Export data to Excel

Note: If the selected structure exceeds Excel's eight-level limit, it is exported to an unstructured file. Excel's Outline features are disabled and all objects occupy the same level. To reference the Teamcenter hierarchy in the unstructured file, you can set the REQ_ExportToExcel_add_level_column preference to insert the Level column (leftmost position; each cell shows an object's structure level in Teamcenter). Unstructured files from the Work Offline and Import option cannot be used for a subsequent import.

The sort order in the Teamcenter structure does not affect the object sequence in the output file — each object is exported according to its position in the structure hierarchy. In Systems Engineering, an object's Number property determines the row in which that object is placed in the output file.

You must have at least Read access to all Excel export templates for your project.

Procedure

1. Set the structure context by doing one of the following:

   • To export all objects at all levels, select only the top-level object.
   • To export a single object below the top level, select only that object (selection includes child objects at lower levels).
   • To export two or more objects below the top level, use standard Windows multiple selection (selection cannot include the top-level object; does not include child objects at lower levels).
   • To export structure search results to Excel including the top-level object, click any object in the search results table and press Ctrl-A to select all objects. (The output spreadsheet for structure search results does not contain data for the top-level object if you select only that object.)
   • When you select a folder in Teamcenter and export it to Excel, all contents of the folder are exported. If the template contains a transfer mode, additional secondary objects are exported as a result of executing the transfer mode — this can result in duplicate objects in Excel (see example below).

   Example of transfer-mode duplication: for a Parent folder containing Child1, Child3, Child2, Child3, Child3, Child4, with a transfer mode Folder2 using closure rule CLASS.Folder:CLASS.Folder:PROPERTY.contents:PROCESS+TRAVERSE:PRIMARY.object_name!="Child3", exporting Parent exports all its children directly, but the transfer mode (used only to collect additional secondary objects) skips only the secondary Child3 folder — other secondary folders (Child1, Child2) are still exported, resulting in duplicate Child1 and Child2 folders. Such duplication is unavoidable in this scenario.

   Note: PLM XML export and Excel export process objects via transfer modes differently, so their outputs are not directly comparable.

2. Choose Tools -> Export -> Objects To Excel. The Export To Excel dialog box opens.

3. Under Output, select one of the following modes:

   • Static Snapshot — exports data to an Excel file with standard Microsoft capability.
   • Live integration with Excel (Interactive) — exports data to an Excel file with Teamcenter live Excel capability.
   • Live integration with Excel (Bulk Mode) — exports data to an Excel file with Teamcenter live Excel capability, but does not commit changes to Teamcenter until you click Save to Teamcenter.
   • Work Offline and Import — exports data to an Excel file that also contains import processing information on a separate sheet.

   Caution: Only items, item revisions, and their subtypes can be imported from offline Excel files. Ensure you do not select objects of other types before exporting, or subsequent import attempts fail without notification.

   Note: Work offline mode exports properties such as item_id, object_name, and the real type name even if not specifically selected, so the data can be imported correctly. Only numeric and string properties are supported for import from Excel; read-only, reference, and relation properties should be marked Ignored in the Excel control file sheet. Run-time properties are also not supported for work offline.

   If you select Live integration with Excel (Interactive) or (Bulk Mode), you can also select Check out objects before export, which explicitly checks out the selected objects before the live Excel document is generated (you reserve access until you check them in). Caution: this checkout applies to all objects being exported — use carefully for large exports. This option is cleared by default; configure it via the Show_Checkout_option preference in the Options dialog box.

4. Under Output Template, do one of the following:

   • Select Export All Visible Columns to export the property data in the currently displayed columns. (Note: the relation column is not exported since relation is not a property on the object.)
   • Select Use Excel Template and choose the applicable template from the list (blank if you lack Read access to any Excel export template). Excel templates also specify the output file's overall layout, including headers, footers, and formatting styles.
   • Select Column Configurations and choose the applicable saved column configuration to export the property data in those columns.

5. Click OK to generate the output file in a new Excel window.

Caution: Do not use Excel's native sorting and filtering features in the output file — exported objects and properties must remain aligned with their counterparts in the structure.

Note: An informational message may state that the export process skipped some objects because the Excel template does not contain rules for those objects. You can suppress this message via "Don't show this message again," and restore it by clearing your client cache.

Output modes summary

• Static Snapshot mode: no interactive capability with Teamcenter; useful to record data as of a given time or distribute to customers/suppliers by e-mail or fax.
• Live integration with Excel (Interactive) mode: synchronized with the Teamcenter rich client; edit property values directly in the output file.
• Live integration with Excel (Bulk Mode) mode: changes saved to the Teamcenter rich client once you click Save to Teamcenter.
• Work Offline and Import mode: automatically configured for subsequent importing to Teamcenter via Teamcenter Client for Microsoft Office, to create and modify structure elements.