How to Create a 3D Parts Page

This article provides an high level overview of how to create an interactive 3D Parts Page that can be added to Books and Book Templates in the Documoto Admin Center.

Article Topics

• Page Creation Overview
• How to Create a New Parts Page
• How to Use Page Builder to Add Page Component
• How to Import a BOM for a Parts Page
• How to Add a 3D Model to a Parts Page
• How to Map a 3D Model to a BOM
• How to Publish a Parts Page with a 3D Model

3D Page Creation Overview

In order to create a 3D Parts Page, a Publisher must complete the following process:

1. Create a new Parts Page
2. Import a BOM
3. Upload a 3D Model
4. Optional: Add 2D Illustrations 
5. Map Model to BOM
6. Publish

It is important to note that prior to publishing, the Parts Page will be in a Draft status. As a result, any components added to the Page will not be visible in Page Viewer or the Library - until the Page is successfully published. 

For more information on Drafts and how to use them, please refer to: How to Manage Drafts of Parts Pages.

How to Create a New 3D Parts Page

1. Within Documoto Admin, go to Content > Pages.
2. Click +Add.
3. Select Parts Page from the Type dropdown.
4. In the Page File field, enter a page filename.
5. In the Translations section, enter an English Name.
6. Optional: To add additional translations, click +Add, select the desired language and enter a Name.
7. Click Save.
   
8. Optional: Click +Add in the Tags section to add a Page Tag (if applicable).
9. Click Save.
   

How to Use Page Builder to Add Page Components

After creating a Parts Page, click Page Builder to build the Page by adding the following Page components:

1. BOM (bill of materials) or parts list
2. 3D Model
3. 2D Illustrations (optional)
   

How to Import a BOM for a Parts Page

For detailed BOM import options and instructions, please refer to: How to Import a New Bill of Materials (BOM) for a Page or How to Edit an Existing Bill of Materials (BOM) for a Page.

1. While in Page Builder, click BOM.
2. Optional: Verify the BOM List Settings (e.g. Default Supplier & Default UOM).
   
3. Click Import Parts.
4. Select an Input Source.
5. If the BOM was imported with column headers, select Contains Header Row checkbox. If not, leave unchecked.
6. Under BOM List Options, ensure the Lookup/Load Parts from Documoto on Import checkbox is enabled.
   • NOTE: if the Lookup/Load Parts from Documoto on Import checkbox is not enabled, Part data that exists in Documoto will not be loaded to the BOM - which may result in the Publisher unintentionally wiping out existing Part data, such as Tags and Hotpoint Links, upon publishing the Page.
7. In the Data Mapping/Sample Data table, click on any fields in the Column Name column that indicate **Not Mapped** and map them to an available Documoto field name. Use the directional arrows on the Sample Data column to preview additional row field data as needed to appropriately map the columns.
8. Click Submit.
9. Edit the BOM, as needed (drag and drop rows, delete rows, update row data, etc.) in the Parts List editor.
10. Click Save.

How to Add a 3D Model to a Parts Page

Documoto converts a variety of 3D formats into a unified format that can be viewed and interacted with in the Documoto Library. For a complete list of supported file types and size limits, refer to this article: 3D Part Thumbnails: Supported File Types and Size Limitations. 

1. While in Page Builder, click 3D Model
2. Choose one of the following upload options:
   • A single 3D Model file, or
   • A group of files (including ZIP archives); select the top assembly file for conversion 
     
3. Click Submit.

How to Map a 3D Model to a BOM

You can link components in your 3D Model to rows in the BOM so that Library users can interact between model components and BOM items.

1. While in Page Builder, click 3D Model
2. Click Map Model to BOM
3. Select the Part Number Property you want to use (default is “Name”).
4. Define a Part Number Regex to match model components with BOM rows
   1. For more information on this, please refer to: Understanding Part Number Regex for 3D Illustrations
5. Click Submit
6. In the BOM tab, mapped components show a 3D tag
   

How to Publish a Parts Page with 3D Model

The final step of Parts Page creation is to publish the Page. Publishing the Page will take the Page out of Draft status and input all page components (BOM, Illustration(s), and Hotpoints) updates you have made into the live version of the Page in the Documoto Library (if the Page has been added to a Book) and Page Viewer. 

1. In Page Builder, on any tab follow the steps below. 
2. Optional: Click Validate.
   • Errors block publishings; warnings will not.
3. Click Publish.
   
   
4. While publishing, Page Viewer displays: Page Publishing Job in progress
   
   
5. When complete, the "Page Publishing Job in progress" message disappears and the live Page has been published.