Customizing Service Templates

[FLinMI]

I am a cad user also responsible for creating product lists for release of equipment to the jobsite.  Another requirement would be verifying audit trails and piece marked drawings from a spiral duct vendor based on my duct design.

I want to customize service templates in order to streamline the processes mentioned above.  This way I can filter information from my drawing into a product list that mirrors what these suppliers and manufactures send us as their original take-offs from contract drawings.  It soaks up a lot of time entering information into the item tab for each bought out item for each individual job so that a list can be made for a project manager to verify and send to the supplier.

We share the database between one cam user and one cad user via a server.  I am often in B.I.M. meetings and doing field verification with the field foreman. This requires me to have a copy of the database either on my hard drive or an external one at least once or twice a week.  

The cam user makes all the updates to the main database.  The service templates are driven by what he has input into the pressure classes in the main database.  

How would customizing the service templates for bought out items or even in house items to match the way I design a system affect the main database being shared on a server?

Maybe the process I am trying to implement is all wrong?

HELP!

[cam-nav]

This all depends on how the CAM user is using the service templates or if at all.

Our CAM operators do not use the service templates, they input all from the folders view.

Making service templates like you want is actually the way the software is supposed to be used, adding in items that are "product listed" will not affect the database in any way except for adding the neccessary service templates needed to make your life easier.

Having remote access to the database is not a problem at all either because any changes the CAM operator makes will update the next time you take the database for a remote meetings.

[FLinMI]

Thanks for the input.  We are having discussions on how customizing service templates, working off a hard drive in a remote location, and still coming together in a mutually shared database on a server while navigating the world of B.I.M.

Health care is miniscule compared to this stuff:)

Your CAM operators use a maj file and work in folders view?

What would be a scenario in your mind for the CAM operator to use the service templates?

The argument on the CAM side here is that a connector or seam might need to be changed on the fly thus the need for access to the service template and so the need for everyone to have identical service templates.  

From the cad side I say that no two cad guys attack a duct layout the same way.  
The service templates work under the constraints of the database and the guidlines set forth in the pressure classes. So they are seperate of each other to the point where you can have different service templates with scripting and not impact the database and production.  As long as I upload the database from the server when going remote or when notified of a change everything should be right in the world.  We could have six cad users, never go remote, remain tied to a server and still have six different service templates worknig from the 2 inch postive water ga, based on company x's standardization.

I have not used the profiles aspect of the software.  Do you know if that where you can store different service templates based on the cad user or customer?

[cam-nav]

Your CAM operators use a maj file and work in folders view?

Yes.

What would be a scenario in your mind for the CAM operator to use the service templates?

I would think you can run both ways and be fine, we only run from service templates from the CAD side to keep the detailers from using items that can't be easily built in the shop. This might be the case from the CAM side also. IF you run from folders you have access to all items if needed, depending on which folders you have access to.

The argument on the CAM side here is that a connector or seam might need to be changed on the fly thus the need for access to the service template and so the need for everyone to have identical service templates.  

This can be done from the folders as long as the item in the service template is mapped to the item in the folder you are working from. This is also a sticky situation for us too, we have CAD folders that our services are built from and the CAM operators have their own folders that they can change to whatever suits them. So if a change needs to be made this has to go through the database ADMIN(me) and the change becomes incorporated.

From the cad side I say that no two cad guys attack a duct layout the same way.  
The service templates work under the constraints of the database and the guidlines set forth in the pressure classes. So they are seperate of each other to the point where you can have different service templates with scripting and not impact the database and production.  As long as I upload the database from the server when going remote or when notified of a change everything should be right in the world.  We could have six cad users, never go remote, remain tied to a server and still have six different service templates worknig from the 2 inch postive water ga, based on company x's standardization.

Yes, but you have to be careful to make sure this is the right way to do this because of company standards and not to make more work for the CAM people that have to process the orders.

I have not used the profiles aspect of the software.  Do you know if that where you can store different service templates based on the cad user or customer?

I don't use profiles, all I know about them is sections can be separated in them, not sure about service templates.

[FLinMI]

Thanks for breaking that down.