Overview
Projectwise provides three Export Import tools used for Exporting Datasource Data and files. Each tool provides unique features to accomplish different tasks. This Technote will give a high level overview of what each tool could be used for, and how it works.
- Document Export Wizard and Folder Export Wizard
- Projectwise \ Tools \ Export or Import wizard
- ProjectWise Export/Import (with excel)
Prerequisite
- Projectwise V8i Client Installation, that Includes the Projectwise Export Import Excel tool
Document Export Wizard and Folder Export Wizard
These tools are used when you want to send the file(s) out of ProjectWise to be edited by another user (for instance to a contractor) or maybe to work on them offsite. Once the file(s) are exported, the file(s) are locked and cannot be edited in Projectwise. When editing is completed you can then import the file(s) back into ProjectWise which removes the lock. Think of it as a long term checkout.
Another option this tool offers is to “send the file to a folder” as an unmanaged copy. The file will not be locked in ProjectWise so it can still be edited by other ProjectWise users. This option is useful for forwarding the file(s) to someone to view or take out in the field for comparing to what is happening on site. Again, these files (that are on the desktop) should not be edited as they are unmanaged by Projectwise.
Basic steps for using these tools
Document Export Wizard
- Highlight a file(s), right click, Export. The Document Export Wizard comes up
- There are two options in this wizard
- Export – this option locks the file so no one else can edit it.
- Send to folder – This option creates an unmanaged local copy of the file(s)
- To import the Exported (Locked) file(s) back into Projectwise simply Highlight then right click on the file(s) and choose import. The file(s) need to be located in the same directory they was exported to.
Folder Export Wizard
- The same options are available to export a folder, its sub folders and files.
- Right click a folder and choose export.
- You are presented with a similar dialog as the document export wizard where you can choose to export and lock the files or just send them to a folder.
- It is not possible to import a folder as there is no right click option to import.
- To import all the exported (Locked) files from the folder export, do a search in the folder for all exported files, Highlight all the locked files, right click then choose import.
Projectwise \ Tools \ Export or Import wizard is used for Exporting Datasource Data and files
Lets’ say you want to create another datasource that has the exact same environment and folder structure as your current one.
Projectwise offers a set of tools to export and import environments, saved searches, projects and folders, documents, workspaces, rendition profiles and components, applications, departments, queries, and workflow.
These tools can be found under Start \ Bentley \ Export to AAM file wizard or Import from AAM file wizard
The export process creates a script file with the extension of '.AAM' that contains records of the data that is exported. If exporting files, the files are saved as .DAT in dms folders.
The import process reads the script file that was created during the export and directs the tool to create the objects in the new datasource as well as import the files.
When you first run the tool you will notice that the export wizard does not offer all the options listed above. Some options like the workflow require the tool to be run via the command prompt with a switch.
For the Export command line switches see the Projectwise Explorer help under: Projectwise Explorer \ ProjectWise user tools \ Exporting Datasource Data \ to Export a Datasource using the command line
For the Import Command line switches see the Projectwise Explorer help under: Projectwise Explorer \ ProjectWise user tools \ Importing Datasource Data \ to Import exported Datasource data using the command line.
For more information see: Exporting Datasource Data (bentley.com)
ProjectWise Export/Import (with excel)
The ProjectWise Export/Import tools are used to bulk import files and attribute data from external sources into ProjectWise, or to bulk export files and attribute data out of ProjectWise. The ProjectWise Export/Import tools use an Excel spreadsheet as the data interchange format. The ProjectWise Export/Import tools support the transfer of most standard ProjectWise attributes, including versions and the creation of new versions during import, but do not support workflows and states.
The basic steps in using this tool are
- Using the start \ Bentley \ Excel Export – Import\ Create an excel template, log in to the datasource and create the template with the properties and attributes you wish to capture.
- Using the start \ Bentley \ Excel Export – Import\ Export to Excel, log into the datasource, choose the excel template you created, create the excel output spreadsheet, choose where to place the files on the desktop, choose the files to export, click finish.
- The files will be exported and locked (if you choose that option) and the attribute data will be entered in the excel spreadsheet.
- You can then edit files and edit the excel spreadsheet to change the attribute data.
- Using the start \ Bentley \ Excel Export – Import\ Import from Excel, log into the datasource, choose your output excel spreadsheet and follow through the wizard to import the files and data.
For more information on this tool see Using the Export to Excel / Import from Excel Tools (bentley.com)