Reference with 3DShape

This section describes about exporting 3DShape attached to the reference.

This page discusses:

About Reference With Representation

A 3DShape can either be exact or tessellated. The transfer from 3DEXPERIENCE platform to X-PDM can either request exact or tessellated geometry depending on the setup:

  • While generating a connection parameter file, if the administrator selects the Tessellated check box the tessellated geometry is transferred.
  • Else exact geometry is transferred.

The 3DShapes cannot be exported independent of a reference.

Note: The design data also includes Drawing, which can be exported without a reference, if they are shared.

Transferring Exact Geometry

The 3DShapes are transferred with exact geometry.

  • If an exact geometry is present, it is transferred but its associated tessellated geometry is not transferred.
  • If no exact geometry is present but the tessellated geometry is available, the tessellated geometry is transferred

Depending on the selected 3D File Format, exact geometry is exported either in CATIA V5 CATPart, STEP, or in another CAD format.

Exporting CATPart target format

In the exact mode the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to X-PDM transfer creates new CATPart documents including the minimum requested data to support downstream applications:

  • As Result:
    • Result geometry (only visible geometry) is kept.
    • Colors, layers, structures (part bodies, geometrical sets, etc.) in the CATPart are kept.

    For more information about what 3DEXPERIENCE platform data contained in the representation are translated in the V5 CATPart, see 3DEXPERIENCE Native Apps: Representations - Conversion of CATParts.

  • As Specification: When you select the As Specifications check box, all 3DShapes are converted with their specifications whenever possible. This allows you edit the part in V6 and also to modify the converted V5 part. For more information about selecting As Specifications in XPDMImportExportBatch, see Using XPDMImportExportBatch to Export.

Notes:
  • The As Specifications option is only available for CATIAV5-6R2015 from the 3D File Format list.
  • When only tessellated geometry is available it is converted to V5 CGR.
  • The capability to export features as specifications is available for some applications such as Generative Shape Design, Sketcher, Part Design and partially Knowledge modeler. If the 3DShape contains some features that cannot be exported as As Specifications, it is exported as As Result.
  • The As Result or As Specifications option is global to the whole export transaction. You cannot export some 3DShape As Result and some others As Specifications.

  • Only the publication links at the part level are transferred to X-PDM. For more information related to publication link, see 3DEXPERIENCE Native Apps: Object Conversion and Resulting Documents .

Exporting STEP or Other CAD Formats

In the exact mode the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to X-PDM transfer creates a STEP document for each exact representation including the minimum result geometry (only visible geometry).

For STEP, resulting document uses the Application Protocol(AP). To configure Application Protocol, perform the following steps:

  1. Select Me > Preferences.

    The Option dialog box appears.

  2. In the left pane of the dialog box, select General > Compatibility.
  3. In the right pane of the dialog box, select STEP tab and configure Application Protocol(AP) option in the Export area.

Note: When an exact geometry is not available, and a tessellated geometry is available:
  • Tessellated geometry is converted to the CAD tessellated format, if the converter defined for the respective CAD format supports tessellated data conversion. For STEP, the resulting document uses the Application Protocol 242 independent of the export settings.
  • Tessellated geometry is converted to V5 CGR if the converter defined for the CAD format does not support tessellated data conversion.

Reference with 3DShape Example

When exporting the following reference with a geometry attached:

Ref1

|-- RefRep

The following XPDMXML file is created:

<ProductStructure rootRefs="ID_0" updateChildMode="RemoveExistingNotProvided”>
<Product id="ID_0">
  <ID>Ref1</ID> 
…..
</Product>
<Rep3DAggr id="ID_1">
  <ID>RefRep</ID>
  <Description /> 
  <Name /> 
  <UniqueID External="14D7A8CE8B5489330E0E20825B8FA80C0E113579" 
XID="14D7A8CE8B5489330E0E20825B8FA80C0E113579" locationOfControl="X-PDM" /> 

…..
  <Owned>ID_0</Owned> 
  <FileRef>ID_2</FileRef> 
</Rep3DAggr>
</ProductStructure>
<File id="ID_2">
  <Name>RefRep_1_7d467b25_106c_4d80c5ca_2821a</Name> 
  <Location>RefRep_1_7d467b25_106c_4d80c5ca_2821a.CATPart</Location> 
  <Format>CATPart</Format> 
</File>

Transferring Tessellated Geometry

Selecting the Tessellated check box during setup, enables the export of all 3DShape in V5 CGR format. This format minimizes network requirements by exchanging smaller files, and can also be used to protect intellectual property of the sender.

For STEP, the resulting document uses the Application Protocol 242 independent of the export settings.

A Coexistence Context used to transfer an exact representation cannot be used to transfer the associated tessellated geometry.

For more information about Coexistence Context usage with X-PDM, see Identify The Exchange Channel.