eCl@ss Format

eCl@ss® is a hierarchical classification and product description system for grouping materials, products, and services. This includes a logical structure with a level of detail that corresponds to product-specific attributes. These classifications and standardized attributes are an international standard and can be used for reliable information exchange between suppliers and their customers. For detailed information about eCl@ss, search the web.

eCl@ss is an add-on component. Contact your Stibo Systems representative to activate ‘eclassimporter’ on your STEP system.

With eCl@ss you can import XML formats for any language using versions 7.0, 7.1, 8.0, 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0, 11, and 11.1. For more information on the eCl@ss license, contact your Stibo Systems account manager.

Note: eCl@ss version 11 and all future releases will only be published in XML 3.0 format.

In STEP, eCl@ss classifications are linked to objects (materials, products, and/or services) via a 'product-to-classification link type' reference type. This displays objects within the eCl@ss folder as shown in the image below.

When a product is linked to an eCl@ss classification, via a product-to-classification link type with 'Inheritance of Specification Attributes / Data Container Types' set to 'Yes,' the eCl@ss attribute links are inherited from the classification to the linked products, and the attributes are displayed and maintained on the product tab under a flipper that indicates the version. For more information on link inheritance, see the Inheritance Example for a Product to Classification Link Type topic in the System Setup / Super User Guide documentation here.

Format Availability

eCl@ss import format is available for selection only in the eCl@ss Classification Import wizard. For details, see eCl@ss Classification Import here.

Multiple Versions

The eCl@ss classification data is delivered in a .ZIP file, where the file name indicates the version. The import wizard uses a background process to create attributes (if necessary), and classification folders that include the version number. This allows you to access multiple versions of eCl@ss within the same system.

Update objects to a newer classification version

If you want to update existing objects to a newer eCl@ss classification version, you can re-classify them using the Bulk Update operation 'Industry Classification Synchronization.' For more information, see the References and Links: Industry Classification Synchronization Operation topic of the Bulk Update documentation here.

Version-specific classification object types

To create a version-specific object type structure, select 'Version specific object types' on the Advanced step of the eCl@ss Classification Importer. 

Selecting this option during import will automatically create a new version-specific object type structure for eCl@ss classifications if one does not already exist for that version.

Finding an Attribute

Depending on the number of classifications imported, System Setup may not allow browsing through the attributes created. However, you can view a portion of them, or find a particular one, using the right-click 'Search Below' functionality.

Any units or LOVs created upon import of an eCl@ss XML file will also be stored in their own unit / LOV groups labeled 'eCl@ss', with the version specified as a metadata attribute on the object.

Inbound Data

Running the eCl@ss Classification Import wizard creates three attribute groups (if they do not already exist): 

eCl@ss Classification Import

For more information, see the eCl@ss Classification Importer section of the documentation here.