column of BOM for “Area”of component

<?xml encoding=”UTF-8″>By Xiaodong Liang

Question:
Is there any way to get an area for the entire assembly on the BOM?  If you go to iProperties –> Physical it is shown there. But how to pull it from there and have it as Column in BOM? Can it be done using API ?

Solution:
Firstly, currently, no API to add/remove column of BOM. You have to add it manually in advance. The following is the steps to achieve your requirement. This also applies to Mass/Volume or other iProperties.

1. In the component file (such as a part), add one custom iProperty manually e.g. named  “Area”. The type is Text.

1. add a iLogic rule with the component file. It will get the Area value from iProperty, and update the custom iProperty.

<font color="#808080"><em><font size="1"><span>'</span><span>current document</span></font></em></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800000">doc</font></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800080"><strong>ThisDoc</strong></font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800080"><strong>Document</strong></font></span></font><span>
</span><font color="#808080"><em><font size="1"><span>'</span><span>unit manager of the document</span></font></em></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800000">oUOM</font></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800000">doc</font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800000">UnitsOfMeasure</font></span></font><span>
</span><font color="#808080"><em><font size="1"><span>'</span><span>get the value of Area</span></font></em></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800080"><strong>iProperties</strong></font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800080"><strong>Area</strong></font></span></font><span>
</span><font color="#808080"><em><font size="1"><span>'</span><span>round the value with 4 valid numbers (optional)</span></font></em></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><strong><span><font color="#800080">Round</font></span><span>(</span></strong><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span><span>, </span><strong><span>4</span><span>)</span></strong></font><font size="1"><span>
</span><font color="#808080"><em><span>'</span><span>convert the value to a string with the unit of the document</span></em></font></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800000">ToString</font></span><span><strong>()</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#ff0000"><strong>+</strong></font></span><span> </span><font color="#008080"><span>"</span><span> </span><span>"</span></font><span> </span><span><font color="#ff0000"><strong>+</strong></font></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800000">oUOM</font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800000">GetStringFromType</font></span><span><strong>(</strong></span><span><font color="#800000">oUOM</font></span><span>.</span><span><font color="#800000">LengthUnits</font></span><span><strong>)</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#ff0000"><strong>+</strong></font></span><span> </span><font color="#008080"><span>"</span><span>^2</span><span>"</span></font></font><font size="1"><span>
</span><font color="#808080"><em><span>'</span><span>update the custom property "Area" we created</span></em></font></font><span>
</span><font size="1"><span><font color="#800080"><strong>iProperties</strong></font></span><span>.</span><strong><span><font color="#800080">Value</font></span><span>(</span></strong><font color="#008080"><span>"</span><span>Custom</span><span>"</span></font><span>, </span><font color="#008080"><span>"</span><span>Area</span><span>"</span></font><span><strong>)</strong></span><span> </span><span><strong>=</strong></span><span> </span><span><font color="#800000">surfaceArea</font></span></font>

1. add this rule with the iLogic trigger “Part Geometry Change”thus when the model changes, the rule will be executed automatically and update the custom property.

1. In the assembly >> BOM, add one custom column named “Area”.This column will read the custom property from the component.