Generating Item Numbers Automatically (SAP Library

Generating Item Numbers Automatically

Use

In AutoCAD, it is possible to automatically generate item numbers within a specific area or frame of your drawing.

Menu path: SAP ® Bill of material tools ® Create item numbers automatically

Two options for this are available in AutoCAD:

Apply to line
Apply to frame

When you start the function, the following prompt appears:

Apply to line/frame <Return=end>:

If you enter the keyword "Line", you can arrange several info points on a line. If you enter the keyword "Frame", info points are read to a specific frame.

Apply to line

If you choose this option, you must first collect all the info points that you want to list in a line. Once you have done this, the following prompt appears:

From point:
Misaligned, irregularly scaled objects were ignored.
<To point>/ArrangeGENHINW_SNAP_DCL>(w95sec) /FormatGENHINW_FORMAT_DCL>(w95sec) /Vertically/Horizontally(Return=Cancel):

To start with, this function runs automatically (i.e. AutoCAD determines whether the data should be applied vertically or horizontally on the basis of how the crosshair cursor is positioned). If you want to specify that data should generally be applied vertically or horizontally, use the "Vertically" and "Horizontally" options. Please note that you can only read info points if you are not in the info points selected.

You can also use the drag scope options here. Furthermore, you can change the format of the item line.

Please note the following:

The distance between the item numbers will depend on the drag scope options in the configuration settings.
The start point of the item lines is the insertion point of the info point.

Apply to frame

First of all, you must draw a rectangle around a section of your drawing. All the info points within this rectangle will be included.

The lines of the rectangle become drag lines. AutoCAD now calculates the shortest distance between the info point and the drag line.

You will be prompted to select all the info points that you want to read. The item numbers are also positioned at the end of the box. In other words, you should draw the frame as far as possible outside of its parts.

First corner:
Second corner:

When you specify the second point, all the info points to be read are selected.

It is not possible to make multiple selections. Once you have specified the second point, the software immediately starts to calculate the items of the item numbers!

The software calculates all possible distributions of the item numbers on the frame line. If a solution is not found, a dialog box will appear. In this case, you should drag a larger frame, or read the info points manually.

If more than one solution was found, you can display all the solutions on screen before deciding which is the most suitable. Due to the way in which AutoCAD calculates the solutions, the first solutions that appear are the best solutions.

The position of the item numbers and lines can also be deduced.

The following prompt appears:

{Next solution/<OK>: }genmsg genparts 112

If you enter "Next", AutoCAD will display the next possible solution on screen.

Once you have looked at all the solutions, the first solution is displayed again, and the item numbers read in sequence. The first number to be generated is the highest existing number in the drawing plus a predefined increment.

The item numbers at the top are read first. The item numbers on the left and right are read next. Finally, the item numbers at the bottom are read.

When you press Enter, this accepts the solution currently on display.

As you scroll through the various solutions, make sure that you do not enter any commands that will result in the screen being generated (e.g. Zoom, Pan, etc.).

You can specify the distances between the item numbers in the BOM configuration settings. To do this, start the drag line option, and change the values for the drag line distances on the X and Y axes.