STEP Tools News for Tuesday, March 28

Tue Mar 28 17:57:00 EST 2000

This weekly newsletter is a brief update of what is going on in STEP
and at STEP Tools, Inc.  If you want to know more, try the STEP Tools
web site (http://www.steptools.com).

----------------------------
XML Binding for Transactions 

STEP Tools has developed a new XML binding for STEP data for inclusion
in Part 28 of the 103030 standard.

The new binding is a "break through" that makes STEP data much easier
to use.  Traditional STEP implementation methods require programming
by expensive, expert programmers but the Containment Early Binding
uses the facilities of XML to give a simple description to STEP data
that can be understood by most IT professionals.

This binding is intended for use with a low cost tool such as the
ST-Viewer to define transactions for STEP data.  A user can pick an
item in the viewer and receive a modifiable XML data set describing a
property of the item, such as the name of the product owner. Most Web
browsers including Netscape and Internet Explorer contain a wide range
of tools for managing XML.

Here are some examples of XML "transactions" for AP-203:

* Display and set product description information
	(product_definition DTD)
* Display and set ownership information for products
	(cc_design_person_organization_assignment DTD)
* Display and set approval information for products
	(cc_design_approval DTD)
* Display and set time stamp information
	(cc_design_date_and_time_assignment DTD)
* Display and set assembly component information
	(next_assembly_usage_occurrence DTD)

Visit the XML project page to look at the spec plus a comparison
of XML binding styles:

    http://www.steptools.com/projects/xml/

---------------
ST-Developer v8 

The next release of ST-Developer is nearly ready for distribution.
The big highlight of this release is the inclusion of the ST-Viewer
in ST-Developer so that you can view the STEP data that you are
manipulating in your programs, and you can write OLE/COM applications
to customize the viewer.

The release notes are now available at the following URL:

    http://www.steptools.com/support/stdev_v8_docs/

----------------------------
Date set for STEP-NC meeting

The second meeting of the Industrial Review Board for the Super Model
project will take place at STEP Tools on May 25 and 26.

The Super Model initiative is the driving force behind the development
of software and databases for an integrated design-to-manufacturing
system. The STEP-NC system will allow numerically controlled (CNC)
machine tools to be controlled by product design data. The Super Model
Project is supported by an Advanced Technology Program (ATP) Award
issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an
agency of the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration.

The focus of this meeting is to show project progression, and discuss
plans for upcoming deliverables. STEP Tools will show a STEP-NC
database containing all information required to manufacture the Super
Model test part. In December 1999, STEP Tools previewed a spreadsheet
being used to add ISO 14649 manufacturing features to STEP geometry.

At this second meeting, STEP will complete the database by adding
manufacturing strategy, path planning and tool selection information.
As part of the demonstration, STEP Tools will also show CADKEY and
FBMach Process Planning system both creating data similar to that
required by ISO 14649 manufacturing standards.

-------------------
Translation Service

Summary:
Period Covered: Sun Mar 19 03:25:02 2000 -- Sun Mar 26 03:25:02 2000
Total usage: 61
Successful usage: 54 (88%)
Errors: 7 (11%)

Translator		total	errors	success rate

ACIS to STEP:		21	0	100%
STEP to ACIS:		25	3	88%
AP203 Checker:		1	0	100%
STEP to Parasolid:	6	4	33%
STEP to XML:		4	0	100%
Visualization tools:	1	0	100%
Visualization Service:	3	0	100%

=======================================
All-Time stats

------------------------------------
Summary:
Period Covered: Wed Dec 31 19:00:00 1969 -- Sun Mar 26 03:25:31 2000
Total usage: 8487
Successful usage: 7167 (84%)
Errors: 1320 (15%)

Translator		total	errors	success rate

ACIS to STEP:		1863	76	95%
STEP to ACIS:		2776	313	88%
STEP to XML:		87	18	79%
AP203 Checker:		608	50	91%
EXPRESS Checker:	11	1	90%
Parasolid to STEP:	270	130	51%
STEP to Parasolid:	315	152	51%
STEP to XML:		286	55	80%
Visualization tools:	396	110	72%
Visualization Service:	45	8	82%
XML to STEP:		72	25	65%

---------
Our Tools

Programming:
* ST-Developer -- programming tools for understanding and writing
  STEP/EXPRESS applications, translators and databases.

* ST-ACIS Library -- programming functions to convert STEP data to 
  and from ACIS models and SAT files.

* ST-Parasolid Library -- programming functions to convert STEP
  data to and from Parasolid models.

* ST-Visualizer Library -- programming functions to visualize STEP
  data.

Desktop:
* ST-ACIS Translator -- desktop tool for translating STEP data to
  ACIS and vice versa.

* ST-Parasolid Translator -- desktop tool for translating STEP data to
  Parasolid and vice versa.

* ST-Viewer -- desktop tool to check and view STEP data.

Database:
* ST-Repository -- Global teaming database for design and manufacturing
  projects with services for Internet Translation, Universal Visualization
  and Enterprise Integration.

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