Basic installation of Excel Interface includes interfaces to import the following items in systems.
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Plate Articles
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Profile Articles (not in MES)
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Component Articles (not in MES)
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Customers
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Stock Plates
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Stock Profiles (not in MES)
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Plate Order Items
Each interface is created in its own tab in the Microsoft Excel file. The interfaces for different items are described in this chapter. For how to define and create excel sheets for the interfaces, see Interface Definition Parameters for identification and Insert Excel Sheets.
Insert and Update Items in the database
With the exception of the stock plate interface, the interfaces can be used for both inserting new rows to the database and updating the existing rows. The interface shows how many rows are going to be inserted and how many updated when the data is checked.
Identifying the database rows
The rows are identified by the DB Key or its subset. This means that if the DB Key combination used for the identification already exists in a database row, the row is updated according to the data imported in the interface. If DB Key row does not exist, a new row is inserted.
Plate Article
The plate articles mean the type of plate material available in the database. Usually the plate article includes information about the quality and default sizes of the material.
DB Key for identification: Article Number
Profile Article
The profile articles mean the type of profile material available in the database. Usually the profile article includes information about the section shape and dimensions of the material. This feature is not used in MES system.
DB Key for identification: Article Number
Component Article
The component articles mean the type of component material available in the database. Usually the component article includes information about description and measures of the material. This feature is not used in MES system.
DB Key for identification: Article Number
Customer
Customers are used when creating order items. Each order item is allocated for a certain customer.
DB Key for identification: Customer Number
Stock Plate
Stock plate rows are always inserted to the database, never updated. The given Thickness + Grade + ArticleNumber combination must be found from the plate articles, so that the stock plate can be connected to a proper article.
DB Key for identification: Does not use DB Key for updating, only for identifying the plate article for the stock plates.
Stock Profile
Stock profile rows are always inserted to the database, never updated. The given ArticleNumber + Grade combination must be found from the profile articles, so that the stock profile can be connected to a proper article. This feature is not used in MES system.
DB Key for identification: Does not use DB Key for updating, only for identifying the profile article for the stock profiles.
Stock Component
Stock component rows are always inserted to the database, never updated. The given ArticleNumber must exist in the component articles, so that the stock component can be connected to a proper article.
DB Key for identification: Does not use DB Key for updating, only for identifying the component article for the stock component. Heat Number / Charge Number is only available in the ENT system.
Plate Order Item
Order items include information about the ordered parts, the material to be used and the customer for who the order is made. Notice that these identifiers included in the order item must be found from the database when inserting or updating order item rows:
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Drawing + Part No + Version No combination to identify the part geometry.
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Article Number to identify the used plate article.
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Customer Number to identify the customer.
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Site Name to identify the site.