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Manoj_Dokku414-Alexandrite
14-Alexandrite
September 25, 2025
Question

Is there any Available Code to Delete Global Attribute from Softtype?

  • September 25, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 872 views

Version: Windchill 12.1

 

Use Case: At the time of migration, we have used few attributes which are used at the time of migration, now they are not at all needed, Since there are many, we need to delete in Bulk.


Description:

At the time of migration, we have used few attributes which are used at the time of migration, now they are not at all needed, Since there are many, we need to delete attributes in Bulk from.

  1. SoftType
  2. Manage Reusable Attributes.

3 replies

Fadel
Fadel23-Emerald I
23-Emerald I
September 25, 2025

There is no way to this with APIs or XML  https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/CS371027

https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/CS368449 

Buiꓘa
    HelesicPetr
    22-Sapphire II
    HelesicPetr22-Sapphire II
    22-Sapphire II
    October 22, 2025

    Hi @Fadel 

    It is not exactly right 😄 

    there is a mechanism that generates a xml for deleting a IBA  attribute from a soft type. 

    during a import by loadfromfile there is information that xml for deleting is generated.

    HelesicPetr_0-1761124950789.png

    So you can use this xml as a template to generate own one to remove the attributes from the softtype

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE NmLoader
 SYSTEM "standard12_0.dtd">
<NmLoader>
 <csvDeleteAttributes handler="com.ptc.core.lwc.server.TypeDefinitionLoader.deleteAttributeDefinitions">
 <csvattTemplate>LWCTYPE</csvattTemplate>
 <csvtypeContext>wt.doc.WTDocument</csvtypeContext>
 <csvdefNames>DATA|java.lang.String|EN_NAME , DATA|java.lang.String|ADDITIONALINFO</csvdefNames>
 </csvDeleteAttributes>
</NmLoader>

    PetrH

     

    PetrH
    D
    18-Opal
    d_graham18-Opal
    18-Opal
    September 29, 2025

    @Manoj_Dokku4 

    This is definitely doable.

    There is no delete reusable attribute OOTB method, however, a custom Java class or sql script can be written to do this.

      M
      Manoj_Dokku414-AlexandriteAuthor
      14-Alexandrite
      October 1, 2025

      @d_graham , Can you please provide me info regarding any API I can try?

      D
      18-Opal
      d_graham18-Opal
      18-Opal
      October 12, 2025

      @Manoj_Dokku4 ,

      There is no OOTB API you can try.

      I could certainly write the Java code to do it but I have not written it as of yet as I’ve not had any company request it.
      Once a company request it, along with their exact specifications I’ll write it.

        F
        FK_114750046-Contributor
        6-Contributor
        October 16, 2025

        Hi @Manoj_Dokku4 ,

         

        If you are wanting to delete ibas from a type definition then you can do this via load from file.

        Actually if you load a type definition with less attributes than what already exists in the target Windchill, Windchill will create the lwcDeleteType and lwcDeleteAttributes loadFiles automatically. You can then choose to execute those loadFiles to do the deletion. This is Windchill's way of making sure nothing is deleted that isn't really intended to be.

        This example deletes attributes from 3 types.

        DefaultEPM, customPart, customDoc.

        the first part of the <csvdefNames> is constant, followed by a comma separated list of ibas to remove, there should be plenty of examples for different data types in the example.

        <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE NmLoader SYSTEM "standardX26.dtd">
<NmLoader>
	<!-- EPM/CAD -->
	<csvDeleteAttributes handler="com.ptc.core.lwc.server.TypeDefinitionLoader.deleteAttributeDefinitions">
 <csvattTemplate>LWCTYPE</csvattTemplate>
 <csvtypeContext>ext.customer.DefaultEPMDocument</csvtypeContext>
 <csvdefNames>DATA|com.ptc.core.meta.common.DiscreteSet|DATA|java.lang.Boolean|false , DATA|java.lang.String|customShortDesc , DATA|java.lang.String|customGeomRestRe10 , DATA|java.lang.String|customIsGeomRestRRecE10 , DATA|java.lang.String|customScopeE10 , DATA|java.lang.String|customVoilRestrictE10 , DATA|java.lang.String|customIsDerived , DATA|java.lang.String|customIsVerified , DATA|java.lang.String|customIsInheritedDomain , DATA|java.lang.String|customShouldImport , DATA|java.sql.Timestamp|customCopyrightYear</csvdefNames>
 </csvDeleteAttributes>
	<!-- Document -->
	<csvDeleteAttributes handler="com.ptc.core.lwc.server.TypeDefinitionLoader.deleteAttributeDefinitions">
 <csvattTemplate>LWCTYPE</csvattTemplate>
 <csvtypeContext>ext.customer.customDoc</csvtypeContext>
 <csvdefNames>DATA|com.ptc.core.meta.common.DiscreteSet|DATA|java.lang.Boolean|false , DATA|java.lang.String|customShortDesc , DATA|java.sql.Timestamp|customCopyrightYear</csvdefNames>
 </csvDeleteAttributes>
	<!-- Part -->
	<csvDeleteAttributes handler="com.ptc.core.lwc.server.TypeDefinitionLoader.deleteAttributeDefinitions">
 <csvattTemplate>LWCTYPE</csvattTemplate>
 <csvtypeContext>ext.customer.customPart</csvtypeContext>
 <csvdefNames>DATA|com.ptc.core.meta.common.DiscreteSet|DATA|java.lang.Boolean|false , DATA|java.lang.String|customShortDesc , DATA|java.sql.Timestamp|customCopyrightYear</csvdefNames>
 </csvDeleteAttributes>
</NmLoader>

         

         

        to delete the attribute entirely from the Reusable Attributes Manager you could write a custom loader to achieve this or a standalone java utility to be executed from the windchill shell if you have shell access.
        I would start looking at the OOTB DefinitionLoaderWithCache attribute loader if creating a custom loader.

        Mind you that's not a supported API.

         

          V
          vnamboodheriCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          October 22, 2025

          Hello @Manoj_Dokku4, 

           

          It looks like you have some responses from some community experts. If any of these replies helped you solve your question please mark the appropriate reply as the Accepted Solution. 

          Of course, if you have more to share on your issue, please let the Community know so other community members can continue to help you.

          Thanks,
          Vivek N.
          Community Moderation Team.

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