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PLM Integration with Altium NEXUS Server

Created: June 01, 2021 | Updated: August 18, 2021 | Applies to version: 4.0
Now reading version 4.0. For the latest, read: PLM Integration with Altium NEXUS Server for version 5.0

This documentation page references NEXUS Server (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

 

The Altium NEXUS Server can be hooked up to one or more PLM instances, with direct support for Windchill®, Arena® PLM, Oracle® Agile™ PLM and Siemens Teamcenter® (with additional setup). The interface configuration is performed through the NEXUS Server's browser interface, with most configurations defined within an XML-based configuration file (uploaded to the Server). With the interface set up and working, features and functionality are provided when working in the following distinct areas:

  • Library (components) – catering for the uni- or bi-directional synchronization of your components, component parameters, and part choices, between your NEXUS Server and your PLM instance. Configuration allows you to specify which parameters are mastered in which system. In addition, Item parameters enable you to update properties in the NEXUS Server (configurable per field), without having to formally release a new revision of that Component Item. A dedicated Part Request workflow is also available that supports the automatic creation of a Component in your PLM instance, and also the propagation generated PLM part numbers back to components in NEXUS.
  • Design (projects) – a dedicated Project Creations workflow is available that supports the automatic creation of part numbers in your PLM instance, and then propagation of these as Server Parameters of the NEXUS Managed Project. Such parameters can be used in special strings (e.g. for sheet border annotations). You have the ability to publish your design to your PLM instance, as part of running the Project Releaser in the Altium NEXUS design client. The publishing operation uses a publishing template – defined as part of the PLM instance integration configuration – to control how data should be propagated to the PLM. And if you're publishing for the first time and part numbers (on the PLM side) are not yet associated with the managed project, those part numbers will be created in the PLM and associated with the project as part of that initial publication. You also have the ability to define component entries for NEXUS managed components in the PLM instance, as part of the publishing operation (optional, based on configuration). And you'll always be able to see exactly what has been created, such as part numbers in the PLM instance, as part of the process workflow's history (History tab).

PLM Support

The Altium NEXUS Server provides direct support for the following PLM systems:

  • PTC Windchill® PLM (11.1 M020), and PTC Windchill® PLM (11.0 M030)
  • Arena® PLM
  • Oracle® Agile™ PLM
  • Siemens Teamcenter®, with additional integration setup.
  • Generic PLM – the NEXUS Server also offers a Configuration Generator that creates a generic PLM configuration by analyzing the data model of the current NEXUS Server installation.
In situations where it is not possible to connect between the NEXUS Server and a company enterprise system, component data exported from that system may be imported into the NEXUS Server using its supplied CSV Import command line tool.

Connecting to Your PLM Instance

Connection to your PLM instance is performed from the Admin – PLM Integration page of the NEXUS Server's browser interface. This involves uploading the applicable XML-based configuration file and publishing template, and enabling/configuring synchronization of your PLM components with those in the NEXUS Server.

To create a new PLM interface instance, click the  button. As many instances can be defined as required, to interface your Altium NEXUS Server to various different PLM instances. For example, your components might reside in one PLM instance, with the generated output from released design projects in another, or perhaps different divisions are using different instances (of the same or differing PLM system). Each instance must be uniquely named, have a configuration file and one or more defined publishing templates. To test the connection for a defined instance, click the  button – see Connection Validation below.

Sample configuration files and publishing templates are provided as part of the installation – click on the sections below for more information:

When adding a new PLM entry from the button, use the button to browse to and then apply a suitably saved/modified PLM configuration.

Similarly, a compatible publishing template is added through the button under the Publish Template tab. In the following Publish Template dialog use the button to browse to and select the correct template file.

Add and configure the interface to your company's PLM system. With a valid connection, you can then publish project release data to the PLM system (using defined process definitions)
in accordance with an active publishing template for the instance, and also schedule synchronization of components between that PLM and your NEXUS Server.

The setup files for an Agile PLM instance also support the Agile Change Order workflow, which is enabled in the Publishing Template file and configured in the Configuration file. When a NEXUS process such as Publish with PLM is run, the NEXUS process workflow will offer the option of instigating a Change Order workflow in Agile, using an existing Change Order or not using a Change Order at all. Note that subsequent PLM updates to the project will require an Agile Change Order.

Rather than using the supplied configuration files to create a new enterprise system instance, the NEXUS Server's internal configuration generator may be used to create a custom configuration that derives its structure from the server's data model. The generator requests connection information (PLM type and URL), and then interrogates the NEXUS Server for registered component types (Capacitors, Diodes, etc) and their matching Component Templates to construct a base configuration file – click on the following expanding section for more information:

When a configuration file has been edited and then re-uploaded to the PLM instance, make sure that you test (validate) the connection to detect any problems that may have been introduced – see below.

Connection Validation

The NEXUS Server offers a comprehensive PLM Instance connection validation check, which is available from the button in the Add/Edit Instance page. This will perform a range of configuration compatibility checks and immediately report the results.

When the connection validation report is run, the server analyses the current configuration and publishing template settings for compatibility with both the NEXUS Server and target enterprise system data. Configuration issues such as path errors, unmatched component type definitions and parameters, invalid Lifecycle or Revision settings are detected and reported in the following Configuration Validation Report dialog.

If configuration errors are reported – resulting in an overall ERROR status (Status) – these will need to be addressed before the new instance can be created. A WARNING status, which indicates issues such as NEXUS Server components types that are not included in the configuration, or specified attributes that are not available on the enterprise system side, allows the configured instance to be saved and used.

The reported errors and warnings may be then corrected in the applied configuration/publishing files, and/or by making changes in the settings of the server or enterprise system. Be sure to click the  button once your instance is defined successfully. That instance will appear in the current listing of connected instances, back on the main PLM Integration page of the interface.

When a configuration file has been edited and then re-uploaded to the new instance, use the  button again to detect any problems that may have been introduced.

Component Synchronization

Synchronization of components between the Altium NEXUS Server and the connected enterprise system instance – or to be more specific, their parametric data – is based on the LibSync process workflow. The LibSync process is predefined in the NEXUS Server and not accessible (or editable) from the server's Admin - Processes page. However as a workflow based process, the results of its synchronization action may be viewed and any errors handled.

Using the synchronization process involves the following:

  • Configuring the synchronization setup for each component type, which in practice is:
    • Determining the direction of synchronization (to the server, or to the PLM).
    • Determining which component types are involved, and where new components are to be created.
    • Configuring the mapping or parameter attributes.
  • Configuring the Part Choices data mapping, if applicable.
  • Performing the synchronization.

The first two item groups above are handled in the configuration file used for the connected enterprise system instance (such as a PLM). The synchronization itself can be performed on-demand, from the PLM Integration page of the NEXUS Server's browser interface, and/or can be scheduled – automated synchronization at periodic intervals, defined when configuring the connection to the PLM instance.

Configuring Synchronization

Within the configuration file, the connectivity with the enterprise system instance is defined between the Instance tags as a specified Driver type and a target URL. When the Configuration Generator has been used to create the configuration file, the included Driver and URL references are those entered in the Generate Configuration dialog during the generation process.

<Instance>
    <Driver>[Driver Type]</Driver>
    <Url>[PLM API URL]</Url>
</Instance>
  • When the Arena® PLM driver is specified in the configuration file, an additional entry is available to accommodate the Arena workspaces that are available for an Arena user account. The optional multi-digit ID reference attribute is added to the Instance section between context tags, as shown in the below example. 
    • <Instance>
    <Driver>Arena</Driver>
    <Url>https://api.arenasolutions.com/v1/</Url>
    <Context>12345678</Context>
    <!-- If a workspace ID is not defined, the PLM instance will work with Arena's default workspace for that account. -->
    <!-- The server will report an error if another PLM synchronization session is attempting to use a second workspace from the Arena user account. -->
</Instance>
  • When the connected system is PTC Windchill PLM, it may be necessary to add a configuration line to enable the units of measure for Value readings. 
    • <Instance>
    <Driver>Windchill</Driver>
    <Url>URL</Url>
    <EnableUOMRead>true</EnableUOMRead>
</Instance>

In the following Schema section of the configuration file, you define a section for synchronization mapping for each dedicated part type. On the NEXUS Server side, this is the component of type altiumType – its value is one of the type parameters options that can be seen in the Component Type dialog in the NEXUS design client space. On the PLM side, a part is created of type plmType, as determined by its value in the PLM space.

The section is declared as an Entity in the file, an example of which might be, for capacitors:

<Entity altiumType="Capacitor" plmType="Capacitor">
  .
  .
</Entity>
The plmType value may vary, depending on the particular PLM instance you are using.

Within the Entity, two sections are used to control and configure synchronization from the NEXUS Server to the PLM instance, and the PLM instance to the NEXUS Server – allowing for uni- or bi-directional synchronization. Use the following sections, in conjunction with the comments available in the sample configuration files, to learn more. Ultimately, what gets defined in the configuration file will vary, depending on your specific needs, and also the (PLM) attributes that have been defined in the connected enterprise system instance.

The section for defining Part Choices data mapping is found at the end of the sample (or a generated) configuration file. Note also that synchronization of Part Choice data is unidirectional – from the enterprise system to the NEXUS Server only.

  • The Parameters, Attributes and Values included in a configuration file are case-sensitive.
  • Other than the common inclusion of a primary sync key (such as PlmPartNumber), it is not recommended to include the same component attribute/parameters in both the ToAltium and ToPlm sections of a configuration file. Bi-directional synchronization occurs in that order (from PLM to Altium first), so the PLM data will always dominate in this situation.
  • Note that synchronization of Part Choice data is unidirectional – from the enterprise system to the NEXUS Server only.
  • Refer to the example configuration and publishing fiiles for information on setting up integration with your enterprise system.

Performing Component Synchronization

Component (library) synchronization can be performed as a manual or timed process, from the Sync action button of a PLM instance entry on the PLM Integration page or as an automated cycle specified in the instance setup, respectively. Click the  control associated with the PLM instance that you wish to synchronize. The synchronization process will proceed through the LibSync workflow, in accordance with the settings defined in the associated configuration file.

The control changes to . If you want to stop the synchronization process, click this control. A confirmation window will appear, where you can click  to cancel the synchronization – all components already synchronized will remain so, but no further synchronization beyond that point will occur.

Component synchronization in progress between the NEXUS Server and the indicated PLM instance.Component synchronization in progress between the NEXUS Server and the indicated PLM instance.

Synchronization will involve only those components that have been modified since the last synchronization was run (i.e. their timestamp is later than the last synchronization date), and which pass the synchronization criteria in the configuration file. This is referred to as Incremental Synchronization.

When component synchronization is run, the LibSync process moves through its predefined Workflow until it completes or encounters an error. Refresh the browser (F5) to show the current state of the sync process. To monitor or review the LibSync process, select the Synchronization status tab and choose the Closed listing option – if a process is still running it will show in the Active listing. The button, available to Administrators, can be used to download a detailed record of all listed synchronization activities in a comma-delimited CSV file format (Synchronisation status.csv).

The view’s sub-tabs provide the following information:

  • Diagram – a graphic representing the process workflow, with its current step position highlighted (Competed or the error/failure state).
  • Data – an information summary of the process action, including the success or failure of its steps and a link to the logged process report – see below..
  • History – a time log of the main server synchronization events listed in sequence.

The LibSync process results are also available in the Process Management page (Admin » Processes) under the Browser tab.

The details of the selected LibSync event shown under the Data sub-tab includes a link to the system log file (PLM [date-number].log) for the event.

If a LibSync process fails, a Handle errors task is created with associated error data including summary information and process diagram. Current action tasks are available in the Tasks Management page, accessed from the Tasks option on the main menu.

Scheduled Synchronization

You also have the ability to schedule automated synchronization. To do so, edit the PLM instance (from the main PLM Integration page, click on its name, or the associated control), select the Component Synchronisation tab and enable the Synchronize PLM Components with server on schedule option. Use the Synchronize every controls to set up the automated sync schedule as required. The system is very flexible and allows you to:

  • Set up scheduled synchronization every 15/30/45/60/75/90 minutes.
  • Set up scheduled synchronization every x hours.
  • Set up scheduled daily synchronization, to be performed at a nominated time.

The schedule you define will be reflected back on the main PLM Integration page, in the Sync scheduled column.

Setting up a synchronization schedule.Setting up a synchronization schedule.

To set up scheduled synchronization requires you to provide valid user credentials (for your PLM system). The credentials should have already been registered when setting up the PLM instance, but if not, click the  button and enter your User name and Password into the subsequent PLM Credentials window. Without valid credentials, scheduled synchronization will remain in the OFF state. On-demand synchronization will also not be possible.

You can also run the synchronization process on-demand. Click the  button and choose which mode of sync you need:

  • Incremental – in this mode, only those components that have been modified since the last synchronization was run (i.e. their timestamp is later than the last synchronization date), and that pass the synchronization criteria in the configuration file, will be included in the sync, with changes propagated accordingly. This is the default mode, and is the same mode that is run by clicking the  control for a PLM instance on the main PLM Integration page.
  • Full – this mode forces a full synchronization. All components that pass the synchronization criteria in the configuration file will be included in the sync, with changes propagated accordingly.

Process Workflows

The following process definitions (and underlying workflows) are available, in support of PLM integration:

These process definitions cannot be activated and used as is. Each of these is therefore more like a 'template' – edit to suit your company's requirements, name, and save as a new process definition, which you can then activate and use, along with all other definitions in the respective process theme.
  • Part Requests process theme:
    • Part Request with PLM Part Create – supporting the automatic creation of a Component in your PLM instance, and then propagation of the generated part number back to the component in NEXUS. The workflow diagram is shown below.

One important thing to note is that when you modify this sample definition to create your own, you must specify the PLM instance into which parts are to be created. Select the Create Part in PLM entity in the workflow diagram and choose the PLM instance from the drop-down menu associated with the PLM Instance field. This menu lists all currently defined PLM instances (as defined on the PLM Integration page of the interface).

► See Creating and Managing Processes for more information on working with process workflows.

  • Project Activities process theme:
  • Publish to PLM (User selects) – publish of released managed project outputs to the integrated PLM instance, where the user is able to select exactly which outputs get published. The workflow diagram is shown below.

  • Project Releaser with Publish – publish to the integrated PLM instance as an additional stage of the Project Releaser. The workflow diagram is shown below.

  • Project Creations process theme:
    • Project with initialise in PLM – supporting the automatic creation of part numbers in your PLM instance, and then propagation of these as Server Parameters of the NEXUS Managed Project. The workflow diagram is shown below.

Accessing PLM-related Processes

The following sections highlight where to access activated PLM-related processes. And since the samples cannot be used directly as supplied, the following were created from them for the purpose of illustration:

  • PR with PLM Part Create – created from the sample process definition: Part Request with PLM Part Create.
  • Publish to Company PLM – Choose Data – created from the sample process definition: Publish to PLM (User selects).
  • Project Releaser with Publish to Company PLM – created from the sample process definition: Project Releaser with Publish.
  • Create Project with PLM Initialise – created from the sample process definition: Project with Initialise in PLM.
Remember that Administrators for the Altium NEXUS Server can start a new instance of any activated process definition – directly from the corresponding process theme tab within the Processes area of the NEXUS Server's browser interface – by clicking the  control.

Part Requests

Access from within the Altium NEXUS client from the Explorer panel, after having conducted a search, from within the Details pane of the Manufacturer Part Search panel, or from the link at the bottom of the component listing in the Components panel.

From the Altium NEXUS Server's browser interface, the activated process definition can be accessed from the Part Requests page, by clicking the  button at the top-right of the page.

Project Activities

Project Design data released from the NEXUS design client to the NEXUS Server can be propagated to PLM in a controlled way with the server's Publish to PLM processes. The NEXUS processes define the interface and methodology for the publish activity, and the specified XML Publishing Template defines how the file data is propagated to the target PLM system.

See Publishing to a PLM for more detailed information on the publishing process.

Standard Publishing Process

On the design side, the standard publish to PLM process can be accessed from within Altium NEXUS from the Project » Project Activities sub-menu for the active project.

Project related processes are also accessible from the Project Activities context sub-menu, accessed by right-clicking on the entry for the design project in the Projects panel.

From the Altium NEXUS Server's browser interface, the active process definitions can be accessed from the Project Management view by clicking the  button.

Publishing with the Project Releaser

The process for publishing to a PLM instance as part of the Project Releaser can be accessed from within the NEXUS design client from the Project » Project Releaser sub-menu for the active project.

Release related processes are also accessible from the Project Releaser context sub-menu, accessed by right-clicking on the entry for the design project in the Projects panel.

The Project Releaser will appear, with an additional stage – 7: Publish to PLM. In addition, a command is available from the menu associated with the  button – Prepare & Release & Publish to PLM – should you wish to run the Project Releaser without stopping to review the generated data, and execution report.

If you run the Project Releaser with the standard Prepare command, after reviewing and releasing the data, the  button will be presented at the Execution Report stage. Click this to continue the underlying workflow for the process, to publish to the PLM. The Login Credentials dialog will appear. Enter the Username and Password for your PLM instance, and select the PLM Template you want to use (which appears in the form <PLMInstance>:<PublishingTemplate>).

If you chose to use the Prepare & Release & Publish to PLM command, you will ultimately be presented with the Login Credentials dialog directly. The Project Releaser will not pause at the Execution Report stage, and no  button will be presented.
Note that your PLM instance login credentials are only required for the first time you publish to that instance. These will then be stored with the NEXUS Server. After that, any publishing of that project to that same PLM instance will proceed directly, in accordance with the defined workflow and chosen publishing template.

Click on the Diagram tab to see the underlying workflow for the process.

Click the  button to proceed with the publishing process, in accordance with that workflow.

If you're publishing for the first time and part numbers (on the PLM side) are not yet associated with the managed project, those part numbers will be created in the PLM and associated with the project as part of that initial publication. You also have the ability to define component entries for NEXUS managed components in the PLM instance, as part of the publishing operation – to get a BOM of components within the PLM (optional, based on the publishing template defined and used when publishing the project to the PLM instance).

Check the status of the publish to PLM process through the NEXUS Server's browser interface by selecting the Activities view from within that project's detailed view -- when the project has been opened from the Projects view. Select the Opened view option to see the status while the process is running, and the Closed activities option to access status information when the process has completed.

You can see exactly what has been created, such as part numbers in the PLM instance, under the process workflow's Data tab.

Project Creations

On the design side, access from within Altium NEXUS from the main File » New » Project in <server> sub-menu.

From the Altium NEXUS Server's browser interface, the activated process definition can be accessed from the Projects view by clicking the  button.

And also when Cloning a project, accessed from the  menu button in the Projects view.

The process workflow will proceed, with a dialog to enable you to define the project, in terms of its name, description, type, and any Project Template Item that should be used in its creation. After clicking Start, the Login Credentials dialog will appear. Enter the Username and Password for your PLM instance, and select the PLM Template you want to use (which appears in the form <PLMInstance>:<PublishingTemplate>). Then click Submit to proceed with the workflow.

The relevant part numbers will be automatically created for the project in your PLM instance, and then propagated back to the NEXUS Server as Server-level parameters of the NEXUS Managed Project. These parameters will be available to use as special strings – access from the Properties panel with a placed text string selected in the design editor. Server parameters defined for the project can also be viewed on the Server Parameters tab of the Project Options dialog (Project » Project Options).

Additional Setup for Teamcenter PLM Connections

Siemens Teamcenter® PLM integration requires additional setup that is not managed automatically by the Altium NEXUS Server installer. There are two levels of setup needed, depending on the integration features required. The first level enables Component 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.

Note that an Altium NEXUS Teamcenter PLM Addon license is required for Teamcenter connectivity integration.

For more information about synchronization with Teamcenter, refer to the related configuration and publishing example files that become available when this server license has been added.

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