Conversion
Purpose
You can optimize the product setup and development process by means of methods from Digital Mock-Up (DMU) or Virtual Product Development Management (VPDM). All members participating in the design process have common, regulated access to the product’s geometry and topology and can even display the product digitally in the development stages.
The standard SAP system’s SAP Graphical User Interface (SAP GUI) now has a viewer from Engineering Animation, Inc. (EAI) that allows you to view your products in the
Product Lifecycle Management
(PLM) area.
This integrated viewer as well as other visualization programs can only display product information in certain file formats. For this reason it is necessary that you are able to convert the source file into a file format that can be displayed by the available software.
Note
You create a drawing (file type *.model) in the CATIA system that you want to display in the product structure. The viewer cannot display the CATIA format directly. In this case, it is necessary to convert the file to a format in either 2D (for example *.jpg) or 3D (for example *.jt) that can be displayed by the viewer.
The following release allows the use of conversion interface functions of Digital Mock-Up Viewing.
Integration
You need the conversion server where the actual conversion takes place. Install the converter and communication programs on this server.
The SAP system communicates with the conversion server via an RFC connection. You must enter RFC destinations. Use Customizing for conversions to specify which original application files are converted at which processing statuses.
The following graphic shows the integration.
The integration is done in the following steps:
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One or more converters needs to be installed for the conversion process. The selection of converters is based on which conversions are necessary and which type of files you want to display.
Definition of an RFC destination
RFC (Remote Function Call) is an SAP interface protocol that sets up communication between the converter and the SAP system.
Notes on the definition of RFC destinations can be found under Programs for Communication .
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The conversion interface controls conversions of original application files and document info records in the standard SAP system. You can specify in the SAP system which processing status triggers an automatic conversion. The conversion specification contains all notes, indications, and details for the conversion. It is created in Customizing for Conversions. SAP help programs take care of the actual data transfer to the converter.
Features
The current conversion interface allows original application files and assemblies to be converted.
The following overview contains the phases of the conversion processes.
Conversion Phase |
Process Flow |
|---|---|
Start |
You can start the conversion in two ways: Document: Converting Documents (Automatic Start) Converting Documents (Manual Start) Assembly: |
Preparation for conversion |
Beginning background preparations The conversion process is started as a background job. This allows the user who started the conversion to continue working. The user does not need to wait for the conversion to finish. You can also set up the conversion to run only at night (see: Customizing for Conversions ). Finding a free conversion server The system checks which conversion server is available for the conversion and determines where the SAP help programs communicate with the conversion program. The system creates a temporary directory on the conversion server where the original application files are stored. Original application files that you want to convert Converted original application files that you want to transfer to the SAP system. Messages in the application log Since the con version process is not a dialog process, you do not see any dialog messages during the conversion. Message logs in the application log tell you what happened during the conversion ( Display Messages ). The scope of the output messages is determined in Customizing for Conversions . You decide in what time frame the logs are deleted manually or automatically. |
Conversion on the Conversion server |
The conversion of original application files is done using a converter that you installed to meet your needs. You can set up a time period for the converter in Customizing for
|
Import of converted original application files to storage systems |
After conversion, the original application files are saved in the temporary working directory. The converted original application files are transported to the SAP system by means of SAP help programs. The transport is done to the storage category that was entered in the conversion specification. You define in the conversion specification in which processing situations the converted original application files are deleted from the temporary working directory. You can specify, for example, that the files are deleted once they have been converted correctly but converted original application files with errors are left intact. |
Result
A visual result appears where the system displays a list of the original application files for the document info record. The converted original application files are added to the originals in the source format automatically. You can display all file formats from the tab page
Original Application Files
.
Recommendation
If the integrated viewer in the SAP system supports the converted format, then you can display the original application file with the viewer.