User Guide

Using the Product

Default Translations

Default Translation – via the Unified Interface

The Unified Interface can be started via the Start Menu – if a shortcut was added during installation.

<UI_installation_directory>\bin\Unified_Interface.cmd

The following interface will be launched:

The default layout is split into 4 primary areas, which can be altered to the user’s preference.

Note – When activated the configuration manager will appear as a tab next to the output logs.

The simplest way to translate from CATIA V5 to PARASOLID is to drag a file from the file Browser Pane on to the Active Configurations for the translation you require.

On completion, the Unified Interface will display the activity information and details from the log file created during the translation, if requested, in the Translation Activity and Output Log panes, respectively.

The generated output data can be located by selecting the translation from the Activity pane and opening the output folder:

Default Translation – via the Command Line

Running a translation via the command line can be carried out via the cad_run.cmd file located in the <installation_directory>\bin directory. The format of the command is as follows when translating from CATIA V5i to PARASOLID:

<Translator_installation_directory>\bin\cad_run.cmd Catia5i_Parasolid -i <input_file> -o <output_file>

The example above will translate a CATIA V5 sample file provided within the installation and produce the following screen output:

The file will be output to the target location. In this case:

C:\Temp\nist_ctc_02_asme1_ct5210_rd.X_T

The format of the command is as follows when translating from PARASOLID to CATIA V5i:

<Translator_installation_directory>\bin\cad_run.cmd Parasolid_Catia5i -i <input_file> -o <output_file>

Translator Customization

The Theorem translator allows the information that is read from the source system and written to the target system to be tailored via a set of user specified arguments. Commonly used arguments are supported via the Unified Interface, with Advanced Arguments being described within this document for use in the Unified Interface or via the Command Line invocation.

Common Options for CATIA V5i to Parasolid

Within the Configuration Manager pane of the Unified Interface, arguments that can be specified when publishing CATIA V5 data into Parasolid are grouped into the following areas:

• CATIA V5i Read – Those arguments that affect how data is read from CATIA V5.

• Parasolid Write – Those arguments that affect how the data is written to Parasolid.

• Entity Mask – Those arguments that allow specific read entities to be masked.

• General – Those arguments that are common to ALL Publishing activities regardless of source data.

CATIA V5i Read Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5i Read arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Retain Assembly Structure	Retain the assembly structure. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax offditto (to disable) – reduces an assembly to a single Part
Read Face Colours	Process face colours in preference to body colours. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax disable_face_colours – to turn off.

Parasolid Write Arguments

The image below shows the PARASOLID Write arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Parasolid Version Number	Parasolid version number to ‘Save As’ (default latest - 35) Command Line Syntax psver <number>

CATIA V5i to Parasolid Entity Masking Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5i to Parasolid Entity Mask arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Mask File	Specifies the Mask File to be written to, that can be referenced by future translations. A Mask file MUST be specified if masking is required. The first line in this file is OFF ALL ENT: Command Line Syntax: Mask <filename>
Entity Types Translated	Specifies a selection list from which to select which entity types are to be processed. The following types are available: “SOL” - Masks any 3D entity “SKIN” - Masks any 2D entity “CUR” - Masks any 1D entity “POI” - Masks any 0D entity “AXIS” - Masks Axis Systems “ISOL” - Masks Isolated facetted solids “CCRV” - If on creates a CCRV curve for wire frame edges that have more than one supporting curve “TEXT” - Masks PMI Text Command Line Syntax: Add any of the above to the specified mask file, one entry per line prefixed by the word ON, e.g.: ON POI to ensure they are considered in the translation.
Layers Translated	Specifies a selection list from which to select which layers are to be processed. Command Line Syntax: A single entry of ON ALL LAY Must precede any Layer Mask command. Add a list or range of numbers representing layer to be processed to the specified mask file to ensure they are NOT considered in the translation. e.g.: OFF LAY 114,149,166,167,168
Convert NO SHOW Geometry	Enables Hidden geometry to be processed (Default is Off) Command Line Syntax: Add the following entry to the Mask file ON NOSHOW
Convert NO SHOW Structure	Enables Hidden Assembly Structure to be processed (Default is Off) Command Line Syntax: Add the following entry to the Mask file ON NOSHOW STR
Convert NO SHOW PMI	Enables Hidden PMI to be processed (Default = Off) Command Line Syntax: Add the following entry to the Mask file ON NOSHOW PMI

CATIA V5i to Parasolid General Arguments

The image below shows the General arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Mass Properties	CATIA V5 mass properties (volume/area CofG) are read and any applied materials, using this option, in cases where a part has multiple solids, volume and area values are summed, but CofG data is invalid. Command Line Syntax: mprops
Advanced	Allows any of the Command Line Advanced arguments documented to be passed to the Unified Interface invocation.

Common Options for Parasolid to CATIA V5i

Within the Configuration Manager pane of the Unified Interface, arguments that can be specified when publishing Parasolid into CATIA V5 data are grouped into the following areas:

• Parasolid Read – Those arguments that affect how data is read from Parasolid

• Catia5i Write – Those arguments that affect how the data is written to Catia V5

• Entity Mask – Those arguments that allow specific read entities to be masked

• General – Those arguments that are common to ALL Publishing activities regardless of source data

Parasolid Read Arguments

The image below shows the Parasolid Read arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Retain Assembly Structure	Retain Assembly Structure. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable (remove structure): noditto
Output Part Units	Define the output part units (default mm) Command Line Syntax: mm inches metres

Catia5i Write Arguments

The image below shows the Catia5i Write arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below.

Option	Description
Write Catia5 Version	Save a specified version of Catia V5 data Command Line Syntax save_catia5_version <version> Where versions are: R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33
Disable Points	Disable Point processing (default is On) Command Line Syntax to disable Points: disable_points
Disable Wireframe Processing	Disable Wireframe processing (default is On) Command Line Syntax to disable Wireframe: disable_wireframe
Create CGR	Create a tessellated CGR file output (default is OFF) Command Line Syntax to create a CGR: Create_CGR

Parasolid to CATIA V5i Entity Mask Arguments

The image below shows the Parasolid to CATIA V5i Entity Mask arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Each of these options is described below:

Option	Description
Output Geometry File Type	Specifies the Mask File to be written to, that can be referenced by future translations. A Mask file MUST be specified if masking is required. The first line in this file is OFF ALL ENT: Command Line Syntax: Mask <filename>
Write Face Colours	Specifies a selection list from which to select which entity types are to be processed. The following types are available: “SOL” - Masks any 3D entity “SKIN” - Masks any 2D entity “CUR” - Masks any 1D entity “POI” - Masks any 0D entity “AXIS” - Masks Axis Systems “ISOL” - Masks Isolated facetted solids “CCRV” - If on creates a CCRV curve for wire frame edges that have more than one supporting curve “TEXT” - Masks PMI Text Command Line Syntax: Add any of the above to the specified mask file, one entry per line prefixed by the word ON, e.g.: ON POI to ensure they are considered in the translation.

Parasolid to CATIA V5i General Arguments

The image below shows the General arguments that are available, with their default settings:

The option is described below:

Option	Description
Mass Properties	CATIA V5 mass properties (volume/area CofG) are read and any applied materials, using this option, in cases where a part has multiple solids, volume and area values are summed, but CofG data is invalid. Command Line Syntax: mprops
Advanced	Allows any of the Command Line Advanced arguments documented below to be passed to the Unified Interface invocation

Command Line Advanced Arguments

Advanced arguments can be added to the Command Line or the UI General->Advanced field.

CATIA V5i Advanced Arguments

Option	Description
Small Curves	Report Small curves as errors. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: small_curves
Extend Nurb Surfaces	Extends NURBS surfaces beyond face limits for curve projection (default state) Command Line Syntax: no_extend_nurb – (Dont extend NURBS surfaces to face limits) extend_nurb <int> – (trims NURBS surfaces to <int> * 0.0001 face extents in u and v)
Remove Groups	Remove Group entities into assembly structure. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: remove_groups
Use Ref Name	Uses file name from input system to name files Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: use_ref_name
Simplify Curves	Convert NURBS curves to conics. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: simplify_curve
Convert Curves to NURBS	Convert curves to NURBS. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: dont_convert_curves
Conversion Tolerance	A secondary argument to ‘Convert Curves’ defining the conversion tolerance. Default is 0.00001 Command Line Syntax: convert_curve_tol 0.00001
Convert Surfaces to NURBS	Process data (read) types as NURBS. Data type is selected from options. Default is All. i.e. convert ALL surfaces to NURBS Command Line Syntax: None: dont_convert_surfaces Fillets: dont_convert_fillets Spheres: dont_convert_spheres Toruses: dont_convert_torus All: convert_surfaces e.g. dont_convert_spheres + dont_convert_fillets will leave fillets and spheres in their analytical form.
Conversion Tolerance	A secondary option to ‘Convert Surfaces to NURBS’. Defines the conversion tolerance. Default is 0.00001. Command Line Syntax convert_surface_tol 0.00001
Convert Torus to NURBS	Even when data is read as NURBS data, the Torus types are converted to NURBS by default, this can be disabled using the command line. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: dont_convert_torus
Trim Face Surfaces	Trims face surfaces. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: dont_trim_surfaces
Process Large Faces	Enable reading of faces larger than 1km. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: allow_large_faces
UDF Axis Systems	Enable reading of User Defined Axis systems. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable. read_udf_axis
Graphical Read	By default the BREP data will be read. It is possible to read the CATIA V5 data as a graphical representation using this option. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: enable_graphical
Filter Geometry	It is possible to filter large planes (construction planes) larger than a given size using (default being 1000 meters) Command Line Syntax: filter_large_geom <meters> There is a special case for PLANES (typically construction planes) which by default are not read, these can be enabled using Command Line Syntax: read_planes
Parasolid Tolerant Modelling	Enable Parasolid Tolerant Modelling. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: nopstolmodel
Sew Parasolid Bodies	Enabled Sewing of Parasolid Bodies. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: nosew
Incremental Sewing	Enable incremental Sewing. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: no_sew_increm
Incremental Sewing Iterations	No. of iterations for incremental Sewing (default 5) Command Line Syntax: sew_increm <number>
Explode Solids to Faces	Explode Solids to Individual Faces. Default is OFF. Command Line Syntax to enable: split_brep
Split Discontinuous Surfaces	Split Discontinuous Surfaces. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: no_brep_prep
Force Body Creation	Force body creation (No check of Parasolid entities - Default is ON) Command Line Syntax to disable: check
Fix Degenerate Edges	On face create failure, check, and fix any degenerate edges. Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: no_fix_degen

Parasolid to CATIA V5i Advanced Arguments

Option	Description
Convert Surfaces to NURBS	Read surfaces as NURBS surfaces (else read in native form). Default is ON. Command Line Syntax to disable: noprep
Convert Edge Curves to NURBS	Read edge curves as NURBS curves (else read in native format) (default ON) Command Line Syntax to disable rd_native_edge
Mass Props Volume Tolerance	Set tolerance for volume percentage comparison to consider as success (default 1.0) Command Line Syntax: vol_tol <value>
Mass Props Area Tolerance	Set tolerance for area percentage comparison to consider as success (default 0.5) Command Line Syntax: area_tol <value>
Mass Props CofG Tolerance	Set tolerance for Centre Of Gravity (CofG) percentage comparison to consider as success (default 1.0) Command Line Syntax: cog_tol <value>