seemage solutions support: August 2007

Insert SVG into Word® 2007

It is easy to do a drag 'n drop of a svg file into a word document, at the condition to use V3.02 of the Adobe® SVG Viewer (Word will crash with 3.03)
Download the compatible version from :
http://download.adobe.com/pub/adobe/magic/svgviewer/win/3.x/3.02/en/SVGView.exe
Please note that the Seemage install will only install V3.03

You can also watch video below. It shows the generation of a vector SVG view from seemage with interactive BOM and this integration into Word. SVG viewer will be embedded in the Word document and intercation between BOM and lables will be maintained.
Download the video

Time to generate a vector view

The time can be slow on some computers. In this case, first try to modify the Hardware Application Preference./Hardware support: dé-activate the static P-Buffer.
When lauching the Technical Illustration, Seemage calculates the view and open the 2D View.
The P-Buffer option does slow-down this calculation.
Moreover, when starting a technical Illustration, one should activate the "back culling" in order for Seemage not to calculate and vectorize hidden lines.
With the P-Buffer option activated, one can experience a big slow-down when working with multi-windowing (starting at 4 parallel views).

Re-use of Smg VIEWs across projects

First of all, let’s have a quick look at the basics of how smgView works.
As for many other things in seemage, it is based on IDs.

Each part or assembly have is own and unique ID. We call it Ident or IdentGeom.
Example :

This ID is automatically created during the translation from CAD to seemage format.
This ID is also used in the update mechanism.
Moreover, the ID for a part will change each time you make the translation of the part.

By editing the smgView in an XML editor (XML Pad for example) you will see several different CLitView. In each tag, you have the configuration settings.

Hereafter an example with a part, an assembly and the main root :
ROOT : ID 9e9a40cc18e6b6d5
ASM : ID bf60098ebacc710d
PART1 : ID 8afdb35398ed06f4

When making a change to the part (i.e. moving), the ID that is used to move PART1 in this configuration is formed from parent pieces: 9e9a40cc18e6b6d5.bf60098ebacc710d.8afdb35398ed06f4.

So if you want to re-use a configuration in different projects (so re-use a smgView file), you must make the ID match.

But as said before, ID are unique and will change each time one make a translation from CAD.

So the solutions are :

Translation is managed by a PLM/PDM and while smgXml, smgView and smgSce files are created, default ID created by the translation will be changed for your internal references. This solution needs a part of integration. We have this situation in many seemage clients where seemage Sync in managed by the PLM (Enovia, MatrixOne, Smarteam etc.)
Id are changed manually by editing the XLM but can be long and painful. You can use any string you want (expect # and .)
In v4.2, if you use Sync to translate the files, you can choose to use “names” instead of our IDs. As “names” can be the same in different projects, it will be more easy to make the ID match

Right Manager XML value

How is the Right Manager's VALUE calculated?

It is true to say the the Value string is calculated. In order to add protection, it is calculated based on requested Rights and then encrypted.
It determines RightManager’s rights on files and therefore it guarantees that the History is not modified.It is a protection for you as well to ensure that files cannot be “fiddled” and be measured, spied etc.

Some example to be found in : http://www.seemage.com/doc/FAQ/MVP/Batch_Righ_Manager.zip

Crypting method obviously is confidential.

In order to add RM rights, you can still use the following command :

seemagePublisher.exe -rightmanager [fileOutput]

Add the RightManager and PlayerIntegration options into the file according to the options specified in the file from the value of the markup (see below). The file can be an smg or an smgxml file ; it is possible to specify the output filename (by default, the input file is overwritten).The value of the markup indicated which are the rights to add the the input xml file.

This value is computed by a binary OR operation with the different LIT_OPTION_PRO_XXX options defined below.

You can see how we calculate the value for Batch.Option.Pro in XML file settings.

If you specify 0, it means that Annotation (markups and measures), Save, Cutting plane, Simulation (kinematic mode) and Tree will be disable.

If you want to set a specific right, use the calculation below :
Annotation = 2^0 = 1
Cutting plane = 2^1 = 2
Save = 2^2 = 4
Not Used
ActiveX = 2^4 = 16
Trees = 2^5 = 32
Simulation = 2^6 = 64

PBuffer and gray lines through JPEG

JPG files have gray lines through them.
These lines appear regardless of the resolution settings or profile used, but do not appear if I use Publisher to create a HLR JPG image.

This problem could be related to the PBuffer parameter .
Have a look at Publisher’s .
It depends as well on the size of the MVP window (different size/nb of grey lines depending on the size of the window)

Unfortunately, you cannot set this parameter through Sync.

So, either you have Publisher installed on the same machine than Sync, and then life is easy.
Or, you can try to add/modify the key manually into the Registry (with care … of course)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\seemage\MVP\Preferences

Keys are :
HardwareSupport.PBuffer and HardwareSupport.PBuffer.Static
Set to 1

Decimation v.s. screen resolution

The Decimation module depends on the screen resolution.

This module takes many pictures around the model for calculation. Depending on the requested quality, the module will take a different amount of pictures (~30 to 100).

We recommand to:
1. minimize as possible the panel on the sides of the screen
2. use ‘Quality’ instead of ‘Speed’.

FTP : How to transfer big files to/frm Seemage

The Support Service does provide users with personal FTP access rights :
server : ftp://ftp.seemage.com/
login : user
password : pwd

You can either use a dedicated FTP transfer software (CuteFTP, FileZilla etc.) or use a direct link through Internet Explorer : ftp://user:pwd@ftp.seemage.com/

After connexion, you can then drag&drop files for upload or download files from a given directory.
A trick (in french) to use IE® like a FTP application:
http://www.linternaute.com/hightech/maquestion/internet-explorer/client-ftp.shtml

SYNC and fix license not working with remote access

SYNC reports a license error althought the product and associated licenses seem to be valid and well installed.

Check if it is a true licensing problem or not. If so, update the license.

If not, it can happen that the user is tying to access Sync fom a remote access whereas the license for Seemage Sync is fix.
The SYNC program can only be access directly on the server where it is installed if the license is fix.

Other MVP tools can also be accessed remotely, but only when using floating license

Download SolidWorks® plug-in

You can download the free SolidWorks® plug-in from the Seemage Support web site :
http://www.seemage.com/eng/support/customers_ident.php

This access is secured. Password has been given to you with your Seemage License.
This plug-in adds a new menu within SolidWorks; this menu will allow users to create SMG files from Solidworks. Metaproperties will also be exported.
See some examples

Capture Windows Envrionment Variables

'Set' command allows to change one variable or string to another.
Benefit : It can help us to see all environment variables defined when one user has a problem to run seemage license.

Go in Start/Run
Enter cmd
Enter : set > c:\var.txt

A file var.txt will be created on the c:\. drive.

MSIEXEC Install

It is possible to generate the MSI file from the Seemage install package that was downloaded from our web site :

This manipulation can be necessary if you need to get the MSI file out from a simple application install file (exe). Once the MSI file is extracted, it is possible to set parameters for the launch of the program by using, for example, the Windows Installer platform.

Delete as many files as possible from \Documents and Settings\Nom_Utilisateur\Local Settings\Temp.
Let the Windows Explorer window opened
Launch the Seemage install without going any further than the first screen.
Go to the Temp directory
One msi and one mst file have been created (i.e. 17c434a.msi)
Copy the msi file in a new directory
Cancel Seemage Install procedure

That's it ... you got your file

Type msiexec in command line (dos) to get all possible options.

Hotkey stored into registry

Hotkey are stored in the registry :[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\seemage\MVP\seemage

Publisher\x.x\GuiSettingsENU\BCGKeyboard-0]Key combinations are coded with 3 x 2 hexa.

Registry key can be exported/imported in order to save it's own personal config.

It is possible to share keys between M, V and P but also between users of a same product, same version and language.

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

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\seemage\MVP\seemage Publisher\4.2\GuiSettingsENU\BCGKeyboard-0]'Accelerators'=hex:0b,00,4a,00,3f,d1,1b,00,53,00,62,80,0b,00,45,00,74,80,0b,00,\ 4b,00,22,e1,13,00,0d,00,7f,86,0b,00,59,00,2c,e1,03,00,73,00,bc,87,0b,00,5a,\ 00,2b,e1,0b,00,4e,00,00,e1,0b,00,4f,00,01,e1,0b,00,50,00,07,e1,0b,00,53,00,\ 03,e1,0b,00,46,00,53,d2,03,00,72,00,55,d2,07,00,72,00,54,d2,03,00,70,00,46,\ e1,1b,00,27,00,52,d2,1b,00,25,00,51,d2,0f,00,46,00,2b,d1,0f,00,52,00,2c,d1,\ 0f,00,54,00,2d,d1,1b,00,46,00,32,d1,03,00,75,00,50,e1,1b,00,26,00,30,80,07,\ 00,75,00,51,e1,0b,00,42,00,18,80,0b,00,44,00,3e,d1,13,00,31,00,1e,d1,13,00,\ 32,00,20,d1,13,00,36,00,24,d1,0b,00,47,00,3d,d1,0b,00,57,00,3c,d1,0b,00,4c,\ 00,17,80,13,00,37,00,1f,d1,13,00,38,00,25,d1,13,00,35,00,21,d1,13,00,33,00,\ 22,d1,13,00,34,00,23,d1,0b,00,41,00,37,81,0b,00,49,00,61,80,0b,00,54,00,43,\ d1,0b,00,20,00,20,80,1b,00,28,00,42,80,0b,00,27,00,4f,d2,0b,00,26,00,4c,d2,\ 0b,00,25,00,4e,d2,0b,00,28,00,4d,d2,03,00,7a,00,5c,80,01,00,62,00,76,87

Users Profiles location & parameters

Where are user profiles saved (i.e.tech illustration).?
Are the line widths stored in a pixel/points value that somehow we can save in this profile?

Profiles are saved in user's personal documents :
C:\Documents & Settings\\Mes Documents\Seemage\User\*.smgVectoSet

Values can be found in XML file, ranging from 0 to 100.

Vectorize.HLR.Thickness Value='100'
Vectorize.HLR.Thickness.Outlines Value='30'
Vectorize.HLR.Thickness.Silhouettes Value='70'
Vectorize.HLR.Thickness.Shadows Value='100'

Silent install of Players.exe with different languages

V4.0 :
Client is attempting to include the Seemage 3D Graphics Active X control (version 4.2) installation into the Service ADVISOR™ 2.8 application, as a silent install.Players.exe INSTALLDIR=”C:\InstallationDir\Seemage” ADDLOCAL=SeemageWeb /qn /l* c:\temp\logfile.txt

V4.2+ :
Version 4.2 contains a new Language dialog (to choose English or French) so the silent install script no longer works (it “hangs”).

There is no extra parameter that could be provided to the Players.exe install in order to choose language.However, it is posible to use the MSI version that only has one language and is more flexible and easy to use than the current Wyse install.

ATI board and spider web rendering

Sometime, models can have bad rendering like "spider web". This is linked to anti-aliasing mode with ATI boards On ATI video cards, we recommand to use "jittering" instead of "multisample" method for anti-aliasing.

Remarks : Some "High-Tech" boards do have embedded anti-aliasing features >>> disable as well.

Reset message checkboxes

When checking message box of type 'do you want to save view ... do not ask me...', the message is not displayed anymore. In order to force it back, cleanup registry key :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\seemage\MVP\MessageBoxes

Adobe Acrobat 3D & DLL

Some smg files do not open with Seemage Publisher. File load does interrupt after a while and an error message box pops up : Insufficent Memory ...

Geometry file does not open as well. However, the file opens well with Seemage Mockup and Viz.

Open the AA3D menu Edition>Preferences>Capture 3D
Select the Seemage product and delete the corresponding entry
Close AA3D
Restart Seemage Publisher©.
Smg file should now open well

Possible reason : The “Capture 3D” functionality of the Acrobat 3D product does induce modification to some standard DLLs. Those DLLs normally are provided by Microsoft within the Windows package and should not be changed or altered by a third party program.

Extra Checks :

Check the used memory of the seemagePublisher.exe while trying to open the file.
o Used memory should rise up abnormally.
Check the Adobe Acrobat 3D setup
o Open the Adobe Acrobat 3D program
o Open menu Edition>Preferences
o Select the Capture 3D categorie; a list of third party products should appear on the setup box (right side of the config. Window)

Seemage Embedded in MS Office document

To insert a Seemage document in MS Office, you just need to register the ActiveX component.You need Player Integration in order to control ActiveX (Checkbox 'Advances ActiveX' in Document's Properties/Player Integration).Then, in the MSOffice document, need to insert a new control : seemageEmbedded ControlUse the Seemage Control's properties dialog box to select file and options.When the Semmage file is embedded into the MS Office document, you can create your own buttons to set some functions controlled by the ActiveX (i.e. Visual Basic commands within PowerPoint).

http://www.seemage.com/mailinglist/2006_mars/swf/ppt/Insert_MS_Office.html

Force ActiveX version

It is possible to force IE to use the ActiveX version you want to.

You must allow download of the ActiveX control. To do so, you have to modify the content of the tag <object>

classid: it allows to define the class identifier of the component. The classid does not change from one release to the other (except for versions lower than V3)

codebase: indicates from which localisation (server, internet adress) the navigator can download the component, if the host machine does not already contains one component of similar classid.

The folowing example shows some HTML code integrating ActiveX download:

<object id="SeemageEmbedded" viewastext classid="CLSID:9704E020-445E-41DB-994B-DE07D126D229" codebase="seemage.cab#Version=3,2,0,1085" height="50%" >

The .cab file contains all files necessary for the install (compressed archive). It is autonomeous and does install all necessary files.

If the Standard Toolbar is activated, one can check the version directly within the Seemage Embedded. If not, it still is possible to check the version/clsid either by editing the code or by checking the .inf file contained into the .cab file.

Warning : it is not always enough to indicate that the control can be downloaded. One has to ensure that the security of the navigator does allow download and execution at the client's workstation. The client must have administrator rights on his machine. ... but nothing can prevent one user to edit the html source and to modify the current verion to be V3.

MSI Automated Install

To get help for all msiexec command, run msiexec in a DOS box or command line. The help window will appear.

The following msiexec options can be helpful :

Quite mode : /qn
Log file : /l* c:\temp\logfile.txt

The exe file will be created based on the Seemage Install Package. Follow the procedure http://seemagefaq.blogspot.com/2007/07/msiexec-install.html

FAQ :

Using the msi and quite mode, is it possible to install only the required products (not all package)? During the standard Seemage install, you can choose which package to install. However, using quite mode, you will not get the dialog box, except if you use the /qf. Please note that there is no problem (except for disk space) installing the whole package since the licensing mechanism will limitate the access.

What about if I need to split the package? If you still need to split the package, you’d better ask your system administrator : they use to have fancy tools for that. For example, the one named orca.exe (Microsoft). *** NOT TESTED ***

When launching a Seemage Animation from an HTML page – using Seemage Player 4.2 from the provided .msi install, the first time any animation is launched, an ECLA is presented to the user (see screenshot below). After clicking “I Accept”, the user can proceed to open other animations, and is not prompted again. Is there a way that we can programmatically set this acceptance from within the Seemage Installation or by writing to a registry key? There is a key within the registry for EULA acknowledge that could help you : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\seemage\MVP\4.2\Preferences\EulaAccepted.

API to control embedded 3D in PDF

One wants to add a button in Adobe Acrobat and execute a seemage Control function when the button is pressed. Actually, there is no Seemage API available for the PDF technology. It is only available for u3D. Refer to online documentation, chapter "Publish to PDF"

Excel 2003 and Seemage Embedded

Using Excel 2003, when inserting a Seemage Embedded object, it is created in "run" mode rather than in "creation" mode.
This is why the object is not editable (size, property) and the Player starts to play with no animation.
To avoid this, one has to toggle to creation mode using the toolkey "Creation Mode" :

SYNC hangs when opening the log file

It can happen that Sync just hangs and freezes (or takes a long time) when you ask for the display of the log file after a conversion. What happens is that sometimes the generated file is a .log instead of a .xml. It is easy enough to reset default setting in order to get back to a .xml file (Settings/Reset default);

seemage v4.3 novelties

You can see main novelties in seemage v4.3 release:
- Search all has been added in the Quick Search engine (ctrl+F)
- PDF documents can be generated from seemage Sync
- When using TAB key, if K is pressed, then temporary hidden objects will stay in ghost rendering mode
- Simple application for file name conformity between UNIX and Windows
- Support of CATIA® v5 Process Tolerancing & Annotation
Play

Integration with Solidworks®

Example 1
Example 2

Interactive collision detection

See the ability to detect serviceability issues. Seemage Interactive Clash makes it quick and easy for users who must document (and use!) service procedures to see exactly what will happen under various circumstances.
Play

seemage BOM

See how to combine BOM information with CAD models to produce very flexible documentation, including technical illustrations directly from 3D CAD data.
Play

Snecma Services Flies with Seemage

Seemage is pleased to announce that Snecma Services is using Seemage as a vital part of its training and educational services. Read the press release below
Article

The value of engineering product information everyware

By Gordon BENSON, SENIOR ENGINEER, NACCO MATERIALS HANDLING GROUP
Article

SVG files in Adobe® Illustrator - no Zoom fit All

Adobe® Illustrator does not support svg files with “zoom fit all” attributes.
To have the good size of the drawing in Illustrator you have to make a small modification in the svg file.
At the top of the svg document you have to replace “width” and “height” attributes by constants values:

Must be replaced by

Space Mouse (3D mouse)

All the '3D connexion' space mouse should be compatible with Seemage solutions.
In Seemage, the 3D navigation is done around 2 axis only. Therefore, the 3 axis must be available to properly use a space mouse within the Seemage solutions.
To free the third axis, the 'free rotation (no constraint)' must be enabled in 'Application preferences/Cameras'.

Tesselation of JT files

A JT file cannot be re-tesselated in Seemage.
Our tesselation system will not affect the JT’s mesh.
All pre-meshed formats : JT, 3Ds, U3D, VRML, OBJ, XAML

Control tesselation quality

Before you create the seemage file in Solidworks®, you can control the tesselation quality (refinement). To do that, you need to go in Tools/Options - Document properties/Image quality and move the cursor.

Local coordiantes to global

It is sometimes useful, especially for integration or Advanced ActiveX purposes, to convert the coordinates of a part from its local coordinate system to the global one (Root).
The coordinates of a part displayed in the smgXml file are always local. This means that the position of a part is always defined in the coordinate system (frame) of its parent.
Here is a PDF document that will help understanding the matrix convention to turn a local coordinates of a part to a global one.

Capture camera position only

Seemage views are commonly used to generate technical illustrations (svg, cmg). It is important to keep the same camera position for all views. But usually, user needs to rotate, pan and zoon when he creates those deliverables. It is very easy to apply upon those views a specific view that captures only the camera position.
See animation

Category

Archive

Useful links

About Me

3D Mojo