• The supported aPriori system-defined attributes now include the following production inputs: Process Group, VPE, Annual Volume, and Batch Size. (This means that all inputs necessary to cost a part can now be supplied automatically from the CAD file.)

• The CAD Property Mapping File format introduced in aPriori 2015 R1 has been extended to support the new features in 2018 R1 SP1.

• You can now include CSL expressions in your mapping file, meaning that it is no longer necessary for the value of the CAD property to exactly match an available value of an aPriori field. For example, the CAD field COMMODITY with a value of “Casting” could be mapped to the “Casting – Die” process group in aPriori. This also means that the "Material" restriction in earlier versions is no longer necessary: CAD properties specifying materials no longer need to use terminology 100% the same as aPriori.

• The availability of CSL expressions in the mapping file also means that the value of the aPriori field can be driven based on the value of multiple CAD fields as well as just a single CAD field. For example, the aPriori VPE may be chosen based on the values of both the PRODUCTION_REGION and TOOLING_REGION CAD fields.

• A new export feature allows you to create a fresh XML file from the currently loaded mappings, including comments. Previously there was no way to know for sure what mapping file was in effect, and no way to confirm that an XML mapping on disk was exactly the same as the one that was last loaded. This new feature is found under the System Administration File > Export > CAD Property Mapping File menu item. Also note that the original import mechanism
(File > Load CAD Property Mapping File) is now found at
File > Import > CAD Property Mapping File.

• Values mapped from CAD properties can now be viewed and cleared in aPriori, to explore the cost impact of different manufacturing scenarios. See the aPriori Professional User Guide for more information about the Cost Overrides dialog or the Reconcile Inputs dialog.