BOM and table types

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When preparing information about a product, various specification forms may be required. In order to understand how the Woodwork for Inventor report generator works, we must explain the main principles and a few concepts.

Put very simply:

 

1. Specification (BOM) type tells us how we will iterate through the tree.

2. Table starts a cycle that iterates through the whole data model tree from the beginning to the end.

3. Table.Data Description filters the data to be exported and indicates in which environment it should be done.

4. Item shows the specific table cell and the piece of data to be exported.

 

Now we will discuss this in more detail.

 

1.When generating reports, Woodwork for Inventor BOM generator iterates through the model structure and, with each step, arrives at an item/entry of the structure tree, i.e. an item. Several iteration options are available. For example, through all items of an assembly, through items of parts only, through material entries only, etc.

 

2.Specifikacijos (BOM) tipas. These are instructions for iteration through model structure. At the same time, it defines the type of report. MS Excel sheet can have one specified BOM type. Two types are available:

 

a.Component specifications. Component specifications can be classified into three types:
i.Structured lists, which shall all assemblies and parts and their interrelation. Workpieces and their materials can be treated as a separate entry. It depends on the selected table type.
ii.Part lists, also known as Plain BOM.
iii.Item lists, where all items of a model tree are given in a plain BOM. This means that workpieces and materials are included in the specification as an item of the list rather than a property.
b.Material summaries, providing a summary of materials that make up the assembly. These are of two types:
i.Material Summary.
ii.Material Summary by Product in the general specification.

 

3.Table - it is essentially a loop instruction for iteration through the model tree from beginning to end. The tables also contain keywords, which “pull out” the required properties of the current item in the model tree. The properties are then displayed in the appropriate place of the table. Thus, each table means the iteration through the whole model structure from beginning to end. Each BOM type has its own types of tables. A table can be viewed as a kind of data filter. The table type determines which items have to be transferred to the table or how detailed the iteration through the model structure has to be. For example, the part list should only display the parts produced of board-type material. Another case: the structured list should consider the part as the lowest item and in the second case – the workpiece. One MS Excel sheet may describe several tables of the same specification type.

 

4.Keywords - arranged inside the table. This is an instruction specifying which item property has to be pulled out and entered in the given column. Each keyword starts with “Item”. A keyword is made up of word “Item”, dot and property name. This pulls out the required data from the item. For example, to find out the component name, you will simply have to enter the keyword {Item.Name}. If you need to find out the part length, enter the keyword {Item.Length}. To access the workpiece dimension, use the keyword {Item.FillWorkpiece.Length}. In order to avoid errors in compiling keywords, we recommend using the keyword hint.

 

For more information about the structure to be followed in a template, click here.

 

 

 

Types of specifications generated by Woodwork for Inventor and their tables

Types of specifications generated by Woodwork for Inventor and their tables

 

 

An explanation how specific types and tables iterate through model data is provided below.

 

hmtoggle_plus1"BOM.StructuredList"

 

This keyword marks the beginning of the structured list and belongs to Components BOM class. Only one table selected out of available ones can be included in such specification.

 

"Table.Start.CADHierarchy"

In this table type, model data are iterated as if they were Autodesk Inventor model structure. This way, workpiece items are ignored. In such table, workpiece data is presented as item properties. For example, to find out the workpiece length, you will have to enter the keyword {Item.FillWorkpiece.Length}. Cover workpieces are indexed according to the sides of the part and presented by specifying the index of the side. The following indices are used to describe the sides of a part:

 

Left
Right
Front
Back
Top
Bottom

 

For example, to open cover colour code of the left side of the part, you will have to enter the keyword {Item.CoverWorkpiece.Left.Material.Color.Code}. If no covers with such index could be found in the model data, MS Excel cell is left blank.

 

In this class of specification tables, the user can use keywords that provide information about the structure hierarchy. In other words, we can know who is the parent/owner of the current item. For example, keyword {Item.Parent.Code} will give the item code, to which the item belongs.

 

 

Hierachy iteration thru Model Data

 

 

"Table.Start.W4IParts"

The table of this type acts the same way as "Table.Start.CADHierarchy", except the fact that during iteration through the model tree, items of purchased assemblies are ignored. In other words, this table allows presenting the assembly structure, listing only Woodwork for Inventor parts without displaying purchased products.

 

In this class of specification tables, the user can use keywords that provide information about the structure hierarchy. In other words, we can know who is the parent/owner of the current item. For example, keyword {Item.Parent.Code} will give the item code, to which the item belongs.

 

"Table.Start.PurchasedParts"

The table of this type acts the same way as "Table.Start.CADHierarchy", except the fact that during iteration through the model tree, only the items of purchased assemblies are included in the specification. In other words, this table allows presenting the assembly structure, listing only purchased products without displaying Woodwork for Inventor parts.

 

In this class of specification tables, the user can use keywords that provide information about the structure hierarchy. In other words, we can know who is the parent/owner of the current item. For example, keyword {Item.Parent.Code} will give the item code, to which the item belongs.

 

"Table.Start.FullHierarchy"

In this table type, all model data items are iterated. Therefore, one row represents each item in the specification table. For example, here, the keyword {Item.Length} will provide the value of the item on which the cursor is placed. If it is a part, the part length will be given. If it is a workpiece, the length of the workpiece will be given. If the item does not have the requested characteristic (for example, size values cannot be provided for assembly items), MS Excel cell is left blank.

 

In this class of specification tables, the user can use keywords that provide information about the structure hierarchy. In other words, we can know who is the parent/owner of the current item. For example, keyword {Item.Parent.Code} will give the item code, to which the item belongs.

 

FullHierarchy iteration

 

 

"Table.Start.ExtendedFullHierarchy"

In this table type, all model data items are iterated. In this case, information about a material is treated as an item. Therefore, one row represents each item in the specification table. For example, here, the keyword {Item.Width} will provide the value of the item on which the cursor is placed. If the cursor is placed on a part, the value of the part width will be provided. If this is a workpiece, the value of the workpiece width will be provided. If this is a material, the material width will be given, e.g. width of edge band. If the item does not have the requested characteristic (for example, size values cannot be provided for assembly items), MS Excel cell is left blank.

 

In this class of specification tables, the user can use keywords that provide information about the structure hierarchy. In other words, we can know who is the parent/owner of the current item. For example, keyword {Item.Parent.Code} will give the item code, to which the item belongs.

 

 

Table Extended Full Hierarchy Iteration scheme

 

 

"Table.Start.CompositeParts"

This table is used only for parts that include composite workpieces. Composite workpiece is a workpiece made of parts that are glued together and, if necessary, additionally processed to obtain the final shape of the part. These parts are iterated in a similar way as an assembly by scanning through the parts only, i.e. through the composite part itself and the workpieces that make up the part. To access workpiece parameters, keywords have to be composed similarly to those composed in InventorHierarchy table (see above).

 

 

Iterate Through Composition part

 

 

"Table.Start.MultilayerParts"

This table is used only for parts that include multilayer workpieces. A multilayer workpiece is made by gluing together several boards. So multilayer workpieces are made up of several other board workpieces.

 

 

Multilayer Model Data iterating

 

 

hmtoggle_plus1"BOM.PartList"

 

This keyword marks the beginning of the structured list and belongs to Components BOM class. Specifications of this type always scan the model data by iterating through part items ignoring assembly items. Several tables can be composed in a single specification of this type. Each table includes Woodwork for Inventor parts made of the material type specified for the table. For example, all parts made of board will be presented in Table.Start.Board table. Parts made of other materials will be presented in the appropriate tables. This allows sorting the parts in an orderly fashion by the type of material of which they are made. In such table, workpiece data is presented as item properties. For example, to find out the workpiece length, you will have to enter the keyword {Item.FillWorkpiece.Length}. Cover workpieces are indexed according to the sides of the part and presented by specifying the index of the side. The following indices are used to describe the sides of a part:

 

Left
Right
Front
Back
Top
Bottom

 

For example, to open cover colour code of the left side of the part, you will have to enter the keyword {Item.CoverWorkpiece.Left.Material.Color.Code}. If no covers with such index could be found in the model data, MS Excel cell is left blank.

 

Plain BOM iteration scheme

 

 

 

"Table.Start"

The table presents all parts.

"Table.Start.Solid"

The table presents parts made of solid material.

"Table.Start.Board"

The table presents parts made of board material.

"Table.Start.LaminatedBoard"

The table presents parts made of laminated board material.

"Table.Start.MultilayerBoard"

The table presents parts made of multilayer board material.

"Table.Start.DesktopBoard"

The table presents parts made of desktop material.

"Table.Start.Rod"

The table presents parts made of rod material.

"Table.Start.Veneer"

The table presents veneer workpieces necessary to cover parts in a product. This table is unique, because it iterates through veneer workpieces only.

"Table.Start.Units"

The table presents purchased products.

 

hmtoggle_plus1"BOM.ItemList"

 

The keyword starts a specification from the Components BOM class. Specification of this type iterates through all model data items. Several tables can be composed in a single specification of this type. Different from “BOM.PartsList”, where only the parts are iterated, “BOM.ItemsList” iterates through all items of the model data tree. Therefore, the tables allow the user to present the selections alone in a separate list or view the listed materials. Another feature of this specification is that it allows viewing the parts, from which the multilayer board is made up, and the workpieces of individual boards, which are included in the tables. Later on, information about parts, from which the boards are made up, can be derived accordingly.

 

Table Extended Full Hierarchy Iteration scheme

 

 

"Table.Start"

The table presents all iterated model items.

"Table.Start.Assemblies"

 

The table presents all assemblies in the specification.

"Table.Start.Solid"

The table presents parts made of solid material.

"Table.Start.Board"

The table presents parts made of board material. Multilayer board workpieces are also included here.

"Table.Start.LaminatedBoard"

The table presents parts made of laminated board material. Multilayer board workpieces are also included here.

"Table.Start.MultilayerBoard"

The table presents parts made of multilayer board material.

"Table.Start.DesktopBoard"

The table presents parts made of desktop material.

"Table.Start.Rod"

The table presents parts made of rod material.

"Table.Start.Veneer"

The table presents veneer workpieces necessary to cover parts in a product. This table is unique, because it iterates through veneer workpieces only.

"Table.Start.Units"

The table presents purchased products.

"Table.Start.Materials

The table presents all materials, from which the product(s) is/are produced.

 

hmtoggle_plus1"BOM.MaterialsSummary"

 

The keyword starts a specification presenting information about materials. In this case, the program iterates through items in the material table. Keywords can be used to access all characteristics of the material, including quantity of each material necessary to produce the product described in the model data. Quantities are presented with the appropriate units of measurement. For more information about Woodwork for Inventor materials, click here.

 

Material Iteration scheme

 

In this type of specification, several tables can be composed on a single sheet. Each table type presents a summary of the specified type of materials.

 

"Table.Start"

The table presents all materials.

"Table.Start.Solid"

The table presents solid materials.

"Table.Start.Board"

The table presents board materials.

"Table.Start.LaminatedBoard"

The table presents laminated board materials.

"Table.Start.MultilayerBoard"

The table presents multilayer board materials.

"Table.Start.Desktop"

The table presents desktop materials.

"Table.Start.Rod"

The table presents rod materials.

"Table.Start.Veneer"

The table presents veneer materials.

"Table.Start.EdgeBand"

The table presents edge band materials.

"Table.Start.Paint"

The table presents paint materials.

"Table.Start.Units"

The table presents a list of purchased products.

 

hmtoggle_plus1   "BOM.MaterialsSummaryByProduct"

 

The keyword starts a specification presenting information about materials in the same manner as in "BOM.MaterialSummary" specification. However, here, information about materials is broken down by products included in the model data. As described above, previously generated specifications for several Woodwork for Inventor product models can be merged..

 

"BOM.MaterialSummaryByProduct" specification is made up of material summary specifications for each product. Where it is inconvenient to create a separate .wbom file for each product and later merge these files to create uniform model data, this can be done by opening an Autodesk Inventor assembly and generating its specification. For example, you have an Autodesk Inventor assembly – a kitchen furniture set, and you want to generate material summary specification for each cabinet.

 

Now, BOM generator will treat each first-level component as a product that requires a separate material summary. Quantities are presented with the appropriate units of measurement. For more information about Woodwork for Inventor materials, click here.