SDS/2 Integration Overview

Note; This article applies to SDS2 versions before 2022.

For SDS2 2022 and newer, see  SDS2 and Tekla PowerFab Data Transfer Best Practices.

This integration transfers SDS/2 GUIDS to Tekla PowerFab, which then allows Tekla PowerFab to update SDS/2 with production status for the job. To use the integration, follow these steps:

From Modeling in SDS/2, click the "SDS/2 Full Transfer" icon

Image

(alternatively from the Main Menu under "MRP Interface" select FabSuite (XML) as the Export Type and click Export).
 

Image

General Settings

Choose to "Export", with a Transfer type of "Full - Choose Data".

Data Source can be "Members" or "Sheets", or select the "All" button.

Check "Include Bill of Material"

We suggest you check "Include drawing files", with your choice of formats.

We suggest you check "Include CNC" for submaterial.

If you have Trimble Connect, you can include the IFC in the export.
UNCHECK 'Zip XML file'.

Image

Image

Status and User

Check additional Status data that you would like to send. Tekla PowerFab will make any of these that include data available to map during the import.

Drawing revisions are also included in the export, and Tekla PowerFab will automatically manage them.

Choose the members or sheets to export, then select a directory. Job files are easier to find if you name the directory for the job.

After the file is created, open Tekla PowerFab, and choose Import > Production Control (XML). Choose the xml file in the directory created by SDS/2, and click "Import". This brings in the job data including member and material information as well as CNC in Production Control and drawings in Project Management.

As production progresses, the current status of production can be exported back to SDS/2 by choosing Production Control > Export > Export Production Status to XML - SDS/2 on the menu. This will create an XML file that can be imported back in to SDS/2.

To import the file back to SDS/2, open Modeling and click on either the "SDS/2 Full Transfer" icon or the "SDS/2 Status Transfer" icon.

Choose "Import", and select the fields that you wish to allow Tekla PowerFab to update. Then click "OK".

The fields that you selected and Tekla PowerFab sent will be updated in your SDS/2 model.