Replacing item attributes using the Batch Importer tool

Use the Batch Importer tool to assign a new Trustee, custom attribute value, or other item-level attrubute to a set of parts or documents.

The primary purpose of the Batch Importer tool is to import parts, documents, BOMs, files and other starting values into your new PDXpert system.

However, even after your PDXpert system has been initialized, the Batch Importer tool is useful when you need to replace an item-level value on a set of documents and parts. Item-level attributes are those that are shared across all revisions of an item. They can be identified on the ItemMaster import template as columns that show Updateable as Yes.

Don't try to update revision-level attributes on released items.

For information about importing the Item Files and Materials lists, see the related Batch Importer help topics.

To update an item-level attribute, such as the Trustee, use this general procedure:

1. As an administrator, open the PDXpert client's Tools ➔ Batch Importer menu command.

2. Select the Import Type as Item Masters, then click the Export button, to export all existing parts and documents.

3. Open the saved ItemMaster.csv in a CSV plain text editor (or possibly Excel, if you're sure it won't automatically change your item data).

   1. Delete all columns except the four item unique identity columns – that is, Class, Owner, Type, Number – and the attribute that you want to update; for example, the Trustee column.

   2. Sort, filter or otherwise find all rows that you want to change. Delete all rows that you don't want to change.

      

   3. Replace the previous value with a new value. You can assign each row a different value.

      In our example, the new Trustee value must exactly match an existing member of the Persons collection.

      Save the file.

      

4. Import the saved ItemMaster.csv file.

   

Some attributes accept empty values, while others assign a default value when the import value is empty. Do not include any empty cells in the Item Master import file unless (a) you actually want an empty item attribute value and (b) you've tested that the attribute accepts empty values.

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.