Attribute Based Category Search

About Attribute Based Category Search

The CES catalog may contain a huge number of categories. Keeping track of all the available categories and where they are located within the hierarchy is very difficult. In addition, searching all the categories in the database, when you only need to search one or just a few, is very time-consuming. The Attribute Based Category Search helps you narrow your search field by helping you find the category(ies) you need. This functionality allows you to:
  • Identify and locate a category when you know the name of an attribute in the category. For example, you can search for all categories that contain the PLM ID attribute.
  • Identify and locate a category when you know all or part of the name of the category. For example, you can search for categories that contain "Resistor" in the category name.
  • Identify and locate a category when you know one or more of the attribute names in the category and some part of the category name. For example, you can search for categories that contain "IC" in the category name and have an attribute named "Temperature".

The Attribute Based Category Search is located on the List View tab of the Sourcing Search window. This window also contains the Tree View tab, which contains the Category Browser. For more information about the Category Browser, refer to Category Browser. To access the Attribute Based Category Search, simply select the List View tab of the Sourcing Search window. For more information on searching in general, refer to Search.

When Using Attribute Based Category Search

  • Both the Attribute Name and Category Name fields will accept wildcards.
  • After you have identified the category to use, click Apply to apply the selected category to the list of search criteria in the search window.

How to Use Attribute Based Category Search

Follow these steps to:

  • locate a category
  • update the search window with the attributes of the selected category
  • enter other search criteria
  • perform a search on the selected category/node

:

This example assumes that a seeded database exists and is accessed by CATIA Client.
  1. Start CATIA. Login to ENOVIA V5 VPM and CES. For more information on logging in, refer to Logging in to ENOVIA V5 VPM in CATIA and Accessing CES Functionality.

  2. Click the Search CES Database button. The Sourcing Search window appears. The top portion of the window contains the Sourcing Search Criteria and the Simple Search and Standard Search tabs. The bottom portion contains the Category Browser, on the Tree View tab, and the Attribute Based Category Search, on the List View tab. You can use the Category Browser to narrow your search by selecting one of the category nodes in which to search. For more information, refer to Category Browser.


     

  3. Go to the List View tab.

  4. In the Attribute Name field enter the name of an attribute that you think is in the category for which you are searching. This field accepts wildcards, so you can enter part of an attribute name. Please note that this field is case sensitive. For this example, the attribute name includes the word Temperature, so *Temperature* is entered.

  5. Click the Find Categories button to list those categories that include an attribute with "Temperature" in the attribute name.

  6. Select a category and click the View Hierarchy button. The Tree View tab is displayed with the selected category highlighted.



  7. Back in the List View tab, select the category in which you wish to perform your search and click the Apply button. Notice that the search criteria at the top of the window is updated with attributes of the selected category.

  8. Enter the necessary values in the search criteria and click OK to perform the search.

  9. Alternately, you can search for a category by providing part of the category name. For example, suppose you know the category has "opto" in the name. On the List View tab enter *opto* in the Category Name field. Click Find Categories. The list of categories appears.



  10. Select the category in which you wish to perform your search and click the Apply button. Notice that the search criteria at the top of the window is updated with attributes of the selected category.

  11. Enter the necessary search criteria values and click OK to perform the search. The Search Results window appears.

Sourcing Search Window

This table describes the fields displayed in the Standard Search tab of the Sourcing Search window.

Fields Description

Search From

Category of data to search.

Type

Type of item for which to search.

Search Form

Type of information to view in the Search Results. Possible values are:

  • All Items:  Include information on the manufacturer item, supplier item and internal item. This includes Manufacturer Item Number, Manufacturer Item Description, Supplier Item Number, Internal Item Number, Price, Currency Code, and other information.
  • Manufacturers Content:  Information included depends on the item type selected:
    • Manufacturer Item: Contains only manufacturer specific content.
    • Supplier Item: Contains supplier specific content and some manufacturer specific content.
    • Internal Item: Contains internal item specific content and some manufacturer specific content.
  • Suppliers Content: Information included depends on the item type selected:
    • Manufacturer Item: Contains manufacturer specific content and some supplier specific content.
    • Supplier Item: Contains only supplier specific content.
    • Internal Item: Contains internal item specific content and some supplier specific content.
  • Internal Content: Information included depends on the item type selected:
    • Manufacturer Item: Contains manufacturer specific content and some internal item specific content.
    • Supplier Item: Contains supplier specific content and some internal item specific content.
    • Internal Item: Contains only internal item specific content.

Project

Projects in which to search. This field is enabled only if the Type: dropdown list is set to Items - Internal. Possible values:

  • Current Project: Search the project you are working on.

  • All Projects: Search all projects.

Revision

Revisions in which to search. This field is enabled only if the Type: dropdown list is set to Items - Internal. Possible values:

  • Current Revision: Search the current revision.

  • All Revisions: Search all revisions.

Attribute search fields

Value to search for, for the respective attribute. These fields vary depending on what you have selected in the For: dropdown list and the Search View: dropdown list. The list of attributes also changes if you click the Show Additional Properties button.

Load Search

Name of the saved search to load.

Attribute Name

Enter all or part of the name of an attribute contained by the category for which you are searching. This field accepts wildcards and operators. This field is case sensitive.

Category Name Enter all or part of the name of the category for which you are searching. This field accepts wildcards and operators.
Category List Contains the categories found that match the information provided in the Attribute Name or Category Name fields.

This table describes the buttons displayed in the Sourcing Search window and the Standard Search tab of the Sourcing Search window:

Button Description

Clear All

Click this to clear the keyword field.

Show Additional Properties

Display other attributes for the selected item type. You can set these attributes as well to further narrow your search. Please note that when you click on the Show Additional Properties button, the Additional Properties : section appears in the Sourcing Search window and the Show Additional Properties button is changed to Hide Additional Properties.

Save Search

Save current search criteria for later use.

Manage Searches

Load, delete, or rename saved searches.

Find Categories

Find the categories that match the information contained in the Attribute Name and/or Category Name fields.

View Hierarchy

Displays the Tree View tab with the selected category highlighted.

OK

Click this to execute the search command, and get search results for items or companies.

Apply

Applies the category selected in the Category Browser to the list of criteria in the search window, without closing the search window.

Close

Click this to close the window without performing the search.