AnsweredAssumed Answered

Parasolid from 09 to 08

Question asked by Dougal Hiscock on Jul 6, 2009
Latest reply on Jul 12, 2009 by Dougal Hiscock

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 8

I have recently sent models to people using solidworks 2008, I use 2009. I saved as a parasolid and to my surprise the models came through as dumb solids (previously some were weldments, some were featured solids). The appearance for each part defaulted to grey.

Did I do something wrong? I could achieve much better results exporting these as IGES, at least then the colours remain and I expect them all to become dumb solids.

It seems strange to me that I have no backwards operability here at all. Is there a better way to handle this?

Kevin De Smet Jul 7, 2009 7:29 AM

Correct Answer

Dougal Hiscock wrote:

If parasolids convert everything to dumb solids or surfaces, then what is the advantage in using them? What difference does the parasolid version make? It seems strange that I get a better result using a format like IGES.

The advantage is that, saving as a parasolids file SolidWorks simply takes your native SolidWorks file and extracts the geometric data from it. That's why saving a parasolids file in SolidWorks is extremely quick, it's copy/paste - essentially.

You can be ensured that your geometry is accurate, and correct.

Saving as an IGES or STEP actually converts your file into their respective formats, though similar, can cause additional problems. I have had numerous occasions where an IGES file meant the loss of surfaces or other issues.

These three are all very similar formats but as they say, the devil is in the details!

See the reply in context

No one else had this question

Outcomes

Deepak Gupta Jul 6, 2009 12:51 AM

Dougal,

That is a expected behavior so I will say you did it correctly. There is no option called backwards compatibility, so converting your files to IGES, STEP or PARASOLID is the only option for opening higher version files into lower version. You can change the appearance and that should not be a problem.

Actions

Jan Hallvard Myhren @ Deepak Gupta on Jul 6, 2009 6:37 AM

Hi,

When you make a Parasolid for SW -08 from -09 you have to save it in Parasolid v18.1 in the options.

SW -09 came whit a new verson in 2009 v19.1

Actions

Phil Marra @ Jan Hallvard Myhren on Jul 6, 2009 11:47 AM

Dougal,
You are always going to get a "dumb" solid when you "save as". There is not a translator that will export the feature tree hence the name "dumb". You can import some Pro-E files with a feature tree, but with only moderate success at best.

Actions

Dougal Hiscock Jul 7, 2009 6:09 AM

If parasolids convert everything to dumb solids or surfaces, then what is the advantage in using them? What difference does the parasolid version make? It seems strange that I get a better result using a format like IGES instead of solidworks own files.

Maybe I'm expecting too much, but how hard would it be to bring planes, sketches and extrudes into files readable by previous versions? Fair enough to exclude features created with improved or modified tools.

Deepak, Jan & Phil; thank you. I think I had saved the file as a version 17.1
I thought sometime in the past I had successfully saved a parasolid which then opened with a usable feature tree. But perhaps it is my memory playing games.

Actions

Deepak Gupta @ Dougal Hiscock on Jul 7, 2009 6:41 AM

There is a add called FeatureWorks that can read from a imported file and try to convert to a features that can be edited.

Check here for more details: http://www.javelin-tech.com/ma...ducts/featureworks.htm

Actions

Kevin De Smet @ Dougal Hiscock on Jul 7, 2009 7:29 AM

Dougal Hiscock wrote:

If parasolids convert everything to dumb solids or surfaces, then what is the advantage in using them? What difference does the parasolid version make? It seems strange that I get a better result using a format like IGES.

Actions

Phil Marra @ Kevin De Smet on Jul 7, 2009 11:18 AM

Im not sure what you are looking for but parasolid, iges, and step are merely translators that sole purpose is to allow importing and exporting between various cad softwares. There has been limited success in bringing features over but the only translators I have seen that accomplished this were UG and Pro-E native formats. The second you choose to save as a parasolid, iges or step, you forfeit any feature based transferal and get a "dumb solid". This is true even if you are just trying to import a future version SW part into an older version of SW.
Also Feature Works only works on a limited basis.

Actions

Dougal Hiscock Jul 12, 2009 12:11 AM

Thanks Kevin, that was the point I was missing. Parasolid means no geometry lost in translation.

I'm familiar with featureworks, I've used it several times but it's tedious with multi-body solids.

Actions

8 Replies

Deepak Gupta Jul 6, 2009 12:51 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Dougal,

That is a expected behavior so I will say you did it correctly. There is no option called backwards compatibility, so converting your files to IGES, STEP or PARASOLID is the only option for opening higher version files into lower version. You can change the appearance and that should not be a problem.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Jan Hallvard Myhren @ Deepak Gupta on Jul 6, 2009 6:37 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Hi,
  
  When you make a Parasolid for SW -08 from -09 you have to save it in Parasolid v18.1 in the options.
  
  SW -09 came whit a new verson in 2009 v19.1
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Phil Marra @ Jan Hallvard Myhren on Jul 6, 2009 11:47 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Dougal,
    You are always going to get a "dumb" solid when you "save as". There is not a translator that will export the feature tree hence the name "dumb". You can import some Pro-E files with a feature tree, but with only moderate success at best.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
Dougal Hiscock Jul 7, 2009 6:09 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If parasolids convert everything to dumb solids or surfaces, then what is the advantage in using them? What difference does the parasolid version make? It seems strange that I get a better result using a format like IGES instead of solidworks own files.

Maybe I'm expecting too much, but how hard would it be to bring planes, sketches and extrudes into files readable by previous versions? Fair enough to exclude features created with improved or modified tools.

Deepak, Jan & Phil; thank you. I think I had saved the file as a version 17.1
I thought sometime in the past I had successfully saved a parasolid which then opened with a usable feature tree. But perhaps it is my memory playing games.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Deepak Gupta @ Dougal Hiscock on Jul 7, 2009 6:41 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  There is a add called FeatureWorks that can read from a imported file and try to convert to a features that can be edited.
  
  Check here for more details: http://www.javelin-tech.com/ma...ducts/featureworks.htm
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
- Kevin De Smet @ Dougal Hiscock on Jul 7, 2009 7:29 AM
  Unmark Correct
  Correct Answer
  
  Dougal Hiscock wrote:
  
  If parasolids convert everything to dumb solids or surfaces, then what is the advantage in using them? What difference does the parasolid version make? It seems strange that I get a better result using a format like IGES.
  
  The advantage is that, saving as a parasolids file SolidWorks simply takes your native SolidWorks file and extracts the geometric data from it. That's why saving a parasolids file in SolidWorks is extremely quick, it's copy/paste - essentially.
  
  You can be ensured that your geometry is accurate, and correct.
  
  Saving as an IGES or STEP actually converts your file into their respective formats, though similar, can cause additional problems. I have had numerous occasions where an IGES file meant the loss of surfaces or other issues.
  
  These three are all very similar formats but as they say, the devil is in the details!
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Phil Marra @ Kevin De Smet on Jul 7, 2009 11:18 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Im not sure what you are looking for but parasolid, iges, and step are merely translators that sole purpose is to allow importing and exporting between various cad softwares. There has been limited success in bringing features over but the only translators I have seen that accomplished this were UG and Pro-E native formats. The second you choose to save as a parasolid, iges or step, you forfeit any feature based transferal and get a "dumb solid". This is true even if you are just trying to import a future version SW part into an older version of SW.
    Also Feature Works only works on a limited basis.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
Dougal Hiscock Jul 12, 2009 12:11 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thanks Kevin, that was the point I was missing. Parasolid means no geometry lost in translation.

I'm familiar with featureworks, I've used it several times but it's tedious with multi-body solids.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions

Parasolid from 09 to 08

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content