Importing Data From Templates

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Importing Data From Templates Last revised
11/03/2009
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Introduction
ASENT uses Excel templates in a number of cases
to import data. Some examples of the types of
data that can be import this way are the
following

• Complete BOM or Product Tree structure
• Bulk load parts into project part libraries
• Assemblies or COTS items into assembly libraries
• Entire FMEA or FMECA analysis
• Maintenance tasks into project task libraries

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Importing a BOM or Product Tree
The slides that follow will walk you through the
process of importing a partial or complete
product tree using ASENTs product_tree.xls
template. This is typically located in the
\ASENT\Data folder when ASENT is installed on
your machine. If you are importing a part list
for a single assembly or board you may want to
use the user-defined import feature. Refer to the
ASENT_Import.ppt tutorial.
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Working with the Product Tree Template
The product_tree.xls template file is used for
importing an entire product tree for use in a
Reliability Prediction. Normally, this template
is used by copying and pasting data from a BOM
output into this template.
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Working with the Product Tree Template
By clicking on the Definitions tab at the bottom
of the product_tree.xls file you will see each
field listed and a brief description.
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Modifying Part Defaults Prior to Import
Invoke the Component Data Manager from the
Reliability Manager.
Default values are used when creating missing
parts during the import, as the template only
tells ASENT what type of part it is (e.g. Digital
IC). You can tailor the defaults used for your
product in the Component Data Manager by
selecting the Defaults tab. Defaults from the
COMMON project will be used unless you have
defaults defined for your project. You can copy
these from other projects.
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Modifying Part Defaults Prior to Import
Here, in the Component Data Manager, we are
creating defaults to be used when creating new
CWR style capacitors for the DEMOCD_PRJ. These
defaults only apply to this project and will not
affect any other project.
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Importing a Product Tree from Excel
To import a product tree from Excel follow these
steps. From the Reliability Manager, right-click
on the system node and select the options shown
on the screen to the left.
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Importing a Product Tree from Excel
Actually, you can import a product tree or
portion of one from any item on your reliability
tree by right-clicking on it. If you select the
Overwrite option it will overwrite the existing
item and everything below it with whats in the
file you are importing. If the Append option is
selected it will hang it off the selected item.
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Working with the Product Tree Template
Note The Part Type picklist is tied to the list
of Valid Part Types on the Definitions Tab of the
product_tree.xls template. The template includes
sample entries for parts. Be careful not to wipe
these out when you are adding in your data,
otherwise the Part Type picklist will cease to
operate. This data is only applicable to entries
with their item type set to PART.
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Working with the Product Tree Template
The product_tree.xls template file has been
modified, and now includes a Part Type column.
This information is used to create new project
parts during the import process if they do not
already exist in an ASENT library.
When importing a product tree from Excel the user
can set the default project library used for
locating parts, and choose to either skip missing
parts or create them.
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Resulting Product Tree from Import
This screen shows the resulting product tree that
was imported using the product_tree.xls template.
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Bulk Loading Library Parts from Excel
The slides that follow will walk you through the
process of using part templates to bulk load
piece-parts into project libraries. Part
templates are typically located in the
\ASENT\Data folder when ASENT is installed on
your machine.
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Existing Part Templates
Here is the current list of part templates that
are available. This covers most high-use parts
(Located in \ASENT\Data folder)

• Cap.xls Capacitor template
• Conn.xls Connector template
• Fuse.xls Fuse template
• Ics.xls Template used for microcircuits
• Ind.xls - Inductor template (coils, transformers)
• Led.xls Template of opto-electronic devices
• Misc.xls Miscellaneous parts
• Res.xls Resistor template
• Semi.xls Semiconductor template
• Switch.xls Switch template

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Working With Part Templates
The fields associated with each part template
varies. Normally, the template will have some
header information that must remain intact. This
header lists the field names.
The Valid Values tab provides some guidance on
what is allowed. At a minimum a part number,
type, subtype, and style must be entered. There
are three additional part number fields (PN)
available to list alternate part numbers. Blank
fields are populated with default values. These
can be tailored for each project.
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Working With Part Templates
In this example three identical Zener Diodes
would be created in the library, and your
prediction could reference this part by any of
these part numbers.
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Working With Part Templates
This example shows part of the Capacitor Import
Template. Most templates have some sample data or
reference data at the top of the sheet. Here, it
shows you all of the valid types, subtype, style
combinations and a description of each. Copy and
paste your information below this and then delete
the sample data prior to doing your import.
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Working With Part Templates
If you reference a package in your import
template, make sure that it is a package that is
already defined for the project you are importing
the parts to. If it does not exist, then the
import routine will just use a default package
for the part. Use the Component Data Manager to
define any needed packages prior to importing
your part template.
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Importing a Part Template
You import part templates from the Component
Manager. You can invoke this from either the
Session Manager or the Reliability Manager.
From the Component Data Manager, locate the
project library that you would like to import the
data to. In order to have this option you must be
assigned to the project and have the yellow
project folder next to its name. Right-click on
the project and select the Import Parts option.
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Importing a Part Template
Next, you will be prompted for the name of the
part template to be imported.
Once this is entered the next screen appears.
Click on the OK button to start the import. The
import begins and a log file is generated as
parts are loaded. When it is done it will say
Finished! Click on the OK button.
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Bulk Loading Library Assemblies from Excel
The slides that follow will walk you through the
process of using the Assembly template to bulk
load assemblies or COTS items into project
libraries. The Assembly_Data.xls template is
typically located in the \ASENT\Data folder when
ASENT is installed on your machine.
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The Assembly Data Import Template
ASENTs Assembly Library is very useful for
managing COTS items or assemblies that may be
used on multiple projects. The Assembly Data
Import Template is used to bulk load some of this
assembly information. Above is the
Assembly_Data.xls file that can be found in your
\ASENT\Data folder. Once assemblies are imported
into the Assembly Data Manager, then you can add
other supporting documentation (e.g. images,
video, xls, Word/Pdf files) and associate it with
these assemblies. These assemblies can then be
brought into the Reliability Manager and used for
reliability predictions.
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The Assembly Data Import Template
The Assembly Data Import Template contains a
sample line of data for your reference. Add your
data below this line and then prior to importing
the template, delete the sample line of data. You
can enter either the failure rate, MTBF or both.
If you enter one of these, then the Assembly Data
Manager will automatically fill in the other
value. Create a separate template for each
category of equipment (e.g. misc, computer
equipment, displays, etc)
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Importing an Assembly Data Template
You import assembly templates from the Assembly
Data Manager. You can invoke this from either the
Session Manager or the Reliability Manager.
From the Assembly Data Manager, locate the
project library and equipment category that you
would like to import the data to. In order to
have this option you must be assigned to the
project and have the yellow project folder next
to its name. Right-click on the equipment
category folder and select the Import Assemblies
option.
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Importing an Assembly Data Template
Next, you will be prompted for the name of the
assembly data template to be imported.
Once this is entered the next screen appears.
Click on the OK button to start the import. The
import begins and a log file is generated as
assemblies are loaded. When it is done it will
say Finished! Click on the OK button.
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Resulting Assembly Data from Excel Import
This screen shows the receiver/transmitter
assembly that was imported from the template.
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Importing FMEA or FMECA Data
The slides that follow will walk you through the
process of importing a partial or complete
FMEA/FMECA using ASENTs FMECA Import.xls
template. This is typically located in the
\ASENT\Data folder when ASENT is installed on
your machine.
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The FMECA Import Template
Sample FMECA Import template. This allows you to
import an entire FMECA into ASENT from Excel.
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The FMECA Import Template
Some fields will have both a short and long
description column (e.g. failure mode). The short
description allows up to 255 characters. The long
description is not normally used, but it is
available if you have descriptions that are over
255 characters in length.
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The FMECA Import Template
When you click on the Definitions tab it will
display the list of fields in the template and a
description of what they are used for.
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Importing a FMECA from Excel
You import FMECA templates from the FMECA
Manager. The FMECA Manager is invoked from the
Session Manager by right-clicking on an existing
project and selecting the FMECA Manager option.
From the FMECA Manager, right-click on the system
node and select the options shown on the screen
to the left.
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Importing a FMECA from Excel
Actually, you can import a FMECA or portion of
one from any item on your FMECA Analysis tree by
right-clicking on it. If you select the Replace
option it will overwrite the existing item and
everything below it with whats in the file you
are importing. If the Append option is selected
it will hang it off the selected item.
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Importing FMECA Template
Next, you will be prompted for the name of the
FMECA template to be imported.
Once this is entered the next screen appears.
Click on the OK button to start the import. The
import begins and a log file is generated as the
FMECA is loaded. When it is done it will say
Finished! Click on the OK button.
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Resulting FMECA Data from Excel Import
This screen shows the FMECA data that was
imported from the Excel file. Notice the various
assemblies and their corresponding failure mode
information.
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Importing Maintenance Tasks
The slides that follow will walk you through the
process of importing maintenance tasks into the
maintenance task libraires using ASENTs
MTasks.xls template. This is typically located in
the \ASENT\Data folder when ASENT is installed on
your machine.
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The Maintenance Tasks Import Template
Above is the MTasks.xls file that can be found in
your \ASENT\Data folder. This template is used
for importing maintenance tasks into your
library. Once maintenance tasks are imported into
the Maintainability Data Manager, then you can
add other supporting documentation (e.g. images,
video, xls, Word/Pdf files) and associate it with
these tasks. These tasks can then be brought into
the Maintainability Manager and used for
maintainability predictions.
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The Maintenance Tasks Import Template
The Maintenance Tasks Import Template contains
some sample data for your reference. Add your
data below this line and then prior to importing
the template, delete the sample data. There are
two types of tasks allowed 1) RR Task, which is
a remove and replace task, and 2) OTHER, which is
used for all other types of corrective and
preventive maintenance tasks.
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The Maintenance Tasks Import Template
By clicking on the Valid Values tab of the
template you can access some data that describes
the meaning of the fields. In the Maintenance
Tasks template most of these are self
explanatory, so the only one really discussed is
the Task Types field.
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Importing a Maintenance Tasks Template
You import maintenance task templates from the
Maintainability Data Manager. You can invoke this
from either the Session Manager or the
Maintainability Manager.
From the Maintainability Data Manager, locate the
project library and task category that you would
like to import the data to. In order to have this
option you must be assigned to the project and
have the yellow project folder next to its
name. Right-click on the task category folder
and select the Import option.
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Importing a Maintenance Tasks Template
Next, you will be prompted for the name of the
maintenance tasks template to be imported.
Once this is entered the next screen appears.
Click on the OK button to start the import. The
import begins and a log file is generated as
tasks are loaded. When it is done it will say
Finished! Click on the OK button.
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Resulting Maintenance Tasks from Excel Import
This screen shows the maintenance tasks and their
related data that was import from the template.