Associate a file to an ITEM?

Otto_DeRuntz

How can I associate a file, like a .pdf or .ai file to an ITEM?

PeteYodis

@Otto_DeRuntz No, the property type is purely text. You'll need to copy and paste directly into your browser address bar.

martin_kopplow

Just import it, it will live in a tab. Tabs can be organized in folders, so you could keep a part and say all its associated PDFs in a folder. You could also add an attachment to a comment in a part studio or in an assembly. Also, a BOM may have a column for URLs.

Not sure what an ITEM is in this context, though.

Otto_DeRuntz

How do you add a URL to a BOM?

S1mon

@martin_kopplow

"Items" are things that aren't ordinarily modeled, e.g. grease, sealant, tape, etc.
https://learn.onshape.com/learn/article/adding-items-to-your-designs-in-onshape

Otto_DeRuntz

I think I am still not understanding how to use or document ITEMS.

I understand they are used for things that are not modeled, however, things like Lubricants or Tape all have datasheets associated with them. In the dialogue to create an ITEM there is no option to attach any documents.

If I create an ITEM, like a Lubricant, Molykote 111, how do I associate the datasheet for it to the ITEM?

S1mon

I haven't actually used Items in Onshape, but from the help, I don't see a way to directly connect PDFs (or .AI) to an Item. You can certainly upload those and put them in a shared document that you use to catalog your items, but other than naming, I'm not sure how you can connect them. You can repurpose one of the properties to hold a URL, but otherwise I don't know how you connect them.

https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/Plans/items.htm?Highlight=items

Otto_DeRuntz

Trying to understand the cleanest way to document ITEMS and include them in a BOM, things that are not modeled in CAD but have specifications and datasheets.

1. Create a Top-Level folder named ITEMS.
2. In this folder are Sub-folders for each ITEM Classification, i.e. Adhesives, Lubricants, Tape, Misc. Packaging Items ……..
3. Create an ITEM (Like Molykote 111, with a classification as 'Lubricant') and assign it an ITEM Number. ITEM_00000001
4. In the Lubricant Folder I create a sub-folder named ITEM_00000001
5. In this folder I can import any associated documents.

In an Assembly that uses Molykote 111 I can now add ITEM_00000001 to its BOM.

If I understand it right ITEMS are the only way to add an Item to a BOM that is not modeled.

Is this a logical approach to this?

Are there other ways users are doing this?

nick_papageorge_dayjob

I'm using items all the time to populate a BOM. I use them for cables, zip ties, tape, adhesive, etc.

In OS I only have the fields of the Item properties filled out. The data sheets from the vendors live in Microsoft Sharepoint and are managed by my company's operations person.

Otto_DeRuntz

Thanks,

I assume you assign your ITEMS Part Numbers and then have a database or folder in SharePoint to relate documents to ITEM Part Numbers.

Can Links be added to an ITEM property field that could call up a datasheet?

We moved all our data over from Creo/Windchill to Onshape this past few months and it's taking me a while to understand how organizations are managing data in Onshape. I've brought in and released and re-released most of our data multiple times as I understand how Workspaces, Part Studios, Drawings, Items inter-relate using properties. This is my opportunity to get all our data in order and I want to follow the best organizational structure as I can.

PeteYodis

I created a ticket for @Otto_DeRuntz but wanted to post here what I told Otto in the ticket:

We don't have a way yet to directly attach/associate data in tabs you have imported to parts/assemblies/drawings/non geometric items.  I'm placing you on the improvement for that.  As others have mentioned, you might create a custom property and put the URL for the data in the tab those parts/assemblies/drawings/non geometric items can refer to.  

This is a general need/ability in most PDM systems - to create relationships between data that are not necessarily the same as the CAD relationships that the system maintains automatically for you.

Otto_DeRuntz

I created a 'Property' named 'URL', the Type is 'Text'. I copied the URL to this property.

Is there a way to convert the URL to a 'Link', other than just text?

PeteYodis

@Otto_DeRuntz No, the property type is purely text. You'll need to copy and paste directly into your browser address bar.