PRO-E Question

[M_CODE1]

Have a question about a Pro-E file we were sent by a customer. The frist one was a .prt file, this one opened as a solid model in Solid Works.

The second one that was attached was an .IDX file. Anyone know what is actually in that file? Below is Pro-E tell me. Is Product View the only this that will open it?

 

 

What is ProSTEP iViP? .IDX?

The ProSTEP iViP Association is an industry consortium which focuses on the creation and usage of open standards for data exchange. This organization’s ECAD/MCAD collaboration project group recently approved the “EDMDSchema,” a standard means to communicate incremental design changes across mechanical and electrical domains. The schema conveys this information via an “.idx” file format; IDX denoting “InterDomain Exchange.” PTC was instrumental in development of this standard, working with the ProSTEP committee members, including Mentor Graphics. PTC is the first vendor of Mechanical CAD solutions to support this standard.

[Mike S @ S4A]

sounds like the .idx is rev change data....?

parhaps try opening the .prt then call file/change recognotion and point chg rec at the idx...?

[Mike S @ S4A]

never mind....I don't see .idx in the list of recognized extensions....have you asked your dealer to look into this?

[M_CODE1]

I dont have Pro-E, so I dont have a dealer

[Mike S @ S4A]

I mean your Mastercam Dealer

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

That IDX file sounds like it might be useful inside Pro/E Wildfire, but we can't do anything with them (as you found out, since it's not in the list of recognized extensions).

[M_CODE1]

Does anyone have PRO-E's Product View on there computer and could open up the IDX file and send me a screen shot of what it shows?

[Mike S @ S4A]

Mike what about the customer who sent the file?

were they helpful?

[M_CODE1]

No because it is some type of internet bidding and we dont know who the cusomer is.

[Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc.]

I have ProductView Express (as well as Wildfire 4) installed.

 

Send me ([email protected]) both the PRT and the IDX. I can try it here first thing in the morning.

[Watcher]

IDX are indexing files used to accelerate the opening of family tables files.

When Pro/E finds a IDX file in the working directory,it knows the name of all instances that are defined into a particular PRT file whitout having to open these files itself.

As simple as that:

 

quote:

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About Instance Index Files

Instance index files enable you to retrieve instances by entering their instance name only. An instance index file displays the total number of instances, followed by a column of instance names on the left and a column of their corresponding generic names on the right. The instance index file is named directoryname.idx (where directoryname is the directory in which the file is saved).

 

Saving any generic model automatically creates a new instance index file, or updates the existing file. This file lists the names of all the regenerated instances for every generic regenerated and saved in the same directory as the current generic.

 

The instance names that are listed in the instance index file are only those instances that were regenerated when their generic model was saved. The regenerated instances did not have to be in memory when the generic was saved. For example, the instances could have been retrieved, then erased from the session using the Erase command on the File menu. (The exception to this is for Pro/LIBRARY objects, such as parts from the Basic Library).

 

Storing the generic part automatically adds the names of all of its instances to the instance index file, without the need to regenerate them. This includes the names of instances in subfamilies, such as instances that have instances, as well.

 

Instance index files are cumulative, so instances that are retrieved in later sessions can be added to the list. To add new instance names to the file, you must save the generic after those instances have been regenerated; the instance index file is then updated, including the new instances.

 

You can also create or update an instance index file by clicking File > Instance Operations > Update Index.

 

This creates or updates an instance index file for a specified directory (the current working directory is the default). Update Index creates the instance index file for all generics saved in the specified directory, not for objects that are in session or active in the Main Window.

 

You can use the Tools > Verify command in the Family Table to facilitate the process of bringing instances into session so that they can be added to the instance index file. Saving the generic after verification causes the names of all instances that were successfully regenerated to be listed in the instance index file for that directory.

 

The .idx file is a text file and can be edited outside of Pro/ENGINEER, within any text editor. However, if you edit this file outside of Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/ENGINEER will not recognize the file. For instance, when you click File > Open to open the model that contains the edited .idx file, its instance names do not display in the File Open dialog box.

 

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Some 3rd party utilities (Such as Edrawings for example) are not able to detect or open ASM models and PRT files properly if the .idx file is not present in the same directory of the PRT/ASM model.

 

HTH

[Mike S @ S4A]

wow. thanks Daniel.

[M_CODE1]

That what me and Pete figured out, when he placed the two files in a folder then when to open it up in Pro-E all the configerations of the parts show up.

 

Thanks everyone