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Naming Files

Matt Kehoe

#25029

Naming Files | 1 July, 2003

I am trying to get opinions about a situation that we are discussing with a vendor/customer. While not a technical issue it has caused some confusion and I need some opinions to help settle the debate.

We are a service bureau who receives stencil files from OEM's, CEM's and PCB shops for jobs we produce. All but one of these companies that send us files name them according to the part number we are ordering. Example; if we are ordering a stencil for PN 123456 rev A the stencil files come in 123456 rev a.zip or, 123456.pst or 123456p1.gbr or something similar.

One company continues to send in every stencil file named p.1 or p.2 no matter what the part number is. Because we process multiple part numbers on one PO it is possible to get stencil files in named p.1 and p.2 for 2-3 jobs on one PO.

Despite numerous requests to name the files using the part number the company insists that this in not a problem as they keep the files in different directories on their hard drive which keeps them from getting confused and that we should stop insisting on the files being named by part number as this is the way they have done it for 10 years and no one has complained.

When I send files to my stencil vendor would it not be confusing if every time I used the same name, p.1 or p.2??? Sure I end up re-naming them but I still feel that the possibility of overwriting files by mistake increases whan every file is named the same every time. Maybe I am being a bit anal about it but it makes sense to me to use unique part numbers for files transmitted to production facilities. Any opinion would be appreciated.

mk

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RDR

#25031

Naming Files | 1 July, 2003

Here is an opinion

p.1/p.2 is %@##& stupid. Keeping files in different folders with the same name can lead to a mess if one person one time makes a one mistake. Could I call this company and order a p1? (rhetorical)

Russ

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ramanandkini

#25032

Naming Files | 1 July, 2003

May I suggest you to join both file names? that is p.1_part number... This would help both.

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mkehoe

#25036

Naming Files | 2 July, 2003

???? What? I think I follow your logic. Bottom line is, using the same name, p.1 (that's p (dot) 1) over and over for every stencil you produce can lead to confusion both in our CAM dept as well as our vendors. Like calling every board you produce PN 123456 over and over and over again. Would any one else do this???

mk

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CAL

#25040

Naming Files | 2 July, 2003

It kills me when people say "We have been doing this for 10 years and we will not change" guaranteed one day the shite will hit the fan when they have a screw up.

We have ran into this before... Until/unless they are willing to work with you you will be doing the manual renaming. Could you use date codes when the file comes in P1070203.XXX then you have to create a matrix to track partnumber....UGH!

Here is something I have not tried. For the Digital camera industry there are renaming software programs for easy conversion. Here is three links I found in a quick search.

http://www.esmarttools.com/PhotoRenamer/index.htm

http://www.webattack.com/get/quickrename.shtml

http://www.simtel.net/pub/pd/60724.html

I put in File+Utility+Rename and it generated these three links.

Hope this helps and Goodluck

cal Communications Test Design, Inc www.ctdi.com

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CSIMFGENG

#25045

Naming Files | 2 July, 2003

WOW! Just when you thought you had seen it all!

I follow your logic perfectly and concur. I bet the first time your customer loses a valuable customer because of a file mix-up, they may change their tune.

"Doing things the way they have always been done, will get you what you've always gotten" ... Good luck in being a change agent ... until then keep re-naming ...

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#25050

Naming Files | 2 July, 2003

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