Attach files to products - D-Tools Forum

ChristianB · 09-11-2009, 02:02 PM

I've already sent this suggestion to D-tools, but it would be nice to know if more people see the need for this:

When we deliver a project we also have to create EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) documentation. This also includes (among many things) product manuals. A great (and extremely time-saving) feature would be if we could attach one or more PDF-files (or other files) to each product. Typically Product Sheet, Manual and if needed Mounting instructions. Reports that create a folder which contains all manuals for the products in the project, others that only reports the mounting instructions (great for installation) and then others that only reports the product sheets (great for Proposals). I know this will be pretty demanding on discspace, but harddiscs are cheap. Time is not.

grichards · 09-11-2009, 03:38 PM

you could put the pdfs on a network drive (or better yet, hosted web space) and use the hyperlink field and/or a couple custom fields to associate the desired files.

of course, that's quite a bit of leg work to set up the products, and you'd probably have to create a script that actually uses that data to compile the documents.

not really a solution, but just some thoughts.

NareshN · 09-12-2009, 05:46 AM

Hi,

Using Hyperlink may be a good idea. To hyperlink to file type: -
file://PathToFIle
like
file://C:\ABC.pdf

Now when you right click product(s) in MMPD/Projects/Shapes you have a "Web Specs" menu - which will open the file.

You can even link to file on shared folders this way. Also suggest you enter the hyperlinks in MMPD so this data copies to new projects. To mass update hyperlinks export products to CSV from Product Grid and change the Hyperlink for the products in Ms-Excel. Then import the CSV back to MMPD.

Naresh

avzone · 09-14-2009, 12:13 AM

I think this is a great idea!

fryeguy · 09-17-2009, 09:20 PM

I like it. I would do more of this if it weren't so laborious. But like you said, time is money...

NareshN · 09-21-2009, 08:16 AM

There is an article in the support wikiblog on this --
Link a File to your Products D-Tools Support WikiBlog

ChristianB · 09-21-2009, 05:39 PM

We are using the hyperlink field to link to the product brochure. But what I wish for is the possibility to link to both brochure, mounting instructions and manual and then having D-tools to create a batch folder with all related PDFs (or other file formats) for the products in the project. Brochures for Proposals, mounting instructions for installation and manuals for documentation. It will shave a lot of time off all three phases.

NareshN · 09-23-2009, 05:28 AM

Hi,

One idea is to use a batch file to open these 3 files and hyperlink to the batch file. So your hyperlink could be: -

file://d:\test.bat

Here d:\test.bat is your batch file which in turn opens all 3 files.

The batch file opens all files like this (type in Notepad and save with a .bat extension)

"c:\bar.emf"
"D:\D-Tools Authorize Net\images.jpg"

ChristianB · 09-23-2009, 06:34 AM

Sure, but usually you want those three files at different times. I usually don't create installation documents and final documentation at time of proposal

NareshN · 09-24-2009, 05:57 AM

Well here is yet another hack.

Create a Word doc with hyperlinks to all three files and hyperlink to the word file. Use the hyperlink feature in Word to create the hyperlinks. In MMPD hyperlink to the Word file.