pulpProduct help

pulpProduct is the product lifecycle management (PLM) tool of pulpSuite. It keeps your parts, their revisions (A, B, C…), their multilevel bills of materials and the changes that evolve them, from the request to release into production. It follows the rigour of Windchill and Teamcenter with the simplicity of a tool like OpenBOM. It runs in the browser, with no account. By default, everything stays on your device; you can also share your file with a team or open it on a phone: see Share with a team or a phone.

Prices, purchasing, options and complex variants are not managed in this version.

Getting started

1. Open pulpProduct. The first time, an example appears on its own so you can see what pulpProduct looks like: a small invented weather station with its released parts, a multilevel bill of materials, a change request and a change order in progress. It is never saved or mixed with your data: it goes away with your first part, first request or first import (a line added to an example bill of materials stays in the example). Start from scratch or Remove the example removes it in one click, and File › See the example again reopens it. To start, choose New part or Import a bill of materials.
2. In Parts, click New part and type a name: the category is suggested from the text (resistor, screw…), the next part number is announced, and a “Similar part: 100-0042?” warning appears if an almost identical part exists.
3. Open a part's card: revision timeline, files, bill of materials, where-used and related changes.
4. A revision in work can be edited freely. To release it, use Create the release order: a released revision is then locked.
5. File › Save as writes a complete .pproduct backup (parts, bills of materials, changes, trash and attached files).

Common tasks

How do I import an Excel or CSV bill of materials?

In Import, drop the .xlsx, .csv or .tsv file. Everything is guessed: the header row (title rows above it are ignored), the columns (part number, name, quantity, unit, designators, manufacturer…) and the structure: a level column (numbers 1, 2, 3 or dots “.”, “..”) gives an indented bill; a parent column gives parent/child pairs; otherwise it is a single level under an assembly named after the file. Empty lines and subtotals are ignored and counted. The preview shows the parts to create, those that already exist (matched by part number, then by manufacturer part number), probable duplicates and warnings, for instance “5 designators for a quantity of 4”. An import adds, it never overwrites.

How do I receive a board's bill of materials from pulpCircuit?

Open the board in pulpCircuit, then, in pulpProduct, Import › From pulpCircuit and pick the .pbom bill (or the .pboard board). You get a “board” part and one part per distinct component, with designators, footprint and manufacturer part numbers. If you import a new version, pulpProduct offers to create a new revision of the board and shows the difference.

How do I import a STEP assembly?

pulpProduct does not read STEP itself. Import › Import a STEP assembly opens the file in pulp3D, which extracts the part tree; Send the assembly to pulpProduct brings you back here with a preview. A sub-assembly present twice gives a single part with quantity 2. The original STEP file is attached to the assembly's revision. The other way works too: open the STEP in pulp3D, then Send the assembly to pulpProduct.

How do I edit a bill of materials?

In Bill of materials, choose an assembly: the tree expands at every level. To add a child, type its part number or name in the Add row and pick it: quantity is set in place, as are the unit, designators (“R1-R4, R7”) and effectivity (dates, serial numbers), where Optional line (option, variant) marks an optional line. Drag a line's handle to reorder it, or use the arrows. A new revision that is still empty offers Copy the bill of materials of the previous revision. Lines with no revision under the chosen rule (released or latest) are shown in orange. A part cannot contain itself, directly or through another assembly. The Flat view gives the total quantities per part.

How do I attach drawings and datasheets?

On a part card, the revision's Files area takes drawings, STEP models and datasheets: drop them or use Attach. The files of a released revision can no longer be changed. A file reopens in one click in the app that can read it (pulp3D, pulpCircuit, pulpDoc…).

How do I move a revision forward?

A revision in work can go to review with Send to review (and return with Back to work if needed), get a New iteration (A.1, then A.2…) to mark a step of work, or be dropped with Cancel. Create the release order prepares its release. A released or superseded revision can be retired with Mark obsolete.

How do I create a new revision?

On the card of a released part, New revision creates the next letter (B after A, J after H, AA after Y; the letters I, O, Q, S, X and Z are skipped) in work, with the bill of materials copied. In practice, you usually go through a change order, which creates the revisions for you.

How do I change a released part?

A released revision is locked: its fields, files and bill of materials can no longer be edited (“Released revision: create a change request”). In Changes, create a request (ECR): finding, reason, priority, affected parts, origin (pulpForge ticket, pulpClient complaint, pulpArchive document). The impact analysis shows up by itself: the assemblies that contain the part at every level, the revisions already open and the orders in progress on the same parts. Accept and create the order prepares an order (ECO) with the new revision of each part.

How do I release a change order?

In the order, edit the new revisions (they are in work), set the disposition of stock, work in progress and installed base (a suggestion is made from the reason), add the approvers and record each opinion received. The banner lists what blocks the release; when nothing does, Release moves the new revisions to “released”, the old ones to “superseded”, and the requests to “implemented”. The order's dossier (requests, lines, dispositions, approvals, bill of materials comparison) exports as Markdown or opens in pulpDoc.

How do I compare two revisions?

Bill of materials › Compare: choose two revisions of the same assembly. Added, removed, changed-quantity, changed-child-revision and changed-designator lines are shown.

How do I know where a part is used?

The part card shows where-used at every level: the assemblies that contain it, then those that contain those assemblies, with the state of their revisions. Tick with older revisions to also see superseded revisions.

How do I export or print a bill of materials?

Bill of materials › Export: indented CSV (re-importable without loss) or flat (total quantities per leaf part), headers in English or in your language, or the .pbom exchange format. Open in pulpSheet sends the CSV to the spreadsheet, and Print prepares the full tree for printing. Assemblies with a released revision are also offered to the other apps of the suite.

How do I set up numbering and revisions?

In Settings: Part numbering (a Prefix and a number of Digits per category, Add a category, a Default prefix for parts without a category; an imported part number is kept as is), Revisions and units (First revision of a part: “A”, which can be released right away, or “-” for a prototype, then A at the first change; Default unit), Approvers (the list of people whose opinions you record), Appearance and assistance (theme, smart duplicate search), Backup and Sample workspace.

How do I get back what I deleted?

Trash: deleted parts, requests, orders and people are there and can be restored. There is no permanent deletion in this version.

Share with a team or a phone

• Shared file: File › Save as a shared file… puts your file (for example Engine.pproduct) in a synced folder (OneDrive, Nextcloud, kDrive) or on a network drive. Your colleagues open it with File › Open a shared folder…; everyone sees the others’ changes as soon as the folder has synced. Settings (numbering, categories, revisions, unit, theme) are shared by the whole file. Opening an older .pproduct backup adds its content to the open file.
• File status: the badge in the title bar shows On this computer or Shared · N devices; a click shows who has seen your changes (“5 changes not yet seen by Paul”) and offers Sync now.
• Changes at the same time: if two people change the same field, the most recent value is kept and a notice tells you, with Keep or Use the other value.
• Duplicate part numbers: two people working offline can give the same part number to two parts (or the same number to two ECR requests or two ECO orders). When the changes merge, the more recent one is renumbered in the same series (“100-0042 became 100-0057”) and a notice says so. The card shows Former reference: 100-0042, and search still understands the old number.
• Attached files: drawings, STEP models and datasheets follow the file. Up to 8 MB they arrive by themselves on each device; above that, the file shows To download. A file marked Not arrived yet will be there once the folder has finished syncing.
• Automatic backup: File › Automatic backup… makes a full copy every day in the folder of your choice; a reminder appears if your parts have never been backed up, or not for more than 7 days.
• My phone: File › Open on my phone… shows a QR code; scan it, check that the 6-digit code is the same on both devices, choose Read only or Can edit and the duration. The phone shows your file live from the computer and keeps nothing.
• Guest on a part: on a part card, Invite to this record sends a QR code or a link. The person sees only that part: its revisions, their bill of materials, their files, and the requests and orders that concern it. An approval window appears on your computer: compare the code, then Refuse, Read only or Can edit. In read only, the editing commands are hidden and the card shows Read only; a guest can open attached files but not add any.
• Who is connected: “N device(s) connected” appears in the header; File › Connected devices… lists the sessions, and Cut access ends one of them at once.
• Limits: the shared folder needs a computer with Chrome or Edge; anyone with access to the folder sees and changes the whole file (no per-person permissions, encrypt it if needed); changes arrive as fast as the folder syncs, not in real time. For the phone and for guests, the computer must stay on, with pulpProduct open.

All the details: Share a file with your team or your phone and Where your data lives and how to work with others.

Supported formats

What the AI does

On the device, nothing is sent: automatic matching of columns and structure on import, attributes extracted from names (a component's value and package, a screw's diameter, length and material), suggested category, probable duplicates by attributes then, if you turn it on in Settings, by the meaning of names (a small module is downloaded with your consent; on import, Find duplicates by meaning). The impact analysis is a calculation, not an estimate. The pulpAssist assistant can search parts, read a bill of materials, give a where-used and prepare a change request, which you confirm before anything is written.

Keyboard shortcuts

On a Mac, Cmd replaces Ctrl.

Known limits

• Sharing goes through a file in a synced folder, direct exchange, the phone or an invitation onto a part (see Share): no per-person permissions in the folder, no real time through the folder. The pulpSuite server is not available yet.
• No management of prices, purchasing, options and complex variants; no built-in 3D viewer (pulp3D is opened).
• Approvers do not vote in the app: you record the opinions you receive yourself.
• Merged cells in a workbook are only filled in down a single column.
• pulpProduct's checks help you keep a dossier but do not replace your quality process or verification by a qualified professional.

FAQ and troubleshooting

Where is my data saved?

By default, in your browser, on this device, attached files included. To keep a copy, use File › Save (.pproduct backup) or the automatic backup. For a shared file, it is in the synced folder you chose. See documents and backups.

Why can't I edit a bill of materials?

The revision is probably released: it is locked. Create a change request, or, for a part that was never released, work on its revision in work. If you are a guest in Read only, the computer hosting you refuses changes.

Why is a line orange?

No revision exists for that part under the chosen rule (“released” or “latest”). Switch to “latest”, or release the part.

What if a quantity does not match the designators?

The import and the tree flag it (“5 designators for a quantity of 4”). Fix the quantity or the designators: nothing is blocked.

Why doesn't the STEP open in pulp3D right away?

pulp3D needs a CAD module, downloaded once after you agree. Once the assembly is read, Send the assembly to pulpProduct brings you back here.

Is my data sent to a server?

No. By default, everything stays on your device; if you share a file, it goes to the folder you chose, and nothing is sent to pulpSuite. The pulpAssist assistant, if you set it up, only sends what you ask it to read. See privacy.

Can I work with others?

Yes, by sharing your file: in a synced folder, by direct exchange between computers, on your phone, or by inviting someone onto a part (see Share with a team or a phone). The pulpSuite server (real time, per-person permissions, access from every browser and phone) is not available yet; connecting to an existing company database is planned, with no date announced.