Import structures and structure changes from Excel

Import new structures or apply changes to existing ones in Teamcenter; using data from Excel spreadsheets. This includes adding and removing elements, updating item and element properties, and managing relations, whether from a prepared Excel file for initial import or a round-trip Excel file for modifications.

Use the following guidelines for importing Excel to create structures, elements, and relations in Teamcenter:

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 elements 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.

When you import changes from a previously exported Excel, you can add or remove structure levels, add or remove elements from the structure. However, do not make changes to the TCUID column in Excel. When you import the changes from a previously exported Excel, Teamcenter detects the original structure and imports changes to it.

Restrictions and limitationsYou can perform this task if it is configured for you by your administrator. Procedure Prepare the Excel with the structure data, elements, or relations you intend to import.

For an external file, ensure that the columns are organized for mapping to Teamcenter properties. These files can represent simple structures or structures with relations. For a round-trip file that was previously exported from Teamcenter, you can modify:

The item and element properties.

Modify structure including adding and removing elements and replacing items.

Modify the relation properties, including adding new relations and modifying existing relation properties.

In Teamcenter, navigate to the location where you want to import or update the structures. The location can be a folder in Teamcenter, the Content tab of an engineering change, or an existing open structure in Teamcenter.

Perform one of the following actions:

Click Excel Round-trip > Import from Excel . Click More commands > Import/Export > Import from Excel .

In the Import from Excel panel, click Choose File and select the Microsoft Excel file from which you want to import the structure. You must review and configure the import options. If you are importing an external file, map the Excel columns to Teamcenter columns and properties. Furthermore, the structures, its relations, and elements are imported by default. If you are importing a round-trip file, Teamcenter recognizes the column mapping, and you are not required to map the columns manually.

If you are importing an external Excel file, map the 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. Select a saved mapping that matches your Excel file's column structure. Mapping names typically indicate the structure type or source. For example, BOM_Import_Standard or Vendor_Parts_Mapping. If unsure, create a new mapping or consult your administrator about which mapping to use for your specific import scenario.

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.

If you are importing a round-trip file that was previously exported from Teamcenter, select the following import options:

Select the Structure check box to import the structural changes. The examples of structural change can be a new element is added to the structure, a subassembly is removed from the structure, or the quantity of elements is updated. Select the Relations check box to import the relational changes between the primary and secondary objects that are made in the Excel. Select the Parts check box to import the item-specific changes made to the structure. The examples of item-specific changes can be new items or updates to an item's description. If you want to merge the changes made to the Excel into the structure and retain all the structure-related data in Teamcenter, click the Merge option. If you want to replace data in Teamcenter with the data from the Excel file, click the Overwrite option. Caution Always ensure that you understand the implications of overwrite operation and have appropriate backups or version control in place before overriding the structure data. Note The Overwrite option requires specific settings configured by your administrator. If this option is not available, contact your administrator.

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

(Optional) Click Preview to check the structure before import. Perform the following tasks in the Preview panel: Review the structure to be imported along with the Action that is performed by default and the Teamcenter Information column that shows additional information related to an action. (Optional) Change the action for Revise and Overwrite considering the business requirement. By default, Teamcenter selects actions based on whether items exist and whether they are writable. Change actions when the default action does not match your requirements. To do so, right click an action and select:

Revise when you want to preserve the existing revision and create a new one with updates.

Reference when you want to use existing elements without modifications.

Overwrite when you need to update the existing revisions with new data without creating new revisions.

Click Import to import the structure in Teamcenter.

Results

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 elements with the same ID. You can see the elements on the Import Preview screen and import them successfully. The import structure functionality searches for and creates elements 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 re-upload 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.