Enterprise PDM: How to Map to Microsoft Office
EPDM variables can be mapped to a Microsoft Office document. This can be used to automatically populate documents such as ECN’s (Engineering Change Notices).
The first step is to define variables in EPDM:
Right Click on the Variables node in SolidWorks PDM Administration and choose Open.
Create the variable if one does not already exit.
Predefined Properties are available in Microsoft Office:
From the Microsoft Office Button, select “Prepare” and then select Properties.
![Office Prepare](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Office-Prepare.png)
Office custom properties can be accessed by selecting “Advanced Properties” from the “Document Properties” pull-down.
![office advanced properties](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/office-advanced-properties.png)
Click on the “Custom Tab to select a property and assign a value.
![office custom properties](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/office-custom-properties.png)
In order to display the custom property in the Office document, a “Field” needs to be inserted:
From the “Insert” tab, select “QuickParts” icon, select “Field…”
![Quick Parts](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Quick-Parts.png)
From “Categories” select “DocProperty” and in the “Field Properties” select the”Property” you want to link to the field.
![Filed Properties](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Filed-Properties2.png)
In order to update the field you can press F9 when the document is open or add a refresh macro:
With an office document open, press Alt-F8 on your keyboard and select “Create”
![create macro](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/create-macro.png)
In the macro window, insert the following macro code in a macro called AutoOpen and save and close the window.
![macros](https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/macros1.png)
This document can then be saved as a template to be used in EPDM.
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Joe Medeiros is a Senior Application Engineer at Javelin Technologies, a SolidWorks Value Added Reseller with locations in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a regular contributor to the Javelin blog.
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