example: You can get first insights on how easy it is to create a template, which can be made available in PARTdataManager, for example via the 3D PDF data sheet function .

In this chapter the procedure is explained as a whole. All details are found in the then following chapters.

[Note]Note

Here you can find all important basic settings.

  1. Create a directory "_templates" at catalog main level.

    [Note]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 three template files <name>.template, <name>.ptdef and <name>.pmt.

  2. Start PARTtemplateDesigner:

    Start the PARTtemplateDesigner under $CADENAS/bin/x86/64 via double-click on the file ptemplatedesigner.exe.

    -> The dialog box New/Open is opened.

    Alternatively you can open the dialog box New/Open anytime via File menu -> New.

    [Note]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]Tip

      Choose a small project (in order to keep calculation time low).

      The test project is used for the depiction during the template creation. It can be changed anytime.

    • Create new catalog template -> input field Name

      Specify a unique name and click on New.

      [Note]Note

      We recommend lower case. All special characters allowed in Windows can be used here as well.

  3. Determine the desired Elements.

    If you just want to get an overview on the whole procedure at this place, then only apply the elements Text (with "$NB."), Image (company logo), 3D view and Table for example as a rough draft.

    Detailed information on all elements is found under Section 10.4, “"Elements" toolbar ”.

  4. Click on the button Save as catalog template.

    Thereby the template is saved in the created directory "_templates". Once with <name>.template and once with "<name>.ptdef".[112]

  5. A configuration file media.cfg should be automatically created with the following content in the directory "_templates". 

    [TMPLATETYPES]
DIR=Verzeichnis
PRJ=Projekt
BOM=Stückliste
PDF=Datenblatt-PDF

    Once the entry "PDF=Datenblatt-PDF" exists, in PARTproject, in the section Templates, the entry Datenblatt-PDF (Datasheet PDF) is displayed.

  6. Creating the datasheet PDF template in PARTproject:

    1. For this, open the module PARTproject via PARTtemplateDesigner -> Settings menu -> Template configuration -> Open in PARTproject.

    2. Select the Documents tab.

    3. Click on the button Edit template.

      -> The dialog box Templates for PARTmedia is opened.

    4. Click on the icon New and enter the template name[113] in the input field with the file extension .pmt. Close the dialog box.

    5. In the line Datenblatt-PDF, open the list field and select the just created entry.

      -> By this selection, the file <name>.pmt (here in the example "training1.pmt") is created in the directory "_templates"

  7. Check in PARTdataManager:

    1. In the directory tree, select the Test project (here in the example "B1 - Bolt").

      [Note]Note

      The test project is that, which you determined in the PARTtemplateDesigner under Settings menu -> Template configuration -> Test project.

      Template configuration

      Template configuration

    2. In PARTdataManager, call the dialog box Export using PDF Datasheet format via icon PDF Datasheet .

    3. Activate Show advanced settings.

    4. In the list field at Template select the created template.

      [Note]Note

      The display name is that, which you determined in PARTtemplateDesigner under Preferences menu -> Template configuration -> Visible name.

      If no Visible name has been determined, 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%.)

    5. Test: Select another project.

      -> The desired template is not displayed yet, because it is only assigned to the Test project.

  8. In order to make the template available for the whole catalog, proceed as follows:

    1. In the PARTtemplateDesigner, in the settings dialog for Template, click on the button Open in PARTproject.

    2. In PARTproject, select the tabbed page Documents.

    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 test project "bolt" and via Apply to the whole catalog pass on the template from there to the catalog root element.

    6. Select the catalog root element, again open the derivation hierarchy and then click on Remove all children with the same value. This ensures that all children will use the catalog root element's value and do not have own values.

      -> Now the catalog root element is pink and all children are gray, meaning the template is available for all children's projects and is used by them.

      Details on this can be found under Dialogbereich "Ableitungshierarchie".

    7. Test in PARTdataManager, whether the template is available for all projects now.



[112] The file <name>.ptdef can contain two sections:

  • [TemplateV9.04]

  • [Template]

At catalogs, which are using a datasheet for the first time, the second declaration can be omitted.

The second declaration can optionally be used for catalogs, which are using both a datasheet according to the old standard and one to the new standard.

[113] Exactly that name, which you used in the template settings under "Name".

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Chapter 10.  PARTtemplateDesigner - Create datasheets  Home 10.2.  Open existing catalog template