SolidCam Documentaion

[jake_tb]

Does anyone do much with SolidCam documentaion?
I want to be able to fine tune the doc output. Does anyone have some of their own doc files they could share for me to get an idea on how to do it
I am running SolidCam 2009 SP1

Regards

Jake T-B

[Brakeman Bob]

I would like to use SolidCAM documentation but in their wisdom SolidCAM have made the documentation format fixed i.e. you cannot edit the format to suit yourself. When you generate documents the CAM outputs a shed load of stuff into XML files which then get made up into the pages the user sees. XML and stuff like that is beyond me and I haven't the time or inclination to learn about building web pages (it's not that I don't like learning new stuff, I do, but I am putting my spare time & energy into learning SQL with an aim to building a tool management / job documentation system that meets OUR needs, not somebody elses'. Rant over. Sorry).

What I have done is get the post processor to make text files as the program is posted. These files are Tools Used listing, the Program Listing (Tool, Job Description, Workpiece Z Level etc.) and a listing of MAC positions with their numbers (this last helps when making a mirrored part as any discrepancy between Z positions really messes up a drilling job).

Haven't had a chance to install R13 (or 2009) yet so I can't comment on the documentation provision in that, but as far as I am concerned until SolidCAM provide a means of editing the templates, Part Documentation is not much use to me.

Bob

[jake_tb]

Hi Bob

Thanks for your reply, it’s good to hear it’s not just me that finds the SolidCam documentation a bit of a pain.
I was using my own .Doc postprocessor (specified from inside the .Mac file) to generate basic text files with custom information but it does not seem to work anymore now that I have upgraded to SolidCam 2009?

I agree with you on the XML bit, way beyond me! I hope SolidCam create a editor like MacEdit to do your own tweaking of the documentation

Jake

[Brakeman Bob]

Hello Jake,

It is interesting that the document postprocessor doesn't work in R13. I hope that the stuff I do through the .GPP file continues to work or I will be upset.

I agree with you about the editor and I have spoken to SolidCAM UK about it; whether Israel do something about remains to be seen but from what I can make out of the templates, I think it would be hard in its current structure. It would be much better to develop the .DOC post processor and have a plug-in to various popular packages like Word, Excel or Access (all Microsoft I know, but that covers 90% of users I guess).

[jake_tb]

Hi Bob

I would like to have a look at what you do with your post regarding getting it to post a text file at the begining. Any chance you could email me a copy of your GPP file for me to check out how you are doing this?

Regards

Jake

jacob.tyrrell-baxter@agprice.co.nz