A distribution target is the destination for data sent from your Windchill solution. A distribution target typically represents another enterprise system, such as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, or an entity within that system, such as a manufacturing plant or location. The Distribution Targets table shows which distribution targets receive data published from your Windchill solution. For more information on displaying the distribution targets table see Displaying the Distribution Targets Tab.

A user can directly associate any part or document, or option set object to one or more distribution targets through one of the user interfaces. When publishing a CN as part of a particular transaction, the system looks at all the parts, documents, and option sets that are associated to it and are part of that transaction. The system then publishes the CN to the same distribution targets as its associated parts and documents. Also, when publishing a document (or option set) associated to a part, the system publishes the documents to the same distribution targets as those associated to the part and documents.

Distribution targets can also be associated to a part using the Product Structure Explorer, along with the regular Windchill ESI options.

With Windchill MPMLink installed, objects such as Process Plans, Process Materials, Skills and Tooling can be associated with one or more distribution targets. Operations are also published to distribution targets when the parent process plan is published, and each subsequent publishing of an operation is done to the same distribution targets as the parent process plan. Distribution targets can be assigned to Windchill MPMLink objects using the Manufacturing Product Structure Explorer, the Process Plan Explorer or the Manufacturing Resource Explorer, besides the Associate Distribution Targets option.