STEP: Converting Files For Preview

This task shows you how to convert a STEP file to a lighter format (tessellated) for a quick preview.

From the Batch Monitor

  1. Select Tools > Utility.

  2. In the Batch Monitor window, select Generic Batch.

  3. In the Generic Batch dialog box, click the Open icon  .
    Select the StepToStepTess.exe file from the code/bin directory of your installation.

  4. As argument, enter the path of the file to convert.

  5. Click Run.

From a Command Line

  1. Open a DOS command prompt.

  2. Go to the directory containing StepToStepTess.exe
    For example:
    cd C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B26\intel_a\code\bin

  3. Start the command
    catstart -direnv env_dir -env env_file -run "StepToStepTess.exe MySTEPfile"
    Where env_dir is the name of the directory containing the environment file and env_file is the environment file.

    Note that -h displays the help for the command  and -nested force the Assemblies mode to nested.
 

Output

A folder is created in the input directory to contain the output.
The created folder and the output file have the name of the input file, completed with the suffix _AP242.
If the folder already exists, a new one is created, with an increment.
If the input directory is not writable, the output folder is created under the CATTEmp directory.

The conversion is run in two steps (import then export) with the following options, independently from those of the current session.

  • General
    Detailed report
    Two reports are written, one for the import, one for the export.
    If the input file is not valid, messages are written in the import report while conversion errors are found in the export file.
    Validation Properties
    Geometric or Assembly Validation Properties are taken into account if present in the input file.
    The tessellated validation properties for the output files are computed in the export report.
    Groups
    Taken into account
    3D annotations
    Taken into account if present in the input file.
    Composites
    Not supported
    User Defined Attributes
    Taken into account.
  • Import
    Continuity optimization of curves and surfaces
    Automatic Optimization is active.
    Assemblies physical Structure
    One CATProduct for each product is active.
  • Export
    Application Protocol
    The active AP is AP 242 ed1
    Exact geometry as
    Tessellated is active.
    Units
    Active unit is mm.
    Show/NoShow
    The options are not active: Only visible entities are processed.
    Assemblies
    With a ST1 licence, the export mode is set to external references.
    With a SXT licence, the default export is set to external references, but it can be forced to nested mode.