How to Generate a Bill of Materials
General
Paneldes can extract complete component data, for any single model, to a DBASE 3 compatible database file.
-
The file is named: <Your Model Filename>.DBF
-
It is known as the BILL OF MATERIALS file or BOM file.
-
It is placed in the current Elecdes project directory.
Viewing and Printing the BOM
This database file contains all of the information required in a Bill of Materials. Due to the DBASE 3 format of the file, you can use any one of a number of cheap, robust database and spreadsheet packages to format and print a materials report from the contents of the file. (Microsoft Excel and Access are two examples). For reporting purposes, with most modern word processors, spreadsheets and database packages, it is a simple exercise to exclude fields from reporting. i.e. you can print the Bill of Materials file directly and exclude any fields you do not wish to report [e.g. sizing fields].
Global Editing
The bill of materials file also contains information used by the Global Editor. This is to allow you to edit information in your BOM file and have the changes reflected in your model.
The data in the BOM file pertaining to the Global Editor includes parameters, class and spatial location.
Component queries
Component Queries in a drawing session refer to data from the BOM file for the latest information on your model.
Procedure
-
Select the Generate Model BOM entry from the Utilities and BOM menu.
-
Paneldes will generate a new Bill of Materials for the current drawing. The file will have the same name as your current drawing but will have a .dbf extension. The BOM file will be saved in the current Elecdes project directory. If you do not have a current Elecdes project you will be prompted to select or create one.
BOM File Structure
Do not modify the file structure of the BOM file:
For a complete description of each of these fields, see the Paneldes Component Attributes and Paneldes Component Dimensions reference items.
Field | Width | Description |
---|---|---|
DRAWING | 255 | Drawing name with path but no .dwg extension |
HANDLE | 20 | AutoCAD handle of the component |
3DHANDLE | 20 | AutoCAD handle of the 3D block for a component or 3D envelope for a raceway segment |
REFERENCE | 25 | Elecdes reference |
TAGNAME | 25 | The name of the component |
LOCATION | 25 | The name of the panel or plant the component is located in |
DETAILS | 50 | User details |
BLOCK3D | 25 | The name of the 3D block representing the component |
CLASS | 10 | Class name |
SUBCLASS | 25 | Subclass name |
MFG | 5 | Manufacturers code |
CATNO | 50 | Catalog number |
CATDESC | 59 | Catalog description |
PRICE | 10 | Price per unit |
HEIGHT | 10 | Overall Height |
HEIGHT1 | 10 | Height Value |
HEIGHT2 | 10 | Height Value |
HEIGHT3 | 10 | Height Value |
HEIGHT4 | 10 | Height Value |
HEIGHT5 | 10 | Height Value |
WIDTH | 10 | Overall Width |
WIDTH1 | 10 | Width Value |
WIDTH2 | 10 | Width Value |
WIDTH3 | 10 | Width Value |
WIDTH4 | 10 | Width Value |
WIDTH5 | 10 | Width Value |
LENGTH | 10 | Overall Length |
LENGTH1 | 10 | Length Value |
LENGTH2 | 10 | Length Value |
LENGTH3 | 10 | Length Value |
LENGTH4 | 10 | Length Value |
LENGTH5 | 10 | Length Value |
RADIUS | 10 | Radius |
BNDRADIUS | 10 | Bend Radius |
SECHEIGHT | 10 | Secondary Height |
SECWIDTH | 10 | Secondary Width |
CNRANGLE | 10 | Corner Angle |
PROTRUDE | 10 | Protrusion |
CABLEFACTR | 10 | The cable filling factor for the component. This is only used for route segments. |
WEIGHTFCTR | 10 | The weight filling factor for the component. This is only used for route segments. |
POWER | 10 | The power index for the component. This is only used for route segments |
ZONECLASS | 10 | Area classification |
AUX1 | 10 | Auxiliary One |
AUX2 | 10 | Auxiliary Two |
AUX3 | 10 | Auxiliary Three |
AUX4 | 10 | Auxiliary Four |
AUX5 | 10 | Auxiliary Five |
AUX6 | 10 | Auxiliary Six |
NORTH | 10 | Y value of the position of the component in WCS |
EAST | 10 | X value of the position of the component in WCS |
ELEVATION | 10 | Z value of the position of the component in WCS |
ERRORS | 15 | Errors |
BHANDLE | 20 | Handle of the 3D block representing this component |
HINGESIDE | 10 | The side of the door that has the hinge. |