User manual

ME10 - Solid Edge - Converter

Mechanics-Tool for

Version 16 for Solid Edge ST10

Author: Mathias Kraemer

PROCIM Xperts GmbH Phone.: + 49 375 873 955-00 od. Gewerbestrasse 11 + 49 375 873 955-50 08115 Lichtentanne Fax: + 49 375 873 955-02 Germany E-Mail: procim@procim.de Internet: www.procim.de

- 2 -

Table of contents

1 Fundamentals .......................................................................................................... 3

2 System requirements ............................................................................................... 3

3 Setup ....................................................................................................................... 4

4 Software-license ...................................................................................................... 5

5 Translation process ................................................................................................. 6

5.1 Single drafts .............................................................................................................................. 6

5.2 Batch processing ...................................................................................................................... 7

6 Configuration of the interface, settings .................................................................... 8

6.1 Register card „General“ ............................................................................................................ 9

6.2 Register card „Lines“ ............................................................................................................... 11

6.3 Register card „Text“ ................................................................................................................ 13

6.4 Register card „Fonts“ .............................................................................................................. 14

6.5 Register card „Line width“ ....................................................................................................... 15

6.6 Register card „Dimensions“ .................................................................................................... 19

7 Limitations of conversion ....................................................................................... 20

8 General notices ..................................................................................................... 20

Appendix A: Sample for a configuration file (ME10ToSE.INI) .................................. 21

- 3 -

1 Fundamentals

The ME10-Solid-Edge-Converter translates ME10-drawings into a Solid-Edge-draft. The conversion program ‘ME10ToSE.EXE’ handles ME10-files (*.mi) with file version from 2.21 (ME10 Rev. 6.10) to file version 3.20 (ME10 Rev. 15.50) directly and generates a corresponding Solid-Edge-drawing. It could be read files from newer ME10-Versionen, but there is been no guarantee for a flawless and true to the original takeover. Compressed drawings can be read directly, if they correspond to the GZIP-format. The partial structures which are available in ME10 will be mapped in Solid Edge as group structures. The name of the Solid Edge group consists of the ME10 part name and the scale of the part-file. In addition, each ME10-part is placed on a separate Solid-Edge-Layer with the corresponding name. The scales of the parts are converted to the according drawing scale. All contour types are transmitted. The assignment of the lines type is unrestricted customizable. If values are missing, standard settings will be used. Hatchings are taken over as hatchings or related groups. The dimensions will be converted to a group of geometry elements belonging to the part group. Because ME10 partly uses specific text types (fonts), an assignation of these text fonts to the Solid-Edge - respectively Windows-Fonts can be done within the program. Also mechanical engineering-typical symbols (roughness, geometric tolerances) are translated. Important! This program can be used with Solid Edge ST10 only!

2 System requirements

For using the program you need Windows version 7 or above as well as Solid Edge

ST10 (Classic, Foundation, Design & Drafting or Premium). The converter also requires the Microsoft .Net-Framework Version 4.0. It will be installed automatically by the installation program, if the framework is not yet installed.

- 4 -

3 Setup

If you install this program, you need to have administrator-rights. You can install the program as new installation or as an update of an older version of the ME10-Solid-Edge converter.

When using an update the installation must be carried out in absolutely the

same program folder, where the prior version of the converter is installed. To make sure a backup of the configuration file ‘ME10ToSE.INI’ should be made before. If the autostart function of the CDROM-drive has not been deactivated, the installation program will start automatically by inserting the CDROM into the drive. Otherwise the program „START.EXE“ must be started manually in the root directory of the CD-ROM. After the program has started, please choose „Install PROCIM-Mechanics-Tools“. Please select the entry „ME10-Solid-Edge-Converter...“ and hit the button „Install“. Then follow the instructions of the setup program. The enclosed documentation will be installed in the subfolder „Documents“ in the

folder of the converter program as an Acrobat-Reader-file. You can install Acrobat-Reader from the folder „AReader“ of the CDROM.

- 5 -

4 Software-license

For using the program a valid license is needed. You will obtain this license when buying the program. The name of the licensed party and the license key are printed on the license-document. Please enter this information into the corresponding fields and press the button “License”.

License window of the program

After the input of valid license-information the label of the button “License” changes into “OK”. With a mouse click on this button the window can be closed now. If you enter invalid information, the license window will be closed after 3 attempts and the application terminates. During the registration creates a file with the name “LICENSE_KEY_ME10-Solid-Edge-Konverter.REG” in the install-directory of the program. This file can be used to register the program again (e.g. after a new installation) or to transfer the license to other computers if it concerns a multi-user license. The transferred a single-user license on another computer is not allowed! With a double click on the REG-file, the license information will be stored in the Registry. Important! The registration of the program under Windows

® must be effected with

administrator rights!

- 6 -

5 Translation process

The program 'ME10ToSE.EXE' is started from the Window Start Menu with ”Start - Programs - PROCIM Mechanics-Tools - ME10-Solid-Edge-Konverter”. Over the menu "File - open…" the wanted ME10-file for conversion is selected.

5.1 Single drafts

Over the menu "file - opening" is selected the desired ME10-file for conversion. Is Solid Edge not active jet, now it will be called automatically, a new draft-document will be produced and the conversion starts.

During the conversion the program produces different news that are logged in the program window. By means of the menu ”File - Protocol file save as…” this record can be saved as text file.

In case of successful conversion the program gives a corresponding information.

Main window of the program

After that the produced Solid Edge drawing can be saved. The program can be left with „File - Exit“ or with „ File - Open…“ a new conversion run will be started.

- 7 -

5.2 Batch processing

If several ME10-designs are to be converted too Solid Edge, can be started "file - batch processing..." the batch processing mode over the menu option.

Batch processing mode

With the switching surface the folder with the files which can be converted can be selected. If a checkmark is set with the option of "sub lists to include", then also all ME10-files are along-converted into the under folder of the selected listing, otherwise only the MI-files in the listing. If the option "Rename converted ME10-file" is activated, so will be appended a underline after a successful translating at the original name of the ME10-file (from "*.mi" becomes then "*.mi_"). After one mouse-click from the Button "start" begins the processing of the selected designs. The produced Solid-Edge-designs are stored automatically. The name corresponds ME10-file name, only the extension reads “*.DFT”. They are put down in the same listing as the MI-file.

Important! Possibly already existing designs with the same name are overwritten without further inquiries! To each converted design a log file is likewise stored, which has the same name as the design, but the extension "*.LOG". The conversion individually designs or also the entire batch processing The conversion of individual designs or also the entire batch processing can be broken off through pressures of the ESC-key at any time. Important! So that application reacts to the ESC-key, the application window of the converter must be the active window (click possibly before with the mouse)! At the end of processing the program spends an appropriate reference.

- 8 -

6 Configuration of the interface, settings

In order to get optimal translation results, the configuration of the interface settings are absolutely necessary. The configuration takes place over the menu „Settings - Converter settings…“.

Configuration window of the program

By means as this menu the configuration file ‘ME10ToSE.INI’ is processed. This file must be positioned in the same folder like program ‘ME10ToSE.EXE’. With the installation of the converter this file with basic settings is installed, too. The structure of the file ‘ME10ToSE.INI’ completely corresponds to the Windows conventions for INI files. The configuration file can contain the following sections: 1. [General] general program settings 2. [Lines] section for line settings 3. [Text] section for text settings 4. [FontAspectRatio] section for width adaptation of the fonts 5. [Colors] section for change of colors 6. [LineColors] section for allocating the line thickness according to the line color 7. [Dimensions] section for dimension settings

- 9 -

In the following the installation of the sections through the configuration dialog is described.

6.1 Register card „General“

By means of this register card follow settings can be made. In the textbox “Conversion template” the Solid-Edge-Draft-template for conversion is given with the complete path name. Other template files can also be chosen by using

the button . If the option “Convert all colors to black” is checked, the ME10-colors will be ignored, i.e. all lines are shown in Solid Edge black.

Register card „General“

If the option “Take over original ME10-colors” is selected, all line colors will be taken over in the same style which they are displayed in ME10, i.e. a white line in ME10 will also be displayed a white line in Solid Edge. So it is recommended to set the background color of the Solid Edge draft like the background color which is used in ME10 (by default black). If this option is unchecked, all colors in Solid Edge will be displayed a bit darker as in ME10. So a white line in ME10 will be displayed as light gray in Solid Edge. This provides an increased visibility of geometry on a white Solid-Edge sheet.

- 10 -

Is the option “convert shading” incipient act, shadings are taken over likewise. It can not be excluded, that representation errors can occur during the assumption of the shadings, so this option also can be disabled. Normally, the line width from ME10 will be taken over to Solid Edge. By selecting the option “Get line width from line color”, you can assign the line width in Solid Edge to the line color in ME10. The settings according to color and size of the lines can be done by choosing the tab “Line width”. Furthermore there you can enter the default line width for lines, which are not included in the color definitions. If the option “Get line width from line color” is not selected, all elements on this tab will be disabled. For the “SE Default line type”, a line type must be declared, that exists in the indicated Solid Edge template, otherwise the translation is abort with a configuration error. The “SE Default line type” is used for all not configured ME10-line types and for some auxiliary lines. It is recommended to always indicate a thin full-line as line type. Furthermore you can choose the language of the user interface. It is possible to switch between “German” and “English”. If the Button “OK” is pushed, the language settings will be changed immediately. If the option "Rename converted ME10-file" is activated, so will be appended a underline after a successful translating at the original name of the ME10-file (from "*.mi" becomes then "*.mi_"). The activating of this option is meaningful in the batch processing mode. The activation of the option “Minimize Solid Edge window” results, that the program Solid Edge being minimized during the execution of the conversion. This has an important increase of performance the consequence. Therefore this option should always be activated primarily in the batch mode.

- 11 -

6.2 Register card „Lines“

Here the assignments from Solid-Edge-line types to ME10 line types take place. Is no Solid-Edge-line type given for an ME10-line type or is there no Solid –Edge-line type the type “Normal“ is assigned automatically. To get an optimal adaptation we recommend: in the Solid-Edge-Pattern file used for conversion create respectively adapt the corresponding lines user defined and assign them to the corresponding ME10-lines.

Register card „Lines“

The Syntax is always <ME10-Line type> = <Solid-Edge-Line type> Samples: SOLID=Normal DOTTED=Dotted DOT_CENTER=Center The line strength (line width) is not affected by the assignment! This is taken over during the conversion directly by the ME10-line.

- 12 -

By the button „New“ a new line assignment can be created:

New line allocation provide

There must always be given both data. By pressing the button “OK” the assignment is accepted. By that the name of the ME10-line is changed into capitals automatically. In order to change a line assignment you can use the button “Edit“ or perform a double click on the corresponding row:

Line allocation change

Now the data can be processed. In order to remove an assignment the corresponding line must be marked and the „Erase“ clicked. After the confirmation/ activation of the safety challenge the line assignment is erased.

Line allocation removes

- 13 -

6.3 Register card „Text“

For ME10-Texts the assignments take place from Solid-Edge-types to ME10-texttypes. Is no Solid-Edge-type given for an ME10-texttype or is there no stated Solid –Edge-type the type “Solid Edge ISO” is assigned automatically. The syntax is always <ME10-Texttype> = <Solid-Edge-Text type> Samples: arial=Arial hp_kanji_c=Courier New hp_block_c=Solid Edge ISO

Register card „Text“

The addition, processing and erasure of text assignments take place as with the lines (see point 6.2). With that the name of the ME10-textfront is always automatically into small letters.

- 14 -

6.4 Register card „Fonts“

For an optimal adaptation of the appearance of texts in Solid Edge to ME10 you may change the width-height relation of fonts to Solid Edge with the help of a correction factor. For that the width (length) of the text is changed in relation to its height. A factor of 2 makes a text twice as wide (long), a factor of 0.5 shortens it by half. Is there no correction factor given for a font, always 1.0 is used, i.e. the text font is drawn with the standard appearance. The syntax is <Solid-Edge-text font> = <correction factor> Samples: Arial=0.8 Solid Edge ISO=1.2

Register card „Fonts“

The addition, processing and erasure of font correction factors takes place as with the lines (see 6.2). As value for the factor only numbers are allowed!

- 15 -

6.5 Register card „Line width“

Elements on this tab only can be chosen, if the option “Get line width from line color” on tab “General” is checked (see section 6.1 for more information). There you can assign several line colors in ME10 to defined line widths in Solid Edge. So the line width will not be taken from the ME10-line but the following allocation table is used. In case of an undefined color, the settings of the tab “General” will be used instead (see section 6.1 for more information). Please note that the allocations are displayed with the following syntax: <ME10 line color> = <Solid Edge line width in mm>

Register card „Line width“

- 16 -

Press the button “New” it is possible to create a new allocation from a ME10 line color to a Solid Edge line width:

New allocation from ME10 color to Solid Edge line width

There are two possibilities to select the color. On the one hand it is possible to choose directly from the 8 ME10 default colors. Therefore it is necessary to select the option “ME10-Standard”. Finally select and choose the color.

Selection of a ME10 default color

If you want to choose user-defined colors, please select the option “User defined” and select the color in the windows color dialog box.

Selection of a user-defined ME10 color

The button will open the windows color dialog box. Here you can enter the RGB values of the color, which must be read out of ME10.

- 17 -

Selection of a user-defined ME10 color

After the input of the RGB-values or selecting the color via mouse, you can close the window by pressing “OK”. The selected color will be displayed in the dialog box. Now you can enter a line width into the textbox as seen below:

Input of the line width

The textbox only accepts numerical values, invalid input will be corrected when the textbox looses the focus of the cursor. Non-numerical values will be changed to Null and negative values will automatically be changed to positive values. Important! If you enter a line width with the value of null, for this line color the default line width of ME10 will be used!

- 18 -

After pressing “OK”, the allocation will be accepted. If an allocation for this color already exists, the program asks if the existing allocation should be overwritten. If you accept this, the new allocation will be saved. The allocations can always be edited. Therefore choose the button “Edit”, then you can edit the colors and line widths. It is also possible to delete allocations by pressing “Delete” and confirm the dialog with “Yes”. If there are colors used in the ME10 drawing which are not defined in the converter, the program will write out notices during the process of translating. The notice will contain the RGB-values of the undefined color or the name of the undefined color if it is a default color of ME10, so you can define these colors afterwards.

Notice if undefined colors during translation process

- 19 -

6.6 Register card „Dimensions“

ME10-dimensions are always translated as single geometry elements only (lines, texts, arrows etc.). With the options on this register card the representation of the translation for dimensions can be customize. An independent Solid Edge line type which is used for the dimension and projection lines can be indicated with the option "Line type for dimension and projection lines". In addition, the option "User defined line width" can be set a line width be used for the dimension and projection lines. This is then valid for all dimension and projection and but independently of the original ME10 line width. The takeover of the line width from the line color (see item 6.5) then doesn't have any consequence out of these lines either.

Register card „Dimensions“

Additionally, a color with the option “User defined color” can be set, with which all geometry elements being part of dimensions then be drawing. This attitude also suspends the option "Convert all colors to black" for the dimensions (see item 6.1). If all dimensions should be created on an independent Solid-Edge-layer the option of "Use special layer for dimensions” must be hooked on and a layer name are input. If the layer name is missing, hooking is ignored for this option. The stated Layer is generated automatically at the translation process.

- 20 -

7 Limitations of conversion

Dimensions: At present are not yet adopted as intelligent Solid-Edge-dimension, but only as a group of geometry elements (lines, leaders and texts) belonging to the part group. Arcs: Analyzing the ME10-sheets it can occur that those in Solid Edge are not shown as sheets but as splines.

8 General notices

We are always interested in suggestions and references that help to improve our converter.

©2004-2017 PROCIM Xperts GmbH

- 21 -

Appendix A: Sample for a configuration file (ME10ToSE.INI)

; configuration file ME10->Solid-Edge-converter

[General]

DraftTemplate=C:\Siemens\Solid Edge ST10\Template\DIN Metric\din metric draft.dft

ConvertHatch=True

RenameSourceFile=False

DefaultLineType=Normal

[Lines]

DASHED=Hidden

DOTTED=Dotted

DOT_CENTER=Center

LONG_CENTER=Center

DASH_CENTER=Phantom

CENTER_DASH_DASH=Phantom

SOLID=Normal

PHANTOM=Phantom

[Text]

algerian=Algerian

arial=Arial

arial_black=Arial Black

arial_narrow=Arial Narrow

arial_rounded_mt_bold=Arial Rounded MT Bold

courier=Courier

courier_new=Courier New

hp_block_c=Solid Edge ISO

hp_block_v=Solid Edge ISO

hp_d17_c=Solid Edge ISO

hp_d17_v=Solid Edge ISO

hp_i3098_c=Courier New

hp_i3098_v=Solid Edge ISO

hp_jasc_c=Solid Edge ISO

hp_jasc_v=Solid Edge ISO

hp_jisj_c=Solid Edge ISO

hp_jisj_v=Solid Edge ISO

hp_kanji_c=Courier New

hp_symbols=Solid Edge ISO

hp_symbols2=Solid Edge ISO

hp_Y14.5_c=Solid Edge ISO

[FontAspectRatio]

Solid Edge ISO=1.2

Arial=0.8

CenturyGothic=0.7

Arial Narrow=0.912

Courier New=0.9

[Colors]

AllColorsBlack=False

UseLineColors=True

OriginalME10Colors=True

DefaultLineWidth=0.35

[LineColors]

-256=0.5

-65281=0.75

[Dimensions]

DimensionLineType=Normal

UseDimLineWidth=False

DimLineWidth=0.35

UseDimColor=False

DimColor=-12550016

UseUserDimLayer=True

UserDimLayer=Dimensions

©2004-2017 PROCIM Xperts GmbH