1. Click the Maintenance ribbon tab.
2. On the menu, select Integration Settings > ProNest.
3. To allow sending inventory to ProNest and using ProNest for nesting plates, select the Enable ProNest for Plate Nesting check box at the top of the ProNest Settings dialog box.
4. In the Nesting Request Format list, select how you want to send nesting requests:

   • Work Order: allows you to send the part list in a single click, and after that, automatically imports to the part list in ProNest

   • PNL/SNL: allows sending both the part list and the available inventory to ProNest in two files with the same name. One of these files is a PNL file, and the other is an SNL file. Opening the PNL file in ProNest imports the parts, selects the imported parts for nesting, and sets the available inventory for the nest to the plates within the related SNL file.

5. On the Database Connection tab in the dialog box, define how Tekla EPM connects to the ProNest database to sync the inventory:

   Option	Description
   IP address	The IP address of the ProNest database. The default value is [Computer name]\PRONEST. Note that the computer name needs to be the name of the computer on which ProNest has been installed. This might not be the computer on which you are using Tekla EPM. If you want to check if Tekla EPM can connect to the ProNest database properly, click Test Connection. If the connection is not successful, open ProNest and ensure that the database is networked, and that you have typed the right computer name in the IP address field.
   ProNest Version	The ProNest version that you are using. Note that the oldest available ProNest version is version 2012, or version 10.
   Use Windows Authentication	If you want to use Windows Authentication to connect to the ProNest database, select the Use Windows Authentication check box. If you do not want to use Windows Authentication, clear the Use Windows Authentication check box.
   Username, Password	Your username and password in ProNest.

6. On the Inventory Sync tab, define the inventory synchronization settings:

   Option	Description
   Inventory Sync Folder	The path to the folder in which inventory sync files are stored. Note that both Tekla EPM and ProNest need to be able to read from and write to the inventory sync folder. This means that if Tekla EPM and ProNest are installed on different computers, the inventory sync folder needs to be a shared folder.
   Data Sync Command Path	The path to the location on the Tekla EPM workstation or the server where you have installed DataSyncCmd.exe.
   Inventory Sync Timeout	The time in minutes that Tekla EPM will wait for DataSyncCmd.exe to respond. 3 to 5 minutes is usually a sufficient time.
   Material Display Format	The material display format defined in ProNest regional settings. Note that the format needs to match the format used in ProNest.
   Show File Location Errors for Cut Lists	If you want to get notifications when ProNest cut lists are located in unsuitable folders, select the Show File Location Errors for Cut Lists check box. If you do not want to see these errors, clear the Show File Location Errors for Cut Lists check box.
   Import Cut List before Inventory Sync	To receive updates on which items have been cut before synchronizing the inventory, select the Import Cut List before Inventory Sync check box. We recommend that you select the Import Cut List before Inventory Sync check box. If you do not want to receive updates on cut items before synchronizing the inventory, clear the Import Cut List before Inventory Sync check box.
   Sync Material On Order	To send material that has not yet been received to ProNest, select the Sync Material On Order check box. To avoid sending material that has not yet been received to ProNest, clear the Sync Material On Order check box.
   Sync Combined Material	To synchronize inventory stock material that has been used in combining, select the Sync Combined Material check box. To prevent synchronizing inventory stock material that has been used in combining, clear the Sync Combined Material check box.
   Enable Automatic Inventory Sync	If you want to allow Tekla EPM to automatically synchronize the inventory with ProNest, select the Enable Automatic Inventory Sync check box. If you do not want to allow Tekla EPM to automatically synchronize inventory with ProNest, clear the Enable Automatic Inventory Sync check box. Note: If you have created an automated event for synchronizing the inventory between Tekla EPM and ProNest, you should clear the Enable Automatic Inventory Sync check box. We recommend creating an automated event instead of selecting the Enable Automatic Inventory Sync check box.
   Automatic Inventory Sync Interval	The time in minutes after which Tekla EPM automatically synchronizes the inventory with ProNest. The synchronization should happen frequently enough to keep your inventory up to date. We recommend using an interval between 10 and 60 minutes.

7. On the Transfer Settings tab, select to which ProNest fields you want to map the following Tekla EPM fields:

   Option	Description
   Tekla EPM Remnant ID Field	The unique, unchanging ID that EPM assigns to each remnant. If you want to see the remnant ID in ProNest as well, select the ProNest field in which you want to show the remnant ID.
   Heat Serial Number Field	The heat serial number of each inventory item. Note that the heat number of each inventory item is automatically mapped to ProNest. If you use a heat serial number in Tekla EPM and want to see the heat serial number in ProNest as well, select the ProNest field in which you want to show the heat serial number.
   PO Number Field	The purchase order on which the inventory item has been added. If you want to see the purchase order information in ProNest as well, select the ProNest field in which you want to show the purchase order number.
   Bill of Lading Field	The bill of lading number, or the shipment number that the inventory item was received on. If you want to see the bill of lading number in ProNest as well, select the ProNest field in which you want to show the bill of lading number.
   Secondary Location Field	The secondary location of each inventory item. Note that the primary location of each inventory item is automatically mapped to ProNest. If you want to see the secondary location in ProNest as well, select the ProNest field in which you want to show the secondary location.
   ProNest Name Field	This setting corresponds to the information in the Name field in ProNest plate inventory. We recommend that you select the Shape Grade Thickness option. However, if you have used Tekla EPM and ProNest together without the integration before, you can also select the PartNumber option.
   Dimension Units	Select if you want to show dimension lengths in imperial or metric units.
   Blank Class	To ensure compatibility with ProNest, select an option for items without a class: Three Spaces: use this option with newer versions of ProNest Empty: use this option only with older versions of ProNest
   Use Full Path for CNC Filename	To ensure that the ProNest integration works, select this check box if you use version 2021 of ProNest or newer.

8. Click Save.

Use the Sync with ProNest command to synchronize Tekla EPM inventory information with ProNest and update the cut lists in ProNest. We recommend that you synchronize the two software regularly.

1. In the Inventory dialog box, click the Inventory ribbon tab.
2. On the menu, select Export > Sync with ProNest.

   The inventory information in Tekla EPM is exported to ProNest to synchronize the two software. You can view the process in the Status dialog box.

3. When the synchronization process is completed, click OK to close the Status dialog box.

1. In ProNest, print the plates that you want to export into an HTML file.
2. In Tekla EPM, open the Inventory module.
3. Click the Inventory ribbon tab.
4. On the menu, select Import > Inventory from HTML.
5. Browse to and select the inventory HTML file from ProNest.
6. Click Open.

   The selected ProNest plates are imported into the Tekla EPM inventory. The import creates a link between Tekla EPM and ProNest, so that the imported plates can be used in nests.

   Existing plates in the Tekla EPM inventory are updated, but their quantity is not decreased.

7. See the progress of the import in the Import dialog box.

   To see more details on the import, click Open Import Log.

8. When the import is complete, click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner to close the Import dialog box.

1. In the Inventory dialog box, click the Inventory ribbon tab.
2. On the menu, select Import > ProNest Cut List.

   Tekla EPM imports the cut lists that are available in ProNest.

3. See the progress of the import in the Import dialog box.

   To see more details on the import, click Open Import Log.

4. To close the dialog box, click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner.

1. Open a production control job.
2. Click the Production Control ribbon tab.
3. On the menu, select Review > Cut Lists.
4. At the bottom of the Cut Lists dialog box, click New.
5. Click Make Report.
6. In the Report Selection dialog box, click Save Cut List.
7. Type a description and select a due date for the cut list.
8. Ensure that Share Cut List is selected.
9. Click Save To Cut List.

   The new cut list appears in the Cut Lists dialog box.

10. In the Cut Lists dialog box, double-click the new cut list.
11. To view the nest details of an item, double-click the item in the cut list.
12. To see images of the nest, click Nest Image.
13. When an item in the cut list has been cut by a machine, in the Cut Lists dialog box, select the item and click Cut.
14. Define the properties of the used inventory item.
15. Define the drop properties.
16. To remove the item from the Tekla EPM inventory and add the resulting remnant to the inventory, click TFS.

    The status of the item in the cut list is now set to Complete and highlighted in green.

    The remnant item is linked to ProNest and can be used in ProNest for further nesting.

    You can see an image of the remnant, if you double-click the remnant item in the Inventory dialog box.

1. Open a combining, estimating, or production control job, a requisition, or a purchase order.
2. Click the contextual ribbon tab.

   For example, if you are working on a combining job, click the Combining ribbon tab.

3. On the menu, select Combine.
4. In the Select Combining Run dialog box, click Nest.
5. It the lower-left corner of the Combining Run Filters dialog box, click Optimizations.
6. On the Plate Nesting Settings tab, set Plate Nesting Software to ProNest.
7. Click Save.
8. To combine the materials, click the button at the bottom of the Combining Run Filters dialog box, or press F4.

   In the Combining Run Results dialog box, all parts show as not combined.

9. Click Save Combining Run.
10. Click the Combining Run ribbon tab.
11. On the menu, select Export Parts for Nesting > Export to ProNest.
12. Depending on the nesting request format that you have selected in the ProNest Settings dialog box, do one of the following:

    If you have selected	Do this
    the Work Order format	Click the arrow on the right side of Work order due date, and select a date in the calendar. To allow ProNest to mirror plates in the nesting process, select the Mirror Plates check box. To allow ProNest to rotate plates in the nesting process, select the Allow plate to be rotated check box. To include the job number in the piece marks of items, select the Include Job Number in Piecemark check box. For example, the piece mark p1.dxf in job called Job123 would change into Job123-p1.dxf. This can help you to recognize items with the same piece numbers in different jobs. Click Export Parts. The work order is automatically created and imported to ProNest. The name and location of the work order file are not important. After the export is complete, open ProNest and click Add Parts, or select Job in the menu. On the Home tab, select Edit Part List > Edit Part List. On the Work Orders tab of the Edit Part List dialog box, select some or all of the newly imported items, and drag them to the part list. Click the Close button (X) to return to nesting.
    the PNL/SNL format	Click the arrow on the right side of Work order due date, and select a date in the calendar. To allow ProNest to nest onto current stock materials, select the Include Sheets check box, and define the priority for nesting onto current stock material. Priority 1 is the primary option for nesting. To allow ProNest to nest onto remnants, select the Include Remnants check box, and define the priority for nesting onto remnants. Priority 1 is the primary option for nesting. To allow ProNest to nest onto orderable inventory, select Include Orderable Sizes check box, and define the priority for nesting onto orderable inventory. Priority 1 is the primary option for nesting. To open the PNL file in ProNest when the file has been created, select the Automatically Open PNL check box. To include the job number in the piece marks of items, select the Include Job Number in Piecemark check box. For example, the piece mark p1.dxf in job called Job123 would change into Job123-p1.dxf. This can help you to recognize items with the same piece numbers in different jobs. To use the ProNest setup for mirroring, select the Auto-Tab check box. Click Export Parts. The export creates two files: a PNL file, which contains the parts to nest, and an SNL file, which contains the inventory plates currently available for combining. If the PNL file is not automatically opened in ProNest, on the Home tab, select Edit Part List > Import Part List and select the PNL file. The matching SNL file is imported automatically.

1. In the Combining Run Results dialog box, click the Combining Run tab.
2. On the menu, select Import Nested Parts.
3. In the Open dialog box, browse for and select the nesting results file.
4. Click Open.