XML Modules for Example 1 of 14649-11

[Martin Hardwick]

All,

The enclosed ZIP contains Example 1 of ISO 14649-11 encoded
as a suite of XML modules. 

As far as I know the example is complete though doubtless
there are errors because much of the work was done using
a text editor. I was able to do some rudimentary checking
using a Module Browser however, and I will send you a copy
in my next e-mail because it makes browsing the modules
easier.

The ZIP also contains a long paper in pdf explaining the
new approach and a short .doc file describing how to read 
the new modules. The main advantages of the new method
are as follows:

1. You can mix ARM and AIM representations. Most of the enclosed
   modules use the AIM but a few use the ARM. The How to Read
   a Module paper explains how the two can be mixed.

2. You can edit test cases using tools as simple as a text editor.
   I did this to create the Example1 data from a set of modules
   generated using a mapping table parser.

3. The modules can be distributed across enterprises. For example
   the design data can be at enterprise A, the planning data at
   enterprise B and the machining data at enterprise C.

4. The new method allows product model data to be more easily mixed
   with other kinds of data because it uses XML and for the
   same reason implementors can take advantage of the large
   range of tools for implementing XML such as DOM, SAX and
   XMLSchema.

5. The method is easily extensible. I have already created some
   STEP-NC modules for pipe bending by mixing data from AP-227
   and AP-238. Next week I plan to do the same for plate cutting
   using AP-218. In general new kinds of operations can be defined
   quite quickly and this may have some advantages for the CNC
   industry.

I hope we can now put the AIM vs ARM arguments behind us and move
forward as a united team. I am most open to suggestions for
improvements and expect there will be several before we reach
full consensus. 

We will include a complete definition of the modules in
Section C.2 of the DIS of AP-238.

I look forward to hearing your response at the SC4 meeting
or via e-mail. The technique is not limited to AP-238. We 
have already applied it to AP-227 and AP-218 and it would be
even easier for us to apply it to AP-224 and AP-240 because 
they have the same style as AP-238.

Martin Hardwick
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