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In this Exercise however, you will be importing the sample comma-delimited file, ALE_CROSSLINK.TXT. This external source file does not contain a ComponentName field. Instead, the data in this file is referenced by a unique Part Number.

Because the imported file does not contain a ComponentName, a few additional steps are necessary in comparison to Exercise 1.

1. Import the Map File, ALE_MAP.TXT.

The Viewer appears with the two column contents of the map file, ComponentName and Part Number. At present the components in the P-CAD sample library, ALE_TUTOR.LIB, are only referenced by the ComponentName, and the MRP database is only referenced by the Part Number. The following steps will link the Part Number to an associated ComponentName within the library.

2. Save the Part Number attribute to the library by choosing the Table >> Save to Library command from the Table menu. In this case, check the Ignore box for all attributes except Part Number. For Part Number, check Source and then click OK to apply the update.

The Part Number and the ComponentName are now linked. This allows you to reference data by the ComponentName or the Part Number fields. Once the Part Number has been added to the sample library, you never have to repeat the above step again and will be used from this point forward to reference the library components.

Import an MRP without a ComponentName:

The ALE_CROSSLINK.TXT file is just a comma-delimited external source file. This sample file has been generated from a component database and includes the following attributes: Part Number, Vendor, Quantity, and Cost. Note that there is no ComponentName field. The Part Number, which was added to the library in the step above, will be used from this point forward to reference the library components.

1. Import the ALE_CROSSLINK.TXT file.

Cross Linking:

The Cross Link command will now be used to link the Part Number in the external source file with the component in the library. Cross Link looks for the components that have an identical Part Number attribute value as those in the MRP file.

As in Exercise 1, the MRP attribute Quantity will be used to modify the library. The updated library will then reflect the present inventory of components available for your design.

To cross link the MRP file with the P-CAD sample library:

1. From the MRP file Viewer, choose the Table >> Cross Link command. The Cross Link dialog appears:

2. Check the Part Number field name and the ALE_TUTOR.LIB file.
3. Click OK. The Cross Link Result Viewer appears with the combination of the library and source file information for components with matching Part Number attributes.

In the Viewer table, there are two columns containing values for the Quantity attribute: one from the source and one, with the header TARGET:Quantity, from the library. Similarly, two columns exist for the Vendor and Cost attributes.

4. Select the column TARGET:Quantity by clicking the header. While holding the Shift key, click and hold the left mouse button. Drag the column until a black line appears adjacent to the Quantity column. Release the mouse button and the TARGET:Quantity column is placed next to the Quantity column.
5. With the two columns containing component Quantity information adjacent to each other you can visually compare changes in inventory. Select the TARGET:Quantity, TARGET: Cost and TARGET:Vendor columns by clicking on the column headers. Click Delete to eliminate the original library Quantity values. The updated attribute values are in the file Viewer and ready to be saved.
6. Save using the Table >> Save To Library command. Ignore all attributes other than Quantity.

7. Now let’s take a look at the Library. You may have noticed that the Cost attribute for many of these components has also changed. You will be updating the component Cost in the next Exercise.

Return to the exercise index. Proceed to the next exercise.