Import, export and print

==dy 090906 ok==





Start-Open-Save

Start (New)

Open Model

Save Model





Import Export

DXF

Iges

Step

VRML-1

VRML-2

SVG

WaveFront-OBJ

TESS

BMP, JPG

STL

LWO

3DS

NC-ISO







Print







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File / New



Model Space and all Sub-model spaces are deleted.





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File / Open Model



Load or import a model.



All models can be loaded/imported only from directories with a symbolic path defined.

Symbolic paths (default directories): see Standards/Directories.





DIR-SYM - Button

A select list, which is already known

(A symbolic path exists).



DIR-NEW - Button

A general directory.

After the directory selection a symbolic path name is queried, which is then registered with the default directories.





Files are automatically converted according to the file type; For mockup models and bitmaps, an import-command is generated.





Analytical formats:

Analytical description of curves, surfaces.



File types:

.stp Step

.gs Iges

.dxf DXF (AutoCAD)

.gcad gCAD3D-native





Mockup formats:

Mockup models are ready tessellated models, which very quickly imported.



Dateityp: File type:

.wrl VRML-1 (VRML-2 currently export only)

.obj OBJ (WaveFront)

.stl STL (ascii)

.3ds 3DS

.lwo LWO

.tess gCAD3D-native-tessellated



Bitmap formats:

This allows pictures (pixel images) to be loaded in the 3D space.



File type:

.bmp Microsoft-Bitmap

.jpg JPG



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File / Insert



Load additional models/pictures into the current model.

A corresponding load command is added.

Sub-models are not deleted.



Native models (.gcad) are currently being loaded as the main model.

Several native load models:

Insert, then sub-Models/move_main_--> _new-sub-Model, internal sub-Model position.



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File / Import Mockup native





Switch position ON:

All mockup models (currently OBJ only) will be imported --

This enables these models to be exported as ie WRL or TESS files.





Switch position OFF: (Default)

All mockup models are loaded directly (very fast) but can not be changed/exported.





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File / compress_native_models



Switch to compress the data when saving the model.



The file is uncompressed with .gcad;

The file is compressed with .gcaz.

The compression is done with "gzip-qc {uncompressed}>{compressed}"

The decompression is performed with "gzip-dcq {compressed}>{uncompressed}"

You can use the standard function gzip to compress/decompress models in Unix and MS-Windows without using the cad programme.



The compression rate is about 70%.



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File / Save Model (as)



This saves the main model, with all internal sub-models.

To save only selected objects: see Group -> File



Save Model

This saves the model (native only) with the current model name.

For native data use file extension .gcad

Native data are displayed in the edit window texts.





Save as Model

This saves the model with a new model name; The output format must be chosen.



Formats:

native .gcad Analyt.

DXF .dxf Analyt.

Iges .igs Analyt.

VRML-1 .wrl Mockup

VRML-2 (VRML-97) .wrl Mockup

STL .stl Mockup

OBJ .obj Mockup

TESS .Tess Mockup

NC-ISO .iso NC





DIR-SYM - Button

Displays a select list which is already known

(s symbolic path exists).



DIR-NEW - Button

A general directory.

After the directory selection a symbolic path name is queried, then the standard directories are entered.



Mockup models:

Mockup models are ready tessellated models, which are very quickly imported.



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Import Export



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Import / Export DXF



List of supported DXF-object types:



Type Export Import



POINT X X

VERTEX X X

LINE X X

CIRCLE X X

ARC X X

POLYLINE X X

3DLINE X X

TEXT X X

3DFACE X X

DIMENSION X X

HATCH - -

ELLIPSE X -

LWPOLYLINE X -

MTEXT X -

BLOCK/INSERT - -





Ellipses and B-spline curves are used as POLYLINE output.



Dimmed ( "DIM") and DRAW OFF hidden objects are not exported.

Export: it will be tessellated surfaces as 3DFACE's output.

(Number of triangles: Standards/Tolerances).

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Import / Export - Iges



List of supported Iges - Object Type:





Type Export Import



Item 116 X X

Line 110 X X

District 100 X X

Par.Spline 112 X X

B-Spl.Curve 126 X X

B-Spl Surface 128 X X

Polylines 106 Form 11.12 X X

Composite Curve 102 X X

Text 212 X X

Level 108 X X

Ellipse 104 Form 1 X4 X

Subfig.Def. 308 X X

Subfig.Ref. 408 X X

RuledSurface 118 X X

Rev.Surface 120 X X

Cylinder size 122 X 5)

CurveOnSurf 142 X X

TrimmedSurf. 144 X X





X4 currently not yet: hyperbola, parabola (Form 2, 3).

5) output as Rev.Surf or RuledSurf.





Tested with CATIA V4 and CATIA V5 (V5: subfigure to be resolved (copied)).

References to External Sub-Models are not yet exported.

Dimmed ( "DIM") and DRAW OFF hidden objects are not exported.







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Import Step



STEP ISO-10303-21- AP203- AP214- files can be imported.

The import functions are not based on the Express functions.

Tested with CATIA V4 and CATIA V5.







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Import / Export VRML-1



VRML-1 models are imported/exported as mockups (model cannot be changed).





EXPORT:

- Assemblies (sub-Models) can be exported

- Mockup sub-models (WRL/OBJ/TESS) cannot be re-exported







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Export VRML-2 (VRML-97)



- Assemblies (sub-Models) can be exported

- Mockup sub-models (WRL/OBJ/TESS) cannot be re-exported

- Textures cannot yet be exported









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Import / Export WaveFront-OBJ



Currently, only OBJ ASCII files can be imported/exported.

OBJ files can be loaded as models (changeable) or mockup models (not changeable).



Only the following types of objects can be imported/exported:

v Vertices

f Faces





EXPORT:

- Sub-models currently cannot be positioned on export

- Mockup sub-models (WRL/OBJ/TESS) cannot be re-exported





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Import / Export TESS



This is the binary data of the finished surfaces tessellated in a .tess file (only mockup model data).

A description of the data format is in file gCAD3D_prog_de.txt.



EXPORT:

- Currently can only export single a model (no subModels)

- Mockup sub-models (WRL/OBJ/TESS) cannot be re-exported







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Import Bitmap



Bitmaps are presented normal to the view surface (2D space),

and at the lower left corner in the 3D space.

Bitmaps are fixed or dynamically scaled.



Files in JPG or BMP format can be imported.





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Import Stereolithography format



Ascii format.

There is no check whether the models are closed.





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3DS Import



3D Studio File Format (Autodesk Ltd)



Currently, only the surfacees are transferred.



Binary format.





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Import LWO format



LightWave 3D Object layered file format



Currently, only the surfaces are transferred.



Binary format.



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File / Export NC ISO



Edit the NC machining codes in file /tmp/pp.iso.

Additional post-processors are available on request.





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Print

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Export format selection:

PS (Vector Format)

PCL5 (GL format)

HP-GL



Choice format (only for PCL5 output format):

A4 or A3



Selection function:

with the viewer (for PS output format,

the default is the postscript viewer gv)

output to file (default file name /tmp/print.dat)

directly print (the default command is "lpr-l-P{defaultprinter}")





Shaded areas are not printed

(For this try eg KSnapshot program).





How it works:



An intermediate file {base}/tmp/print.tmp is generated;

this will appear in the selected output format.

The output can be 90 degrees rotated, scaled, and (with offset)

moved.



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