Several standard report types, such as wire run lists, parts list, and connector tables, can be run on a harness assembly. To create a report you activate the harness assembly to report on, select a configuration (.cfg) file to process the data, and then generate the report. You can also create your own configuration files or rename and customize the sample configuration files. When a report is generated, the output file is saved to a specified location, and one or more reports are displayed in the Report Generator document window for viewing. Configuration (.cfg) files are used for reports and the import and export of wire library data. These .cfg files differ in both format and operation.
Sample configuration files for each of the main report types are provided in the Tutorial Files\Cable&Harness\Report Generator directory where you installed Autodesk Inventor. Autodesk recommends using these sample files as a starting point to save time used for data entry and to reduce input errors. To create a new configuration file or modify an existing configuration file, use Edit Configuration file on the Report Generator toolbar.
How do configuration files for reports and import/export differ?
- Report configuration files - Extract and format specified data from an active harness assembly. Each report type requires a configuration file before the report can be run.
- Import configuration files - Describe the input properties, their associated data types, and corresponding units. The data file contains the library data, which describes each wire or cable imported into the Cable and Harness Library. The data is organized into separate lines as specified by the configuration file.
- Export configuration files - Specifies which properties to export in the data file. The data file is created by the export process and includes information for each wire or cable contained in the referenced library.
Both the configuration file and the data file used for importing and exporting library data use the delimiter specified in the Windows regional or language settings to separate values. The Wire Library and Wire List Import folders in the Tutorial Files\Cable & Harness directory contain both comma delimited and semi-colon delimited files.
Sample Configuration Files
The easiest way to create a report is to use one of the sample configuration files installed with the application. If the sample file does not meet your needs, use the sample file as a base. Modify and organize the data to include the information you need, and then save the file using a unique name.
The following are sample files and their output:
- Parts list report (PartsList.cfg) lists the electrical parts used in the assembly, but does not include the total of each part type. The format is set to include a place holder for repeated part names, and to print the column headers and the text displayed in the Info tab.
- Part and wire BOM (Part_Splice_Wire_Cable_BOM.cfg) outputs the quantity of each part type that is specifically attached by a wire or cable wire in the harness assembly. The report also includes a total length calculation for each library wire and cable type used in the harness. The filter is set to exclude objects from the BOM (denoted by a specific property BOM=FALSE name/value pair), and to use the Part Number to total the number of like objects. Although length is required to total the amount of wires and cables in the harness assembly, the column is not printed. The total amount of wires and cables is included in the Quantity column.
To create a full electrical bill of material (BOM) for a harness assembly, you can use the Report Generator or the Autodesk Inventor bill of material. The Autodesk Inventor parts list includes only the harness assembly, and none of its contents. To include harness parts in a BOM, add them as virtual components in the Cable and Harness assembly.
Note: Virtual parts and ribbon cables are not included in bill of material reports created with the Report Generator. All harness objects, however, are included in bill of materials and parts lists created using standard Autodesk Inventor features.
- Wire run list (Wire Run List.cfg) outputs a from/to list for each wire, including cable wires, in the design. It includes the connection, RefDes, and Pin Name at both ends of each wire, as well as the length of the wire in the specified units. The table uses several link types, and the wire lengths include a round-off value that is used before converting the wires to feet. The format is set to sort multiple columns.
- Connector table (Connector.cfg) creates one file for each electrical component or splice with a RefDes value and wires attached to them in the selected harness assembly. The output file lists the Pin Name, Wire ID, and wire color. The filter is set to query only the parts with a part number property. The table is set to include, but not print, the RefDes property. The format is set to output a file for each RefDes, and <RefDes>.txt is used as the default output name. Multiple wires connected to the same pin each appear on a new line, but the pin name is not repeated.
- Segment data (Segment Table.cfg) creates a table with information about the physical characteristics of each segment in a harness.
What checks are done on report output?
A data type consistency check is performed for all properties on every harness object that is associated with the active harness assembly file. For each property used on an object in a harness assembly, only one data type can be associated with the property name. For example, a data type inconsistency can occur when a connector part with a specific property and data type is placed into a harness assembly that has an existing wire or segment with the same property name, but a different data type.
These inconsistencies do not affect the creation of the harness, and only affect the output report under certain conditions. If the data type is text or has no units, or the property value has no associated numerical operations or units, then the report output data is not affected. However, if the value requires units and numerical operations such as conversions, then the data type for a given property name must be consistent among all its occurrences in the harness assembly to ensure data integrity.
Where are .cfg files stored?
- Store the .cfg files used for the import and export of library data with the library.
- Store .cfg files used with the report generator on a server for access by multiple users, because they are not specific to a particular harness or drawing.