Computer Software for Steel Professionals
Structural Material Manager Version 18.1 Upgrade
Import Is Now Aware of Revisions: Imported lines are now compared against existing ones so you can decide whether they should replace those existing items instead of being added to the material list.
The reason the new feature is important is that Structural Material Manager’s optional External Data Interface is sometimes used to import files that represent modified versions of previously-imported lines. In other words, some import files are not meant to be added to the existing material list but, rather, replace items that were imported at an earlier time.
In the past, this type of operation could only be done manually. That involved first deleting the original item range with a multiple section. The file could then be imported at the appropriate spot in the list, as Structural Material Manager allows you to specify the insert position (it does not have to be the end of the list). While the manual technique worked – and still does – what Version 18.1 introduces is an automatic method. The automated process is effective as long as the piece marks of the import file match a range of piece marks in the existing job. If a match of the newly-imported lines is found when examining previously-imported ones, the system pops up a dialog and asks whether you want a replacement performed.
A simple example will help demonstrate the new feature’s operation. Consider this 4-item list as already existing at the material entry screen:
1B1 2 W 12 x 58 x 20’-0
p1 4 PL ½ x 36 x 1’-4 ½
1B2 2 W 10 x 54 x 20’-0
p2 4 PL ½ x 35 x 1’-4 ½
Now let’s say you import an .EJE, .KSS or .CSV file containing these (2) items:
1B1 2 W 12 x 58 x 20’-0
p1 4 PL ½ x 36 x 3’-0
Note that all that is different is that the length of the p1 item has changed from 1’-4 ½ to 3’-0. After import, assuming you authorize the replacement, the material list would be as follows:
1B1 2 W 12 x 58 x 20’-0
p1 4 PL ½ x 36 x 3’-0
1B2 2 W 10 x 54 x 20’-0
p2 4 PL ½ x 35 x 1’-4 ½
That brief, basic example is just meant to illustrate the premise behind the automatic feature. Still, the principles apply equally well to lists containing hundreds or even thousands of items.
Click here to view a video demonstrating this new feature.
Upgrade Price Quote and Ordering Info: If you are an existing customer with an older Structural Material Manager version, please e-mail us at Sales@ejeindustries.com to obtain a price quote on the latest upgrade. You can then use the Online Upgrade Order Form to conveniently place the order for the latest Structural Material Manager upgrade.
Other Upgrade Versions: This page specifically covers Version 18.1 upgrade features. For information concerning other upgrade versions, visit our main Structural Material Manager upgrade page which contains links to pages describing improvements in each software release from Version 10.1 (circa 2007) to the present.