BOM Import Templates

BOM import templates are used for importing "bill of materials" (BOM) files into Lambda Predict. They allow you to match the parts data in your BOM files to the properties defined in the prediction standard you are working with, so that your data are imported into the correct fields. Each template is associated with a particular standard. If all your BOM files use the same consistent format, you will need to create only one import template per prediction standard.

Creating an Import Template

To create an import template, choose Home > Templates > Import Templates.

Alternatively, you can choose to create the template during the import process by clicking the Add icon in the Import BOM window, as shown next.

This opens the Import Templates window, which allows you to start building the template. There are two ways to do this: If your BOM data are in an Excel file, you can use the automatic mapping method to easily map all fields in your file. If you want to map only a few selected fields from the Excel file, or your data are in a delimited text file, then you may prefer to use the manual mapping method.

During this process, it is important be aware of the kinds of fields you are importing to. When you are importing to a field that uses a drop-down list, the field in the BOM must be formatted as text, and the text must match an option in the list exactly to be imported properly. For example, consider a drop-down list field with options of 0.80, 0.90, 1.00 and 1.10, where 1.00 is the default option for the field. If the BOM contains 0.8, Lambda Predict will not use the 0.80 option; instead, it will select the default option of 1.00. It is strongly recommended to always log your import results (using the Log import results check box in the Import BOM Wizard), and to check the log to ensure that all fields were imported as intended.

Tools

The Import Template window contains the following commands:

 New resets the interface so you can build a new import template (*.lp21im). Note that the file is not created until you save the template.

 Open opens an existing *.lp21im file or files from previous versions of Lambda Predict (e.g., *.lp11im, *.lp10im, *.lp9im) for editing. Note that the file does not get updated until you save the changes.

 Save saves the template so it can be used in the future for importing any other BOM files. If you are editing a template from a previous version of Lambda Predict, the template will be saved in the *.lp21im format. By default, import templates are saved in the default documents folder for your computer (e.g., My Documents\ReliaSoft\Lambda Predict 21\ImportTemplates), but you can choose to save the file to any location you desire.

 Save As saves the existing template using a different file name and/or to a different location.

 Add Ignore Column adds the [Ignore Column] field to the template, allowing you to indicate which field(s) in the BOM file should be excluded from the import process. See Manual Mapping for Excel or Text Files.

 Automated Mapping applies to Excel files only. It automatically builds a template based on the column headings of an Excel file. See Automatic Mapping for Excel Files.

Standard allow you to choose which prediction standard to associate with the template. (Note that only the prediction standards that are included in your Lambda Predict license will be available.) The Available Fields area will display the properties used in the chosen standard. If you have accessed the Import Template window by clicking the Add icon in the Import BOM window, the prediction standard you are currently working with will be selected automatically.