Overview of smlutility and SML file format

The smlutility program provides a variety of utilities related to Classification, including the capability to import and export the Classification hierarchy and related instances to and from an ASCII text format. These import/export features are useful for the bulk loading of Classification data and for transferring a Classification hierarchy tree from one database to another. Note The -import and -export arguments of the smlutility utility are deprecated and do not support newer features. To ensure that your data is imported and exported accurately, use PLM XML. Although import/export data can be contained in one file or distributed over multiple files, the order in which the elements are imported is important. For example, attribute definitions can reference lists. Therefore, the lists must already be defined. Additionally, classes and subclasses make reference to attributes that must first be defined in the attribute (UNCT) dictionary. To avoid dependency problems, Siemens Digital Industries Software recommends that the following elements be imported in the following order: List Attribute Class Subclass Data Each line of the import/export file starts with a three-character keyword followed by the appropriate arguments. Each field of the command line is separated by the vertical bar (|) character. For example: Copy Keyword | argument1| argument2| argument3| The following table lists reserved characters, their purpose, and a description: Character Purpose Description ! (exclamation mark) Comment All characters after the ! character are comments. You can place the ! symbol anywhere within the command line. & (ampersand) Line continuation Continues the command on the following line. Place the & symbol at the end of a line. | (vertical bar) Field separation Separator for the arguments.