From: kraemerf@franvm3.VNET.IBM.COM (Frank Kraemer)
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 14:06:41 CET
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aix
Subject: AIX CATIA News (**Long append**) CAD people only
Reply-To: kraemerf@franvm3.VNET.IBM.COM
Organization: IBM Germany, BO-89 ACIS South
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not those of IBM
News-Software: Usenet 3.0

*** Warning long append. *** (CAD people only.)

  Subject : AIX CATIA News from Dassault Systemes,Paris

  1. Introduction

  Today's  industry  is  facing  the challenge of improving quality and
  productivity,  while  integrating  new  technologies.  Moreover,  the
  structure  of  the  traditional  company  is  being  replaced  by the
  extended  company:   comprising   several   geographical   locations,
  subcontractors  integrated  into  the  industrial  process, or intra-
  company partnership projects.   Within information  systems,  central
  systems are being replaced by mixed mainframe-workstation networks.
  In  this  context,  information  exchange  and  interoperability,  in
  particular, have become strategic aspects of the industrial process.

  To  consolidate  its  offer,  Dassault  Systemes  is  announcing  the
  availability  of extended data transfer functionalities between sites
  or between  mainframes  and  workstations  on  a  network,  aimed  at
  improving exchange quality.
  Moreover,  a  new  document  is  available.  The  CATIA Data Transfer
  Cookbook', will  provide  clients  with  methods  for  data  transfer
  processing.    These tools have been subjected to a strict certifica-
  tion process and validation by one of our clients,  which  ensures  a
  high level of quality.

  2. Improved Mainframe-Workstation Transfer Quality (CATAIX)

  Information  systems use different formats for representing character
  (EBCDIC our ASCII) or numerical (floating point  number  specific  to
  the  S/370  systems or standard IEEE for AIX workstations) type data.
  In addition, a user wishing to exchange data between a mainframe  and
  a workstation should use the CATAIX utility to ensure the translation
  of character or floating point type data.

  Quality and reliability have become strategic factors for our clients
  as  CAD/CAD  has  become  the  data  communication  vector  in  their
  partnership projects, in industrial sub-contracting, as  well  as  in
  industrial    environments   in   which   mainframes   coexist   with
  workstations.

  It is with this in mind that several developments have been  made  to
  this utility to ensure reliability, quality and precision in transfer
  operations.  Efforts have focused on full data recognition (geometric
  or technological,  such as NC,  etc.)  and  real data  conversion  in
  compliance with machine formats.

  3. Improved Project Data Transfer (CATEXP/CATIMP)

  CATIA data structured in Project form: this means  that  CATIA  users
  working on the same project can share Standards (PROJECT files), such
  as  Pattern,  Attribute, Materials tables, etc., or resources (SHEET,
  RECORD files, etc.). Moreover, this  data  can  be  exported  (CATEXP
  utility)  or  imported  (CATIMP  utility) to another site, preserving
  project consistency.

  Correspondence  Table management, guaranteeing the consistency of the
  project transferred, has been improved:
  - PIPING elements can now be imported/exported
  - ATTRIBUTE import has been improved (automatically renamed in the
    case of title conflict)
  - MATERIALs import has been made more reliable
  - Update between the Correspondence Table and the MODEL, SHEET and
    RECORD files (CPW/ATT) is now automatic.

  The Project Manager can prohibit the use of certain PATTERNs (Pattern
  Lock) :
  - The Pattern Lock is now maintained during transfer
    (Export/Import).

  4. Improved Validation Tools (CATAIX - CATSUMR)

  The CATSUMR utility is used  to  analyze  model  contents  (standard,
  unit,  etc.)  and  for  pre-  and  post-transfer  validation of model
  contents and quality.
  - The 'Abstract' option complements this utility and is used
    to calculate the number of elements in a model.
  - CATSUMR can also be used for multi-model analysis, for
    one-step evaluation all model files, no longer necessitating
    individual model validations.

  The CATAIX utility  is  used  for  transfers  between  mainframe  and
  workstation. It is now possible to:
  - calculate statistics on transfer quality (STAT option)
  - determine which CATIA reference elements (JELE) resulted in a
    transfer problem.

  5. CATIA Base Data Transfer Cookbook: A Transfer Method

  The Base Data Transfer Cookbook provides you with the basic principles
  of CATIA data management, for example:
  - what is an Object, a Project, a CATIA Library ?
  - how are they transferred ?

  The Cookbook provides you with a checklist and recommendations  which
  will  help  you  carry  out data transfers adapted to your needs, for
  example:
  - what is the communication medium between the sender and the
    receiver ?
  - which CATIA version is installed on the receiving site ?
  - which units and precision are used for model transfer?
  - what type of relation is there between the sender and the receiver?
  - is the data to be transferred valid ?

  The  Cookbook provides you with step-by-step procedures and examples.
  It also provides you with methods for validating your transfers,  for
  example:
  - how to transfer data between a mainframe and a workstation
  - how to test transfer quality

  This  document  will  be  a valuable aid to anyone working with CATIA
  data transfer:
  - the new administrator will find simple explanations on the
    basic principles of CATIA data structure and its transfer
  - the experienced administrator will find supplementary explanations
    which will enable him/her to perform day-to-day tasks.

  The "CATIA Base Data Transfer Cookbook" supplements  the  information
  contained   in  the  'Planning  and  Administration  Guide'  and  the
  'Administrator User Guide'.

  6. Conclusion

  This announcement contributes to consolidating  CATIA  leadership  in
  the  area  of Concurrent Engineering systems, complements its product
  and  services  offer  dedicated  to  data  sharing  (and   the   work
  environment) between several sites.

  7. Appendix: System Delivery

  Software developments are available in PTF form:

                        DELIVERIES ON CATIA V3R2.3
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  |          TITLE              | MVS/XA  |   AIX   |  VM/XA  |  VM/SP  |
  |-----------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  |Floating Point Conversion    | HB31173 | HB31325 | HB31634 | HB30645 |
  |-----------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  |Piping Table Support         | HB31174 | HB31376 | HB32721 |    -    |
  |-----------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  |Improved CORFIC management 1 | HB31567 | HB31376 | HB32721 |    -    |
  |-----------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  |Improved CORFIC management 2 | HB29968 | HB32834 | HB32835 |    -    |
  |-----------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
  |CATSUMR correction on user   | HB32527 | HB33353 | HB33356 |    -    |
  | modeling                    |         |         |         |         |
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                        DELIVERIES ON CATIA V3R2.5
  --------------------------------------------------------------
  |          TITLE               | MVS/XA  |   AIX   |  VM/XA  |
  |------------------------------------------------------------|
  | Floating Point Conversion    |   included in V3R2.5        |
  |------------------------------|-----------------------------|
  | Piping Table Support         |   included in V3R2.5        |
  |------------------------------|-----------------------------|
  | Improved CORFIC management 1 |   included in V3R2.5        |
  |------------------------------|-----------------------------|
  | Improved CORFIC management 2 | HB29968 | HB32834 | HB32835 |
  |------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
  | CATSUMR correction on user   | HB32527 | HB33353 | HB33356 |
  |  modeling                    |         |         |         |
  --------------------------------------------------------------

   Documentation deliveries :

   - "CATIA Base Transfer Cookbook" - order number : SH52-0480

   - CATEXP documentation update
   - CATIMP documentation update
   - CATAIX documentation update
   - CATSUMR documentation update

      ********************************************************

                         DASSAULT SYSTEMES - MIECO

 MATSUSHITA INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT CO, Ltd (MIECO) and DASSAULT SYSTEMES
 announce a CAA development partnership agreement.

 CAA, CATIA Application Architecture, comprises software engineering
 tools, rules and methods which enable industries and service companies
 to develop special applications based on CATIA open architecture.

 Within this architecture, MIECO (Osaka - Japan) and DASSAULT SYSTEMES
 (Suresnes, France), signed a CAA development partnership agreement on
 November 6, 1992 in Paris.

 MIECO is DASSAULT SYSTEMES' first Japanese partner. This also marks
 the first time that a CAA agreement has been signed with an equipment
 manufacturer.

 MIECO specializes in the fields of industrial equipment and components
 and has a unique expertise in the area of high-tech arc welding
 robotics systems.

 DASSAULT SYSTEMES is the world leader in CAD/CAM/CAE/PIM and its CATIA
 and CADAM software are used in a wide range of industries, in the
 aeronautics and automobile sectors in particular.

 CAA will enable MIECO to complete DASSAULT SYSTEMES' offer of off-line
 programming software for use on MIECO's robotics systems, while
 providing clients with guarantees in terms of use and operations.

 DASSAULT SYSTEMES has determined that robotics is one of the major
 axes of its strategy, which has also been recognized by a growing
 number of CATIA users worldwide. The CATIA robotics products currently
 count over 500 seats.

 'A very strong demand on the part of our clients for a high-tech
 robotics offer perfectly integrated in the CATIA product already
 existing in this area has led us to adopt a partnership strategy with
 robotics manufacturers', says Francis Bernard, President of Dassault
 Systemes.

 MIECO has actively contributed to validating the new version of the
 CATIA robotics module by introducing its controller algorithms,
 developing a post-processor and an arc-welding application, thus
 constituting a complete off-line robot programming offer for these
 robots. This offer will be demonstrated at the Autofact Show
 (November 10-12 in Detroit).

 The success of this technical collaboration is an excellent illustration
 of the CAA partnership strategy that Dassault Systemes has established
 with robot manufacturers.

 'CAA Development platform is the basis of our partnership with Dassault
 Systemes and exemplifies the synergy between our two companies.' reports
 Eizo Asakura, President of MATSUSHITA INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT CO, Ltd. 'The
 market needs are becoming so sophisticated that the effective solutions
 cannot be found by hardware alone or software alone. To meet with such
 market requirements, we, as a hardware supplier, are making our best
 efforts to enhance our application software in order to provide high
 value added systems. We believe such systems would benefit more
 customers when realized on a greater platform such as a CATIA platform.
 For our company, this Agreement provides a strategic springboard for
 our factory automation business, cultivating the potential demands of
 customers who have a plan of using robots and laser processing systems'.

 The offer contains three categories of products:
 - software containing dedicated algorithms for realistic simulation
   in CATIA of MIECO robot behavior.
 - an automatic generation software for arc welding tasks dedicated
   to different industrial sectors such as, for example, bridge
   construction, shipbuilding, automotive...
 - a post-processor for translating CATIA tasks into MIECO controller
   language

 MIECO, incorporated in 1977 as a subsidiary of MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC
 INDUSTRIAL CO., the Japanese leader in robot manufacture as well as
 being the leading group in the electric and electronic industries
 world-widely known through its 'Panasonic', 'National', 'Technics' and
 'Quasar'brands.

 MIECO employs 2,200 persons. It has a  Research and Development
 Institute in the United-States, two factories in Thailand and one
 factory in the United Kingdom besides its parent plants in Osaka,
 Toyama and Kaga in Japan. MIECO's products are sold in Japan and
 worldwide through its parent company's sales offices, which are located
 in 38 countries.

      ********************************************************

   ICAD and DASSAULT SYSTEMES announce development partnership

 Detroit, MI, November 9, 1992 -- ICAD, Inc. and Dassault
 Systemes today announced a Development Partnership agreement.
 ICAD is integrating into CATIA their knowledge-based
 engineering products. CATKBE is an advanced knowledge-based
 engineering (KBE) tool for creating ICAD product models for
 automating product design and manufacturing processes. CATIA is
 a fully integrated CAD/CAM/CAE/PIM industrial solution.

 ICAD has created a new product, called CATKBE. Based on open
 CATIA Application Architecture (CAA) product modeling services
 CATKBE will make complete use of available CAA services to help
 ensure CATKBE models generate CATIA data that can cooperate
 with all CAA applications. CATKBE will be continually enhanced
 to take advantage of new CAA modeling services as they are
 introduced. CATKBE will allow CATIA users to build and run a
 Knowledge Based Engineering application.  The first result of
 this partnership is CATKBE R4 scheduled for delivery in March 93.

 "CATKBE is a key complement to the CATIA product line that
 provides an environment for intelligent assistance and
 generative design. CATKBE product and services fit completly
 into Dassault Systemes overall KBE strategy providing as of
 today, KBE services to CATIA customers. This partnership
 illustrates Dassault Systemes commitment to provide CATIA
 corporate solutions including third party products", said
 Francis Bernard, President of Dassault Systemes.

 "CAA offers ICAD a stable, open and rich platform for
 integrating our fully object-oriented, demand-driven product
 design language utilizing modeling services available within
 CATIA. With CATKBE, users can define complex product models and
 custom engineering applications", said Larry Rosenfeld,
 President of ICAD. "This partnership is particularly important
 to ICAD as it complements the development and marketing
 agreements we have in place with IBM".

 ICAD Kernel interface technology and CAA services have allowed
 ICAD to develop CATIA GII-based applications that operate
 CATKBE models or applications from within a CATIA function key
 enabling customers to model their actual parts and processes
 within the CATIA interactive environments.

 ICAD, Inc., founded in 1984, is a leading provider of KBE
 software and services. CATKBE increases customer
 competitiveness through the integration of knowledge based
 technology into strategic engineering applications. ICAD's
 customers include many of the leading aerospace, automotive and
 industrial equipment manufacturers around the world.

 CATKBE allows companies to shorten the product development
 cycle for critical components and large assemblies. With ICAD's
 CATKBE software, engineers can automate the design and
 engineering process by capturing a company's expertise as rules
 within an ICAD product model. This gives companies the ability
 to evaluate design/manufacturing alternatives quickly and
 create new designs automatically.

 CATKBE is available from IBM in the United States and directly
 from ICAD worldwide. ICAD has sales offices in Cambridge,
 Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Seattle, Washington, DC., Coventry,
 UK, Karlsruhe, Germany, and Paris, France.

 CATKBE and ICAD are registered trademarks of ICAD, Inc.








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