This article will give step by step directions on how to create a new material category for roll or rigid material in the OOB v2 dataset. The dataset is shipped with several default roll and rigid materials such as Print Vinyl, Banner - Digital, Acrylic, and Coroplast Sheets. In this example we will add a new Lexan category but the same basic steps can be used when creating new roll materials as well.

There are 2 concepts that need to be reviewed before creating a new material category:

1. Dependent Lists

  • The best example of dependent lists is on the Roll Sign Print or Rigid Sign Print product. When a certain Material Type is selected, such as Banner, only banner materials are displayed in the Material selection list. The same is true for other Material Types also. The Material Type and Material selection lists were designed to work together. Since the Material selection list changes when the Material Type changes, the Material list is dependant on the Material Type selection list.

2. Dynamic Part Based Selection Lists

  • A dynamic part based selection list is a selection list that is linked to one or more part categories. The benefit of dynamic selection lists is that new parts added into a part category are automatically added to selection lists that are linked to that part category. So instead of having to create a new part AND adding the new part to multiple selection lists, dynamic selection lists only require you to create a new part.

Pricing may appear incorrect if any cost/price values are entered incorrectly, or other information for the part such as sheet size is incorrect.

  1. Create your Lexan Part Category
    1. Click Setup > Pricing Setup > All Pricing Setup
    2. On the left, click Part Setup
    3. Expand Materials
    4. Expand Materials (Roll and Flat Stock, may also be called “Substrates”)
    5. Expand Flat Stock Materials
    6. Click on the Flat Stock Materials category
    7. Click New Part Sub-Category above the list of parts
    8. Enter in the part category Name
    9. Click Save
  2. Create your Lexan part
    1. The easiest way to create a new part is to clone an existing part
      • Expand any of the other flat stock material categories
      • Clone one of the parts
    2. Rename the part (Ex: Lexan - 1/16“ Clear 48” x 96“)
    3. Change the Category to Lexan
    4. Update your costs and multipliers on the Costs tab
    5. Update your part UDF information on the Digital/Vinyl - Flat Stock Substrate tab, on the Screenprint Substrate tab, and on the Cutting/Routing Flat Stock Substrate tab
      • Ensure that while on the Digital/Vinyl - Flat Stock Substrate tab, “Direct Print To This” if printed directly to this, “Mounted To This” is checked if used for mounting, and that the Sheet Height and Width are correct.
      • Make sure the part is set to “Active”.
    6. Save the new Lexan part
  3. Create your new Lexan selection list (This is the dependent list that will show in the Material drop down list.)
    1. Click Setup > Pricing Setup > All Pricing Setup
    2. On the left, click Selection Lists
    3. Expand Flat Stock
    4. Expand Flat Stock Substrates
    5. We need to create a new Dynamic Part Based Selection Lists for you Lexan parts
      • Click on the Flat Stock Substrates folder
      • Click New List above all of the selection lists
    6. Name the selection list Lexan Types
    7. Click the drop down next to the Insert Row button
    8. Click the Add Dynamic Part Category option
    9. You should see a box that allows you to select which part category you want to link the selection list to. Click the Lexan part category.
    10. Click OK.
    11. Check the first box under the Use Parent Default f(x) column. This is very important because this calculates your part's usage.
    12. Save the selection list
  4. Update the “FlatStock Material Types” selection list (This is the selection list that will show in the Material Type drop down.)
    1. Edit the “FlatStock Material Types” selection list
    2. Click the Insert Row button. An empty row will be added at the bottom.
    3. Type in Lexan in the first column
    4. In the Material List column, we need to tell Control which dependent list to use.
      • You can type in the name of your dependent list (Lexan Types).
      • You can click on the box with the 3 dots to search for the dependent list.
    5. Click on the Sort Items button to alphabetize the Text column.
    6. Save the selection list
  5. Test your changes
    1. Open the Rigid Sign Product
    2. Look for the Lexan option under the Material Type selection list
    3. Look for your Lexan part under the Material selection list

Contributor: LoriM, Cyrious Software

Date: 07/09/2010

Version: Control 4.0 +

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