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Evo-ERP and DBA Classic >> Suggestions for Updates >> Weblink to Item Drawings
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Message started by Mike_Vader on 12/03/03 at 12:32:26

Title: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Vader on 12/03/03 at 12:32:26

The recent update from IS Tech support for weblinks to vendors was very well received at my company :) but it also brought up a very useful and similar application that I believe would be even more helpful for many manufacturers....

Could we set up IN-B to have a drawing specification weblink? This link could even be print (optionally) as a drawing specification that would allow vendors to see exactly what you mean when looking for a part that is difficult to describe.

Would this be possible?

Mike

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 12/03/03 at 14:18:39

Not exactly sure what you mean. Could you explain more fully exactly how this would function. If it is for passing information to vendors, it is something associated with inventory items that wouls pull into Purchase Orders?

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Vader on 12/03/03 at 14:57:37

Sorry Lynn,

Actually, I just meant a weblink that would be part attached to the parts master instead of being vendor specific.

Is that possible?

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 12/03/03 at 16:06:33

Enter the link in IN-B and then in IN-B and IN-A if you click a WEB button it takes you to that page which might be a page from a vendor catalog or something? That is definitely possible!

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Vader on 12/03/03 at 16:15:39

You got it now - that's what I'm talking about

It would be really, REALLY great.

Mike ;D

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Karen Mason on 12/04/03 at 04:59:47

If there is the capability to have weblinks to drawings & vendors, how about links internally from WO to cad drawings for shop usage?

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Habich on 12/04/03 at 08:19:18

...or link from IN-A to CAD viewer...invoke a program and pass the drawing location as an argument...viewer program defined somewhere as default, along with location of drawing files, with individual drawing file defined in item master.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 12/17/03 at 16:57:11

This week's IS Tech Support update will include Phase 1 of this enhancement. These features can all run in the standard TAS 5 DBA. The TAS 6 Evolution menu is NOT necessary for any of this.

IN-B will have a place to enter a path and file to link to anything related to the item - could be a PDF file, JPG or GIF, Word Document or web page either on the internet or your local intranet. Anything Internet Explorer can open can be used. IN-A, RO-A, BM-A and the item lookups in SO-A and PO-A will have a camera icon you can click to open the linked file. As other programs are compiled, the icon will be available everywhere there is an inventory lookup.

Phase 2 will enable multiple links per item - drawings, MSDS sheets, processing specs - anything you want that IE can open and each link (if it is a printable file type) can also be tagged to print as part of the shop paperwork when travelers are printed.

Phase 3 will be the actual printing of the linked files with Traveler printing and may be sold as an add-on rather than part of the standard update but phases 1 and 2 will definitely be part of standard IS Tech updates.

For DBA users who are not yet IS Tech Support subscribers, a free version of the Phase 1 features in IN-A and IN-B will be made available, albeit with annoying splash screens of shameless advertising for IS Tech. ;)

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Habich on 12/18/03 at 14:10:15

This sounds fantastic...almost. We can't view our drawings in IE. They're in Autocad (and related programs). Autodesk sells VoloView to view and print files like these. Could this module invoke VoloView instead of IE? More broadly, could the user specify a default for the viewer?

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by deburr on 12/19/03 at 06:50:01

With all these new features on the way, you are taking away all of the incentives to go EZIJOBZ. Keep it coming!

Steve

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by kevind on 12/19/03 at 09:45:40

With regard to viewing autocad files ... Create DWF files of your "signed off" Autocad drawings.

These can be displayed in IE using the Autodesk Express viewer:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=2404513&siteID=123112

To create DWF files, use the DWF Creator:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=3429570&wac=HYPERLINK

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Habich on 12/19/03 at 10:46:10

Kevin, I realize we could create .dwf (or .pdf, or whatever) of all drawings. We're not going to maintain our thousands of drawings in two different formats...not only is the work involved unjustified (and I'm lazy, darnit), but then there are two places to access one drawing, which means that they could differ...this really leads to problems. This is why we're looking for solutions like this to get away from paper copies of drawings as well.

Viewers like VoloView (and there are lots of others for Autocad, and lots more for other formats) avoid this: everyone works from the same document, and only those who need write access need have it. It shouldn't be hard to invoke a different viewer from DBA.

Another approach might be for DBA to open the file (drawing, instructions, or whatever) using the file type associations in the registry.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Karen Mason on 12/19/03 at 11:21:52

Mike's right, we already have to locate a zillion copies of drawings in the paper format, we certainly don't want that problem existing in the computer. We need to retreive in the format we are working in, in our case.dwf or .dxf

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Habich on 12/19/03 at 12:21:39

Hmmm...this could work. IE already uses file associations, so it opens the necessary application...Acrobat (or Reader) for .pdf, Word for .doc, or whatever associations you have defined in Windows Explorer (not IE), Tools, Folder Options, File Types. (Normally, these are set up when you install applications.)

On this machine, Autocad is registered for .dwg files. A machine without Autocad (MDT, etc.) but with VoloView (or whatever viewer) should start the viewer from IE...job done, at least if it prints from VoloView instead of Autocad.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by NovaZyg on 12/22/03 at 08:39:04

That was the idea in the first place. Use IE and let the file associations do the rest. Version 2 of this will allow for multi documents/dwg's etc.. to be attached to any part # Version 3 will be printing them from WO-C and maybe other places in DBA... We have many more new and exciting enhancements planned for DBA. The more people who sign up with ISTECHSUPPORT the better the funding for futur development.... :D

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by shadowcaster on 12/22/03 at 12:51:52

We create a manufacturing document for each part.

This is a word document

In it we create an OLE link to the AutoCAD file as well as placing all the related manufacturing info, Tool list, Photos, and CNC machine setup sheets ect.

When we print work orders the custom program I had Ben create forced MS word to open the word.doc and print it its get the file name from the drawing field and it requires a short word macro to be installed.
We also have the option of not printing the word doc.

I can print hundreds of work orders at a time and all the doc’s come out with the work orders.

All I have to do is match them with the traveler and pick list and off they go to the shop.

To be sure drawings always match the AutoCAD files you open the word doc and the double click on the drawing it then opens AutoCAD for editing. When your done it updates the word doc and everything stays synced.

This has saved us thousands of hours of office work from the old way of having print books that were always out of date, dirty and full of metal chips from the machine shop.

I hope Lynn can incorporate this into her DBA as a standard feature.

John Waddington
www.waddingtonelectronics.com

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 12/23/03 at 13:25:14

It is done! IS Tech Support subscribers should be receiving an email announcing the latest update which includes Phase 1 of this feature. Non-subscribers can go to www.istechsupport.com/demos.asp and download a free zip file that contains evaluation copies of IN-A, IN-B, AP-A, PO-A, RO-A and BM-A do demonstrate the image and web link capabilities and (hopefully) convince you to become a subscriber to get rid of the annoying and shameless popup advertsing.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by deburr on 12/23/03 at 14:00:44

Thanks Lynn

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Mike_Habich on 12/30/03 at 13:20:25

1st version (12/22) is a good start. To make it usable:
--Import utility for image file location. I don't think anyone is going to key in this data for thousands of items.
--How about a definable path, so the inventory record just needs the file, not the whole path.
--We would use this to view Autocad drawings. Invoking Autocad or their VoloView viewer through IE doesn't allow plotting, which we need. I'd like the option to specify the viewer to be used instead of having IE as an unchangeable default.
--Camera icon wasn't visible at first in standard (not Evo) with small screen. I switched to medium; icon was there. Switched back to small...it was there.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 12/31/03 at 11:29:20

Import utility is a good idea, I had already thought of it as well. Also looking at how difficult it would be to enable specifying different applications and a default path.

We are also changing the camera icon on the lower right to a small one up in a toolbar in the upper right with the forum link icon and others as they are developed to eliminate the resolution issues.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Karen Mason on 01/02/04 at 12:24:12

Is there a way to have multiple links? I can see the application for this to have a picture of a difficult setup, a document detailing operation steps, a quality document, and perhaps a drawing.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 01/02/04 at 12:29:13

Not yet but that is in the plans for Phase 2. We plan to have both multiple links and a way to link shop sketches and/or manufacturing instruction documents to a specific routing sequence of an item.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Karen Mason on 01/02/04 at 15:08:23

Wonderful!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn_Pantic on 01/14/04 at 15:54:10

OK, we are about to release Phase 2 - should be out by the end of the week. We now have:

Unlimited number of links for each inventory item - drawings, inspection instructions, .

Ability to enter a central path to a folder holding links so each inventory link need only specify a file name for those files located in that folder. Other links located elsewhere need the full path specified.

Each link can be associated with any application to open it. Default is Internet Explorer but anything else can be specified - AutoCad, VoloView, anything you want to specify.

A link can be further associated with a routing sequence, such as setup or inspection instructions.

A link can be set Y or N to print with the shop traveler (actual printing capability to follow later).

An import utility is available to populate the link table from a comma delimited file.

Icon to open the linked files is available in IN-A, IN-B, BM-A, RO-A, PO-A, SO-A.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Karen Mason on 01/15/04 at 10:50:16

Wow, this sounds great!!!!

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by shadowcaster on 01/15/04 at 14:05:10

We use autocad too and the way I get arround haveing 2 copies, one in word and one in autocad is to use MANUAL OLE links in word and always open the word doc to edit the drawing. The word doc can even have many drawings or views in it. You cant have large format drawings though. maybe you can Im not sure.
however I can click the camera icon
pull up the word doc
double click on the drawing and it brings up the master drawing in autocad.
There I can large format print, laser print, edit, ect and then update the word doc automatically if I wish.

It would be nice to have autocad print the doc but autocad has so many printing options I dont see how you could get the proper views ect from a simple print command.

besides our word doc's have lots of things in them that are not in the autocad file. Tool list for the cnc machine.
setup screen shots from the CAM program, some have setup photos.

heres a link to an example word doc that we use
http://www.waddingtonelectronics.com/pfTPT72000.doc

Note the info in the header this really helps to match up the word docs with the workorders and the pick slips.

JW

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lordy on 02/12/04 at 07:49:42

The new implementation of the weblinks is great. Although we have not fully implemented its use at this point the ability it should provide will be much apreciated.

I find it incredibly annoying however when tabing or entering through the IN-B screen and the cursor becomes "stuck" in the image link entry and then procedes into the image link addition rather than allowing me to tab through the image link to the save / exit button. Is there a particualr reason the Image link is implemented in this way. Would it not be nicer to implement it in a similar way to the vendor and approved manufacturers are entered as a separate popup screen activated by the buttons at the bottom.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by shadowcaster on 02/13/04 at 14:53:05

I believe it loops at the link so you can enter many links if you need to.

I love the links I think i hit that camera icon 100 times a day.

Im setting up a camera dedicated to takeing photos of stuff we buy where there is no drawing so we can document those hard to deal with items

jw

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by Lynn Pantic on 02/13/04 at 16:07:45

Also, you can hit F10 at any time on the IN-B screen to save, you don't have to tab through all the fields to the end.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by deburr on 02/18/04 at 10:53:24

I love the weblinks! When do I set the global path for links? I think I read there was such a thing but can't find it now.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by NovaZyg on 02/19/04 at 08:29:08

You can set the global path when entering an image link.
add a new link or edit an existing link and one of the questions is Use Global Path (y/n) if you say Yes and you have never set up a global path it will prompt you for the Path. If you already have a global path set up then a button appears when you get to the Use Global path question to Edit Path.

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by deburr on 02/19/04 at 15:20:38

Thanks for the reply. It worked as you said. One more question if I may, how can I use the Win XP picture and fax viewer instead of IE. IE doesn't let you zoom and doesn't let you rotate the picture if it was scanned 90 degrees off. The default Windows viewer is quick and a little mmore flexible. You can even say the image to another format if you needed to. The problem is, I think the viewer is not a separate application that can be called up. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by shadowcaster on 02/20/04 at 08:31:47

When you select other there is a button to add the application that you want to use to open that file

IMHO I suggest that you use word or another like program for everything.

It makes a nice container that you can put just about anything into. You can add footer and a header to identify the document page numbers ECT.

Also

The machine will need to have the application exe in the search path so windows can find the app.

I put a sample doc here that you can use as an example

http://www.waddingtonelectronics.com/pfTPT72000.doc

If you just link a bunch of bitmaps w/o identification in them you cant tell what photo goes with what work order or whatever you print it with.

All my doc files have the same name as the part number and that what prints in the header.

JW

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by deburr on 02/27/04 at 10:19:05

Anyone figue out how to get the default Win XP picture and fax viewer to open the image links yet?

Title: Re: Weblink to Item Drawings
Post by shadowcaster on 02/27/04 at 14:50:16

You may have to enter the application in the windows Path variable so it can find the proper program
or put a copy of the exe in the DBA directory.

I had to as the winword directory to my path so I could open word doc's

JW