ASCII files are text files that contain measurement routine information output from virtually any third party CMM software. You can import these file types into PC-DMIS by using File | Import | ASCII to automatically create a measurement routine.
For this menu item to appear, your LMS license or portlock must be programmed to support the "Inspection Planner" module.
PC-DMIS's Generic Parser (GP) is designed to parse the ASCII output from other CMM systems. The ASCII output (file) may contain file header, comments, feature commands, file footer, etc. As long as the info is written line by line in the ASCII file, GP can parse it according to the user-defined rules provided through the Rule Set Wizard. After parsing it, GP makes calls to Planner to translate all the filtered-through info (like feature commands) and import into the active measurement routine.
Nine PC-DMIS feature types are supported by GP because they are also supported by PC-DMIS Planner. The supported features are: POINT, EDGEPOINT, LINE, PLANE, CIRCLE, CYLINDER, SPHERE, SQSLOT (Square Slot) and RDSLOT (Round Slot). See "Step 3: Feature Field Assignment and Mapping" topic.
To import an ASCII file as an inspection plan, follow these steps:
Select File | Import | ASCII File to display the Open dialog box. You can then use the dialog box to select the needed ASCII file.
Browse to the directory containing your ASCII file.
Select the ASCII file and click Import.
The Importing dialog box for your ASCII file opens. You can use this dialog box to create new rule sets, add existing rule sets, and start the import process. See "Using the Importing Dialog Box" for additional information.
From the list of rule sets in the Importing dialog box, check to see if the needed rule set for your ASCII file is already visible. This rule set defines how to import the chosen ASCII file.
If you have an existing rule set but it isn't already added into the Importing dialog box, click Add to add it into the dialog box.
If you don't have a rule set defined, you can create a new rule set by clicking Create. These topics describe how to create a rule set.
Rule Set Wizard - Step 1: Excluding Data
Rule Set Wizard - Step 2: Defining Delimiters
Rule Set Wizard - Step 3: Feature Type Mapping and Field Assignment
Rule Set Wizard - Step 4: Handling Labels, Conflicts, and Point Offsets
Creating a Rule Set - Previewing the ASCII File
Select the rule set to use for importing the ASCII file.
Once you have your rule set defined and selected, choose how you want to import the ASCII file:
Directly - This imports the file without showing the Rule Set Wizard first.
By Wizard - This opens the selected rule set in the rule set wizard so you can preview and modify any rules before importing the file.
Parse and import the ASCII file by clicking Import to Measurement Routine. Follow any on-screen instructions.
More:
Using the Importing Dialog Box
Rule Set Wizard - Step 1: Excluding Data
Rule Set Wizard - Step 2: Defining Delimiters
Rule Set Wizard - Step 3: Feature Type Mapping and Field Assignment
Rule Set Wizard - Step 4: Handling Labels, Conflicts, and Point Offsets