Step 3 – Set Up Products

 

➡️️ For detailed information on the 3DCloud user interface, see the 3DCloud 🔗 documentation.

The next step consists in creating in 3DCloud one datasheet per model (.BM3 file). Once the datasheet is created, the model becomes a product.

Each datasheet will define the name of the product and the descriptions to display in the Kitchen Planner (both in various languages); link the model to a type and a brand; define its period of availability and its pricing; define various tags to reference it; contain a 2D and a 3D representation if need be; contain size parameters and options if need be.

❗ This step is mandatory to make the products available in Assembly Editor, including the articles that have not been edited in Geometry Editor, such as the legs.

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Create Product Datasheets

To create a product datasheet, proceed as follows:

1. Open 3DCloud and go to Content / Products.
2. Click New product in the Products tab. At this step, the database automatically assigns an ID to the product. To choose the ID of the product, you have to use the API.

🚧 For our sample cabinet, you have to create datasheets for each product (box, door front, handle, shelf and the legs). As best practice, do not create any material datasheet, because materials should have been applied in the .BM3 3D model.

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About the Language

The possible languages are defined in the application distribution. The languages available for the name field and the Commercial information drop-down list depend on these settings.

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About the Product Types

Selecting a product type is mandatory because it will trigger the applicative rules.

If you hesitate between several similar types, use the type that describes the destination of your product. For example: if you have a choice between several types of doors, do not use "doors" but specify that the door is the front of the cabinet and select "front doors".

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About Descriptions

Although the description fields are not mandatory, they are highly recommended.

The commercial description and the short description will be displayed to the customer in the product page of the Kitchen Planner.

You can write as many words as wished in the Commercial description area. If the text exceed the text area, a scroll bar will appear.

However, the number of words is limited in the Short description text area. A best practice is to limit the short description to five words (keep in mind that description will be translated).

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About Tags

Tags are not mandatory for Kitchen, because they are not used as filters in the Kitchen Planner. However, you can specify that your product is intended for the "kitchen" room.

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About Parameter and IDs

You will have to define parameters in the datasheets and give them an ID.

They make the link between the 3D representation (the .BMA file) and the product containing this 3D representation. The mapping is done by creating parameters using the same name (case sensitive) in 3DCloud and in Assembly Editor.

Parameters are defined at three levels:

1. At "simple product level", when products do not belong to an assembly yet.
2. At "sub-assembly level", when the product are combined in a sub-assembly.
3. At "top-assembly level", when products and sub-assemblies are grouped together into a final assembly.

❗ The size parameters (width, depth, height) are mandatory at each level.

Simple Product Level Parameters

You will define size parameters for all the products, referring to the dimensions of the 3D model.

Select dimension variations to define the fixed or variable width, height and depth for each product.

Additionally, you have to define 'type' options for the fronts and handles.

🚧 For our sample cabinet, you will define at this step the parameters of the first level, that is to say the dimensions of the box, the door front, the handles, the shelf and the legs. In addition, the options of the door front and the handles.

Sub-Assembly Parameters

It is a best practice to create product combinations, such as "door front and handle" and "box and legs". These combinations are named sub-assemblies.

➡️ See Step 5 – Datamodel 🔗 for detailed information.

These sub-assemblies require specific parameters (i.e. options) to define their behavior.

Top-Assembly Parameters

Once all the products and sub-assemblies are grouped together into a single product in Assembly Editor, the result is named "top-assembly" and must have its own product datasheet with new parameters.

Among these parameters, you will define options to enable the worktop in the Kitchen Planner.

➡️️ See Step 6 – Save the Cabinet as Product 🔗.

Writing Parameter IDs

Below are some rules and recommendations regarding these IDs.

• IDs are case sensitive.
• Respect the camel case convention: capitalize the first letter of the second and following words. E.g. backLegP
• Never use these characters: *, , /, @, &, {, }, [, ], %, £, $.
• Never use vowels with accents or umlauts.
• Use generic words.
• To ensure that the desired behavior will happen, the parameter needs to have the same ID as the BM3 material publication or BMA material parameter. The same for the width, depth, height parameters of the BM3.
• In some cases, they should match expected parameter IDs in the application (e.g. worktopOption) as defined in the Parameter Dictionary.

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About Pricing

Pricing depends on your catalog. For some catalogs, the pricing is specified for each single product, and so the price of the cabinet is the sum of each products, for others it is defined at the top-assembly level for each combination of the cabinet. In your case, you have to choose.

🚧 For our sample cabinet, we will define the pricing at the top-assembly level. Leave these fields blank during this step.

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Datasheet Information Overview

Below is an overview of the information that should be specified, depending on the level.

📌 Current Step 3 only deals with single products. Else, see Step 5 🔗 and Step 6 🔗.

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Create the Box Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the box, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type, i.e. Boxes because it is a box.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the box.

Product Representation

The Product Representation tab is essential when creating the datasheet, because:

• It is where you upload the model, i.e. the .BM3 file;
• It is where you set up variations, options and mapping parameters.

3D and 2D Representations

1. Add the BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the box by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Technical Information

Not applicable.

Variable Dimension

We have defined a smart scaling on our box to enable its widening in the Kitchen Planner. Thus, specify the dimensions by clicking Add variable dimension.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow the customer to choose between different possible values, while the Continuous length would allow the customer to enter a value between two limits.
4. Enter the possible values in the corresponding fields, with a name to display to the customer. For our box, enter 600 and 800.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 600.
6. Click Validate to save the variation.

The dimension variation is now defined and visible in the Variations area.

Fixed Dimensions

Repeat the proceeding to specify the height and the depth of the box. Height parameter

Depth parameter Now the box datasheet contain the following variations.

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Door Front Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the door front, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type, i.e. Front doors because it is a front for the door of the future base cabinet.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the door.
4. Define tags to ease the classification of the door in the Kitchen Planner.

Product Representation

Start by adding the 3D and 2D representations of the product.

1. Add the .BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the door by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Variable Dimension

We defined a smart scaling on our door to enable its widening in the Kitchen Planner. Thus, specify the dimensions by clicking Add variable dimension.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow the customer to choose between different possible values, while the Continuous length would allow the customer to enter a value.
4. Enter the possible values in the corresponding fields, with a name to display to the customer. For our box, enter 598 and 798.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 598.
6. Click Validate.

Fixed Dimensions

Specify the height and the depth of the box by clicking Add variable dimension (even if the dimension will not be variable).

1. Select height in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow you to enter a value.
4. Enter the possible values in the corresponding fields, with a name to display to the customer.
5. Specify the default value.
6. Click Validate.
7. Repeat the proceeding to specify the depth.

Now the door datasheet contains the following variations.

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Knob Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the knob, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type, i.e. Handles because a knob is a type of handle.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the knob.
4. Define tags to ease the classification of the knob in the Kitchen Planner.

Product Representation

Start by adding the 3D and 2D representations of the product.

1. Add the BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the knob by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Type Option

These variation parameters will complete the publication made in Geometry Editor.

➡️️ See Appendix 2 🔗 for the list of possible parameters for a base cabinet.

Handles can be of three different types:

• Type 1: A classic handle, to fix on the front door
• Type 2: An edge handle, to fix on the edge of the door
• Type 3: A drop handle

This type parameter is mandatory, unless you will not be able to place the knob on the door front.

Click Add option.

1. Click Create new to specify type as the ID. Click the + to add it to the ID field.
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete variation in the Type list. This will allow you to enter a value.
4. Enter 1 and Classic as unique possible value.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 1.
6. Click Validate.

Fixed Dimensions

Define the dimensions of the handle by clicking Add variable variations. This variation is used for any dimension specification, even if it will not vary.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow you to enter a value.
4. Enter the size in the Possible values fields.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 30.
6. Click Validate.
7. Repeat the proceeding to set the height and depth parameters with the same dimension.

Material Replacement

❗ You will define a material replacement in the datasheet only if it has not been defined in the BM3 model itself in Geometry Editor and on condition that the other material has a material datasheet.

As a best practice, we duplicated the knob in two models after a material publication in Geometry Editor. That is why a material replacement is not required in 3DCloud.

Product Replacement

Important: Product replacement is only used on sub-assemblies, or top-assemblies.

To allow the customer to choose between our three possible handles (two versions of the knob and the metal handle), we will define a product replacement in the datasheet "front and handle" sub-assembly.

➡️️ See Step 5 / Save the Front and Handle Sub-Assembly 🔗.

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Metal Handle Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the metal handle, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the handle.
4. Define tags to ease the classification of the handle in the Kitchen Planner.

Product Representation

Start by adding the 3D and 2D representations of the product.

1. Add the BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the handle by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Type Option

These variation parameters will complete the publication made in Geometry Editor.

➡️️ See Appendix 2 🔗 for the list of possible parameters for a base cabinet.

Handles can be of three different types:

• Type 1: A classic handle, to fix on the front door
• Type 2: An edge handle, to fix on the edge of the door
• Type 3: A drop handle

This type parameter is mandatory, unless you will not be able to place the handle on the door front.

Click Add option.

1. Click Create new to specify type as the ID. Click the + to add it to the ID field.
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete variation in the Type list. This will allow you to enter a value.
4. Enter 1 and Classic as unique possible value.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 1.
6. Click Validate.

Fixed Dimensions

Define the dimensions of the handle by clicking Add variable variations. This variation is used for any dimension specification, even if it will not vary.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow you to enter a value.
4. Enter the size in the Possible values fields.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 30.
6. Click Validate.
7. Repeat the proceeding to set the height and depth parameters with the same dimension.

Now the Variations area contains the following:

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Shelf Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the shelf, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type, i.e. Cabinet shelfves because this shelf belongs to a cabinet.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the box.
4. Define tags to ease the classification of the box in the Kitchen Planner.

Product Representation

Start by adding the 3D and 2D representations of the product.

1. Add the BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the box by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Variable Dimension

We defined a smart scaling on our shelf to enable its widening in the Kitchen Planner. Thus, specify the dimensions by clicking Add variable dimension.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow the customer to choose between different possible values, while the Continuous length would allow the customer to enter a value.
4. Enter the possible values in the corresponding fields, with a name to display to the customer. For our box, enter 574 and 774.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 574.
6. Click Validate to save the variation.

The dimension variation is now defined and visible in the Variations area.

Fixed Dimensions

Repeat the proceeding to specify the height and the depth of the box with only one possible value.

Now the Variations area contains the following:

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added, the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Leg Datasheet

To create the datasheet for the leg, follow the steps illustrated below.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the leg.

Product Representation

1. Add the BM3 file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the handle by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Variable Dimension

Click Add variable dimension to allow the customer change the height of the leg in the Kitchen Planner.

1. Select height in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Continuous length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow the customer to enter a value.
4. Enter the possible values in the corresponding fields, with a name to display to the customer. The value in the center is specified automatically with the height object.
5. Specify the default value, i.e. 80.
6. Click Validate.

Fixed Dimensions

Define the other dimensions of the leg by clicking Add variable variations again. This variation is used for any dimension specification, even if it will not vary.

Width parameter

Depth parameter

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.

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Create the Worktop Material Datasheet

The worktop is a material (a .BM3MAT file) and needs to be recorded in a material datasheet.

The proceeding is similar to the creation of products with few information to specify.

Click Materials in the Content menu and then, click New material.

1. Enter a name for the material.
2. Link the material to a brand. This is mandatory.
3. Specify a Materials tag.

Click Material representation to add the 3D model and the picture that will be used as thumbnail.

Click Save to save the material datasheet.

📌 Create as many worktop materials as the number of worktop products. Afterwards, create the corresponding product datasheets.

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Create the Worktop Datasheet

Worktops are generated dynamically in the Kitchen Planner from the worktop products available in the database, and from the settings made in 3DCloud and Assembly.

At this stage, you have to create several worktop products to create a choice of worktops for the customer.

➡️️ See Step 5 / Prepare the Worktop 🔗 and Step 6 / Worktop Option and Worktop Type 🔗 for detailed information about the worktop settings.

General Information

1. Enter the name of the product: select a language in the drop-down list and then, enter a name. Repeat this step for each language. Note that this name will be displayed to the customer.
2. Enter your reference for the product. This reference may be displayed to the customer and is used in Assembly Editor as well.
3. Link the product to a product type, i.e. Worktops because it is a worktop.
4. Link the product to your Brand.

Product Information

1. Define the period of availability, if need be. Note that these dates always overwrite the dates set in the catalog.
2. Choose a language to use in the Kitchen Planner.
3. Enter the commercial description and a short description of the worktop.

Product Representation

1. Add the BM3MAT file by clicking Upload a 3D model.
2. Add a bitmap picture of the worktop by clicking Upload a picture. It will be used as thumbnail in the product list in 3DCloud and in the Kitchen Planner.

Fixed Dimensions

Click Add variable dimension to define the depth of the worktop. Our worktop is a precut one, and only the width of our sample worktop is stretchable to be consistent with the stretching of the cabinet.

1. Select depth in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Discrete length (mm) in the Type list. This will allow you to enter the dimension.
4. Enter 65 and Depth as unique possible value.
5. Enter 65 as default value.
6. Click Validate to add the dimension.
7. Repeat the proceeding to add the height (40 mm) of the worktop.

Variable Dimension

Now click Add variable dimension to define the width.

1. Select width in the ID drop-down list (or create it if need be).
2. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
3. Select Continuous length (mm) in the Type list. This allows you to enter a range of possible values.
4. Enter 65 as default value.
5. Click Validate to add the dimension variation.

Now the Variations area shows the following:

worktopType

This option will determine whether the worktop is sold with predefined dimensions ("precut"), or at the meter ("custom"). Click Add option.

1. Check the Visible and Editable options to make the worktop editable by the customer in the Kitchen Planner.
2. Click Create new to specify worktopType as the ID and click + to move it to the ID field.
3. Enter a label for the ID in the Display name field. Capitalize the first letter to avoid confusion with the ID.
4. Select Discrete variation in the Type drop-down list. This will allow you to enter a value.
5. Enter precut and Precut as unique possible value.
6. Specify the default value, i.e. precut for our sample worktop which width will be variable.
7. Click Validate to add the option.

Pricing

Worktops require a pricing mapping, which is not defined in this datasheet.

➡️️ See Set Up the Pricing 🔗 for detailed information about the pricing.

Save

Click Save to upload the model and its datasheet in the 3DCloud storage. Click Products to see the new product in the list.

When the product is successfully added (a delay is possible), the 3D model column displays Yes in the product list.