A Parts List table for PCB Documentation includes part attributes for a Build of Materials (BOM), where the BOM is used to define the assembly of a printed circuit board. Part attributes are collected from CAD databases and corporate databases, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. ERP systems maintain part attributes such as cost, availability and alternate manufacturers. The need exists to merge part attributes from CAD databases with attributes from ERP systems to create the final Parts List table. BluePrint-PCB is a PCB Documentation authoring tool that reads CAD data and creates PCB Documentation directly from the CAD data structures. BluePrint-PCB additionally supports merging of the CAD part attributes with ERP part attributes for the purpose of PCB assembly documentation.
The BluePrint-PCB Parts List Manager stores parts in two categories: Imported Data and User Data. Imported Data refers to parts that are imported from the CAD data. User Data refers to mechanical parts that you can create using the facilities within BluePrint-PCB. BluePrint-PCB allows you to associate mechanical parts in the User Data to the electrical parts in the Imported Data. Corporate ERP systems can store part attributes for both Imported Data (CAD data) and User Data (mechanical parts). For PCB Documentation created in BluePrint-PCB, you can update parts and part attributes from an ERP system. BluePrint-PCB can import ERP data using a CSV (comma separated value) file format. The BluePrint-PCB command, File > Import > Parts List, supports importing CSV files into the Parts List Manager. You are able to import new parts and part attributes into either or both categories of the Parts List components: Imported Data and User Data. You are able to add or update part attributes for parts that already exist in the BluePrint-PCB Parts List.
The File > Import > Parts List command works in a manner similar to CSV import in Microsoft Excel. You specify field names, delimiters and field types.
For the purpose of matching CSV parts and attributes to existing parts in the current BluePrint-PCB document, the File > Import > Parts List command allows you to match parts based on fields in the CSV file. Further, you can map field names in the CSV file to field names in the BluePrint-PCB document.
BluePrint-PCB allows you to display any part attributes in Parts List tables that you have created on Assembly Drawing sheets. BluePrint-PCB allows you to export CSV files with Parts List data. You can customize the CSV format on export as appropriate for the successive update to your ERP system.
BluePrint-PCB supports flexible integration with corporate ERP systems, integrating part properties from the corporate database to CAD components within BluePrint-PCB. BluePrint-PCB supports flexible Parts List formatting to display Parts Lists in your desired table format with ERP attributes.