Expert Series FAQ

Import Package

  1. What is the DeskArtes Import Package ?
  2. Where can I get the Import Package ?
  3. Why does the Import Package need a separate license ?
  4. How can I get the system ID for the Import Package license ?
  5. How is the Import Package license installed ?
  6. How are the Import Package translators used ?
  7. How to input correct layers from Catia 5 or 4 files ?
  8. How to handle Catia 5 files with white spaces in the file path ?

1. Question: What is the DeskArtes Import Package ?
Answer:
DeskArtes Import Package is an add-on package for DeskArtes Expert Series program packages containing import translators for additional file formats. The current version of the Import Package contains import translators for the following formats:
  • Catia V4
  • Catia V5
  • Pro/E
  • Step
  • unigraphics
The Import Package has its own installation procedure and it can be installed on top of the following Expert Series 8.0 base packages:
  • DeskArtes 3Data Expert 8.0
  • DeskArtes Dimensions Expert 8.0
  • DeskArtes View Expert 8.0
  • DeskArtes Design Expert 8.0

2. Question: Where can I get the Import Package ?
Answer:
You can download the Import Package installation package from the "Downloads: Software"-section of this DeskArtes web-site.

3. Question: Why does the Import Package need a separate license ?
Answer:
The import translators in the Import Package are implemented using third party libraries, whose usage has to be controlled by their manufacturer. Therefore they need their own separate license.

4. Question: How can I get the system ID for the Import Package license ?
Answer:
The version 8.0 Import Package translators use the FLEXlm license system for controlling their licenses and also floating licenses are supported for the Import Package. The FLEXlm type system ID numbers are used for both node-locked and floating licenses.

When the Import Package is installed on top of one of the Expert Series program packages, install the "hostid.exe" tool. The installation package for that ("DATAKITHOSTID.exe") is found in the directory "DatakitHostid" under the installation directory of the Expert Series program package. Then run the "hostid.exe" from the Windows Start menu "DATAKIT->Host ID License Manager" to get the system ID information for the Import Package. The needed information is found in the "License code", "HostName" and "DISK_SERIAL_NUM" fields.

When using the node-locked licenses you need to get the system ID for each machine you are going to use to run the Import Package translators.

When using the floating license the system ID information is needed only for the license server machine.

5. Question: How is the Import Package license installed ?
Answer:
The version 8.0 Import Package translators use the FLEXlm license system for controlling their licenses and also floating licenses are supported for the Import Package. The license installation procedures are different for node-locked and floating licenses.

If you are installing a node-locked license, do the following:
  1. When you receive the license file save it to the installation directory of the "hostid.exe" tool (default: "C:\Program Files\DATAKIT\detklm").
  2. Run "hostid.exe" from the Windows Start menu "DATAKIT->Host ID License Manager".
  3. Press the "Browse/Install" button.
  4. Select the license file that you saved in step 1.
For installing a floating license for the Import Package you need to already have the Import Package license server installed on the license server machine. The installation package for that ("IPLicenseServerSetup.exe") is found  in the directory "IPLicenseServer" under the installation directory of the Expert Series program package.

The installation of the floating license goes as follows:
  1. When you receive the license file save it to the installation directory of the license server (default: "C:\Program Files\Import Package License Server").
  2. Run "lmtools.exe" from the installation directory of the license server.
  3. Select the "Config Services" page.
  4. Set the value of the "Path to the lmgrd.exe file" field to the path of the lmgrd.exe in the installation directory of the Import Package License Server (for example: "C:\program Files\Import Package License Server\lmgrd.exe").
  5. Set the value of the "Path to the license file" field to the path of the license file in the installation directory of the Import Package License Server (for example: "C:\program Files\Import Package License Server\00ffff6bfeec_03-jan-2006_08-jan-2006.lic").
  6. Set the value of the "Path to the debug log file" field to the path of a file where you want the license server to write the log messages (for example: "C:\program Files\Import Package License Server\flexlmlog.txt").
  7. Select the "Start/Stop/Reread" page in the "lmtools.exe" program.
  8. Press the "Start Server" button to start the license server.
For more information about the Import Package license installation, see a separate document: "License installation for DeskArtes Expert Series Import Package 8.0".

6. Question: How are the Import Package translators used ?
Answer:
There are no special commands in Expert Series programs for reading in the file types enabled by the Import Package. They are read in the same way as all the other file formats supported by the Expert Series.
  1. Select the "File->Open" command in the Expert Series.
  2. In the "Open"-dialog choose a suitable file type filter, from the list of available "File types", for the file type you want to read.
  3. Select the file you want to read, from the shown files.
  4. Click "OK" button.
Installing the Import Package inserts additional file types in the "File types" list of the "Open"-dialog.

7. Question: How to input correct layers from Catia 5 or 4 files ?
Answer:
Catia files can include several layers of data. Sometimes only part of the data is required for the final 3D geometry, other layers/elements contain tool surfaces or other build time geometry. This error is typically indicated by extra surfaces which seem not to be logically connected to each other in the input result. In these cases it is necessary to filter the unnecessary layers during the file conversion using the layer filter functionality available in the Import Package.
  1. Go to the installation directory of your Expert Series software (3Data Expert, ZEdit Pro, Dimensions Expert etc.)
  2. Open the Config.dtk file for Catia 4 (or Catia5Config.dtk for Catia 5) with NotePad text editor.
  3. Catia 4: Find the FILTRE_LAYER=0 option in the file. Change the value into FILTRE_LAYER=1
  4. Catia 5: Find the LAYER_FILTER=0 option in the file. Change the value into LAYER_FILTER=1
  5. Save the .dtk file and exit NotePad.
  6. Close current model (File -> Close or File -> New).
  7. Give File -> Open for the erroneous Catia file again.
  8. Press "OK" to the parameter dialogs until you see the "Write entities only from filter" dialog appearing.
  9. Select appropriate filters from the list and press "Add filter to list" button to apply a selected filter (Note: you normally need to select only one filter containing the final 3D geometry of the intended model, like PART_ALL A or TEIL etc.). If the list is empty just press "OK".
  10. Click "OK" button and only the selected layer(s) are inputted.
You may need to try select different filters if the naming of the layers is not clear to achieve the intended result.

If filtering layers does not solve the problems or if the filter list is empty with the input, you should try the .Recalculate trim curves. option available in the File Input dialog to clean up the data during the input.

8. Question: How to handle Catia 5 files with white spaces in the file path ?
Answer:
Catia 5 file input requires the input files (.CATPart, .CATProduct) to be located in a directory path not containing any white spaces.
  1. Create a temporary directory in your computer, like C:/tmp.
  2. Select the file to input with the Windows Explorer from the hard disk.
  3. Copy/Paste the selected file into the newly created temporary directory.
  4. Select the "File->Open" command in the Expert Series.
  5. In the "Open"-dialog choose a suitable file type filter (.CATProduct, .CATPart) from the list of available "File types".
  6. Select the copy of the file you want to read from the newly created temporary directory.
  7. Click "OK" button.
Note: this issue will be fixed in the next release of the software.


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