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Old EDM Setup User-Defined Parameters
The EDM Setup system prior to Cimatron 12.0 had a feature that allowed end users to define their own user-defined parameters and export them as part of the output file. This was useful mostly in conjunction with the "standard" EDM Setup, where the output ERP file is essentially a "dump" of all the EDM Setup data.
Up to 5 user-defined variables were available at each level: the Job/Part level, the Electrode level and the Location level. They were all simple text strings (no numeric data). Some users used that capability to add important data that they later needed in their own software that read the ERP file and actually communicated with the machine.
From Cimatron 12.0, the EDM Setup has powerful customization tools, and any number of parameters can be added to any profile for any purpose. Furthermore, these custom parameters can use a rich set of GUI controls (check-boxes, spin-wheels, pull-down lists…), define min/max values, include formulas to control visibility and default values, etc. However, with Cimatron 12.0, this customization can only be done by the Cimatron reseller, AND the post-processor must also be customized to make use of these extra user-specific parameters.
This section explains how to customize a given profile, such as the "standard" profile to be able to provide the same level of customization as the old user-defined parameters. The modified Cimatron 12.0 profile is fully compatible with older files, so no user data will ever be lost. The process is very simple, and can be accomplished in just a few minutes.
GPP2 Post-Processor Modification
Profile Modification
Copy the standard profile XML file and give it a new name, for that customer. Also, instead of over-writing the "standard" PP, copy it and give it a new name. Modify the new profile to include the new PP name.
For each Cimatron 11.0 user-defined parameter, a new user parameter must be added to the profile, at the corresponding level (Part / Electrode / Location). Typically, the parameter will be placed at the end of all other parameters (like user-define parameters were placed in Cimatron 11.0), but actually the new (from Cimatron 12.0) parameter can be located anywhere in the relevant pane (as long as it defined at the correct level).
The new parameter should be defined as follows:
Formal (GPP2) name: any valid name, such as ElecUserP2 (a logical name for the second user-specific parameter at the Electrode level). Of course, a more meaningful name can be used too.
Symbolic ID name must be CIMELEC::SPARE_1 to CIMELEC::SPARE_5 (depending on which Cimatron 11.0 user parameter it corresponds to, 1 to 5). The same names are used at all levels. The symbolic ID name is very important, since this name is the "link" to the data stored in existing Cimatron 11.0 files.
Type must be "text string", for backward compatibility with Cimatron 11.0 data.
Caption will typically be the same caption used by the user in Cimatron 11.0 (but can be different too, if a more readable caption is required – unlike Cimatron 11.0, this will NOT interfere with the output file).
Default value will typically be the same as the Cimatron 11.0 default value.
Basically, this is it for the profile. All the information you need can be found in the Cimatron 11.0 EDM Setup INI file (EDMSIni.xml), so it is not even needed to have access to the end-user computer and the Cimatron 11.0 system.
GPP2 Post-Processor Modification
GPP2 needs to output the data of the new profile variables. For each new variable (For example, ElecUserP2), the following should be done:
Declare the variable (as a string):
FORMAT (CHARACTER) ElecUserP2;
Output the variable at the right block (in the "standard" PP, this is BEGINNING OF EDM for Part-level variables or BEGINNING OF LOCATION for Electrode and Location variables).
OUTPUT "<caption> = " ElecUserP2 \J;
The <caption> string is the same caption/title used for that parameter in Cimatron 11.0. This is how the other software (whatever it is) expects to find it inside the ERP file. The text itself is hard-coded in the EX2 program (like all captions), and this is why any (better!) caption may be used for the GUI in the profile itself – if so desired. But here, the same string must be used as the one used in Cimatron 11.0.
Basically, this is the entire process. The profile has been modified, and the PP has been modified to match. Full backward compatibility is maintained with old Cimatron 11.0 files and saved data.
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