KB168631647: WebCenter - How to create a sample making task

Problem statement

• How to create a WebCenter task which is optimized for cutting samples, typically on a Kongsberg table?
• How to optimize the WebCenter user interface for a Kongsberg operator?

Summary

The procedure uses WebCenter Lifecycle Management to create tasks for the cutting table operator(s). These tasks can be generated by hand (create task), f.e., by the ArtiosCAD designer or automatically from a workflow (typically, shortly after a previous step allowed a designer to upload/create a design or after running a standard).

These tasks are visible in the to do list of the Kongsberg operator. From there, he/she can download an ACM file which is created from the ARD/MFG file via an output.

This knowledge base article walks you through the steps to take, to set up the process.

Assumptions/prerequisites to successfully follow the procedure:

• Good understanding of/ experience with the WebCenter user interface. Please refer to the WebCenter user manual for more details on individual steps.
• Access to a WebCenter or ArtiosCAD Enterprise with the Lifecycle Management license enabled.
• The input file(s) are ArtiosCAD ARD files.

Procedure

Step: Create Users, Groups, Roles

Make sure the Kongsberg operators are users of the system.

1. Create a group, KONGSBERG Sitename where you replace Sitename with the name of your site (name is not important, unless you want to use SmartName in an advanced workflow, in that case, make sure the sitename follows the company code and/or the location code).
2. Create a user for each Kongsberg operator (if they are not yet in the system).
3. Add these users to the respective groups.
4. Create a Role, SAMPLEMAKER.
5. Change your templates to invite the KONGSBERG Sitename group or invite the role SAMPLEMAKER and make sure the workflow assigns this role to the correct group (as in the screenshot given below):

Step: Create attributes and restricted sets

1. Create a restricted set, Kongsberg Tables with values, one for each table in your site. If you have multiple sites, you can make one restricted set per site. However, it's mostly better to directly create a single list where you add the site as one of the columns and the table as another column. You can also add the preferred user as a third column and have additional columns for tooling, sizes, etc.
2. Create an attribute, Table, which you restrict to the just created restricted set or to the correct column of the just created list. Make sure to check the Attribute is also a Task Specification checkbox for the attribute.
3. Depending on your needs, you probably want to create more attributes specific to the sample making operation. Typical are:
   1. Board/material (typically a restricted set, can be derived from the boards table).
   2. Instructions (f.e.: a rich text field).
   3. Feedback attributes: Number of sheets used, Time to Cut, Comment etc. These are fields the Kongsberg operator will be asked to fill out before completing the task.

Step: Create an output in ArtiosCAD (Enterprise)

When the Kongsberg front-end cannot read ARD files (or when you determine that this is too error prone), it will certainly be beneficial to generate ACM files from WebCenter. ACM files are ArtiosCAD outputs which are sequenced for optimal cutting performance, regardless of the order the designer drafted in. In addition, it maps line types to tooling and further adds commands for creating nicks and how to process perforations and cut/creases. Also, a material setup file which is a reference to additional configuration for the Kongsberg front end can be specified.

Steps:

1. Open ArtiosCAD Enterprise client and login to your WebCenter server as an administrator.
2. In Options > Defaults > Outputs > Artios, open the appropriate folder for your Kongsberg table or create a new default first and then select it.
3. Double click the default you require.
4. Check the WebCenter checkbox as in the below screenshot:
   
5. Click OK and Save the Default (confirm that you want to overwrite the Shared defaults).

6. In WebCenter > Admin > CAD > CAD Download Formats, click the Synchronize button. The just added output should appear as a new download format.

   If this does not happen, check whether your ArtiosCAD was connected to the correct server and re-check whether the WebCenter checkbox was checked.
7. Check at least the checkbox for ArtiosCAD Design for this download format.
8. Click Save.
9. Make sure all Kongsberg operators can download this format. The best way to do this is to go to Groups > select the Kongsberg Sitename group and click the Download tab.
10. Enable at least the ArtiosCAD Design for this download format and Save.
    

More details can be found in:

• Page:
  KB84837462: WebCenter - How to download CAD formats

Step: Create a samplemaking task type in WebCenter

Steps:

1. As an administrator or a project manager with Create Task Type rights, click Task Types > Types > Add Task Type.
2. Name: Create Samples, estimated duration: 0 days, 4 hours (these are just examples), create the task type.
3. In the Documents tab, check Allow attached documents.
4. In the Specifications tab, add specifications as in the below screenshot (this will be different for each setup depending on what details you want to communicate).
5. You will probably want to set some of the feedback specifications to Required. Certainly if you want to use them for reporting (see further).

Step: Create a manual task for the Kongsberg operator

Steps:

1. As a user with task edit rights, go to the project where the ARD files reside.
2. In the Tasks tab, click Create New Task.
3. Select Create Samples for Task Type.
4. Assigned To: select SAMPLEMAKER Role or directly the right group or user.
5. Do nothing with the predecessors (unless you really want it to wait for something else).
6. Set lead time or due date if different from the chosen lead time in the task type.
7. Set Start Task to Manually.
8. Click Create.
9. Click the task you just created in the Task overview page. You will get a screen as shown in the screenshot below.
10. Select the table, the material and fill out instructions.
11. Provide the ARD file as Task Documents. If the ARD file is already in the project, use Link, else use Upload.
12. Click Start Task.

Step: Execute the task as Kongsberg operator

Steps:

1. The Kongsberg operator will see the task in his/her to-do list (My Tasks). From this list, click the task. The below screen appears:
   

2. Click the Download icon. You will be brought to the download details of the ARD document.
   

   

3. Choose the correct Kongsberg ACM download and save to a local folder on the Kongsberg front-end (iPC or XGuide).
4. From the Kongsberg front-end, open the ACM file and complete any needed additional steps to make the job, production-ready.
5. Cut the samples.
6. Fill out the task details (Number of sheets used, cutting time, comment).
7. Complete the task.

The task will now appear in the My Completed Tasks section and have disappeared from the My Tasks section.

If the task had successors, they will be started.

Optional Step: Add the task to a workflow

It happens a lot that samples must be made as part of a more advanced workflow, for example, an 'Inquiry' workflow, where several potential customers or sales people can create inquiries for which designs must be selected or created, samples must be created to finally get to a quote request.

In such a workflow, the above task type, Create Samples can be used mostly without much alteration.

Additional ideas:

• In case samples are needed for multiple designs, you can either make one Create samples task and attach all documents or split the task using the data splitter (don't forget to collect afterwards). 
• An additional project attribute Samples needed may be used to move the Create Samples task behind a router which jumps over this task if no samples are requested.

Optional Step: Use Task Search for Reporting

You can get a quick and easy report of all samples produced according to the just created process by searching in Task Search with task type Create Samples for all tasks in a given period. You can output this search result to Excel to do further data mining. The success of this operation depends on the requested information in the feedback section of the task.

Optional Step: Tasks with multiple designs to cut

Specifically when allowing the operator to nest designs for the same project, it is mostly a good idea to attach all these designs to the same task.

It can happen that details need to be provided for each of the designs. This is possible using a Task Type view for the documents.

Steps:

1. Make sure all designs have a document attribute assigned. Mostly all ARD files have the same document attribute category (f.e.: CAD default).  In case this is not the so, you will have to repeat the procedure for each used attribute category.
2. In the Document attribute category, add a section to the default view Sample Making with the above mentioned attributes (or at least those which are different per design).
3. Create a new view Create Samples (this name must be exactly the same as your task type name, case sensitive). Use grid layout.
4. In this view, put the attributes for sample making in the layout (as you like it most).
5. Set some of the feedback attributes to Required (at least those you want to use in search/reporting).
6. Save the attribute category.
7. Try opening a task with such a document attached. The document will get a flap-out with the attribute category in the Create Samples view. The task cannot be completed without filling out the required values in the attribute category of each of the documents.