In the following scenario we will create a classification to catalog software IP used in the design of SOC (System on a Chip) Integrated Circuits. After the creation of this Classification Schema IP design centers around the globe will all be able to leverage each other’s pre-existing IP data. It is believed that leveraging pre-existing IP your company will save 10 million per year. Your particular needs may be to catalog gears, springs, mechanical fasteners, electrical parts, or software components.

Before you begin research and document how you want to structure the schema/hierarchy:

You should document the parameters you wish to associate to each node of the schema:

• OutsideDiameter
  • Thread_Pitch
  • Grip_Length
    • Max_Load

It is also useful to locate pictures which will represent each Node of the schema.

During the installation of Windchill PartsLink, CounterPart (PTC’s Component Classification application) and its shortcut was installed on your hardware.

The executable is located at …/counterpart/bin/counterpart.bat

Creating a Part Classification

After launching and authenticating onto Counterpart you will see the following screen.

Select Tools/Windchill Classification Administrator/ Check Out to begin creating a new Searchable Classification.

Adding a new Part Type:

• Navigate to Part in the folder view
  • Select Searchable/Part
    
• From the Top Menu
  • Select Class/give the new part classification structure a name (IP Core)
    • This will be the Root node of your new structure

Double click the Root node to add Parent nodes and Child nodes following the same process as mentioned previously. You can attach a picture to represent each node. This will allow you to build you schema/hierarchy as you had documented. You can also navigate by Schematic or choose not to display an image.

Defining Attribute Behavior

With the Classes navigation tab selected, double click the Parent Node of the classification you created. Listed will be the Attributes for the Children of the Parent node. Select the Attribute you wish to define and select “Go to Attribute” from the operation selection on the right side.

Selecting the “Go to Attribute” will display the window allowing the behavior of the Attribute to be configured.

Repeat the process until all the searchable attributes have been populated under their appropriate node. Note: You can create all the attributes for a node and Push them to the children.

Verify Your Work & Check-In

Select Master Classification/Check for Errors from the Main menu. Select Explain Error if needed after highlighting the error.

The allowed value for under the Windchill Info Tab was set to “true”. This conflicts with the Allowed Values set on my Constraints tab which allowed only a “Yes” or “No”.

Once the correction was made the error disappears. It is CAP sensitive.

Check-in and Update the Classification in Windchill PartsLink

Select Tools/Windchill Classification Administrator/ Check In.

Add the Image files to …\Windchill\codebase\netmarkets\jsp\websearch\attachments\clf

Run the following from a Windchill Shell:

• ‘windchill com.ptc.windchill.partslink.AdminApp updateClf’
  • wcadmin/wcadmin

End Result

A searchable structure for component reuse.

In the example, the IP components need to be associated to the correct classification node.

There are other methods to create, import and export these classifications which can make the classification process even easier.

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