Example: Show custom properties and materials in a parts list


In addition to the standard document properties (such as File name, Document Number, and Revision Number) and standard material properties (such as Density, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, and Yield Stress), you can define custom document properties in part and sheet metal documents and custom material properties in the Material Table and display them in your parts list and other reports.

Example:

You can add a Vendor column to a parts list on an assembly drawing by first defining a custom property for Vendor in the part files.

You also can use custom properties to group parts by category. In the part document, create a custom property named Category, and assign custom property values, such as Fitting, Fastener, and Purchased Part. Then in the draft document, you can add a Category column to the parts list, and insert blank rows and formatted subtitles to group the parts list into each of the categories. As a final step, you can sort the parts list by Category.

Add a custom document property to the part file

  1. Open the part file, and from the Application menu, choose the Info→File Properties command.

    Tip:

    • You must do this for each part that you want to show in the parts list.

    • You also can define part properties without opening the part or sheet metal document in QY CAD. Select the document in Windows Explorer, and then choose the Properties command on its shortcut menu.

  2. In the File Properties dialog box, click the Custom tab.

  3. On the Custom page, in the Name box, type a name for the custom property.

    Example:

    To include the vendor name in a parts list, type Vendor.

    To group a parts list by category, type Category.

  4. From the Type list, select the Text property.

  5. In the Value box, type a value for each custom document property.

    Example:

    Type one of the following:

    • For the Vendor property, type the part vendor name.

    • For the Category property, type Fitting, Fastener, or Purchased Part.

  6. Click Add, and then close the File Properties dialog box.

  7. Save the document.

  8. To display the custom property in a parts list, continue with the following instructions.

Tip:

You also can add a custom material property for Hardness to the QY CAD Material Table, apply it to parts used in an assembly, and then display the values for Hardness in a column in the parts list. To learn how to define a custom material property in a part model so that it can be referenced in a parts list, see the help topic, Create a custom material property. To show the custom material property in a parts list, continue with the following instructions.

Reference custom properties and materials in a parts list

After you define custom file properties and custom material properties in your part models, you can reference them in your parts list.

  1. Open the draft document that contains the parts list.

    Tip:

    If there is no parts list on the drawing, use the Parts List command to generate one. To learn how to create a parts list, see the help topic, Create a parts list.

  2. Select the parts list, and on the command bar, click Properties.

  3. In the Parts List Properties dialog box, click the List Control tab. In the Global section, choose a level of granularity for the parts list that ensures the parts you added the custom properties to are listed. For example, select Atomic list (all parts and subassemblies).

  4. Click the Columns tab, and then do the following:

    1. From the Properties list, select a custom property.

      Example:

      To add the vendor name to the parts list, click Vendor (Custom Property).

      To add the part category to the parts list, click Category (Custom Property).

      To add a custom material property for Hardness to the parts list, click Hardness (Custom Material Property).

      Note:

      All custom properties—both custom document properties and custom material properties—are available for selection in the Properties list. These property names are appended with the text, (Custom Property) and (Custom Material Property), respectively.

      You also can select exposed variables as properties from the Variable Table. These property names are appended with the text, (Exposed Variable).

      Note:

      If two properties have the same name, the advantage to using an exposed variable property instead of a custom property is that you can format the resulting real number using the Format Values dialog box. For example, you can specify precision, no units, dual units, and tolerance.

    2. Click Add Column.

      The custom property column is added to the Columns list.

    3. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons as needed to move the column containing the custom property into the desired position in the column order.

  5. Click OK to close the dialog box and update the parts list.

Tip:

  • You can insert blank rows into the table structure to add white space. Blank rows are affected by sorting, however, so you should complete the table layout before you add the rows that you want to remain blank. (The table is sorted automatically whenever you click a different tab in the Parts List Properties dialog box.)

  • If you subsequently change the part or assembly document, you must update the parts list in the draft document using the Update command on its shortcut menu.

Example: Show custom occurrence properties in a parts list Example: Show sheet metal material thickness in a parts list

© 2021 UDS