Import a structure from Excel

Import a structure into Teamcenter from a prepared Excel file, including mapping properties, previewing changes, and handling potential errors, to efficiently integrate external structure data.

You can import a structure by using an Excel file. The structure can include all reference properties with an LOV, such as unit of measure, owner, and group. You can import structures with the global revision rule and structures using different ID types that use a Multi-Field Key (MFK). You can import vendor-part data, multiple parts and assemblies, and multiple types of secondary objects. You can also import the relational properties (like preferred or backup vendor preference status). If an array property contains multiple values in the Excel, you can import them too. For example, if the Excel contains a column for Production Sites and the values are Milford and Troy, both these values are imported in Teamcenter.

Restrictions and limitationsYou can perform this task if it is configured for you by your administrator.

Procedure Navigate to the folder where you want to import the structure, and choose More Commands > Import/Export > Import Structure .

In the Import Structure panel, select the Microsoft Excel file from which you want to import the structure by clicking Choose File.

Map the structure properties between Teamcenter and Excel.

Select the required mapping from the Saved Mappings list. The list shows the mappings created and saved by the administrator or previous users.

Alternatively, create a new mapping by entering a name in the Saved Mappings field and selecting the Mapped Attributes for the Excel Headers. Even if an error occurs while importing a structure, the created mapping is saved. You need not select the mapped attributes again for the Excel headers.

If a mapped attribute is not available for an Excel header:

In the Mapped Attributes list for the corresponding Excel header, click Add New to create a new attribute. In Add Properties, select appropriate Subtypes, if you want to change the default one.The reference properties Unit of Measure, Owner, and Group, along with other properties, are listed in the Add Properties section. Filter and select the attribute that you want to map. Click Add. In the Import Structure panel, choose the newly added attribute.

(Optional) If you do not want to run the import process in the background, clear the Run in Background check box. The system notifies you about the result of the import process in the Alerts panel.

(Optional) Click Preview to check the structure before import.

The preview shows the structure to be imported along with the Action that is performed by default. Teamcenter Information shows additional information related to an action.

Action

Description

New

A new item or occurrence is created.

Revise

A new revision of the item or occurrence is created.

Overwrite

The existing revision is overwritten with the updated information.

Reference

The existing revision is used as is. For example, if the revision is released, and some changes are made to the revision in the Excel file without revising the item, the action is set as Reference. This indicates that the changes will not be applied.

You can change the action for Revise and Overwrite. To do so, right click an action and select:

Revise To create a new revision of the occurrence.

Reference To reuse the existing revision in Teamcenter as is. The existing revision will not be updated with the latest information in the Excel file.

Overwrite To update the existing revision in Teamcenter with the latest information from the source Excel file.

Click Import Structure to import the structure in Teamcenter.

If there were no errors while importing the structure: The structure is imported in Teamcenter. When you import multiple elements or assemblies simultaneously, all the top-level elements and assemblies are added to the folder you specified previously. You receive a notification in the Alerts panel when the import is complete. Click Alerts to open the Alerts panel. The structure is imported using the global revision rule. The same revision rule is used while opening the structure after import. You can also import a structure with different ID types that use a multi-field key, that is, when you have two different items with the same ID. You can see the items on the Import Preview screen and import them successfully. The import structure functionality searches for and creates items based on the multi-field key. If there were errors while importing the structure: You receive an error message stating that the import failed because there were errors while importing the structure. You also receive a notification in the Alerts panel, where you can view the error details. Click Alerts to open the Alerts panel. In the Teamcenter Information section, you can view a list of all potential errors simultaneously. When you hover over an error, you can view detailed information about that error.

Tip At this stage, you need not restart the import process from the beginning. You can make the required corrections in the Excel file and then reupload it by clicking Choose File in the Import Structure panel. Once this is done, the saved mappings from the previous import are automatically selected and shown in the Saved Mappings list. Then, you can click Import Structure to proceed with the import.

When you click the link in the Alerts panel, you can view the information about the structures that could not be imported and the related objects.

When you click the Related Objects link, you receive a detailed report of the errors.