Additional Installation and Setup for Teamcenter EDA Gateway

Parent page: PLM Integration with Altium NEXUS Server

Siemens Teamcenter® PLM integration requires additional setup that is not managed automatically by the NEXUS Workspace instance installer. Essentially, there are two levels of setup needed, depending on the integration features required. The first level enables Parts Synchronization and is also a prerequisite for the second level, which enables Project Publish/Initialization PLM processes. Nevertheless, it is recommended to perform both setup levels.

Parts Synchronization with Teamcenter

In order to enable library parts synchronization you need to install the Siemens Teamcenter^® EDA (Electronic Design Automation) Gateway software on the machine that hosts the Altium NEXUS Server. This document assumes that the NEXUS Server and the Teamcenter server are already installed on separate machines – we would recommend this approach to ensure separation between the two installations, although they could be installed on the same machine.

Teamcenter EDA Installation and Configuration

The entire installation and configuration procedure for EDA Gateway is described in detail in the version-specific EDA Integration documentation available in the Siemens Support Center. Please follow that documentation thoroughly. The instructions here only cover deviations from the Siemens documentation, or specify Altium-side details that are referred to as requirements in the Siemens documentation.

Choose a version of EDA Gateway that supports your Teamcenter server version – you should find compatibility information in Gateway's corresponding TcEDA<version>_README.pdf files available in the download center. You should then consult the Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications documentation (example link is for EDA version 5.1), on the topic of Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications for part library management to guide you through the setup:

To enable the Altium NEXUS/Teamcenter interface for both Library and Design Management, you must install all of the required Teamcenter features through the Teamcenter Environment Manager (TEM configuration manager) – refer to Setting up EDA Gateway for ECAD applications:

• Extensions » Mechatronics Process Management » EDA Server Support
• Extensions » Mechatronics Process Management » EMPS-Foundation
• Extensions » Mechatronics Process Management » ECAD Library Management
• Extensions » Mechatronics Process Management » EDA for Business Modeler IDE
• Extensions » Supplier Relationship Management » Vendor Management
• Base Install » Active Workspace » Server Extensions » EDA Server Support for Active Workspace
• Base Install » Active Workspace » Client » Electronic Design Automation for Active Workspace

In addition, perform Install and set up Common Integration Services to support Design Publishing.

Next, follow the steps and install EDA Gateway CLIENT on the NEXUS server machine. To simplify the process, we suggest using the C:\Siemens\TeamcenterEDA2 folder.

Configure EDA Gateway for Parts Library Management

As above, for this section you should also consult the Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications documentation (example link is for EDA version 5.1), on the topic of Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications for part library management.

Please refer back to this set of instructions when you reach specific chapters in the Teamcenter documentation. The sections below refer to those chapters by name.

Chapter: 'Configure the EDA client for part library management'

During that step you will be asked to prepare a library gateway configuration file – instead, use one provided by Altium. You can download it with a package of sample configuration files from Nexus Server's Web UI: Open Admin » PLM Integration, use the Add Instance button to open Add new instance window, select the Configuration tab and then Download sample configuration.

Inside the downloaded ZIP file there will be an altiumLibrary_edadef.xml file – put this file into the directory pointed to by the system environment variable: %TCEDAECAD_ROOT%. Also add the provided altiumPcb_edadef.xml file to that directory.

Chapter: 'Setting up Teamcenter server for part library management'

Open Teamcenter Rich Client as the infodba user, or as another user with administration privileges.
► See information on the Teamcenter Rich Client.

The screenshots below illustrate the steps described in Create external applications for your ECAD tool in Teamcenter. In our case we will add altiumLibrary,15 to the EDALIB_External_Applications preference:

Click the command to add the new value, followed by Save, and then close the preference. Logout and then log back in to the Teamcenter Rich client.

• Open the Organization application.
• Navigate to the External Applications section and add an altiumLibrary application as shown below:

• Select Create.

Chapter: 'Mapping ECAD part attributes to Teamcenter attributes'

Through the Teamcenter command prompt, run the export_attr_mappings utility to output the mapping to a file, for example:

export_attr_mappings.exe -file=mappings.txt -u=infodba -p=infodba

Modify the mappings.txt file according to your requirements to map real Teamcenter attributes on the components. An example working mapping, added to the content of exported mappings.txt:

{ Item type="EDAComPart"
    Cost : Item.GRM(IMAN_master_form).object_desc /description="Cost"
    Tolerance : ItemRevision.GRM(IMAN_master_form).object_desc /description="Tolerance"}

After mapping is complete, import it back to Teamcenter :

import_attr_mappings.exe -file=mappings.txt -u=infodba -p=infodba

To troubleshoot attribute mapping problems you can turn on detailed logs by including the line rootLogger.level= DEBUG in the C:\Program Files\Siemens\TeamcenterEDA2\eda\log4j2.properties file.

Logs from Teamcenter EDA execution can be found in C:\Windows\TEMP\eis_eda_log.log.

Chapter: 'Creating classification mapping for ECAD parts with Teamcenter classes' (optional)

Classification mapping is an optional setup requirement and may not be used or needed for your Teamcenter PLM installation. Note that to use classification attributes, they need to be included in the attribute mapping configuration/file when completing the previous 'Mapping ECAD part attributes to Teamcenter attributes' section above.

Before beginning this setup stage, ensure to have classification functionality enabled. Then follow instructions to set up classification mapping.

Make sure that _eda2tc.csv has columns in order category,classId and _tc2eda.csv has columns in order classId,category. If necessary, swap file names.

To use classification attributes you need to include them in the attribute mapping. An example of classification attribute mapping is:

"SMT attribute" : ItemRevision.ICS(-60262) /description="SMT"

Where number -60262 can be found with the Classification Admin tool in Teamcenter.

Classification mapping in NEXUS

Classification information can be sent with a special Classification attribute included in your XML configuration file of the PLM (typically dm-config.xml or similar). For example:

<common:Attribute>
    <common:Key>Classification</common:Key>
    <common:Value>${parameter.Classification}</common:Value>
</common:Attribute>

The value of this attribute should be a comma-separated path in the classification tree, for example: “Components,SMT,Capacitor”.

Similarly, classification attributes can be referenced by the name that was configured in the attribute mapping on the Teamcenter server, for example:

<common:Attribute>
    <common:Key>SMT attribute</common:Key>
    <common:Value>smt attr value</common:Value>
</common:Attribute>

Define library on NEXUS Server

Before synchronization is possible with NEXUS, it is necessary to create a library with the eda_cli.bat command (located in the directory of %TCEDAECAD_ROOT% in NEXUS Server machine), and also ensure that the created files are accessible to the NEXUS Server:

edacli.bat -configureLibrary -application altiumLibrary -status %userprofile%\status.xml

At this stage it should be possible to perform a NEXUS Component Sync and a NEXUS Part Request with PLM Part Create process.

Additional Library Part Sync Information:

• Synchronization of Released/Unreleased Teamcenter parts – By default only components marked with release_status_list.name = ‘TCM Released’ will be synchronized from Teamcenter to Altium. This can be changed in the Teamcenter Query Builder by modifying the query used by Teamcenter to select components (see example).

The name of the query is stored in the EDALIB_Sync_FindNewParts preference. The default query is __EDALIB_find_newparts and is shown below.

The last condition can be removed to synchronize components that are not “TCM Released” as yet.

► Refer to the related Siemens Teamcenter documentation for more information.

• Multisite synchronization – It is also possible for Teamcenter to be used as a source of component information for multiple sites (one of them being Nexus Server). Note that this requires a special setup that is described in the documentation.
• Destination folder for parts – Target folder for parts synchronized from Altium to Teamcenter can be set per site/user by the EDALIB_SaveAsFolderDefault Teamcenter preference.
• Current Part Synchronization limitations:
  • PLM part numbers are generated on the Nexus side only.
  • The destination folder cannot be specified for components in the configuration file – there is a global setting on the Teamcenter side. A destination folder setting in the PLM XML Configuration file (dm-config.xml) will be ignored without warning. The target folder is taken from the Teamcenter user level, or the site level option EDALIB_SaveAsFolderDefault for all component types.
  • Native part choices (Approved Manufacturer/Vendor List, or AML/AVL) is not supported. As previously, only component parameter based part choices are supported.

Design Publishing with Teamcenter EDA

Design publishing from Altium to Teamcenter is only possible through the Altium NEXUS design client. In order to enable design publishing you need to install Teamcenter EDA (Electronic Design Automation) Gateway on the machine where the Nexus client is installed. You will also need access to both the Altium Server and the Teamcenter server.

The installation and configuration procedure for EDA Gateway is described in detail in the version-specific EDA Integration documentation available in the Siemens Support Center. Please follow that documentation thoroughly. The instructions here only cover deviations from the Siemens documentation, or specify Altium-side details that are referred to as requirements in the Siemens documentation.

Choose a version of EDA Gateway that supports your Teamcenter server version – you should find compatibility information in Gateway's corresponding TcEDA<version>_README.pdf files available in the download center. You should then consult the Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications documentation (example link is for EDA version 5.1), on the topic of Installing and Configuring EDA Gateway for (Non-Mentor) ECAD Applications for design management to guide you through the setup:

If the creation of components during project publish is to be supported, then part of the library configuration must be performed on the server. This applies to the default section strategy <pt: BomStrategy> CreateNewAndLink </ pt: BomStrategy> in the publish template.

The destination folder for designs can be set by the site/user options: EDA_SaveAsFolderDefault.

BOM line attributes mapping

BOM line Reference Designator and Quantity attributes are handled automatically, but need to be included in the <BOM> section of the PLM connector XML Configuration file:

<BOM>
    <BOMAttributes>
        <!-- "Reference Designator" attribute is mandatory for Teamcenter EDA connector -->
        <common:BOMAttribute>
        <common:Key>Reference Designator</common:Key>
        <common:Value>${parameter.LogicalDesignator}</common:Value>
        </common:BOMAttribute>
        <!-- "Quantity" attribute is mandatory for Teamcenter EDA connector -->
        <common:BOMAttribute>
        <common:Key>Quantity</common:Key>
        <common:Value>${parameter.Quantity}</common:Value>
        </common:BOMAttribute>
    </BOMAttributes>
</BOM>

To use other BOM line attributes it is necessary to include them in the BOM line attributes mapping section of the altiumPcb_edadef.xml file. For example, the below entry adds mapping of the Altium attribute part_source to the Teamcenter BOM line attribute bl_part_source:

<RdnAttrMapDefs>
    <RdnAttrDesign cadAttrName="part_source" tcAttrName="bl_part_source"/>
</RdnAttrMapDefs>

When such mapping is added, it is possible to define its value in the <BOMAttributes> section of the PLM connector XML Configuration file:

<!-- You can add any other custom attributes, but these need to be mapped to Teamcenter attribute in altiumPcb_edadef.xml file -->
<common:BOMAttribute>
    <common:Key>part_source</common:Key>
    <common:Value>${parameter.MakeOrBuy}</common:Value>
</common:BOMAttribute>

Business Modeler IDE (BMIDE) configuration for derived datasets

After creating a derived data configuration (see references in the altiumPcb_edadef.xml file), you can specify the name of the configuration in the EDA_DerivedDataConfigDefault preference.

1. In BMIDE, open the Extensions folder.
2. In the Extensions folder, right-click EDA Derived Data and choose New EDA Derived Data. The New EDA Derived Data wizard is displayed.
3. In the EDA Derived Data dialog box, enter the information and click Next.
4. For derived PCB dataset add a new entry under ‘Configure datasets’.

Pathname: $TEMP\Altium\TcEda\Project\pcb\*.*

5. For derived schematic dataset add a new entry under ‘Configure datasets'.

 

Pathname: $TEMP\Altium\TcEda\Project\schematic\*.*

6. Another derived dataset for Variants datasets:

 

Pathname: $TEMP\Altium\TcEda\Project\$VARIANT\pcb\*.*

7. To save the changes to the data model, choose File » Save Data Model, or click the Save Data Model button on the main toolbar.
8. Deploy your changes to the test server. choose Deploy Template on the menu bar, or select the project and then click the Deploy Template button on the main toolbar.
9. In the Rich Client, set the EDA_DerivedDataConfigDefault preference to point to the EDA derived data configuration you just created.
10. Choose Edit » Options, click the Search link at the bottom of the Options dialog box, locate the EDA_DerivedDataConfigDefault preference, and change its value to the new configuration.

Additional Design Publishing Information

Current Project Publishing Limitations:

• Referencing of specific component revisions ('Precise BOM') is not supported by the Siemens EDA Gateway.
• ECO is not currently supported.