Copying an assembly BOM to another assembly

Last reviewed 2022-09-30

To make a new assembly based on another assembly, use the Edit menu's Snapshot Duplicate command. However, when both assemblies already exist (for example, when merging a successful prototype's Bill of Materials ("BOM") into the current production assembly), you can export the source assembly's BOM to a CSV file, and import this file into the target assembly's pending BOM: Markup list. This is also useful for reverting to an earlier BOM revision: export the assembly's older BOM, then re-import into the pending markup on the same assembly.

Setup§

Create an export transform that matches the format required by the Import Markup from File command:

1. Download this Export Markup to File transform to an administrator's computer.

2. Open the Export-Markup-to-File.txt file in a plain text editor like Notepad, Notepad++ or similar tool. Do not use a formatting text editor like Microsoft Word or Windows WordPad.

3. In most systems, the transform will work without changes.

   However, if you've changed these BOM system rules, then edit the text file:

   • When the Allow partner parts on a bill of materials is marked, include the ChildOwner column in the file.

     Remove the -- at row 28

        from --,ChldItm.[Owner] AS [ChildOwner]

        to ,ChldItm.[Owner] AS [ChildOwner]

   • When the Lock part default unit of measure on BOM is not marked, include the Unit column in the file.

     Remove the -- at row 34

        from --,ISNULL(SIUoM.[Name],ChldItm.[DefaultUOM]) AS [Unit]

        to ,ISNULL(SIUoM.[Name],ChldItm.[DefaultUOM]) AS [Unit]

     

4. Add the transform to your system's Transforms collection (see help topic here).

Export, then Import§

As an example, assembly 10111 (the "source" assembly) has a BOM that we want to import to assembly 10222 (the "target"):

1. Export the source assembly's BOM using the Import Markup to File transform. Use the Report/Export Wizard tool, or the context menu on the BOM tab, above the Markup list.

   

2. On the target assembly, create a new pending revision or select the existing pending revision. Then follow the instructions To import a BOM Markup from a file.

   

This application note was relevant to the PDXpert software release that was current at time of publication. Product changes since that time may affect its utility. We'd be happy to assist you in assessing the applicability of this note to your situation.