Details for importing part data
The standard format for part list import is the PNX format. This is an ASCII/Unicode file containing one record for each part. These notes give the details on how the format is stored and used for import.
Full list of the part list fields
- part code or description
- material
- length
- width
- quantity
- overs
- unders
- grain
- edge
- information boxes
Each field is separated by a comma. If the file is in the above order the file can be imported without using: Part list import parameters.
Name of import file
The ASCII file name must have the extension PNX for example:-
PARTS.PNX
The program only looks for files with the extension of PNX. Set the path and directory with the System parameter: Path for import data
Measurement
Use any of the available measurement modes:-
millimetres - 400.0
decimal inches - 15.75
fraction inches - 15-3/4
Make sure that the measurement expressed in the import file matches the System parameter: Measurement mode
If importing inches in fractional inch format the program accepts a variety of separators, provided that they follow the general format of:-
<whole number>-<numerator>/<denominator> e.g.: 21-1/2
Other common formats are:-
21 1/2
21 1 2
When entering numbers note that the maximum number of decimal places for the import file is as follows.
millimetres - 1 decimal place
decimal inches - 3 decimal places
Fractional inches should be expressed to 1/64 in units of 1/64 in. For example 1/2, and 1/4 and 31/32 are OK but 7/128 is NOT.
Grain field
The grain field which appears on the screen as Y or N or X is entered in the import file as a number using 1 for Y and 0 for N and 2 for X.
0 - (N) - No grain - part can be placed in either orientation on the board
1 - (Y) - Part is grained along the length, part must be placed in the same orientation as the board
2 - (X) - Part is grained along the width part must be placed in the opposite orientation to the board
"...200,A,B,B,C,1,BAY 7,"URGENT"
Import grained parts
When importing part lists which contain part from the part library then if no grain value is present the grain is read from the materials library not the part library. The rules for grain when importing parts lists are as follows:
Part not in part library - grain taken from the material library
Part in part library - grain taken from part library
Part in part library (variable grain) - grain from material library
Part in part library but material is different - grain from imported material code
If a material is not found in the Material library the grain defaults to Y.
These rules apply to import formats 0, 3-7.
Quick edging
The field labelled Edge (when viewed on screen) shows four characters, for example, AAAA or 00BB. These are referred to as the Quick edging codes. They are shown like this to keep them compact but they are four separate items and should be separated by commas.
AAAA > A,A,A,A
ABC0 > A,B,C,0
Even if the fields are not used they must be present if entering other fields that come after them. In this case enter them as (,,,,,) for example:-
END/12B,C15,36-1/2,15-3/4,200,,,,,1,BAY 7,URGENT
Variables - import
Variables and answers can be imported during a part list import process. This only applies to the following two import formats:-
User defined order
Batch - user defined order
Each line in the import file refers to a line in the part list. The variables for each part are specified in the same line as the standard fields (e.g. part code, material, length, width etc....). A variable can appear in any field position on a line and is denoted by surrounding the variable name with @ symbols.
@DOORMAT@
The answer is always the next field and must not be surrounded by @ symbols. So a sequence of variable and answer would be as follows:
@DOORMAT@,MDF-18
The variable and answer pairs can occur at any point in the line:-
PARTCODE,@DOORMAT@,MDF-18,MEL-CHIP 18MM,123,17,15,,,@CARCASEMAT@,MELCHIP15,@HINGE@,1
If a variable answer is blank, the variable will not be placed into the generated part list.
