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Connector Mappings

Connector Mappings map attribute fields between your PLM system and aP Connect. Field mappings allow aP Connect to pull data from your PLM system for automated costing and analysis and to author costing results and related reports back to your PLM system.

Workflows can use only the field mappings defined for the associated Connector

When you create a Connector, include all mappings required for cost analysis and any mappings that the Workflow must write back to PLM or include in reports.

Mapping Categories

There are two categories of aP Connect fields:

  • Standard Fields – Fields for standard aPriori production and costing inputs, user-defined attributes (UDAs), costing outputs, and administrative information. Several standard fields contain unique information that is required for costing. The standard fields that are required depend on the Connector type. For more information, see Create a Connector.
  • Other standard fields are optional because they use default values for component costing.
  • Additional PLM Fields – Optional mappings for aP Connect fields that are not standard and not required for costing a component.

For both categories, the settings are:

  • aP Connect Field – Name for the mapped field in aP Connect. (CI Connect Field)
  • PLM Field – Name for the mapped field in the PLM system.
  • Usage – Whether aP Connect reads from, writes to, or reads from and writes to the PLM system.
  • Data Type – Whether the data in the mapped field is specified as a string, real number, date and time, integer, or email address.

Mapping Settings Considerations

Required Standard Fields

When you create a Connector, specify the PLM Field for the three required Standard Fields. The Usage and Data Type values are automatically determined by the aP Connect Field.

For example, Part Number is required for PLM integrations, so Usage is set to Read From and Data Type is set to String.

Adding PLM Mappings

You can add PLM Mappings for other Standard Fields when you create or edit a Connector. The value that you select for the aP Connect Field determines the Data Type. You must select a value for the Usage and specify a value for the PLM Field.

For example, if you select Cycle Time for the aP Connect Field, the Data Type automatically updates to Real, but you must set the Usage and specify the PLM Field.

Additional PLM Fields

You can also add mappings for Additional PLM Fields when you create or edit a Connector. However, none of the settings are preconfigured or automatically updated based on another setting. Therefore, for each Additional PLM Fields that you add, you must provide values to each of the four Mapping settings.

Delete Mappings

Although you can always add mapping for Standard Fields or Additional PLM Fields, you can delete mappings only while you are creating a Connector.

Note

After a Connector is created, you cannot delete any pre-existing mappings. Also, after a Connector is created, you can edit only the PLM Field for any given mapping. You cannot edit the aP Connect Field, Usage, or Data Type for any pre-existing mappings.

This table shows which Mapping settings are editable during the creation of a Connector. It also includes information about editing methods and dependencies for Mapping settings.

Category aP Connect Field Usage PLM Field Data Type Notes
Required Standard Fields Not Editable Not Editable Generally editable via a data entry field. Not Editable The fields that are required depend on the selected Connector type.
Other
Standard Fields
(optional)
Editable via a dropdown menu. Editable via a dropdown menu. Editable via a data entry field. Not Editable.
Fills in automatically when you select a value for the aP Connect Field.
Additional PLM Fields
(optional)
Editable via a data entry field. Editable via a dropdown menu. Editable via a data entry field. Editable via a dropdown menu.

aP Connect Standard Field Reference

This table contains all aP Connect standard fields, arranged by category, and the corresponding data type. Valid data types are String, Number, Date Time, Integer, and Email.

aP Connect Field Data Type
Costing Outputs
Capital Investment Real
Piece Part Cost Real
Fully Burdened Cost Real
Material Cost Real
Labor Time Real
Finish Mass Real
Rough Mass Real
Utilization Real
DFM Risk Rating Real
DFM Risk Score Real
Currency Code String
Costing Result String
Cycle Time Real
aPriori Part Number Real
aP Design Scenario Link String
aP Workspace Scenario Link String
Material Carbon Real
Process Carbon Real
Logistics Carbon Real
Total Carbon Real
Annual Manufacturing Carbon Real
Max Severity String
Critical Issues Integer
Major Issues Integer
Minor Issues Integer
Cost Drivers Integer
Unclassified Issues Integer
PLM System
Part ID String
Revision Number String
Check In User Email Email
Part Number String
Sequence ID String
CAD File Name String
Admin Info
Description String
Production Inputs
Process Group String
Digital Factory String
Material String
Annual Volume Integer
Batch Size Integer
Target Cost Real
Target Mass Real
Machining Mode String
Production Life Real
Costing Input
Scenario Name String
User Defined Attributes
This category contains user defined attributes (UDAs), as applicable, from your aPriori database. The data type matches the data type for the individual UDA.