Desktop Integration, Word and Attributes

[BrianToussaint]

I'm looking into putting attributes on a document that I am working on putting into Windchill but have seem to come across a limitation.  I have footers and headers and the headers are different from page 1 to page 2.  In the header sections I want to put Name, Number and Version attributes.  However, it seems that each attribute can only be used once on the document though I have added it in both places.  I change the template to reflect this and it does not act as expected.  Is there something I am missing?  Is this functionality?  How do I get the same attribute in two places?  I'm on Windchill 11.2.1.4.

Thanks,

Brian

[imendiola · Accepted solution]

Hi Brian,

By default, DTI uses bookmarks to insert attributes from Windchill to Word, and bookmarks cannot be duplicated in a Word document. So that is the reason for limiting inserting an attribute only once in the document.

Anyway, you can probably insert manually in Word a "cross reference" to that bookmark that will show the value of the attribute in any other place to do what you need.

Regards

[BrianToussaint]

Hello Iker,

I did try inserting as a cross reference to the bookmark which works when you do the cross reference.  However, after you check it in, change one of the attributes and then open it again, only the original bookmark changes and not the cross reference.  I'll have to dig into that a little more.

Thank you,

Brian

[imendiola]

I have no tried it, but perhaps you need to select the cross reference and hit F9 to update it....

just like table of contents in Word, that are not automatically updated.... but in fact they are updated when you generate a PDF from that document....

[BrianToussaint]

Yes, that did it.  I will have to include it in my instructions, as we will not be making PDFs of these documents.  Instead we will be opening them straight from Windchill in Word so I removed the "State" cross reference from my additional page header.

[jvonzastrow1]

I always use Word function "Quick Parts" to show Windchill attributes in MS Word.

It is much more stable and powerfull.

Microsoft also is using Quick Parts for Sharepoint attributes 😉

[BrianToussaint]

@jvonzastrow1 

When I use "Quick Parts" I do not see the attributes from Windchill.  Do I need to do something to create them? I was reading some of the limitations based on CS194304 and it looks like Quick Parts do not auto update on open but need to be refreshed.  

[imendiola]

If you want to use as Quick Parts, then instead of document properties, you need to select Field > docProperty and you will see all Windchill properties there:

[BrianToussaint]

Thank you, I really do appreciate all of the help. 😊

Now if I can just get what I need in my template and it to work, I will be happy.

[imendiola]

😀