Integration with Other Applications > Introduction to Windchill ESI > Using ERP Connector > Using the Graphical User Interface > Sending Material to a Distribution Target
  
Sending Material to a Distribution Target
Use theSend Material To Distribution Target action to publish material information to a distribution target. Materials are published to a distribution target independent of the bill of material (BOM). For example, if a BOM contains a parent part P1 and child parts C1 and C2, you can publish the material information relevant to part P1 to a distribution target using the Send Material To Distribution Target action.
The Send Material To Distribution Target action also publishes documents, alternate, or control characteristics along with the material depending on the distribution target settings.
This Send Material To Distribution Target action is available only if a part has associated enterprise data.
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Objects can be sent to any active distribution target, at any lifecycle state, or to multiple distribution targets.
The revision label for publishing material is picked up from the common enterprise data. Material will be published as changed if enterprise data changes.
After publishing the material information using the Send Material To Distribution Target action, the material iteration changes when the BOM for the material is created. This process ensures that the BOM for material can be published even if ESI preference Enforce Changes is set to Yes.
To publish material information, use the following procedure:
1. Select the part that you want to publish, and from the Actions menu select Send Material To Distribution Target.
Alternatively select Send Material To Distribution Target action from one of the following locations:
Row level actions menu for a part on a Folders page.
Row level actions menu in the part structure tree under Manufacturing Associative Part Structure Browser.
2. Review the information displayed in the Send Material To Distribution Target window and click Next.
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At least one valid distribution target should be associated to the object.
3. A list of all the objects that are going to be published to the distribution target is displayed. Review the information displayed in the window and click Send.
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To view the data in either a raw XML format, select the Raw Data from the Preview step. Make sure that the Raw Data is not available when the attribute ESI Response Output Format has a value of PLM
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Once you click Send the publication process begins. The publication status can be checked from the related tab of Distribution Target table for the selected object or from the Enterprise Systems Transaction Administration user interface from the organization or site utility page.