Romac Material List Utility

Overview

The Material List Utility is used to convert bill of material list from one file format to a different file format. Typically the bill of material is imported from one format then exported to the other format. Currently, the Material List Utility does not support any editing or modification of the bill of material between the import and export operations. You do have the ability to sort and combine similar items.

Version 1.0 of the Material List Utility supports data import from the following import formats:

• Kiss Version 1.0 - Fabtrol Systems and several structural steel detailing programs use this format. Selected Romac Computer Services applications can export data to Kiss format files.



• Structural Material Manager - This format is used by EJE Industries and several structural steel detailing programs.



• ASCII comma delimited - Several applications including Excel and other spreadsheet program can create comma delimited ASCII files. Selected Romac Computer Services applications can export data to comma delimited files.



• ASCII fixed length - ASCII files with fixed length fields can also be imported.

Version 1.0 of the Material List Utility supports export to Romac Length Nesting Version 2.0 and Romac Plate Nesting Version 2.0 file formats.

Creating User Configured Import Templates

For import files with comma delimited fields.

• Template Name: A name to identify the template.



• File Extension: A 3 character file extension or you can leave this entry blank. Use if the import files will all have a common file extension (such as csv). Leave blank if the files do not have file extensions or if they can have varying file extensions.



• Number of Header Records: Number of lines at the beginning of the file which contain header information naming the fields or other data which is not bill of material data. Enter '0' if the file does not contain any header information.



• Quantity - Field Number: The field number (column) containing the item quantity. The import requires that the file contain a quantity field.



• Description - Field Number: The field number (column) containing the item description. The import requires that the file contain an item description field.



• Piece ID - Field Number: The field number (column) containing the item piece ID. This field is optional. If not used, enter '0'.



• Width - Field Number: The field number (column) containing the item width. This field is optional. If not used, enter '0'.



• Width - Type: See "Dimension Types" for additional information.



• Length - Field Number: The field number (column) containing the item length. The import requires that the file contain a length field.



• Length - Type: See "Dimension Types" for additional information.

For import files with fixed length fields.

• Template Name: A name to identify the template.



• File Extension: A 3 character file extension or you can leave this entry blank. Use if the import files will all have a common file extension (such as txt). Leave blank if the files do not have file extensions or if they can have varying file extensions.



• Number of Header Records: Number of lines at the beginning of the file which contain header information naming the fields or other data which is not bill of material data. Enter '0' if the file does not contain any header information.



• Quantity - Start Position: The starting position (within the record) for the field containing the item quantity. The import requires that the file contain a quantity field.



• Quantity - Field Length: The length of the data field.



• Description - Start Position: The starting position (within the record) for the field containing the item description. The import requires that the file contain an item description field.



• Description - Field Length: The length of the data field.



• Piece ID - Start Position: The starting position (within the record) for the field containing the item piece ID. This field is optional. If not used, enter '0'.



• Piece ID - Field Length: The length of the data field.



• Width - Start Position: The starting position (within the record) for the field containing the item width. This field is optional. If not used, enter '0'.



• Width - Field Length: The length of the data field.



• Width - Type: See "Dimension Types" for additional information.



• Length - Start Position: The starting position (within the record) for the field containing the item length. The import requires that the file contain a length field.



• Length - Field Length: The length of the data field.



• Length - Type: See "Dimension Types" for additional information.

Dimension Types

Several different dimension schemes are supported for the width and length fields in user configured ASCII import formats. They are:

• decimal inch - Dimensions are expressed in decimal inches. Valid examples:
  • 8.125
  • 0.5
  • .5
  • 24
  • 24.0


• decimal feet - Dimensions are expressed in decimal feet. Valid examples:
  • 1.0
  • 1
  • 12.5
  • .333
  • 0.333


• millimeter - Dimensions are expressed in millimeters. Valid examples:
  • 300
  • 300.0
  • 5.5


• inches fraction - Dimensions are expressed in inches and inch fractions. A blank space separates the inch and fraction portions of the field. Fractions will be rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch. Valid examples:
  • 9 1/2
  • 24 9/16
  • 24
  • 5/8
  • 0 5/8


• inches-fraction - Dimensions are expressed in inches and inch fractions. A hyphen (or dash) separates the inch and fraction portions of the field. Fractions will be rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch. Valid examples:
  • 9-1/2
  • 24-9/16
  • 24
  • 24-
  • 5/8
  • 0-5/8
  • -5/8


• feet-inches fraction - Dimensions are expressed in feet, inches and inch fractions. A hyphen (or dash) separates the feet and inch portion of the field. A blank space separates the inch and fraction portions of the field. Fractions will be rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch. Valid examples:
  • 12-9 1/2
  • 12-9
  • 12-0
  • 12
  • 0-9 1/2
  • -9 1/2
  • 0-0 1/2
  • -0 1/2
  • 1/2


• feet'inches fraction - Dimensions are expressed in feet, inches and inch fractions. A single quote separates the feet and inch portion of the field. A blank space separates the inch and fraction portions of the field. Fractions will be rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch. Valid examples:
  • 12'9 1/2
  • 12'9
  • 12'0
  • 12
  • 0'9 1/2
  • '9 1/2
  • 0'0 1/2
  • '0 1/2
  • 1/2


• feet inches fraction - Dimensions are expressed in feet, inches and inch fractions. A blank space separates both the feet and inch portion of the field and the inch and fraction portions of the field. Fractions will be rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch. Valid examples:
  • 12 9 1/2
  • 12 9
  • 12 0
  • 12 (= 12 feet)
  • 0 9 1/2
  • 9 1/2 (= 9 feet, 1/2 inch)
  • 0 0 1/2
  • 0 1/2
  • 1/2


• feet'inches"1/16th - Dimensions are expressed in feet, inches and 16ths of an inch. A single quote separates the feet and inch portion of the field. A double quote separates the inch and 16ths portions of the field. Valid examples:
  • 12'9"8 (= 12-9 1/2)
  • 12'9 (= 12-9)
  • 12'0"0 (= 12-0)
  • 12 (= 12-0)
  • 0'9"08 (= 0-9 1/2)
  • '9"8 (= 0-9 1/2)
  • 0'0"8 (= 0-0 1/2)

Importing Data

To import data, you first select the file format of the data you are importing. If the import format specifies a file extension, only those data files will be listed. Select a file to import then click the 'Open' button. If the file is valid, it will be imported and displayed. The following fields will be imported:

• Quantity
• Description
• Piece ID
• Width
• Length

Import notes for Kiss and Structural Material Manager format files - The piece mark will be imported into the Piece ID field. If the record contains a material specification, it will be appended to the Description.

Warning - Romac Computer Services, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any data processed by this program. The user should check all data closely.

Exporting Data

Data can be exported to files compatible with Romac Length Nesting Version 2.0 and/or Romac Plate Nesting Version 2.0. Prior to exporting, the program will sort and combine the material list if the user has not previously sorted and combined the list.

Items with width and length will be exported to Plate Nesting compatible files. Items with length only will be exported to Length Nesting compatible files. Items without width or length will be skipped.

A log listing the descriptions and the name of the file that the data was exported to is available for viewing or printing.

Download Information

The Material List Utility is available at no cost to users of Romac Length Nesting Version 2.0 and/or Romac Plate Nesting Version 2.0. The program must be installed onto a system that contains either the Romac Length or Plate Nesting programs. Click here to begin the download procedure.

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