[st-users] STIX v0.2 now available!

[Dave Loffredo]

The STIX v0.2 release is ready for download!  This Open Source C++
library gives the developers of CNC Controls and applications easy
access to AP-238 machining data.

While putting together the upcoming StixCOM DLL, I've made a number 
of extensions and corrected several bugs. I've included a summary of 
the new features below.  You can find the latest source code as well
as news, instructions, and more on the STIX home page:

        http://www.steptools.com/stix/

I've also added a getting started section to the home page for
documentation and useful articles to help folks start using STIX.

Thank you to everyone who provided such helpful feedback!  It is
wonderful to see so much interest!

						- Dave




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Changes in release 0.2 (2003-05-27)

* Added several new cursors for accessing some computed lists on the
  workplans and other information:

  StixWorkplanAllNestedCursor -- Returns all workingsteps under a
      workplan, including workingsteps within any nested workplans.
      The steps are returned in depth-first search ordering.

  StixWorkplanAllFeatureCursor -- Returns the set of unique features
      machined by a workplan, including the features from any nested
      workplans.

  StixWorkplanAllToolCursor -- Returns the set of unique tools
      required by a workplan, including the tools from any nested
      workplans.

  StixFeatureFaceCursor -- Returns the advanced_face instances that 
      describe the explicit shape of a feature.  If it is given an
      in-process feature, it will return faces for the associated
      final feature instead, but if none are found, it will return the
      faces for the in-process one.  Removed append_feature_faces()
      function since it is obsoleted by this cursor class.

* The StixNC object now checks to make sure the schema is present
  before trying to load an AP-238 file.  This should detect install
  problems earlier.  Also implemented the reset() function to clear
  out the old design and index data so that a new one can be loaded.

* Fixed a Windows makefile problem when building in locations with
  spaces in the path, like "My Documents".  Also the xform.h header
  file was not being installed properly.

* Moved the expx_typename functions for aspect, exec, and outside
  provide out of the STIX library.  These were providing some legacy
  behavior that is better kept with the code that uses it.

* Worked around an issue with the representation of the shapes for
  general paths and profiles in ST-Plan output.  These shapes should
  be in a path_shape_represenatation, but are not being written that
  way.  The following functions were changed to find the reps as they
  are currently written, as well as the proper way.

	get_path_shape_property ();
	get_profile_general_shape ();
	get_path_general_shape ();

* Enhanced the show_feature demo program to print out some geometry
  information when it sees general open or closed profiles.

* Fixed a problem with get_exec_type() where the value was not being
  computed properly for machining_workingsteps.  Fixed a problem with
  calc_feature_orientation() where the orientation of closed pockets
  was coming out null.  Added Stix prefix to the Mtrx & Vctr utility
  classes.