Most materials sync to FieldEdge automatically. When one doesn't, Ply flags it directly in your catalog so you can find and fix it.
How to spot a material that didn't sync
Go to Catalog → Materials.
Look at the FieldEdge column on the right side of each row.
A green FieldEdge icon means the material synced successfully.
A red icon means the material failed to sync.
Hover over the red icon. A tooltip appears with the exact reason that material didn't sync.
The tooltip is the key - the fix depends entirely on which message you see. The three most common messages are below.
Error 1: "Couldn't sync this material because its name is too long. Material names must be 31 characters or fewer."
Why it happens
FieldEdge limits material names to 31 characters. This is a limitation on the FieldEdge side, so it applies to every material coming from Ply. Anything longer is rejected.
The count includes spaces, quotes, slashes, and punctuation - not just letters and numbers.
How to fix it
Edit the material in Ply and shorten the name to 31 characters or fewer.
Original name | Characters | Shortened |
| 40 |
|
| 37 |
|
Tips for shortening names:
Use standard trade abbreviations: ADPT, FL, MPT, FPT, CPLG, ELB, RED.
Drop punctuation you don't need - inch marks and periods eat characters fast.
Remove packaging details like
(50/Box). That belongs in the description or unit of measure, not the name.Keep the part of the name your techs actually search for at the front.
If you need the full detail somewhere, put it in the material's description field. Only the name is limited to 31 characters.
Error 2: "Duplicated Code"
Why it happens
The item number on that material already exists in FieldEdge, usually on an item that was created there before the integration. FieldEdge won't accept a second item with the same code.
How to fix it
Change the item number in Ply so it's unique. The simplest approach is to add a suffix:
Current item # in Ply | Change it to |
|
|
Once the code is unique, the material will sync.
Before you change it: if the FieldEdge item with that code is actually the same part, you may not want two records. Reach out to Ply support and we'll help you decide whether to rename or consolidate.
Error 3: The item number already exists in Ply
Why it happens
You have two materials in your own Ply catalog sharing the same item number. Ply can't push both to FieldEdge under one code, so the sync stops.
How to fix it
Copy the item number from the error.
Paste it into the search bar in your Catalog to pull up both materials.
Then choose one of two paths:
If they're the same part (a true duplicate): merge them. Merging keeps one clean record and preserves your history. → How to merge materials in Ply
If they're genuinely different parts you need to keep separate: edit one of them and give it a unique item number, so both can exist side by side.
After you fix a material
Changes don't push instantly. Once you've corrected the name, code, or duplicate:
Go to Catalog.
Click the FieldEdge button at the top of the page.
Pull materials to force a sync.
Then check the FieldEdge column again — the icon should turn green.
What about materials already added to jobs?
Fixing the material in Ply corrects the record itself. If you have jobs where the material didn't come through correctly, contact Ply support with the job name or number and we'll review it with you.
Still stuck?
If a material keeps failing after you've fixed the flagged issue, reach out to Ply support and include:
The material name and item number
A screenshot of the tooltip error
Whether you've run a manual sync since making the change