Add Windchill attachments to generated PDF

[ErikClacey]

Version: Windchill 13.0

Use Case: When we send step files or other (annex) files for that matter we have a main word file describing the file(s) and some legal matters on not spreading data and other info. This is in Windchill and a PDF is created by a windchill worker. The step file or annex documents may be stored in the Content -> Attachments area of the document in windchill. I would like to setup such that the pdf generation grabs the attachments and adds them as attachments to the pdf that is generated. Ideally this would only be done when the Word file and subsequent pdf goes through the Promotion request to reach an Approved state

Description:

When we send step files or other (annex) files for that matter we have a main word file describing the file(s) and some legal matters on not spreading data and other info. This is in Windchill and a PDF is created by a windchill worker. The step file or annex documents may be stored in the Content -> Attachments area of the document in windchill. I would like to setup such that the pdf generation grabs the attachments and adds them as attachments to the pdf that is generated. Ideally this would only be done when the Word file and subsequent pdf goes through the Promotion request to reach an Approved state

We have documentation, as well as CAD, in Windchill. Is it possible to configure the PDF generation of for example Word files such that the files in the Windchill profile card -> Content -> Attachments area are attached as attachments inside the generated PDF?

[d_graham]

@ErikClacey 

Are you asking if a pdf generated from a Word doc can be combined (attached) with a pdf generated from a CAD Doc? If yes, the answer is yes.

It is possible to merge multiple pdf files from multiple Windchill objects into one pdf file with multiple pages. The pages can also be numbered.

This can be done automatically in your workflow process, but it is a customization.

In short, you can run Java code in your workflow that combines multiple pdf files into one pdf file with multiple pages and then adds the multi-page pdf as an attachment to a Windchill object, such as the Promotion Request itself or one of the promotion objects or both.

If I understand your need correctly and you need help with the code, let me know. I have written lost of code to manipulate pdf files, including merging pages from multiple pdf files, adding watermarks, adding page numbers, etc.

If you need help contact me at

windchill.developer@yahoo.com 

David

[ErikClacey]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply @d_graham . The PDF of the Word document is generated by the Windchill worker and automatically stored in windchill in the Representation tab/section of windchill. I would like the attached files in the Windchill profile card Content tab -> Attachment section to be copied into the main pdf as attached files. See the image below. The upper part is an image from another (not generated by us) pdf file, with other files added to it as attachments. The lower part shows the place in the word document's Windchill profile card, Content tab. Unfortunately the document I took this from had no attachments in windchill, so you can imagine that files are added there. I know that this can be done manually with Adobe Acrobat, but automatic and seamless is the preferred way to go.

In doing so, we only need to send one pdf file to a customer or provider, rather than multiple files.

[MTH]

Hi ErikClacey,

This could be achieved using custom code after the edr generation. it's a post publish action.