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Custom Metadata

Using custom metadata fields

Updated this week

All files uploaded to Bild can have metadata associated to them. These metadata values can be unique across files' different versions and revisions. Most teams utilize metadata fields like Part Number and Revision, which can be used for 2D Drawing automation by populating information in title blocks. Metadata can be used to a further degree when utilizing Bild's BOM functionality as well. Any Admin can create, edit or delete custom metadata fields from the Company Settings.

Navigate to Metadata Settings

  1. Click the user icon in the top right corner of Bild

  2. Select Metadata Settings from the left-hand side menu

  3. Click +New to add a new Metadata Field and read below for more information

Creating a New Metadata Field

1. After clicking +New in your Metadata settings you'll have to enter a field name.

2. Select the value type needed for the metadata field.

3. If you would like the data to be written back to your CAD file you'll want to toggle on the Write to File. We recommend this for metadata fields like Revision and Part Number. (This is only available for SolidWorks and Creo users)

4. If you would like this metadata field to be filled in prior to the file being added to an approval or a release you'll want to toggle on the Required to Create Approval/Release

(Important: Bild Metadata fields are both case and space sensitive so it has to read exactly as you see it in your CAD)

Ex: If your part number field reads as PartNO you need the metadata field in Bild to read exactly the same.

Default Metadata Fields

  1. Part Number

    1. Nomenclature can be changed (e.g. if teams use PartNo, PartNum, etc)

  2. Revision Number

    1. As files get released, the file Revision can get auto-incremented (e.g. from Revision A to Revision B)

    2. Nomenclature can be changed (e.g. Rev, RevNo, etc)

    3. Auto-increment options include:

      1. Alphabetical

      2. Integer

      3. Decimal

      4. Disabled (users to specify at each release)

      5. Note: a user can override an auto-incremented revision at release if desired (e.g. if file is automatically supposed to go from Rev A to Rev B, the user can specify another Rev instead)

  3. Version Number

    1. As files get checked back in, the file Version can get auto-incremented (e.g. from Version 1 to Version 2)

    2. Nomenclature can be changed (e.g. simply Version, V, etc)

    3. Auto-increment options include:

      1. Alphabetical

      2. Integer

      3. Decimal

      4. Disabled (users to specify at each release)

      5. Note: a user can override an auto-incremented version at check in if desired (e.g. if file is automatically supposed to go from Version 1 to Version 2, the user can specify another Version instead)

  4. Revision Status

    1. As files get released individually or through an ECO the revision status will update (e.g. In Progress to In Review to Released)

    2. Nomenclature can be changed (e.g. Rev status)

    3. Bild Auto assigned values include:

      1. In Progress

      2. In Review

      3. Released

      4. Approved

      5. Rejected

      6. New File

      7. Obsolete

      8. Cancelled

  5. ECO Status

    1. Bild controlled metadata field based on actions within Bild

      1. New File: new files uploaded to Bild

      2. In-Progress: files in work

      3. In-Review: once an approval has been created for the file

      4. Rejected: if approval was rejected

      5. Approved: if approval was approved

      6. Released: if the file is released

Custom Metadata Fields

Available value types:

  1. Attachment

  2. Boolean

  3. Date

  4. Date Range

  5. Nested Select

  6. Number

  7. Select

  8. Text

  9. Users List

Admins can then also input all the options for Selections if the field type used is Select.

Mandatory Fields

Admins can set certain fields as mandatory in Bild, meaning files cannot be released until those fields are filled in. To make a field mandatory, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Metadata Settings page in your admin settings.

  2. Hover over the field you want to make required and click Edit.

  3. Toggle on the Required to Release option.

  4. Click Update to save the changes.

Best Practices:

Write-to-file setting: for teams who use SolidWorks or Creo, Bild supports reading and writing back metadata to the CAD files.

  • SolidWorks: metadata fields and values across Custom Properties and any Configurations will be read in. These values can be edited in Bild, and written back.

  • Creo: custom parameters can be read and edited values from Bild written back.

    • Parameters do not need to follow PTC convention, they will automatically be converted

      • Example: a "PTC Common Name" custom created metadata field in Bild will automatically map to the PTC_COMMON_NAME Creo parameter

Teams can choose which fields have write-to-file turned on and which don't to more easily manage metadata, but at minimum - Part Number and Revision are recommended for drawing template automation.

Metadata Alignment: create Bild metadata fields as defined in CAD to have full alignment between CAD, BOM, PDM, and PLM. The Bild team can help with these mappings.

Table Columns: the Bild workspace table can display different columns based on teams' preferences. Any custom created metadata field can be used to display associated information on the files table. Changes to this setting will update for all users on your Bild instance.

  1. Use the eye icon to disable and enable columns

  2. Use the dot icon to rearrange the order of these columns

  3. Click update to save any changes

ECO Table Columns: you can manage and update your ECO table columns through the ECO group table within the table column settings. Changes to this setting will update for all users on your Bild instance.

  1. Use the eye icon to disable and enable columns

  2. Use the dot icon to rearrange the order of these columns

  3. Click update to save any changes

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