Using the Bulkload Modes - Intergraph Smart 3D - Reference Data

Intergraph Smart 3D Reference Data

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English
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Intergraph Smart 3D
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Reference Data
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Reference Data
Smart 3D Version
12 (2018)

In order to use reference data in the software, you can transfer data in the Excel workbooks to the catalog database using the Bulkload utility. 

Bulkloading is a process that imports data from the Excel workbooks into the catalog database. You should back up the workbooks as needed before you make modifications and begin the loading process.

The loading process has several modes available: New, Append, Add/Modify/Delete, and Delete and Replace. In addition, the Bulkload utility includes an option for creating flavors of Solid Edge parts.

The time taken by the bulk loading process varies. More time is required when a schema change (such as adding a codelist value, a new interface, or a part class) is made. Schema changes trigger the re-creation of the views in the database.

In the Append and Add/Modify/Delete modes, the Bulkload utility first looks for the default permission group in which to create the objects. If the default permission group is not found, then the utility creates the objects in the first available permission group to which the user has write access.

New

You can use the New mode to create a new catalog database.

The New mode is different from the Append and the Add/Modify/Delete modes in that a live database set (catalog and catalog schema) is not already available on the server. In the New mode, you choose the database type and type a name for the catalog that you want to create. You also select a template file to create the catalog schema.

When you run the Bulkload utility in the New mode, the utility creates interfaces. For information on limitations associated with interfaces, see Custom Interfaces Sheet.

It is not recommended that you create a new catalog database when bulkloading the reference data. The catalog database created when bulkloading is not associated with any site database.

Append

You can use the Append mode when you want to add data from many new workbooks or worksheets to the catalog database. When you use this mode, the software scans the data and adds only the new classes and parts to the database. The software does not observe any Add/Modify/Delete flags in this mode.

The Append mode is normally used for large updates to the catalog.

Add/Modify/Delete

The Add/Modify/Delete mode is best used when you are modifying the database on a smaller scale or when you are modifying pre-existing classes. In this mode, the Bulkload utility scans the workbooks for flags at the beginning of each row. The table below defines the flags and the actions associated with them.

Flag

Operation

Notes

A

Add

The Bulkload utility adds the object to the database and removes the letter A from the row upon successful addition.

M

Modify

The Bulkload utility modifies the object in the database and removes the letter M from the row upon successful modification.

D

Delete

The Bulkload utility deletes the object, but does NOT remove the letter D. You must verify that the object was deleted using the log file.

For example, if the Bulkload utility sees an M at the beginning of a row, the software modifies that entry in the catalog database with the changes in that row.

The Bulkload utility removes the A and M designations from the workbooks during the loading process. However, the rows marked with D are still marked with D. You can open the workbooks with rows marked D and comment out those rows manually after the bulkload. Type the ! symbol at the beginning of each row that you want to comment out. If you do not remove or comment out the deleted rows, you will receive warnings the next time that you bulk load because the Bulkload utility will attempt to delete objects that no longer exist in the catalog.

You should be aware of the rules that affect deleting part classes and parts. You can delete a part class by typing a D at the beginning of the Definition row on the part class sheet. When you delete a part class, you cannot reuse the part class name in the same database set. However, if you delete parts (line items within a class, not the class itself), you CAN reuse the names of the parts.

To modify a part name, you can use a combination of deleting and adding operations. Copy a part row, insert the row in the Head/Start/End section, and change the name. Then mark the original row with D and the inserted row with A. The row marked with D must come before the row marked with A going from top to bottom on the sheet. This is because the bulkload operations occur sequentially from top to bottom on a sheet.

To modify a UserClassName or OccClassName, place an M at the beginning of the row, and type the new names in the UserClassName and OccClassName cells.

Image1

Names such as UserClassName, OccClassName, ObjectName, SpecName, and PartNumber must be unique when compared to each other within a class and across the entire catalog.

Delete and Replace

The Delete and Replace mode is useful when you would like to replace all the data in the catalog database with the data currently in Excel workbooks. New part classes are appended to the catalog.

This option has some limitations. You can change the definition of a part class, but you cannot change the part class type.

When this mode is used to replace entire piping material classes (for example, 1C0031), only those piping material classes appearing in the bulkloaded workbook are deleted and replaced. All other piping material classes in the database are unaffected.

If you are re-creating part classes or parts, you must include the R- ClassNodeDescribes sheets in the workbooks in order to establish relationships among the hierarchical nodes in the reference data.

The table below lists the data types and whether or not they are compatible with the Delete and Replace mode.

Data Type

Supported?

Cabletray

yes

Cableway

yes

Cable

yes

Code lists

yes

Conduit

yes

Drawings

no

Equipment

yes

Name Rules

yes

Grids

yes

Hangers and Supports

yes

HVAC

no

IFC

yes

Iso (Iso keys)

no

Modules

N/A

Nozzles

yes

Piping

yes

Reports

no

Shapes

N/A

Structure

no

Space Management

yes

Create Flavors

The Create flavors option computes and stores in the catalog the specific geometry for each different size of a part class. Flavors apply to Solid Edge parts only. You can use the Create flavors option with any of the bulkloading modes.

For example, the reference data might include two parts with different symbol input parameters. Both parts refer to the same Solid Edge assembly set. At the time of bulkloading, if you select the Create flavors option, then the Bulkload utility creates a one-to-one relationship symbol using the symbol parameters for each part and stores this symbol in the catalog database. If you do not select the Create flavors option, then at placement time in the model, the workstation placing the symbol performs the parameterized changes to the symbol, based on the reference data, before the placement.

You can add flavors for Solid Edge parts that are already in the catalog. Mark the rows for the parts with M, and bulk load in the Add/Modify/Delete mode with the Create flavors option selected.

To bulk load flavors for Solid Edge parts, Solid Edge must be installed on the computer performing the bulkload process. To place Solid Edge equipment without flavors in the catalog, the workstation performing the placement must have Solid Edge installed.

See Also

Bulk Load Database with Data