README.md

User Guide and Technical Reference

This utility provides a high-speed bridge between NX CAM tool database files (.dat) and Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). It is specifically designed to facilitate bulk library management, allowing users to leverage spreadsheet features to build complex tool databases that would otherwise require manual, one-at-a-time entry within the NX interface.

Supported NX Database Files

This tool is optimized for the following NX Manufacturing database files:

assembly_database.dat
holder_database.dat
multitool_database.dat
segmented_tool_database.dat
shank_database.dat
tool_database.dat
trackpoint_database.dat

Environment Configuration

To point NX to custom locations for these files, modify the paths in your ugii_env.dat file. These definitions take precedence over system defaults.

# Tool Library (English):

UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_ENGLISH_DIR

# Tool Library (Metric):

UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_METRIC_DIR

Backup Recommendations

It is recommended to maintain backup copies of your original .dat files and associated .def and .tcl files before performing bulk updates or deploying new libraries to a production environment.

Database Structure Overview

The software is engineered to parse and reconstruct the standard NX ASCII database format. Understanding this structure is key to successful bulk editing:

Element	Description
#CLASS	Defines the specific tool category (e.g., MILLING_DRILLING or HOLDER)
FORMAT	Defines the column headers and the exact sequence of data
DATA \|	Prefixes every individual record. Each column must be separated by the pipe (\|) character
#END_DATA	Signals the conclusion of a specific class section
# Comments	Metadata, system notes, or headers. This tool preserves all lines starting with # during conversion

Bulk Library Management with Excel

The primary purpose of this tool is to replace manual data entry with efficient bulk processing.

Building Tool Libraries

Initial Export: Convert an existing .dat file to Excel to generate the correct template structure.
Manufacturer Data Integration: Tool manufacturers typically provide technical specifications in tabular formats (CSV or Web tables). You can copy this data and paste it directly into the corresponding columns in the Excel sheet.
Mass Editing: Use Excel's "Click and Drag" or "Find and Replace" features to update hundreds of values—such as material codes (MATREF) or coolant settings (CTH)—simultaneously.
Validation: Before converting back to .dat, the tool will check your spreadsheet for errors, such as duplicate Library References (LIBRF) or values that exceed system limits (e.g., negative diameters).

Working with Sheets

Each #CLASS from the database is turned into a separate Tab in Excel.
Do not rename the Tabs, as the converter uses the Tab name to recreate the #CLASS header in the database.
The second row in Excel contains the internal database keys (e.g., DIA, FLEN). The tool uses these to map your data back to the correct columns.

Common Errors and Troubleshooting

Error Message	Cause	Resolution
Duplicate Library Reference	Multiple entries share the same LIBRF	Ensure every tool has a unique ID unless using rtype 2 exceptions
Missing separator '\|'	A data row count does not match the FORMAT definition	Check that all columns are properly separated
Value below minimum	Data exceeds physical or system constraints	Adjust the value in Excel to meet the required range (e.g., Diameter > 0)
DATA before FORMAT	Structural error in the source file	Ensure the FORMAT line appears immediately after the #CLASS definition

CLI Operational Guide

The Command Line Interface is available for users who wish to automate conversion tasks via batch files or scripts.

# Usage

DatConverter.exe [input_path] [options]

Options

Flag	Description
-o, --output <path>	Specify the output file or directory
-y, --overwrite	Automatically overwrite existing files
-q, --quiet	Minimize console output for cleaner logs
--log <path>	Save session output to a text file
--dat-only / --xlsx-only	Restrict processing to a specific file type

Exit Codes

0 - Successful processing and validation
1 - Failed. Check the log for validation errors or missing files

Support

For bug reports, feature requests, or general inquiries, please visit the Contact page.