Publish Models

The Publish Models tool enables you to use a batch process to upload models (publish) to any category in your catalog. You can either select a specific format for parts and their associated drawings, folders that include sub-folders containing multiple parts, or zip files that contain models.

To install the publish models tool:

1. In the Address line, type: http://www.3dpublisher.net/3DContentManager/publishmodels.html.

2. Click Yes in the Security Warning dialog box.

3. Follow the Publish Models install wizard.

Publish Models - Authenticate

The Publish Models - Authenticate dialog box allows you to log in to the Publish Models function. Use the same Login, Password, and Catalog name that you use to access 3D Content Manager. The server that hosts your catalog appears next to Publish To. After you log in, click Next to go to the Publish Models - Provide Method and Details dialog box.

 
Back to Publish Models Functions

Publish Models - What Do You Want to Do?

Click an item to select the type of batch process you want to complete.

• Add Models. Publish new models to your catalog.

• Update Models. Update existing models in your catalog.

• Add/Update XML Rules. Add or update XML rules for existing models in your catalog.

• Add/Update Data Sheets [Models]. Add or update data sheets for existing models in your catalog.

• Add/Update Data Sheets [Categories]. Add or update data sheets for existing categories in your catalog.

After you click an item, click Next to go to the Publish Models - Provide Method and Details dialog box, or to the Publish Models - Select Directory dialog box if you selected Add/Update Data Sheets Only (for Models or Categories).

Back to Publish Models Functions

Publish Models - Provide Method and Details

The Publish Models - Provide Method and Details dialog box allows you to select the publishing method and a category. It includes two areas:

• Select publishing method. Select a publishing method to determine the type of files you want to publish to your catalog.

• Provide publishing details. Select the category to which you want to publish your models from the categories in your catalog.

Part/Drawing pairs

Click this option to select a part type (for example .sldprt or .igs), and its associated drawing type (for example .slddrw or .dwg) that are in a specific folder. With this option, the application goes through each file in the folder, looking for any files that use the part extension you specified. It then searches the same folder to identify any associated drawing files using the drawing extension you specified.

Models in model folders

Click this option to select the parent directory of a group of directories, each named for the single model contained within it. For example, Widget1 would contain a single model called Widget1.sldprt.  

For each part and associated drawing file, both the Part/Drawing pairs and the Models in model folders options dynamically create a .zip file and an .xml file, enabling you to publish the parts and drawings into the catalog category you specify. This process is repeated for every part file and associated drawing file until the entire folder (Part/Drawing pairs) or multiple sub-folders (Models in model folders) are searched and the appropriate .zip and .xml files are created.

  These two options are only available for parts and drawings.
 

Zipped up model files

Use this option to publish models and drawings files that are already in a .zip file. This option can include assembly files that are in a .zip file.

To publish,  update a model, or add/update XML rules:

1. In the Publish Models - What do you want to do? dialog box, click either:

• Add Models

• Update Models

• Add/Update XML Rules

2. Click Next.

3. In the Publish Models - Provide Method and Details dialog box, under Select Publishing method, click either:

• Part/Drawing pairs

1. Select an item in Part Type.

2. Select an item in Drawing Type.

You can select both a Part Type and a Drawing Type, or a single type.

• Models in model folders

• Zipped up model files

1. Select .sldprt or .sldasm

4. Under Provide publishing details, select an item in Category.

A Category is only required if you add or update a model.

5. Click Next to go to the Select Directory dialog box.

6. Browse to the drive and directory.

7. Click Finish.

To add a data sheet:

1. In the Publish Models - What do you want to do? dialog box, select either:

• Add/Update Data Sheets [Models]

• Add/Update Data Sheets [Categories]

2. Click Next to go to the Select Directory dialog box.

3.  Browse to the drive and directory.

4. Click Finish.

Back to Publish Models Functions

Publish Models - Select Directory

The Publish Models - Select Directory dialog box allows you to browse and select a single folder, or a folder that includes multiple sub-folders that contain the model files or the data sheets you want to publish.

• If you clicked Add Models or Update Models, you publish to the Category you selected under Provide publishing details.

• If you clicked Add/Update XML Rules, no Category is required. You only select the publishing method.

• If you clicked Add/Update Data Sheets (Models) or Add/Update Data Sheets (Categories), you access the Publish Models - Select Directory dialog box directly.

To select a source to publish models, add/update XML rules, or add/update data sheets:

1. In the Publish Models - Select Directory dialog box, browse to select a folder.

2. Select a single folder or a folder that includes multiple sub-folders with the models you want to publish.

• If you selected Part/Drawing pairs or Zipped up model files under Select publishing method, select the folder with the source files.

• If you selected Models in model folders under Select publishing method, select the upper level folder with the sub-folders with the source files.

3. Select Get the names of the Models to be published from Models.txt file to only publish the models included in the Models.txt file.

   You must first create the Models.txt file before selecting this option. The file must be in the same directory as the PublishModels application.

   After you publish the models, two .txt files are generated by the system. One file lists published models (PublishModels.txt). The other file lists models that are not published (FailedModels.txt).

 Back to Publish Models functions

Publish Models - Status

The Publish Models - Status dialog box lists the files that were successfully published to your catalog, as well as any files that were not published. If there were some unpublished files, go to the PublishModels.txt file located in the same directory as the Publish Models application. It contains a log of the publishing process.

To run the publishing process again and try to publish any unpublished files, first move the ones that were published successfully to another folder.

Click Exit to close the Publish Models dialog box.

Back to Publish Models functions