Best Practices for Using Excel to Export and Import Data
The following best practices can aid your import or export process when using MS Excel:
• If you encounter scripting errors, consider changing the ActiveX settings in your MS Excel version as applicable:
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ActiveX settings are not applicable to Microsoft 365 Excel.
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a. In Excel, select > .
b. In the Excel Options window, select Trust Center. Then click Trust Center Settings.
c. In the Trust Center window, select ActiveX Settings. Then select Disable all controls without notification.
d. Select Disable all controls without notification and click OK.
• Before importing, use the Export Importable Spreadsheet action and use the exported spreadsheet as a template for the import.
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• When the Export Importable Spreadsheet window is displayed without the export options and the BOM Table checkbox selected, the default file type displayed is XLSX, and you can use the Excel files with either an XLSM or XLSX extension.
• If you select the Parts, BOM, or Replacements export options when exporting an importable spreadsheet without a BOM table, you can use the Excel files with only an XLSX extension.
• When exporting an importable spreadsheet with a BOM table, you can use the Excel files with only an XLSM extension. For more information, see Accessing the Importable Spreadsheet with a BOM Table.
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When you export, site-defined and classification attributes are included.
• Because the Import from Spreadsheet action checks for Create permission only, even users who do not have Modify or Revise permission could modify or revise a part or a document using the Import from Spreadsheet action. To prevent this, create a policy access control rule denying Full Control (All) permission on the ImportJob object type in all life cycle states in an appropriate domain.
• Before you import a spreadsheet, it may be helpful for you to review sample Excel spreadsheets. The following sample templates are available:
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When importing an importable spreadsheet, you can use the Excel files with an XLS, XLSM, or XLSX extension.
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◦ From ptc.com:
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Also includes example of new view version as well as manufacturer and vendor parts.
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◦ The same sample import files are provided with the installation in the following location:
▪ http://<hostname>:<port>/<WindchillAppl>/examples/xls/part-import-template.xls
For example, the path may be: http://hostname/Windchill/examples/xls/…
▪ http://<hostname>:<port>/<WindchillAppl>/examples/xls/bom-import-template.xls
▪ http://<hostname>:<port>/<WindchillAppl>/examples/xls/axl-import-template.xls
▪ http://<hostname>:<port>/<WindchillAppl>/examples/xls/document-import-template.xls
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The URL for sample spreadsheets may also begin with https://. The files can also be located on the server at <Windchill_loadpoint>/examples/xls/.
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• When you launch the Import from Spreadsheet window, be aware of any import jobs that create baselines, documents or parts that may be running in the background. Deleting or updating these parts, documents or baselines may cause the import to fail.
• Using text format is recommended for all cells in the spreadsheet. For example, if you are importing a number with leading zeros, Excel trims the zeros unless you are using text format.
To set the cell format, complete the following steps:
a. Select an entire column or row or a specific cell.
b. Right-click and select Format Cells.
If a field contains a numeric value, a green triangular glyph appears at the upper-left corner of the cell. If the cell contains a combination of a numeric and character values, for example 123Text, the green triangular glyph is not present.
When making changes to reference designators or line numbers, if one row changes a value to a value that is used in a subsequent row, the change fails. This failure occurs because the subsequent row that is using the value has not been changed. The best practice for making mass changes to reference designators or line numbers is to load the product structure without them. This removes all existing reference designators and line numbers from the product structure. Then you can load the product structure again with the new values.
• It is important to ensure that the values you enter in the spreadsheets adhere to the requirements and constraints outlined in the following topics: