Variable Mapping for CALS Example: Displaying a CALS Drawing Number in a File Data Card

To display a CALS drawing number in a file data card:

  1. View the CALS header in a HEX text editor to determine the tagname and position of the drawing number.
  2. Update the Calsplugin.ini file and define the tagname and tagposition for the drawing number as it appears in the CALS header.
    distribute the updated file to all client computers that manage CALS files.
  3. In the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool, open the Edit Variable dialog box and create a variable named Drawing Number.
  4. Click New Attribute.
  5. Under Selected attribute:
    1. For Block name, select Cals.
    2. For Attribute name, type Drawingnumber.

      This is the subtag name defined in the Calsplugin.ini file.

    3. Type the CALS file extensions that contain the property, separated by commas.

      For example: cal, cg4, gp4, mil.

  6. Click OK.
  7. In the Card Editor, open the CALS file data card.
  8. Add an edit box and select the new Drawing number variable as the Variable name.
  9. Save the card and close the Card Editor.
When a user adds a CALS file to the vault, the file data card displays the file's drawing number tag.