TEAMCENTER ITK CUSTOMIZATION QUESTIONS

1. What is ITK?
Answer:
ITK (Integration Toolkit) is a low-level API developed by Siemens. It is used to access
and modify the Teamcenter database and to integrate third-party or custom-
developed applications with Teamcenter. It provides the means to extend or add new
functionality within a PLM environment.
2. What can you customize using ITK customization?
Answer:
Using ITK, you can customize elements such as business objects (the underlying data
models), rule handlers (which enforce business logic), and action handlers (which
trigger specific functions when events occur). In short, ITK is the tool used to either
extend existing functionality or develop completely new functions.
3. What are the different methods of ITK customization?
Answer:
There are two main methods:
o Batch Utility Executable: Write an ITK application (typically in C/C++) that you
compile into an executable and run from the TC command prompt.
o DLL (Dynamic Link Library): Write your custom logic in a DLL, copy it to the
Teamcenter “bin” folder, and register it as a handler so it is called by
Teamcenter during specific events.
4. What is User exit?
Answer:
A user exit is an existing Teamcenter function that you modify to meet your
requirements. For instance, if the default part revision logic starts with “A,” you could
change it to “NR.” User exits typically perform tasks such as auto-generating part
numbers and can be customized to enforce your company’s conventions while
keeping the core functionality intact.
5. What is Server exit?
Answer:
A server exit is a new function that you create to run on the server side. It is invoked
when a specific client-side event—such as clicking a custom menu option in the Rich
Client—occurs. This allows you to implement server-side processing that reacts to
user interactions.
6. What is a Custom exit?
Answer:
Custom exits are approaches to modify either user or server exits without directly
altering the original code. This ensures that your customizations remain isolated,
reducing the risk that changes will inadvertently affect other functionality.
7. How to register runtime property using ITK?
Answer:
You register a runtime property by creating it in BMIDE (Business Modeler Integrated
Development Environment). After defining the property in BMIDE, you generate the
corresponding code so the property becomes available at runtime.
8. How to register the rule handler using ITK?
Answer:
To register a rule handler:
o Develop your custom rule function according to ITK standards.
o Compile it as a DLL (or batch utility).
o Modify the Teamcenter configuration (often via BMIDE properties or a
configuration file) so that the rule handler is invoked when a particular
business rule must be enforced.
9. How to register an action handler using ITK?
Answer:
Similar to the rule handler, an action handler is registered by writing your custom
action code, compiling it (usually as a DLL), and updating the Teamcenter
configuration. This associates your custom handler with specific client-side or server-
side actions.
10.What is the pre-condition?
Answer:
A pre-condition is a validation or set of criteria that must be met before a specific
action is executed. They help ensure that all necessary conditions are satisfied before
the system proceeds with main data modifications or operations.
11.How to register pre-condition?
Answer:
Implement a pre-condition check by writing a handler function to verify required
conditions. Compile and register this handler in the Teamcenter configuration (or via
BMIDE) so that it is called before the main action takes place.
12.What is Pre-Action?
Answer:
Pre-action refers to the set of operations performed immediately before executing a
main action. These operations can set up the environment, validate inputs, or
prepare default values and must complete successfully to allow the main action to
proceed.
13.How to register for Pre-Action?
Answer:
Write and compile a pre-action handler function, then register it (via configuration
files or BMIDE) to be triggered automatically when the relevant action is initiated.
14.What is Post Action?
Answer:
Post-action operations occur after the main action has been executed. These can
consist of cleanup tasks, logging, notification, or any further processing required once
the primary operation completes.
15.How to register for post action?
Answer:
Similar to pre-action, develop a post-action handler function, compile it as needed,
and register it in the Teamcenter configuration to ensure it is executed after the main
action.
16.How to register post action on LOV?
Answer:
For a List-of-Values (LOV), you implement a post-action similar to other actions. Write
a handler that is triggered after actions related to LOVs and register it through BMIDE
or configuration files so that it processes LOV-specific events.
17.On which operations can we register custom action?
Answer:
Custom actions may be registered on a wide variety of operations, including object
creation, editing, saving, check-in/check-out events, and other user or system events
defined either in the Teamcenter workflow or UI events.
18.How to create an Item using ITK?
Answer:
Typically, you call ITK functions such as AOM_create to allocate a new item, set its
attributes (e.g., name, type, properties), and then use a save function (AOM_save) to
persist it in the database.
19.How to create a Dataset using ITK?
Answer:
The process for creating a dataset is similar to creating an item. You use ITK functions
to instantiate a dataset object, populate its attributes (such as file location and
metadata), and then save it with the appropriate API calls.
20.What is the difference between AOM_save and AOM_save_without_extension?
Answer:
AOM_save writes the object along with its extended attributes and associated data,
while AOM_save_without_extension saves only the core object without considering
its extensions.
21.What is meant by the (OF) variable in the ITK reference guide?
Answer:
The (OF) notation indicates “output-free” functions in the ITK reference. It means that
the function does not return an output parameter besides its standard error or status
code.
22.How to free memory in ITK?
Answer:
ITK provides memory management routines (e.g., ITK_free), or you can use standard
C functions like free() (if using dynamic allocation). Always ensure that every allocated
memory block is eventually freed to avoid leaks.
23.How to get target attachment using ITK?
Answer:
You can use dedicated ITK API functions that traverse relationships between objects.
These functions query the Teamcenter data model to retrieve target attachments
linked to a particular source object.
24.How to display custom error messages in ITK?
Answer:
Custom error messages can be displayed by formatting your error strings and invoking
ITK’s error-reporting functions (such as ERR_report_error). This helps incorporate
your context-specific messaging into the logging system.
25.How to create a custom handler with arguments using ITK?
Answer:
Define your handler function to accept additional parameters, compile it as a DLL or
batch utility, and then adjust the registration settings in Teamcenter so that when the
handler is invoked, the arguments are passed as required.
26.How to create a batch ITK program?
Answer:
Develop a standalone C/C++ application that uses ITK API calls. Ensure your code
starts with ITK_User_main as its entry point. Compile the source code into an
executable, which you then run from the Teamcenter command prompt.
27.How to compile and run a batch utility using cmd?
Answer:
Configure your development environment (e.g., Visual Studio) with the correct
include paths and libraries for ITK. Then compile the code into an executable and run
it from the TC command prompt using appropriate command-line parameters.
28.What is ITK_User_main?
Answer:
ITK_User_main is the special entry function for batch ITK programs. It initializes the
ITK environment (similar to a standard main() function) and then executes your
custom logic once proper initialization has occurred.
29.How to configure Visual Studio for a batch ITK program?
Answer:
In Visual Studio, add the ITK include directories to your project settings, link against
the correct ITK libraries, and define any required preprocessor macros. This setup
ensures that your batch program compiles and links correctly against Teamcenter’s
ITK.
30.How to configure Visual Studio for custom handlers?
Answer:
The process is similar to batch programs. For DLL-based custom handlers, create a
DLL project, configure include and library paths for ITK, and adhere to the DLL output
requirements. Then register the resulting DLL via your Teamcenter configuration.
31.How to register post action on the property using ITK?
Answer:
Write a post-action handler that listens for property change events. Compile and
register it through BMIDE or configuration files so Teamcenter calls it after the
property has been modified.
32.How to create BOM using ITK?
Answer:
Creating a Bill of Materials (BOM) typically involves using ITK APIs to instantiate BOM
view revision and link BOM line objects. You define parent–child relationships
between items and then save the new hierarchical structure.
33.How to read BOM assembly using ITK?
Answer:
Use ITK query functions that navigate the BOM structure. These APIs allow you to
iterate over BOM lines and retrieve details about the associated child items in an
assembly.
34.What is a POM inquiry?
Answer:
A POM (Product Object Model) inquiry uses higher-level APIs designed specifically for
querying complex product data and relationships, offering more abstraction than the
lower-level AOM functions.
35.What is the difference between AOM_ask_value_string and
AOM_get_value_string?
Answer:
o AOM_ask_value_string: Generally retrieves the string value for an object
property.
o AOM_get_value_string: May include additional context or processing.
The exact difference depends on the use case and Teamcenter version.
36.How to attach a secondary object to a primary object using ITK?
Answer:
Use attachment functions (such as AOM_attach) to associate a secondary object with
a primary object. Be sure to set the correct relationship type before saving both
objects.
37.How to purge dataset versions using ITK?
Answer:
Identify outdated dataset versions using ITK query APIs and then call specific ITK
functions designed to purge or delete datasets in accordance with your data
retention policies.
38.How to create a change object using ITK?
Answer:
Instantiate a change object using the ITK APIs available for change management.
Assign related items and tasks to this change object and then use AOM_save to
commit it to the database.
39.How to initiate workflow processes using ITK?
Answer:
Invoke the workflow APIs in ITK to start workflow processes. You typically provide
object IDs and configuration parameters that instruct the system to instantiate and
run a workflow.
40.What is the difference between AOM_save and AOM_save_myself?
Answer:
While both functions persist objects, AOM_save usually processes extensions (such as
additional attributes or relationships), whereas AOM_save_myself is used to save
only the specific object instance without cascading to related objects.
41.How to assign memory to a char variable?**
Answer:
Allocate memory to a char** variable using standard C memory allocation routines
(e.g., malloc() or calloc()), ensuring that each